Sci-fi background

Nightfable · Sat 10/03/2007 02:50:52

Ok, it's been well over two years since I last worked on this game, or browsed these forums for that matter. I've been really busy with my 1st pregnancy and raising my daughter, she's now 14 months old and I'm currently pregnant with our second little girl due June 20th 2007.

It turns out that I lost most of my files from a defective hard drive but thank God I had saved this one background and sprites online - at least not everything is lost. After browsing through the AGS forums, it gave me the courage to give this game another chance. I know it will probably go nowhere but it's a really fun hobby and I love playing around with Photoshop.

The game is called Robots of Dawn, it's based on the C64 text game and I might change a few details to follow the novels a bit more.

Here's the background that was salvaged...

And here I've tried fixing a couple of things...

Let me know what you think, thanks!

Captain Lexington · Sat 10/03/2007 02:57:06

Simply amazing, far better than I could ever do.

But those who can't do, teach, and as such I offer this critique:

Make the outlines either darker and thicker or lighter, because they way they are drawn right now makes it look like a pencil made them.

I'm glad I make 3D graphics, I'd murdered by all the 2D competition.

And even so this is some of the best I've ever seen for an AGS game.

Postmodern_Boy · Sat 10/03/2007 03:50:09

Looks good!

The only thing that I think looks a little strange is the sofa in the second picture. It is elevated off the ground and the light source seems to be above it, but it casts no shadow at all. Looks great though, I would definatly play a game that looks like this.

Snarky · Sat 10/03/2007 04:10:59

Quote from: Postmodern_Boy on Sat 10/03/2007 03:50:09
Looks great though, I would definatly play a game that looks like this.

I already did. It was called "Beneath a Steel Sky"

I remember the background from when you first posted it, CL. Still looks great, and I'm glad you're having another go at it. Robots of Dawn, eh? I think I'd prefer a game based on Caves of Steel or The Naked Sun.

Sparky · Sat 10/03/2007 05:01:42

Quote from: Snarky on Sat 10/03/2007 04:10:59
I already did. It was called "Beneath a Steel Sky"

Except this has better sprites!
I love the sprites. They have heaps of character. The colors are vibrant but not too oversaturated. The female character has a nice dynamic, asymmetrical pose. It seems to me there might be something slightly odd about the male character's legs; maybe his knees and crotch should be nudged down a tad? I can't quite put my finger on it. He looks great though, I hope my sprites come out that good.

As for the background, I like the overall style. The arrangement of furniture feels pretty natural too. I have a perspective question- is the couch part way down the right side of the room? Because it feels like it is, but I'm thrown off by the way the armrest is perfectly in line with the line between the back wall and the floor.

Quote from: Postmodern_Boy on Sat 10/03/2007 03:50:09
Looks good! The only thing that I think looks a little strange is the sofa in the second picture. It is elevated off the ground and the light source seems to be above it, but it casts no shadow at all. Looks great though, I would definatly play a game that looks like this.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I'm seeing a faint shadow beneath the couch. I also think I see one coming toward us from the table/console/machine in the center, and another being cast by the planter on the wall. If you're choosing to keep your shadows faint I can totally respect it. If, on the other hand, you'd like to have them be a strongish element I'd recomment darkening them a little, maybe only the deeper parts of them.

Here I again worry that my comment is not in keeping with the style you've established, but I wonder if some larger scale lighting might be fun. There are lots of great small scale lighting effects, like the highlights on the tiles and the couch, or the lighting along the grooves in the walls. But if you were to zoom out to, say, 1/8 scale the lighting would be relatively uniform. What do you think about strengthening some of the bigger elements (exaggerating the shadow in the rear right corner, brightening the lit part of the right wall more, varying the lighting across the sections of the left wall, etc.)?

Great work.

jetxl · Sat 10/03/2007 10:27:43

The right part of the background gives me headaches.
It took me a moment to figure out that the couch is hanging. There should be shadows underneath it, and not a faint one.
The horizontal line of the end of the coutch is on the same level at that of the end of the room, making it look like the plant stands in the corner. Eighter way the vase and the plant don't touch the wall but go through it?

Ali · Sat 10/03/2007 12:03:47

The second image feels more full and lived in, but I think you've lost a sense of depth by upping the contrast of the exterior. A pale haze, to give the sense of distance and the glass would look better, I think.

I'm glad this background wasn't lost, it's lovely!

Peder 🚀 · Sat 10/03/2007 14:11:49

This reminds me alot of BASS (my top favourite adventure game!)

And I must say! I just love it!

(also congrats with your daughter (a little late) and your new to come one!

)

Anyway, I think they look really great, though as some said..
I diddent notice either that the couch was hanging. so some shadows to show that would be good

.

Looking forward to see more!
And to hear more about the game!

Peder Johnsen.

Andail · Sat 10/03/2007 15:23:45

Yep, remember this pic when it was first posted. I also remember it incited some sort of weird discussion between me and Snarky about the rotation of the earth and whatnot

And yes, I agree with previous posters about its resemblence to BASS backgrounds.

A problem I see with it is that the colourscheme is very "flat". You need to create more depth in your scene.

An idea:

The problem is of course that I haven't taken the time to highlight and crank up individual colours and central objects, making the whole picture a bit washed out. You need to start from here and re-paint certain central elements that the viewer can focus on.

Peder 🚀 · Sat 10/03/2007 15:48:43

Nice edit Andail!!

Damn, this background makes me want to play BASS..

*opens scummvm and starts playing Beneath A Steel Sky*

Peder.

Daniel Thomas · Sat 10/03/2007 16:41:53

the upper corner of the sofa and the low part of the upper wall is sharing a line, this is usually not a good thing. Most of the time it creates confusion and destroys the depth. Cutting lines are the good boys/girls.

I dont know if you have it layerd in photoshop or such and can move the sofa without much problem. But not I think its a little confusing if you dont look hard enough(which can be good in artpieces), the plant looks like its staning on the floor.

Nightfable · Sat 10/03/2007 18:13:18

Thanks for the help, guys! Is this a bit better?

- added shadows (I tried to add more dept to the room).
- moved back of the couch up a bit so that it dosen't share that background line (the couch is supposed to hang from the wall).
- attempted to fix parts of the floor.
- added slight reflection in the window.
- added highlights on the plant and the tree.
- lowered saturation

Do you think I should add some light fixtures above the doorways to add a bit more lighting? Should I leave it like this? I'm afraid I might butcher it. I'm not too sure how to go about with the tree and where it's shadow would fall.

Btw, I absolutely love BASS!... can you tell?

cat · Sat 10/03/2007 18:43:34

Hi!
The colours and shading are much better now, but I don't understand how the couch works. Is it mounted on the wall and does not touch the floor? If yes, where does the pot with the tree stand? This looks somewhat strange.

Nightfable · Sat 10/03/2007 18:59:58

Quote from: cat on Sat 10/03/2007 18:43:34
Hi!
The colours and shading are much better now, but I don't understand how the couch works. Is it mounted on the wall and does not touch the floor? If yes, where does the pot with the tree stand? This looks somewhat strange.

Yes, it's mounted on the wall. The tree is actually resting on a peice of the couch itself, a platform that connects with the wall and couch. I don't know if that makes any sense... I tried to make my background look more futuristic that way.

Captain Lexington · Sat 10/03/2007 19:03:52

You've got another shared line on the couch--the front of the couch (where your legs would come off) and the tiles beneath it. So that is a bit confusing. And the couch's shadow should still be a bit darker, but other than that, very nice.

Nightfable · Sat 10/03/2007 19:26:33

Quote from: The Orator on Sat 10/03/2007 19:03:52
You've got another shared line on the couch--the front of the couch (where your legs would come off) and the tiles beneath it. So that is a bit confusing. And the couch's shadow should still be a bit darker, but other than that, very nice.

Ack! This couch will give me a brain anneurism, I swear!!

cat · Sat 10/03/2007 19:28:27

Quote from: Coffee Lady on Sat 10/03/2007 18:59:58
Yes, it's mounted on the wall. The tree is actually resting on a peice of the couch itself, a platform that connects with the wall and couch. I don't know if that makes any sense... I tried to make my background look more futuristic that way.

Well, that part is a bit confusing because there is a point where the line of the cushion and the line of the wall meet. Maybe you could work out that point more clearly.

Medical Waste · Sat 10/03/2007 19:41:11

The couch needs a more defined shadow to make it clear that it's hanging I think.
I like what you did with the glass.

Nightfable · Sat 10/03/2007 19:50:29

Ok, I tried to fix the problems you've mentioned. How do you find the couch now?

Captain Lexington · Sat 10/03/2007 20:34:40

I think it is an improvement shadow-wise, but I meant something like this:

Please, please excuse how terrible it is.