Stairs Sketch Perspective

[Khris]

Ah, I can see it now.

How about this:


I just eyeballed this, but it looks about right. Except for the horribly deformed stairs on the left which still can't be seen if they are supposed to resemble the others even slightly.

[Danman]

Go out and meet some girls. On the whole, they are pretty good artists, Calin notwithstanding.

ddq: How can meeting girls help with art? That is a weird way to work. What do u say to a girl : Hi I need help with my game will you go out with me.  lol


That looks a lot better Khris. You been helping me a lot today. . The stairs on the left was just the only way I could draw it.
I will most definitely use your version maybe edit it a bit. At this rate I think I should add you to the credits of my game

[Captain Ricco]

the left stairs shouldn appear at all

but khris version is good

[Scarab]

I don't see the purpose of this room.

Buildings in adventure games aren't designed the same as ones in the real world, the principle of "it exists in the game world" is not enough for a place to be actually included in the game. For instance, if you are playing a game with many buildings in it, rarely will you be able to go into a building's bathroom, even though in the real world, it obviously has to be there. If you enter a fiend's apartment block, and he is the only person you need to see, then the entrance should take you straight to his apartment, and cut out the middle man.

Why not have the room on the right as the main room, and then when you walk over to the hallway, POP! you're at the bottom of the stairs.

It is fully implied that the player walked down the stairs by the fact that he walked over to the hallway where the only thing is stairs, especially with an Overhotspot label. The lower landing is completely pointless really.

[Danman]

Yea but I want to add it. Cause It gives me some space for ideas for puzzles and characters.  This is the first time for me to do puzzles in my game too. This game is all in one building so I like to make the player have the choice to go anywhere in that building. So far I got 6 rooms including the 2 stairs backgrounds.

And 6 rooms to do puzzles is easier for me to think of puzzles.  Otherwise I would agree most games don't show stairs.

Ricco: OK I will change the stairs to a better perspective. I think I just lower it a lot. To make it just visible

Edit: Scarab: Funny enough in my game you can go in the bathroom too.

[Ali]

Dan, you really shouldn't be able to see the stairs on the left hand side. They should be completely invisible, but the player should still know they are there. Perhaps you could have paintings on the wall that get lower to indicate the presence of stairs.

What you might want to do is look at SSH's Downhill Module, in order to make the character walk downstairs facing away from the camera work.

However my main advice would be that you consider the functionality of backgrounds when you start drawing. Sketches, photos and 3D mockups can help you with that. Doing this might help you get a background that works without going back to the drawing board so often.

[Khris]

Indeed, and to reiterate a bit:
Google SketchUp is the ideal tool for that. It's really easy to learn, lightweight and free.

[Anian]

Indeed, and to reiterate a bit:
Google SketchUp is the ideal tool for that. It's really easy to learn, lightweight and free.

Yeah and gives nice clean and simple lines that you don't even have to trace over if you don't want, plus it's free if you don't mind using Print screen and don't need actual 3d models for something else (there are free better renderes as well but that'll make a bit more complicated).
Seriously you can learn to use it in 1 afternoon and they have about 20 short tutorials on their page that'll teach you everything you need to know (there is more but for painting over this is enough).

Use the screens, try the sprites, if they don't work turn the camera around a bit and when you are satisfied, you can't paint over it (or use them as they are if it suits your style. I tried to do it in sketchup and had that scene set up in like 15 minutes.

[Danman]

Yea I will try Google sketchup. One advantage about 3D is it is 100% accurate perspective wise.


@Ali I think this will be a problem about that plug in, I am using the newest beta. 3.2 RC 3. I don't think it is compatible. 

but anyhow I think that the background will be the end of the game anyway. I put like a sign saying exit there now.
Maybe I will also do a painting there like you said.

Thanks I think you right I will make the stairs completely invisible. 

[Ali]

Glad to hear that, Dan!

By the way, it's very easy to update SSH's module, I've explained how I got it working for me in the module's thread.

[Danman]

OK I will play with the module and see what I can do.  I don't think it will be necessary but I will do it anyway. Cause at that point at the stairs it changes the room to a question asking "  Go home" or "Go back in".

But what I will do is if the player chooses "go home" then it will show her going down stairs part.


but anyway this is off topic cause this is the critic lounge.

Thanks though Ali for your help . 

[Galen]

If you're so adverse to 3D then do what I do, draw the surfaces that will be "flat" to the viewer,use a red dot to mark your vanishing point and draw lines from your edges to the center, clipping the lines to leave the finished perspective:

[Danman]

Well I actually got Google Sketch up ( Which I will use for times like before I started this thread.)

But Usually I would just draw it like that. But thanks for describing your technique.

I still don't believe in using 3D always still. Cause then everybody's games would look the same .
But I will use it at times I am desperate. But Thanks anyway Crazy

[Khris]

I can feel my fingers going numb already, but well:

But Usually I would just draw it like that.

That's exactly why we advised you to use SketchUp in the first place, buddy.
It takes skill/practice to do that, and you simply didn't have it.

Also, consistent proportions and correct perspective are so abundant in the world outside the computer that we don't really notice that anymore but focus on other stuff like textures, details, overall style, etc.
So no, not all games will look the same if everyone who wants 3D does it properly.

[Danman]

Well I know what you saying Khris. But I just love to try do it the Old fashion way. But I will take your advice next time I am stuck. I agree I don't have it I suck at art. But I like to try at least.  Also I try to draw to Improve my art and perspective. Art is a thing I can think on how to do to the pixel. But when I try it just falls apart.

Anyway thanks Khris. I will use Sketchup when I next have any perspective problem.


Edit: Also by what I mean all games 3d will look the same. Some well many games Look good even with bad perspective. Just makes it the games art style.  Anyway you dont have to tell me that I am wrong I know what your point is 3D is a good tool. For People that cant draw like me. 

[Anian]

Edit: Also by what I mean all games 3d will look the same. Some well many games Look good even with bad perspective. Just makes it the games art style.  Anyway you dont have to tell me that I am wrong I know what your point is 3D is a good tool. For People that cant draw like me. 

There is a difference between a bad perspective and stylized perspective (not the right word though ), I mean you might say Monkey Isle 3 has bad perspective, but it's just a style of drawing, the perspective is correct.
I mean Grim fandango and  stuff like Still life are both prerendered 3d backgrounds with 3d characters, but you wouldn't say they look the same.

[Danman]

Well that is what I meant just couldn't find the wording . stylized perspective is probably a bit better.