EGA Art! For SCIv0 & Pandas

Scavenger · Tue 05/04/2011 03:19:13

As a stress reliever, I sometimes pixel things in really restrictive video modes. I'm taking a break from DWEF for a while while I focus on other things. In the meantime, I'd like to experiment with SCI, since it has some really interesting restrictions and foibles in it, especially considering it's the only EGA game engine out there. I'd like to make a game in it.

So, I'd like some critique on these pieces, so I can get more into the EGA mindset. I'm not sure whether I'm doing this right. I got all the 16 colours and I love working with them (I'm sure I must be the only person left in the entire world who feels this way).

Character: A sad panda. Emo. He is jaded with everything, sigh. Based on a drawing a friend of mine did, I just had to pixel him. I wanted to keep the design simple and push the "world weary" angle more than the emo fashion angle, which looks rather ugly. I kind of like the no-pupils look to him, as well. It helps make him look less engaged.

I'm thinking the deaths in the game will be based around mild discomfort more than actual death, keeping the dangerous Sierra zietgeist, but making it amplify really stupid stuff instead of killing off the main character.

And an attempt at an SCI background:

And as a bonus, an SCI font based on the Magic Boy credits font.

So, what y'all think?

cosmicr · Tue 05/04/2011 05:28:41

Quote from: Scavenger on Tue 05/04/2011 03:19:13(I'm sure I must be the only person left in the entire world who feels this way).

you're not the only person - I'm still making AGI pictures every now and then.

As for the pics - well they're not my style, but youve made good use of colour and they look pretty good. If you're going for the sierra feel I dont think you've quite nailed it, but otherwise, keep up the good work!

Armageddon · Wed 06/04/2011 00:35:56

It kinda looks like a mix between the first LucasArts game and some of the middle Sierra games. I really like it. I don't like the hair on the panda though, looks strange. What is SCI?

Khris · Wed 06/04/2011 02:04:47

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=SCI+engine

Armageddon · Wed 06/04/2011 02:15:19

I know it's that, but how do you make games with it? I thought it was for Sierra only.

Scavenger · Wed 06/04/2011 03:03:41

Quote from: Armageddon on Wed 06/04/2011 02:15:19
I know it's that, but how do you make games with it? I thought it was for Sierra only.

With great difficulty. Well, actually, you use a program called SCI Companion/ SCI Studio. But it's still very rough.

In terms of actually going for a style, I just want the pictures to look as good as they could possibly be in EGA, wringing out every little bit of it's potential, rather than sticking to an established style. The Sierra EGA backgrounds were rather lifeless and stiff sometimes.

Armageddon: Are you talking about the hair on his sprite, or the hair of the design itself? I was trying to break up the monotony of the black and white with some highlights, and black and bright colour is very stereotypically emo. I wanted something appealing and easy to animate.

If it's on the sprite, it's probably because the hair is bending the wrong way. I'll fix that and upload it.

Armageddon · Wed 06/04/2011 03:10:48

It looks fine, but I've never seen hair that long on the front, even on an emo guy.

Jim Reed · Wed 06/04/2011 20:52:10

I'd remove some of the black outlines on the doorframe and the cabinet thingy, they kinda stab me in the eye. Maybe if you just left the outmost black outline and use some other colour for the inner ones?

Looks really good btw.

Scavenger · Thu 07/04/2011 02:31:29

That better?

Also, another WIP room:

Armageddon · Thu 07/04/2011 05:41:31

The very top left cloud doesn't fit with the shading of the other clouds. and I'm pretty sure that rad you've added to the back of the book case couldn't have worked in EGA games.

Chicky · Thu 07/04/2011 07:59:42

They're really pretty Scavenger! Can't find any flaws...

Jim Reed · Thu 07/04/2011 09:13:21

Don't listen to Chicky, he sucks! =P

It's better now, though I'd still remove a bit more black from the thingy in the middle (nit-picking here), and the plant holder thingy is also a bit out of perspective, even though you are playing with perspective rules here, it's still showing too much of it's top.

I'd add a light fixture to the ceiling in the second room too. Your lines are pretty good, and I hope ProgZmax decides to tell you more about using a limited palettes, if he has the time, as he really knows how to do magic with so little colors.

On second look, the red and blue floor tiles on the second pic are out of sync a bit, and the left part of the table maybe shouldn't show the back leg on the right side(should be on the left if visible at all) in this perspective, which would mean you should also shift the table cloth/covering on that side by a pixel left too, on the top of the table. Now it looks pretty straight on. I'd do a edit, but maybe later, I don't have the time right now.

All in all, the BeeGees are really nice, barring those few nit picks. Keep up the good work!

Scavenger · Thu 07/04/2011 11:58:40

Fixed the hair on the sprite, now it looks cleaner and clearer.

Does anyone know how I'd animate him walking? He has ludicrously stubby legs. Do I just make him waddle back and forth? x3

No need to do an edit on the table, I did it myself. Will add a light fitting when I get around to doing the ceiling. x3

And these are the EGA colours. I've been using no other colours, just the core 16.

Eggie · Thu 07/04/2011 21:09:23

Looks great. And I hope you're still implementing the idea of the narrator remembering previous playthroughs after 'deaths' and becoming more and more exasperated at the panda's inability to help himself.
That's right, I'm chiselling it into the granite walls of this forum so you'll be held to it.

Armageddon · Thu 07/04/2011 22:52:10

I'd take a look at Hoagie's walkcycle for the Panda, they are about the same anyways.

Scavenger · Fri 08/04/2011 03:46:32

Done the dining room.

And front walk cycle:

Not sure if I should swing the legs forward too.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Fri 08/04/2011 04:22:59

I think you've done a fine job here, and while I don't personally like the AGI palette I understand the enjoyment from working with fewer colors (I love working with the c-64 palette, myself). The restrictions help your artwork in a few key ways, but none more than showing you how best to make use of your colors for shadows, highlights, and blending.

As far as the character goes I think it has a lot of character. Personally I'd bring out his ears more in the side view at least (fan it off to the left so it sticks out a bit if he's facing right) and round out his belly so it looks less jaggy.

The backgrounds are very nice and clean in presentation so my only advice would be to maximize your use of colors for shading and aliasing and to address the ceilings more, either with some kind of edging or ceiling fans or more light sources to keep them from looking so plain. Even some strips of wood supports along it would help break up the visual monotony as the rest of the backgrounds have a lot of interesting things to look at. For instance, in his bedroom you could plaster up a huge poster on the section of the ceiling over his bed, show some darts sticking out of the ceiling in spots (or whatever), maybe a hanging model or two.

I made an edit to give you some ideas.

1. Aliased most of the sharper surfaces.
2. Reshaded several of the objects, adding in grey as a darker tone to limit the dithering needed. Dithering is great, but there is a saturation point you can reach where it just looks bad, so it's good to use your colors as creatively as possible to avoid that.
3. Cleaned up the objects in the room and perspective slightly.
4. Added a rather generic pattern to the floor.
5. Improved the details to bring out shapes with highlights and better definition (like the tv).

The main thing I'd recommend is to focus on making your objects as recognizable as possible since I had difficulty identifying parts around the tv until I really looked. Better highlights and definition can fix this. Also, making the most of your colors can really improve the overall look by reducing the need for dithering. I hope this helps!

Edit: The above image was an earlier version of the one I saved and uploaded by accident. Below is the finished edit. Sorry about that.

Armageddon · Fri 08/04/2011 06:14:12

You need more belly swing and more underfoot on that walk cycle. I love the hair swing though.

Phemar · Fri 08/04/2011 09:36:27

Love it! Looks awesome.

I'm a sucker for AGI and SCI. Especially AGI

160x200 is like the best resolution ever! haha.

Sslaxx · Sat 09/04/2011 13:24:03

To be honest, the only SCI I'd like to see being used is SCI3. But this does look pretty neat all the same!