My first background... opinions would be great

[gypsysnail]

Hi all, this is my first background that I have ever done for a game. It is a house of the character at the start of the game and I would like some opinions please, constructive critiscm . The garden will when the player clicks look at the window, will come up as a close up - as a room of its own and the water feature will be animated. I hope people will like this first background *nervous grin*



Its meant to be slightly cartoonish and colouful, thats the theme of it in the game but some rooms like inside some buildings will be darkish with a soft glow. What I would also like to ask is what you all think of the background behind the image - black and purple hue? Now your opinions for this one

[Graphix]

You shaded the couch a bit too much..
And the room is a bit too messy and full so it's not nice..
Take a pillow off the floor in front of the couch to make it better.

[gypsysnail]

room is meant to be messy.... and yeah the couches got that sort of shade. AND why do u think the cushions are there??? they re floor cushions. the rooms meant to be cozy. thank you anyway. Have a nice day

[ildu]

Looks cozy and well-detailed, but there are some main issues:

- The perspective is pretty screwed. That's the first thing people should take into consideration when starting a bg, and it's very important, even if it's a cartoonish image. I'm not saying it's totally screwed, but there are obvious parts that are.

- The couch is way too big if you compare it to the tv and the cabinet which are roughly at the same height. Also, it takes most of the viewer's attention, because it's so big, bright and differently shaded.

- The composition is a tad confusing. Are there supposed to be two walk away solutions at the bottom of the screen?

- As for the purple frame of the image, it's a bit intrusive. In my opinion it blocks away a little too much of the room. And the shape and color being what they are, aren't helping. I'd suggest making a steadier shape for it, like an oval, and color it pitch black. Also, if you had an oval for example, you could decorate the edges of it and have it as part of the GUI solution.

Otherwise, so far so good .

[gypsysnail]

Thanks ildu for those comments, that will help a lot. Yes I did think the background behind the image should be black only so you confirmed what my 2nd thought was.

Ah its not a gui such as, its a room but I like your idea of decorating it around the edges, oval could be an idea, I will give it a go this week. Yep there are two walk ways down the bottom, one to the left leads to the kitchen and one outside, but I think I will need to really think on that one how I will do two in one edge hmmm. Thanks for the ideas on the sofa, it is huge lol. I will resize that also. Also want to ask if this

even if it's a cartoonish image. I'm not saying it's totally screwed, but there are obvious parts that are.

means the sofa and the things you mentioned further in your post or extra things? and

The couch is way too big if you compare it to the tv and the cabinet which are roughly at the same height.

what do you mean same height of what?.... of the sofa or? It helps havin really good feed back so thanks again .

[Chicky]

I like it, lovely details

[gypsysnail]

Thanks Chicky!! Yes many people have said there is lots of details, it makes the whole room look interesting and gives the player plenty of scope for searching for things and making the puzzles harder, hence more fun I guess .

[ildu]

means the sofa and the things you mentioned further in your post or extra things?

Well, certain parts are not in perspective, such as the sofa, the sofa table, the stands on the far wall, etc.

what do you mean same height of what?.... of the sofa or?

When objects are at the same height in one-point perspective, they have the same scale. So the computer table or tv is pretty much at the same base height as the cabinet on the opposite wall, so they have the same scale. And since the sofa is partly at that height as well, it can be compared to those objects and it's obviously in a larger scale.

[gypsysnail]

Thanks ildu, your comments really have helped. I have done a bit of altering on my image, particularly on the sofa, small table and knitting basket in front of it, going from what you suggested (also I altered the carpets perspective a bit so it looks like its goin smaller going to the back of the room and the top pink cushion on floor has been made a bit smaller, the background behind image pitch black but not yet worked on the shape of the room), and I hope it looks better now, but maybe it does need a bit more work, but I have to be up early tomorrow so have to go to bed now, but here is the image so far...... (not sure should I post the image two times even though its changed? Let me know if that isnt to be done and I will modify as so not to clutter up the forums)

[thewalrus]

     Looking great, gypsy. Keep up the awesome work..... (wow, that is some first background)

[Buckethead]

great 1st BG!! well done!!    The only thing that bothers me is the shape of black border. I would rather make it square.

[gypsysnail]

Thank you thank you everyone for your support I'm really glad you like my background and for the suggestions for improvements . Yes buckethead, the shape is quite different, I will try yours and ildu's ideas for shapes and see how it effects the whole image, worth a try. Gotta run to work now, catch you all laters, thanks again. Cheers