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Haha, Flukeblake! I'm sure your newbism would be alright. Thanks for the responses!

Yeah, Tasmania would probably be good, but I'm not sure how much it costs to get there. With a spare $300 I would probably go to New Zealand as well. Everyone says the nature is great out there.

I probably would come there for $28 dollars flight. I'll see how Newcastle fits my travelling plan as I go.

Sorry, I have no idea what Empire Games kefuffles are. Hopefully nothing too bad.

Hey everyone! It's been a while. Again.

I just thought I'd tell what I've been up to. I'm right now in Australia and have been here for five weeks. I'll stay here for 2 months more.

I'm travelling with three of my friends but we've been all been in pretty much different places so I've been by myself for the last four weeks or so. But it's been great. I've probably met about 50 people since I've been moving from hostel to hostel and have been basically forced to meet new people. I've become a lot more outgoing because of that and I'm loving it. Heh.

Thus far I've been to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa, Byron Bay and Sydney. Now I'm back in Brisbane because my brother just flew here. I know, not the smartest thing to go back and forth Brisbane and Sydney. I'm thinking of checking out Melbourne since everyone's been saying good things about it. That'll cost me another two or three hundred  dollars though.

I was thinking, maybe we could meet up with Australian AGSers! That would be fun, for just one day or something. Does anyone live in Melbourne or Sydney?

Other than that, Petteri just sent me a personal message concerning the next Mittens. I definitely would like to go but I'll just have to see if I have the money for it. And I'm not sure when I'll know... Could be in two months at worst!

I'll probably go through the message board to catch up on what's going on. I suppose I've been steering a bit away from game development gradually but I would love to play some AGS games. Especially when they're of such high quality nowadays!

Hopefully everyone's doing well!

Yeah, you probably wouldn't see any of the diagonal ceiling and probably not the 'vertical' either.

However, if you wanted to see the slanting part you would have to change the vanishing point a bit lower but I don't really see a problem with the current version if there's no practical in-game reason to see it.

As for adding the roof, I think you could also just leave it as it is so the main focus would be inside the room instead of adding something that is outside of it. I think just black empty space would work fine. It has worked for most adventure games thus far.

So, basically I think the only thing that catches my attention is the bed because it looks a bit short, so maybe it could be moved (mirrored) to the other side of the room so it would have more space to be longer.

And maybe you could add a night table and a reading light or something to make it more cozy.

As for the shading, I think you should make it all according to where the imagined lightsource is, which should be something very generic so it'll work for all scenes. Like an outdoor lighting but a bit less highlights.

Basically, you could probably just use two shades of each color. If I'm saying it wrong, I mean for the jacket for example, just use the red that's in there already and pick a darker shade and draw shadows with that. That way you'll get some depth there and it won't be too hard or time-consuming to animate.

One thing I noticed is - isn't the character a bit too high in resolution? At least if you were to put it in the game directly. If you were to work on it further, I would suggest making it a bit smaller so you'll get practice on the pixel pushing thing too.

Personally, I'm used to learning everything by copying and trying to find the rules why the things are made like they are. When I think of good pixel character art I always first think of 'Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis'. I suggest taking an Indy character, pasting it in your painting program and trying to paint the same figure from scratch.

All this said, I'm not much of a character artist myself so take this with a grain of salt.

I think it's an overall pretty solid background!

Only a few things that I would work on. I might add a window or something to fill up the wall and make the scene less basement-like. If you're not fond of the window idea maybe you could change the colors of the walls or the ceiling. Having them the same brown-grey color makes you subconsciously think it's concrete.

The other thing is that the scene looks a bit like just a helpdesk or something like that in the end of a hallway. So maybe you could add some furniture, watermachine or plants in the middle or in front of the image to make it look more like a room.

I'm not an expert on freeware programs but I would consider looking into some other painting program. You can draw good stuff with MSPaint but it's a bit slow to work with. I can't even draw anymore without the magic wand tools and all those.

All in all though, it is a very functional and solid image. The style will definitely work in an adventure game.

I dig the thicker lines. Maybe it's just my preference though.

The clouds are great. Just the direction I'd like to see the style going.

I think the white color worked pretty well for the GUI on the bottom of the screen even though it's good like this too. The OPTIONS sign looks better though in blue in my opinion. I'd like to see more detail for it but maybe that wouldn't fit the style.

I like Seaduck's point on maybe having fewer interaction options. Having many gives lots of options but it also gets old to see always the same generic replies like "that doesn't seem to work", or "it won't budge" or something because there's really no time to make different responses for all the actions.

Fewer interaction options would give the option of having more specific answers when you try to do something and also remove some of the useless guessing, whether you're supposed to USE something or PUSH or PULL it. But then again, I'm not sure what kind of system you were going for but I like the idea.

Hey, always good to see anything from Big Brother.

Since you're going for a unique and artistic style, I think the background could be more of both. The first impression is pretty generic. I see the BG mostly as functional.

It is understandable though that when you have many background artists you've got to keep it simple to large extent. Maybe you could, however, kind of finish off each background making it the certain style. For example, what first comes to my mind is maybe varying the outline width. Somehow get it closer to painted look, even if just a little. Otherwise, it looks a bit 'clinical', if that's the right word.

Maybe you could also make sure all the colors are as atmospheric as they get. Like for the example image you could add more contrast with shadows and warm/cold colors or something to that effect. As far as the lighting goes it isn't as exciting as it perhaps could be. I think you could add some interesting shapes there with shadows. I admit though, it is a day scene with sun on a bright sky so it is quite justified not to have so many shadows.

But it could enhance the presence of the ship for example.

As far as the GUI goes, my first impression is that the backgrounds for the options sign and the inventory items are cut from paper. And maybe it having something to do with the plot. Is it? But that's just a first impression by the screenshot. Maybe it would look something else in the context of the game. I'm no expert on GUIs anyway.

The character is excellent. I have no critics on that. Maybe it's helpful, though, to say that to me he looks a bit sad or down. What I'm saying is, I assume that is the way you wanted him to look. If not, then maybe change the posture a bit.

I wish all the perseverance for the project!

Amazing overall quality, stunning entries. Everyone's become an artist, and it rocks!

:o

I think people create for different reasons, and I believe some reasons are better and some worse.

Some people create music to try to get money off it. Some make different music just to make different music. Maybe someone makes it out of habit. I don't have respect for any of those.

When you make music to absolutely express yourself, that is where it's at. Not for the money, not even secretly. Not to save the piece to have it to show around so you can feel good about yourself. Not the kind of music your used to writing or playing, the kind that just comes out because of the way you feel. Not feeling like, oh, this kind of thing does not fit the genre. Just playing what sounds the most beautiful to you then so you can cry or laugh with it. Then just go on with your life.

Just create, don't give a damn about anything else. I think that is what makes a difference between a guy who starts working on a piece like, "I need an idea. OK, now I'll just use all my tricks to make it sound great." (maybe even wondering what the audience likes to hear) and a guy who just tries to express himself in the absolute best way. Trying to deal with all the emotions he wants to address.

Someone said earlier, "creating music for the sake of music". I don't see that as a great thing. As I don't see growling/shouting as a good thing either, if you don't feel like shouting. Like in metal music, for most, it's probably just a part of style.

I actually find this a very good subject. But it is a very personal one, so in a way I don't like talking about it all that much because you are in a position to hurt and get hurt.

All in all, I think the only thing you'll ever have to do with art is to be honest.

Thanks for the replies!

Scummbuddy, volleyball college girls, that's what I'm talking about! Heh. Is the graphic arts program like one part of the studying program or is it like a dedicated thing? Also, how much does that kind of thing cost generally and how many years is it?

Kinoko, Winter's one of the reasons I want to go some place warm. I wouldn't want to go through another winter here.

2ma2, you're right about that. I know that would be the safe bet. However, I'm looking for something different now because now I'm not really bound to anything. I'm sure there will be time for settling down and getting a permanent job and doing all the reasonable stuff. Right now I just want to get out. I don't want to plan for the future. It may not be smart but it's what I want to do. Playing it safe is the only thing I will regret.

A few of my friends are also probably going, so we can rent an apartment and each pay our share so we'll save in that. We'll just have to decide on where all of us would want to go.

I'll have a look at what South Africa has to offer too. I didn't really think of that at all. Thanks Zor and Afflict!

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Cool to hear from you too, Petteri. How was the last Mittens?

Hey everyone!

I've been away for quite a while from the forums. I've been lurking though every now and then but haven't logged in or written anything cause for me it takes a while.

Anyway, to cut a long story short. I'm thinking of quitting my job to pursue my real interests in life such as art and music and stuff. In fact, I thought I would move somewhere else for a couple of months. I first got the idea from the fact that my friends were in Spain a couple of months and they were going to stay for the winter, so I was going to join them there. However, they ran out of money and came back, so that's not such a definite option anymore.

So, does anyone have any suggestions where to go? I'm thinking some place warm but not a tourist trap. Is there a place you've been that you would definitely like to go again? Or maybe it's your home town?

Of course this is only half-serious and nothing definite, but I'm just kind of trying to discover my options. I was thinking it might be cool to go somewhere like Florida and even look for a school, but they might be too expensive for me, at least without getting a job. Does anyone have insight on this?

I think your style really comes out gradually as you learn to express yourself better through art.

Copying other people's styles is a good way to learn and try what suits you and what doesn't. Just don't stick with one style but try many styles and you'll probably combine them to create your style.

Inspiration will probably bring the unique stuff which is only yours (and which other people will copy in the future).

Great looking set! Though the snare has taken a bit of punishment. Is that a DW?

I'm getting myself a Pearl Reference or Masters series set sometime soon. I'm leaving the order this week. Pretty much the same sizes, except with a bigger bass drum and an additional floor tom, 16x16. I couldn't decide on 14 or 16 so I'm taking them both.

Zildjian's cymbal configurator thing on their site might be helpful if you're getting new cymbals. I picked most of my cymbals there and they sound as I imagined in reality too.

How is the professional drumming? Is it like sometimes you get lots of offers and sometimes none? Do you get a living from it? I'm just interested because I've thought about doing drumming for a living.

Hello. I'm entering a drawing competition where I'm supposed to design the look for my local rock festival. Here are the winners of the past years. The idea is to have something that illustrates the atmosphere of the festival and all that of which you probably don't know.

What I need help with, is the design, especially the colors. I'm thinking of new shapes or maybe more colors instead of basically just the orange and greenish color. Something to make it look more professional and solid. Also, if the general idea just plain sucks, let me know.

I think the image is too monotonic and in a way, too heavy. Probably a bit empty in design as well. I'm kind of out of fresh ideas, the rest will be just routine work without your help. I will add some text there but it's not really a big concern so it doesn't have to be there yet.

Any overpaintings etc. would be very appreciated! Thanks.

Cool pics. Though I don't look that fresh in most of them.

Had a good laugh though. Heh. Traveling rocks.

Almost got a heart attack when I realized one of the pictures was made by me. :o

I'm going out to buy that thing!

I had the same problem. To the point that my computer would boot during the start-up. For some reason the same thing was on my brother's computer. Moving the RAM things around solved the problem. Or didn't, but after that it worked. Computers are so illogical.

It was a great trip! Definitely worth it. Heh, it's funny how I can now actually understand what Creed Malay says. Though I can't enjoy the cool accent. Oh well.

My computer's broken and the internet connection was dead on my brother's computer (which I'm using now) so I couldn't comment earlier. And now I don't seem to have anything to say. Well, anyway, I'm back but not in business yet, unfortunately.

I second what DGMacphee said. I don't think the forums have changed that much or anything. I don't know if I'm just growing out of it or just temporarily not interested in anything computer related. Maybe it's the summer...