Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Competitions & Activities => Topic started by: OneDollar on Wed 11/05/2022 21:01:28

Title: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)
Post by: OneDollar on Wed 11/05/2022 21:01:28
Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter - voting now open

(https://onedollarproductions.co.uk/uploads/UnexpectedShelter.jpg)
You're a long way from civilisation... or so you thought. Suddenly you come across a strange structure. It looks man-made, but what's it doing here? Who built it? Are they still here?

Your goal is to draw a background suitable for an adventure game that fits with the theme of Unexpected Shelter. Use the pictures above for inspiration if you like, but also feel free to think outside of the box.

You have until the 2nd of June to get your entries in. Have fun!

It's now voting time! As per usual voting is open to all and I want to hear your favourite for each of the following three categories:

Concept: What is the background about? What sort of mood does it spark? What is, as it were, the big idea?
Playability: What is its opportunity for gameplay like? Walkable areas, hot-spots, and so forth?
Artistic Execution: How well does the picture convey an atmosphere? How well is it executed?

The deadline for voting is the 9th of June.

Entries:
[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/J3tQ1Bf/shelter-copy.png[/imgzoom]
by stylez75

(https://i.imgur.com/gria19I.png)
by Mouth for war

(https://i.imgur.com/Cnkfcth.jpeg)
by Hannah_Banana

(https://i.imgur.com/AI28O49.gif)
by newwaveburritos

[imgzoom]https://i.imgur.com/n6NJJOI.png[/imgzoom]
by Nr. 2698

(https://i.ibb.co/Tg4bj01/shelter.png)
by milkanannan
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: stylez75 on Thu 12/05/2022 19:57:33

I've attached my entry. Enjoy!
[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/J3tQ1Bf/shelter-copy.png[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Mouth for war on Thu 12/05/2022 22:00:08
Not sure it's safe in there though ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/gria19I.png)
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Stupot on Sat 14/05/2022 10:16:02
Quote from: OneDollar on Wed 11/05/2022 21:01:28
You have until the 2nd of April to get your entries in.

This is very generous of you.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: OneDollar on Sat 14/05/2022 12:55:32
Wow that's not even this month, I must have been half asleep when I posted that. Thanks Stupot, deadline fixed.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: newwaveburritos on Sun 15/05/2022 17:35:52
Unexpected shelter is pretty much the theme of the game I'm working on now where you find yourself stranded in a castle full of spooky monsters in love with each other.  And I haven't yet drawn the castle itself so I'll definitely be posting something soon.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Mon 16/05/2022 22:33:30
Entries are looking really cool so far everyone! Hoping I can get one in later this month (waiting on inspiration to strike).

@mouthforwar what software did you use to create yours?
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Mouth for war on Tue 17/05/2022 10:02:58
Thanks! I used Poser for this :-)
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Tue 17/05/2022 22:51:57
Quote from: Mouth for war on Tue 17/05/2022 10:02:58
Thanks! I used Poser for this :-)

Nice! I haven’t used Poser before, will have to check it out!
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Fri 20/05/2022 12:53:47
Beads of sweat fall off your forehead as you stumble through the desert. It’s been days since you last saw civilisation and you now barely have a mouthful of water left in your supply when you see a vision to your left.

Is it real? You pick up your pace, hoping this isn’t another mirage in the desert sun. As you feel the sand change under your feet, you realise it’s really there. How unexpected!

You make your way to the bar to be greeted by a fast-talking salesman. Can it be? It’s Stan! Last time you saw him he had sold you that overpriced vessel that had capsized leaving you stranded on Chimp Island. Now that had been an adventure to escape from!

Looking past Stan you see a recipe, your favourite cocktail - the Mojito. If only you could find the ingredients… but where would you find them in the middle of a desert (or at least close substitutes… ).

(https://i.imgur.com/Cnkfcth.jpg)
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: newwaveburritos on Sat 21/05/2022 18:04:10
(https://i.imgur.com/AI28O49.gif)

You fall out of a vortex and into a fjord.  Crawling out, you find an architecturally baffling castle off on the horizon.  It's the only shelter as far as you can tell and it's getting dark...
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Mouth for war on Sat 21/05/2022 20:55:51
Nice entry newwaveburritos :-)
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: cat on Mon 23/05/2022 08:23:30
Wonderful entries so far.

@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails  8-0
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Mandle on Mon 23/05/2022 11:12:27
Quote from: cat on Mon 23/05/2022 08:23:30
@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails  8-0

(laugh) (laugh) (laugh)
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Mon 23/05/2022 12:22:02
Quote from: cat on Mon 23/05/2022 08:23:30
Wonderful entries so far.

@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails  8-0

Hahahaha that could get interesting….  :-X  can’t wait to see what Stan’s new shop is in the new Monkey Island!
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: OneDollar on Thu 26/05/2022 18:31:14
Great entries all round! If anyone else wants to join in this is your one week reminder until voting starts.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: Nr. 2698 on Fri 03/06/2022 02:26:34
Another new entry at the last minute. I hope that still counts.

After letting the work on the background drag on a bit, I rushed it in a few hours.
It's all hand pixelated.

After doing a lot of monochrome work, I've now experimented with EGA.

You're stranded on an island and you find this weird tree house.

Will you stay for tea with rum and gunpowder? It remains exciting.

Enjoy!

[imgzoom]https://i.imgur.com/n6NJJOI.png[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: newwaveburritos on Fri 03/06/2022 03:11:02
EGA is my favorite!  Glad to have a fellow EGAer.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (OPEN)
Post by: milkanannan on Fri 03/06/2022 06:04:56
(https://i.ibb.co/Tg4bj01/shelter.png)

Hope I’m not too late! (Cool theme btw)

Edit: that’s supposed to be a cave  (laugh) pixel art isn’t my forte
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: OneDollar on Fri 03/06/2022 11:53:28
OK, entries are now closed and it's officially voting time! There's six wonderful backgrounds to choose from, but only three categories. Comment with your favourite background for each of the following:

Concept: What is the background about? What sort of mood does it spark? What is, as it were, the big idea?
Playability: What is its opportunity for gameplay like? Walkable areas, hot-spots, and so forth?
Artistic Execution: How well does the picture convey an atmosphere? How well is it executed?

You can see a summary of all the entries up in the first post (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=59965.msg636646135#msg636646135).

The deadline for voting is the 9th of June (I think I've got the right month this time).
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Mon 06/06/2022 10:54:32
Getting my votes in with the below. Great entries everyone! Enjoy seeing where everyone took this theme.

Concept: newwaveburritos - can picture stumbling across this creepy castle late at night with plenty of opportunity to build up the story and gameplay!
Playability: Nr. 2698 - could imagine coming across a scene like this in game, like the Swiss family Robinson. Good eye for detail with plenty to interact with (I wonder what gameplay could come from the underwear on the line or that cannon).
Artistic Execution: Nr. 2698 - love the look of this one. Very cool!
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Hobo on Mon 06/06/2022 12:37:58
Great to see so many entries in this one and the variety of styles and ideas!

Concept: Nr. 2698
Playability: Hannah_Banana
Artistic Execution: newwaveburritos
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Elvis Tanner on Mon 06/06/2022 17:38:25
Very nice work, everyone!

Concept: Hannah_Banana
Playability: stylez75
Artistic Execution: newwaveburritos
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Nr. 2698 on Mon 06/06/2022 17:42:33
Concept:
In this case, @Mouth for war gets to the heart of the matter best and also conveys the appropriate atmosphere

Playability:
In this case it is the background of @Hannah_Banana. Here the figure can perform many interactions and it also offers space for other characters.

Artistic Execution: Here it is also the work of @Hannah_Banana. At first glance, it looks unusual because it has no perspective. This is intentional as far as I can see. The color palette is also nice and coherent and it has a nice stroke.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Mouth for war on Mon 06/06/2022 20:32:01
Concept: newwaveburritos
Playability: newwaveburritos
Artistic Execution Nr. 2698
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: Racoon on Mon 06/06/2022 23:20:50
Concept: Hannah_Banana, such a funny idea. Love it. There is nothing Stan can't make a business of.
Playability: Hannah_Banana
Artistic Execution: This was a close one between Hannah_Banana and newwaveburritos. My vote goes to newwaveburritos because its beautiful and I have been into pixel art lately and you even took the effort to animate it a little.
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: cat on Wed 08/06/2022 09:14:39
Concept: Hannah_Banana
Playability: Hannah_Banana - apart from the obvious interactive parts of the screen, it is also cleverly planned as scrolling room. Just imagine walking in from the left side and then discovering the bar and pool area.
Artistic Execution: newwaveburritos with Hannah_Banana as a close second
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (VOTING)
Post by: ildu on Wed 08/06/2022 10:17:30
Concept: Hannah_Banana. A colorful oasis in the middle of a vast desert is a great interpretation of the theme. And having Stan randomly appear is the cherry on top :-D. Good job!
Playability: Nr. 2698. I already want to play this. It really evokes a piratey vibe!
Artistic Execution: newwaveburritos. I think this one is fantastic :). Cool style, bold visual ideas, interesting colors - definitely a very unique look, while still being viable.

By the way, super awesome to see so many entries and and voters!
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)
Post by: OneDollar on Fri 10/06/2022 21:30:38
It was very close but with 9 votes (and despite the threat of previously owned cocktails) our winner is Hannah_Banana's desert oasis!

Thanks for all the entries and votes everyone, and over to Hannah for the next theme...
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Sat 11/06/2022 11:35:11
Thanks everyone for the votes. Tough competition with so many great entries!
Nr . 2968, would love to see this in a game and what fun side activities you could come up with the cannon and clothesline.
Newwaveburritos, can see a character stumbling across this castle late at night. Love that you even went the extra effort to add some animation to it.

I’ll start a post tomorrow with the new theme. ☺️ Look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!
Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)
Post by: Nr. 2698 on Sun 12/06/2022 22:58:14
Hey Hannah,

congratulations for winning the competition. :)
Yeah, it would be funny to work out something like a self-timer for the gun if the weight on the line isn't right or something.
If the thing goes off, the occupant of the tree comes back and is not at all amused.

Title: Re: Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)
Post by: Hannah_Banana on Mon 13/06/2022 05:51:05
Quote from: Nr. 2698 on Sun 12/06/2022 22:58:14
Hey Hannah,

congratulations for winning the competition. :)
Yeah, it would be funny to work out something like a self-timer for the gun if the weight on the line isn't right or something.
If the thing goes off, the occupant of the tree comes back and is not at all amused.

That’d be awesome! Like the crazy old man in monkey island.

You could either aim for something on the isle or the cannon rocks back once fired making a hole in the deck (appearing afterwards in a different backdrop). You can have all sorts of fun with cannons.

Otherwise you need the clothes on the line to dress as another character to enter a secret clubhouse - putting together some kind of fun disguise!