Maniac Mansion characters in DOTT style

[GarageGothic]

This has been a really interesting thread to follow. To add my two cents, I always considered Dave the only "normal" guy in the group - although he is popular and does play football, he's not a sterotype like the others. Just look at the box cover. He's more of a Ferris Bueller or Marty McFly than he's like Emilio Estevez' jock character from Breakfast Club.

Also he shouldn't be too buff - after all he needs to use the excercise equipment to be able to open the garage door.

[big brother]

Then again, Dave is a college football player. The qb at that level would be buff. Even a kicker has the similar mandatory weight training programs. But yeah, the "working out to open the garage door" puzzle is definitely a "filler" one (ridiculous and unecessary).

I think it's a pity this thread was dredged up again. I get the impression everyone ignored the experts' advice (like Helm and Loominous). Sure other people's advice may only require changing a few pixels, but one needs to approach the project from a different angle. Sometimes it's not easy to assume an open mindset.

Misj' had an excellent point; it's difficult (and often pointless) to imitate a style outside the boundaries of that game's exigence. The DOTT style was made specifically for DOTT, not MM, or any other game. Rather than force fitting a style, one must evaluate their own project, and decide on something that best suits its needs or goals.

[Scummbuddy]

The only reason I was sorry to see this thread brought back up was because I had already posted it on my Maniac Zombies site. Now I have to add the last couple posts that count.

On the other hand, I would love for this thread to continue, especially with the extra image added. I would love to see all the characters done in a very respectable manner, pixely, of course.

[Khris]

Ok, time to bring this back up.

Had a go at redoing Michael.


MMD, sketch by Misj', mine, Bernard for reference


I tried to emulate the style of Dott and went for a stereotypical approach.
Thoughts? Comments?

[Hudders]

I tried to emulate the style of Dott and went for a stereotypical approach.
Thoughts? Comments?

That's pretty awesome. I especially like the haircut.

Legs are a bit straight and at an odd angle. He looks like he might topple over or start walking with a "Ministry of Silly Walks" style.

Alongside Bernard, he also looks a bit stiff. TBH he reminds me of when they used to get guest stars in on the A-Team, (who weren't actors).

[Khris]

Thanks, the afro was kind of a last minute addition.

About the legs: I have to admit one could think he had lifted his heels off the ground.

[Misj']

Legs are a bit straight and at an odd angle. He looks like he might topple over or start walking with a "Ministry of Silly Walks" style.

About the legs: I have to admit one could think he had lifted his heels off the ground.

While it's true, that they are very straight, and he's leaning forward - so his point of gravity is in front of his body - standing slightly on his toes, I actually think it fits the character (read: I did the same thing in the sketch, so now I'll have to defend it  ): standing leaned forward makes him eager. He's a 'jounalist', and wants to press on to reveal this great story. Going back is not an option.

I do agree that it makes him a little stiff (maybe), but that could easily be helped by having an idle animation where he just can't stand still (which would exaggerate his eagerness even further).

The only thing thing I feel that needs a little tweaking are his shoulder, arm, and hand. And maybe he could hold his camera with his left hand or something...but than again, these could also easily be solved in an idle animation.

All in all: I like the sprite (especially the shoes  ).

Misj'

[Hudders]

standing leaned forward makes him eager. He's a 'jounalist', and wants to press on to reveal this great story. Going back is not an option.

He looks like he's peering over a wall! That's probably quite journalistic, actually!

I do agree that it makes him a little stiff (maybe), but that could easily be helped by having an idle animation where he just can't stand still (which would exaggerate his eagerness even further).

Haha. I like this idea. Something like him hopping from one foot to the other.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Having played the game again just recently the sprite style is fresh in my mind so I did an edit.

1.  Removed the whites around his eyes.  Some of the dignified characters (less silly) like Jefferson didn't have any and it makes mike look a bit less weirded out.

2.  Adjusted his height to fit in with the pre-existing DoTT characters.  Bernard was one of the tallest characters in the game (even slouched over!).

3.  Made legs a bit more spindly to fit in with the style.

4.  Made hands larger to fit in with the style.



I think you've gotten close enough to the style, I would just recommend playing the game or looking at some other DoTT sprites aside from Bernard if you can to get a feel for the different eyes and general shapes they used for the bodies and such.  Nice work!

[Khris]

Really cool edit!
I somehow couldn't bring myself to keep the shading as minimalistic as is the case with the Dott Chars, cause it makes them look very flat, IMO.

Your sprite really hits the spot, I'd just tone down the outline of the shoes and move in his left eye by one pixel.

[jetxl]

Funny. I never saw Michael as african-american, but as indian.

[Mister L]

Now we have some good versions of the whole team:


I've made Razor, Syd, Sandy and Jeff myself, using some parts from 'dott' and 'Sam&Max'. 

If anyone wants to work on/with them:

And Mark Eteer (right) is made from George Washington.  8)

[Steel Drummer]

Wow! Those are great. Sandy's head is a bit off-center, but other than that, they look superb. Someone should make a Maniac Mansion remake.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Now *that* is DoTT style. Great stuff!

[Tuomas]

Sorry to sound stupid, I never played MM, but the guy with no eyes, is he supposed to look like he's falling on his back?

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Supposed to look like he's surfing.

[Mister L]

Jepp, he's also called 'Sufer Dude'

[Mould Cheeze]

Wow, they really look awful!




Is this really constructive?  No, it's not.  If you don't have anything constructive to add don't add anything at all.
-ProgZ

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

You're definitely on the right track here, but the main thing you're forgetting is consistency between the characters.  Syd for example looks like a giant compared to the others, and in DoTT Bernard is actually one of the tallest characters (taller than Laverne, Hoagie, Ben Franklin, George Washington and Dr. Fred, for instance).  I did an edit of just a few of them to give you some ideas of making their proportions similar.

1.  Reduced the width of BB's Dave and adjusted the colors to look more varsity.  Also put the highlights on the hair at the very top.

2.  Altered Sandy to fit more with Dave's varsity outfit and reduced her height.

3.  Reduced Syd's height and redesigned him to look more consistent with the other characters.  He is now the tallest character in the group (not counting Mike's afro).

4.  Altered one orange color to be a bit lighter for Syd and Sandy's hair highlights since the next orange was too close to their skin tone.



You don't need to use these as a basis, just make sure all of the characters are drawn to the same scale and with the same colors.  Syd and Sandy were using different skin tones and outlines, for instance.  Nice work!

Edit:  Added Wendy really quickly.

Edit 2:  I really like how Misj did Sandy's hair so I altered her.  Also added Jeff by request.  This is really all I'm going to do since this thread is about helping someone's art look like DoTT style, not to actually do it all for them .

[Mister L]

Wow, very impressive!  :o
Could you also do a rework on Jeff? I think your versions are the best, yet. 

I only miss Dave's jacket.