Background Blitz - 061212-03 (Extended (once again))

[ninepug]

Kinda weird resolution and kinda undone entry ... is better than no entry! :3



I don't mind the first post collection of backgrounds at all, nor any critique.
Couple of very nice entries so far, hopefully more to come .

[ildu]

That's one frickin' awesome technique you got there. And the design is impeccable. I always love the pseudo-WIP techniques people use. They show real raw talent and emphasize the artists' own mark. I suppose this is all done in PS - how did you do that crayon brush?

Hmm. I better get started soon. So little time left .

EDIT: Reminds me a lot of the concept art of Psychonauts, both technique and design-wise (although they used felt pen brushes):

http://mojoart.mixnmojo.com/original-art/psychonauts/concept-art/01.jpg
http://mojoart.mixnmojo.com/original-art/psychonauts/concept-art/02.jpg
http://mojoart.mixnmojo.com/original-art/psychonauts/concept-art/03.jpg
http://mojoart.mixnmojo.com/original-art/psychonauts/concept-art/04.jpg


Reply to the post below:

I suppose this is all done in PS - how did you do that crayon brush?

I don't know how they did it but there is a program called "Art Rage" that can give you some pretty cool effects like that. plus there is a free version. And it looks like they have version 2 now which i've never tried.

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html

Yeah, different techniques can be simulated with PS quite easily, but usually the default ones aren't so great. Or it's not as specific because PS isn't really meant to be solely a drawing prog. I've also got Painter 9, which has everything all simple and layed out, but I don't like the interface in it and I don't have to learn it. Nevertheless PS and Painter are equally competent, though the latter is somewhat of a snob application for art farts . I don't know anything about ArtRage though.

[Tocsik]

I suppose this is all done in PS - how did you do that crayon brush?

I don't know how they did it but there is a program called "Art Rage" that can give you some pretty cool effects like that. plus there is a free version. And it looks like they have version 2 now which i've never tried.

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html

[ninepug]

Wish I could muster the patience to get rid of my pseudo-WIP technique ;].

Background was done in Painter with the variable coloured pencil brush.
imo it is the best program to simulate real materials but unfortunately it's hard to get the colour as clean as in photoshop, though it might just be that I don't know what I'm doing x).
Perfect for the impatient type as it does alot of the blending and texturing by itself.

Looking forward to your entry Ildu, may the awsomeness be with you c:.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I have to show up every so often to show you punks that lots of colors and high definition aren't everything! 

Besides, even Satan has a picnic once in awhile!



14 colors, C-64 palette, C-64 double-wide pixels!

[Steel Drummer]

Tuff BGs, people. Very tuff.

[loominous]

So, any entries in the making? Guess we have enough entries to end the comp tomorrow, though I suppose we could stretch it til sunday so people could get some weekend time.

[MashPotato]

If you extend til Sunday I might be able to make one, but please don't postpone voting just for me because I haven't started it yet...

[ildu]

I haven't started one either, but I might do so tonight. Also, I'm gonna have a lot of free time during the weekend so I might be able to finish it. So, of course, it'd be nice if the deadline was shifted to Sunday.

Now I just need to get the inspiration .

[MashPotato]

Well, I won't be able to finish because I have to help my grandmother move, but here is what I have so far in all its terribleness...


The first church picnic in history, ill-fatedly situated in the Roman Colosseum:

[vict0r]

Well... What do we do then?

[ildu]

Yup, it's too late for me . I don't even have a decent idea, let alone sketches or anything. So don't wait up on me .

EDIT: I just started working on an entry some 30min ago . I'm almost done with sketching, so I hope I'll have it done in time . Would it be problematic to give some 30-60 min extra time?

EDIT: I'm almost done .

Done. This entry doesn't deserve an introduction .



I know it's a friggin' lame idea and crappy altogether , but I guess it's not too bad for 2,5 hours of work. Notice that I had to use typefaces for lettering, because of the hurry. Uggo!

[loominous]

Gonna have to go to bed about now, so we'll just start the voting in the morning. Good luck with that entry!

[ninepug]

Beware of Godzillas!
Love your style :3.

[loominous]

Ok then, let's get the voting started:

the vict0r:

I thought it might have been time to post something

zyndikate:

"But honey, the ridiculously suspicious-looking captain said that this was a nice spot to eat, drink and engage in fun activities!"

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6373/piratebarfinaldc1.png (background only)

Ok, My entry.. and I spent so much time on it I probably could just aswell made a one room game of it.

I didn't want to make the grass-picnic-like background, so I looked the word up in the dictionary too see if there was another way to use it, so I choosed the regular Pirate bar with alot of drinking and fist fighting for everyone.
The purpose was to make a real background that was ready for ingame use, also added cellshaded 2D characters so its shows how it would fit the background ingame, so they dont have any shadows.

It was fun and I learned alot!

EDIT: its looks kinda dark against the forum background color, try it on a dark background.

EDIT: Someone asked me to do a tutorial on how I make my backgrounds, I haven't started yet, but Ill use this one in the tutorial.

Penguin:

Kinda weird resolution and kinda undone entry ... is better than no entry! :3



I don't mind the first post collection of backgrounds at all, nor any critique.
Couple of very nice entries so far, hopefully more to come .

ProgZmax:

I have to show up every so often to show you punks that lots of colors and high definition aren't everything!Ã, 

Besides, even Satan has a picnic once in awhile!



14 colors, C-64 palette, C-64 double-wide pixels!

MashPotato:

Well, I won't be able to finish because I have to help my grandmother move, but here is what I have so far in all its terribleness...


The first church picnic in history, ill-fatedly situated in the Roman Colosseum:

Ildu:

Yup, it's too late for me . I don't even have a decent idea, let alone sketches or anything. So don't wait up on me .

EDIT: I just started working on an entry some 30min ago . I'm almost done with sketching, so I hope I'll have it done in time . Would it be problematic to give some 30-60 min extra time?

EDIT: I'm almost done .

Done. This entry doesn't deserve an introduction .



I know it's a friggin' lame idea and crappy altogether , but I guess it's not too bad for 2,5 hours of work. Notice that I had to use typefaces for lettering, because of the hurry. Uggo!

-

Please place one vote in the following categories

The categories:

Idea - The underlying idea to the background. Doesn't
necessarily have to coincide perfectly with the theme of the
week, just strike you as interesting/amusing/inspiring; a place
you'd really enjoy visiting within a game.

Atmosphere - How well the image manages to evoke a certain
feeling or mood.

Design - How well the elements in the image are designed,
such as landscapes, buildings, decorations, clouds, doorknobs,
etc.

Composition - How well the elements in the image work
together/are positioned in relation to each other.

Functionality - How well it would work when adding sprites, i
ncluding appropriate walking distances, a good angle for
character sprites, clever walkway solutions, easily understood
exits, etc.

Technique - How well the ideas are executed in form of
rendering.

Anyone is welcome to vote, and it would be great if all
participants could provide their own. You don't have to vote
in all categories, and if provide multiple names in a category,
then please be clear about which one is your pick.

Here are the categories, for your copy n paste convinience:

Code: ags

[b]Idea:[/b]
[b]Atmosphere:[/b]
[b]Design:[/b]
[b]Composition:[/b]
[b]Functionality:[/b]
[b]Technique:[/b]
[/code[/b]

Man, this post is huge.

[ninepug]

Idea: ProfZmax, it's the devil having a picnic!
Atmosphere: Zyndikate, candlelight and pirates~
Design: Zyndikate, alot of delicious detail :3
Composition: Ildu, everything seems to be in harmony.
Functionality: Zyndikate, stuff for the inventory and it already has sprites in it :].
Technique: Zyndikate, details and the soft lighting is pure rock :}.

[Snarky]

Idea: MashPotato - It made me laugh.Ã, 
Runners up: ProgZmax, Penguin

Atmosphere: ProgZmax - Just the little demon torturing people in the background, while Satan relaxes in the foreground. Again, made me laugh.
Runner up: Zyndikate

Design: Penguin - I really like the shapes of the balancing meadow and the tree. I can believe in them as objects in space.
Runners up: ProgZmax (For the puffing volcanolets in the foreground), Zyndikate (all the little details)

Composition: Penguin - I'm a sucker for tall compositions, and I can see this one scrolling well. Also the precariousness of the central part makes it interesting to look at.
Runners up: ProgZmax, ildu

Functionality: Zyndikate - In addition to all the stuff loominous mentions, I can see this as a fun screen to play on. Things to look at, things to pick up, people to talk to, etc.
Runner up: Penguin

Technique: Zyndikate - Very nicely "inked" and colored. The lighting effects are subtle but effective.
Runners up: ProgZmax, Penguin

Critique:
the vict0r - A good entry all around, though edged out by others in each category. If this blitz had a "storytelling" category, I'd pick this one. I think some shadows on the foreground grass (like on the more distant hill) would make it more interesting and be more consistent lighting-wise. The composition is a bit sparse (this also impacts the functionality by lack of clearly indicated exits), and the lack of anything (distant mountains, whatever) behind the far hill detracts.

zyndikate - Obviously well executed. Pirates just aren't that interesting, IMO. Also, the tables seem off-perspective, and the center table and stool look a bit flat.

Penguin - Big fan! I tend to be very tolerant of "sketchiness", and by just losing the blue lines (or turning them black where appropriate), and maybe adding some small details to the background hills, I would be happy to call this image done. I love your rendering of the sun, the cartoony tree, the clouds, the grass and the rock. Not so keen on the barrel and the blanket. Also, this kind of wacky cartoon landscape is a tad unoriginal.

ProgZmax - What can I say? Extremely cool. The demon nymphs frolicking in the pool are great fun. I don't understand the shadow? reflection? behind Satan. They're not sitting in tar, are they? Also, functionality-wise it seems a bit crowded.

MashPotato - Great idea, wish you'd had time to do more with it. I am not quite sure what purpose this background would have in an adventure game, but that might just be my lack of imagination. One potential problem is that the joke is not apparent from the background, it requires your explanation. Of course, you could include that in the game, but I think that putting in, say, a sign would help communicate the story within the image itself.

Ildu - I have to admit, I'm not loving this background, definitely compared to some of the other stuff you have produced. The idea is OK, and improved a lot by the Godzilla sign, but I find the geometric/angular style a bit too agressive. I know you can do better, buddy.

[buloght]

Idea: MashPotato: Made me laugh too 
Atmosphere: Zyndicate: The lighting and feel of the room makes it seem like a jolly darkish pirateish bar ... eh.
Design: Penguin: It really is a very interesting design with the tree leading all the way.
Composition: ProgZmax: I really love what achieved with the double pixel.
Functionality: ProgZmax, runner up Zyndicate, but this is unfair since you both added sprites 
Technique: Zyndicate

[Steel Drummer]

Technique: Penguin. Very cartoony looking. Love it.
Composition: Penguin.
Atmosphere: zyndikate
Design: Penguin
Functionality: ildu (would've said zyndikate but he included sprites)
Idea: Penguin

[Snarky]

You voted twice for technique and composition (and different each time) and forgot about idea. (Edit:Fixed) Also, zyndikate posted a link to his background without the sprites.