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[gypsysnail]

Ok After counting all votes the results are as follows:

joelphilippage - 6 votes

gypsysnail - 17 votes

Zapper - 3 votes

Postmodern_Boy - 8 votes

Esper - 14 votes

So the winner is gypsysnail !!!
Congratulations, start the next competition as soon as you like!

To all the other contestants: Thank you very much for participating! Keep on making backgrounds!

To the voters: Great input! This way there's really something behind this competition.

OK, time to start voting then

Idea - gypsysnail

Atmosphere - Postmodern_Boy

Design -  gypsysnail

Composition -  esper

Functionality -  esper

Technique - Postmodern_Boy

Alright, how much extension do you need? Two days sound ok?

Good question.

Does anybody need more time on this? We got three nice entries but I'm willing to give one or two days extension since I know how tough it can be to give a background its final touch.

If no one replies to this until 6 a.m. GMT (should give everyone a fair chance) I say we start voting.

Cool, a first entry already!
Nice work!
I hope it's not too much to ask, but could you guys give maybe a line of information about the background, i.e. how it is important for the book? It would certainly help to assess how well the required atmossphere was created. Thanks!

Is it really that disappointing to have only 2 snakes in here so far? Looking back to other rounds of Colouring Ball it seems that using the shape to create something other than the obvious often created very interesting results. But if it's really such a bother to some of you that there aren't enough snakes in here, I'll just see if I can create another one...

EDIT:
Ok, thanks Pablo for clearing that up...
Anyways, I want to enter another snake for those reptile-lovers out there...

14 colors + transparency
Ã,  X2

[Theme]

Ok, here's the theme for the next background blitz starting today:

Theme
Draw a background that would be suited for a fan-game based on your favorite book. Should be some place where the story takes a crucial turn or where important things happen.

Requirements
The background should be no larger than 640x480 and I'd appreciate it if it included 256 colors only. However, should that not be enough to complete your idea, I'll accept more colors.


Voting
The voting starts at 00:00 GMT Sunday the 4th. It ends 24h later.

(Cut and paste from previous posts here)
Voting 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.

(end of c&p)

Well then, happy painting guys!

Da_elf:
I already have a pixel portrait of myself 8) but I was just too modest to enter it hereÃ, 

I think the big eyes work great!
I wasn't sure if the guy was actually afraid of someone ripping off more limbs from his body, if he was pranking somebody and running away grinning or if he just clenched his teeth in pain. But now it's pretty obvious.

You might consider opening his mouth for a scream of horror or so 

x3

Here's a well known master of his trade... I would have included the logo but I wasn't sure because of copyright reasons.

115x215Ã,  20 colors including transparency

Ok, I tried a paintover for this one, too.

Changed the hair a little, put more detail into his face and added some folds to his overall. I also raised his shoulders a little.



x2


How do you like it?

I did a quick paint-over if you don't mind. Added some contrast to the face, moved the eyes and the mouth further to the left. I also added some wrinkles to his pants.



x2

Hahaha! 
I actually tried that - he looks real good with that background. Unfortunately I have no plans on sending Mr. Eastwood to a foreign world where he can once more save the day for a handful of dollars.

Alrighty, here it goes... I tried a not so obvious approach..

How do you like my exotic hanging jungle plant (for reference see: http://www.sdahldtp.com/jungleeyes1.jpg) ?

13 colors + transparency



X2


I hope the way I altered the shape is still ok - I only added the yellow petals and the leaf.

Thanks a bunch guys!

Didn't believe the first background I'd ever enter would win. :o
Following  da_elf's advice I won't put that background on my "never gonna use" stash. I made it for that competition only though since the game I am planning on doesn't require a background like this so far. But if anyone else feels that background would fit nicely into their game, message me and we can talk about how that could be accomplished.

Next round coming up soon!

Hey Boney, nice edit.
It's a good observation that his arms seem to be too straight. I really didn't mean for him to stand at "attention"

Alrighty then, back to work!

Thanks for the crits Esper!

That was really constructive. I changed the details you mentioned.
Here's the updated version. Changed the hoody, added detail to the hands and shifted his legs a little so it doesn't seem as if he was leaning. He's supposed to be rotated slightly clockwise from a straight forward pose though.

beforeÃ,  after

Here's Matt, a possible character for a game I'm having in mind.
How do you like him?

X2


regular size

I decided to enter a background in the classic adventure size.
Uses 256 colors and was inspired by the various "broken world in the sky" ideas out there. Hope you like my go at it.

double size


and actual size

My first entry ever
Hope you like itÃ, 

Is it obvious who he's supposed to be?



Colors used: 16