Messages

A quick example:
Try to make the key/extreme-frames first, The one I have in the animation are basicly those - but you could probably get away with less if you're good.


In my its like this. (8 frames)
#1 we have Contact- where the heel contacts the ground of the frontleg, it has been thrown infront to stop the fall.
#2 then the Down- Where most of the weight/mass gets transfered to the frontleg, causing it to bend a little(doesnt have to, looks good in animation though _imo_)
#3 the Passing- The leg is/is about to passing the center of gravity, the back leg has left the ground.
#4 the High- The body is about the fall forward and the leg on the ground is pushing away a little.
5#,#6,#7,#8 is just repeating but for the other leg.

There are endless of variations and none are more correct then the other I guess, this was probably the most basic one - It depends on what kind if character you want. The tail I just indicated a little that its swinging with the body's turning (badly).

things to notice is the head and body position, they turn a little when arms are swinging.

Hope its help a little, if you're really serious about it though - get a book (animators survival kit) which could teach you more then anyone here could or would have time to (I think)

Just a little quickie - The arms are at the end of the swinging on the down(impact), not the contact (heel contact) - Or so I have been taught. Can ofcrouse differ from person to person I guess.

Not really a character-sprite, but since I got inspired from this topic when I did it yesterday I might aswell just post it.
Odin:

Should be 30colors

I think its probably too mechanic atm - straight lines, perfect curves etc.

I dont know if thats what you mean, if it is it would probably help if you "hand" drew it, in PS or on paper.

When you want to start color, you said you wanted it to look more painted?
First you should understand forms, IMO.. how light affect them. Then maybe some color theory, shadows dont look good with just a darker version of the base color.

I dont know if you just want some tips for this background, or where to go from here in general. But if you want to step into the world of art, there are great tutorials on the net on color theory, forms(light and shadow tutorials usually cover this) and such.

Hope there was something usefull in there.

ok, ending the voting now and loominous wins with his great awesome background.
Great backgrounds this round, looking forward to the next round and what people will come up with.

Gratz and take it away, loominous!

[Voting categories:]

Ok, lets get the votings started!
Ill leave the voting open for about 24h

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 you provide multiple names in a category,
then please be clear about which one is your pick.

ok, now im home again.. If anyone need any extensions etc tell me, otherwise ill start the voting in 24h.

Ok, no problem. Ill extend it to the 1st july. But you will have to end it youselves.

Ok, no more entries I guess, and Ill be going in two days.. So Ill give the win to loominous and let him take over the blitz.

I dont know if I can give extension, Ill be gone from the 26th june to the 15th july.
I hope there would be some more participants atleast, otherwise I think loominous will get a free win.
(no chanse for hall of fame for me )

A question loominous: The design(like the architecture of the building), do you look much at references or is things you already can see?

Really fun to see the progress, loominous..
I Hope some more backgrounds drops by soon from all you other people.

[Antique]

Antique
Somewhere in the background there will be hints of something old. It can be in the old Greece or such, or just one or more antiques somewhere laying around. Could be a person also if you like, but try to keep in mind its the backgrounds and not sprites that should have something antique.

Anything AGS can handle are allowed.

Voting will begin around 24th 00.00 if no extensions are requested.

Any question, just drop a PM or in here.

Thanks for the votes guys. The next blitz will be up in a min.

Idea - SimB
Atmosphere - lilemx
Design - Bohnito
Composition - Cobra79
Functionality - Cobra79
Technique - Andail

[- SUMMER -]

- SUMMER -


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3272/seasontestbn6.png

"At the bottom of the waterfall the wickedly witchy witch lived. People often had the prejustice against witched, evil and troublemaker they thought.
This witch was actually a nice old lady who didnt do any harm. Something she did though was having a really bad temper, but since she lived by the waterfall she would always talk in a loud voice, so you never noticed when she actually was trying to yell at you, but the face sure turned red."

Tried something new, played around some with the photshop brushes. The "design" with curly stuff was on the fly, so it didnt got that well-excecuted.
Everything is on a layer, so the water can be removed and replaced with animations. (before someone points out how hard it would be to animate the waterfall)

edit:updated

nm

Ok, Ill close the voting now and announce that the winner is
TheJBurger, great background! Take it away.

Thanks to everyone who entered with thier cool backgrounds!

Ok, np I guess.. Only one who voted yet.

Ill extend the voting for another day
Comeone people, do some voting.. Atleast the participants.

Ok, Ill start the voting now. Ill close it tomorrow around 23.00 gmt

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 you provide multiple names in a category,
then please be clear about which one is your pick.