Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter (WINNER ANNOUNCED)

[OneDollar]

Background Blitz: Unexpected Shelter - voting now open


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


by Mouth for war


by Hannah_Banana


by newwaveburritos

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


by milkanannan

[stylez75]

I've attached my entry. Enjoy!
[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/J3tQ1Bf/shelter-copy.png[/imgzoom]

[Mouth for war]

Not sure it's safe in there though

[Stupot]

You have until the 2nd of April to get your entries in.

This is very generous of you.

[OneDollar]

Wow that's not even this month, I must have been half asleep when I posted that. Thanks Stupot, deadline fixed.

[newwaveburritos]

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.

[Hannah_Banana]

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?

[Mouth for war]

Thanks! I used Poser for this :-)

[Hannah_Banana]

Thanks! I used Poser for this :-)

Nice! I haven’t used Poser before, will have to check it out!

[Hannah_Banana]

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… ).

[newwaveburritos]

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...

[Mouth for war]

Nice entry newwaveburritos :-)

[cat]

Wonderful entries so far.

@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails 

[Mandle]

@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails 

[Hannah_Banana]

Wonderful entries so far.

@Hannah_Banana: Will Stan sell previously owned cocktails 

Hahahaha that could get interesting….    can’t wait to see what Stan’s new shop is in the new Monkey Island!

[OneDollar]

Great entries all round! If anyone else wants to join in this is your one week reminder until voting starts.

[Nr. 2698]

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]

[newwaveburritos]

EGA is my favorite!  Glad to have a fellow EGAer.

[milkanannan]

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

Edit: that’s supposed to be a cave  pixel art isn’t my forte

[OneDollar]

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.

The deadline for voting is the 9th of June (I think I've got the right month this time).

[Hannah_Banana]

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!

[Hobo]

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

[Elvis Tanner]

Very nice work, everyone!

Concept: Hannah_Banana
Playability: stylez75
Artistic Execution: newwaveburritos

[Nr. 2698]

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.

[Mouth for war]

Concept: newwaveburritos
Playability: newwaveburritos
Artistic Execution Nr. 2698

[Racoon]

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.

[cat]

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

[ildu]

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 . 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!

[OneDollar]

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...

[Hannah_Banana]

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!

[Nr. 2698]

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.

[Hannah_Banana]

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!