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I will be disappointed if you do not have the "No Tea" puzzle in this game. It was, without a doubt, my favourite puzzle of the text adventure.

Good luck .

I agree - railroad one - depending on how you do it.

The "detailed managing" section has me thinking that it will either be a good challenge or just plain annoying trying to keep everything upgraded/running. I loved Transport Tycoon, and the rest of them sound like something I'd play for an hour and move on.

I can't stay out either . Seriously, I really do appreciate everyone that has given me advice so far and know that I've learnt loads and loads this past week. I've got at least one more thing I feel is important to bring up when (if) I get this main character sprite how I want it (or give up and return to the original) so keep checking - you might be able to provide some insights on my next questions.

Now, after focusing on scripting the game for a couple of hours to get my mind off pixels, and feeling ready to get working on this edit, I compared this to ProgZ's edits and - feeling that the torso was really holding me back - decided to start from scratch.

Now, I did still use other elements of my previous sprites - I'd say this is about half edit, half completely new. I was confident (stubborn ) that the face on my last version was a good face, but that the shading was holding it back, so I've edited the shading there. I can't honestly see this sprite working with any other eyes - I find them too darn cute! The torso I redid completely, as with the arms - I felt there were too many things wrong for me to try and edit it and that a fresh start would benefit me here. The legs are based much on ProgZmax's last edit - especially around the groin - I feel that the shape of the legs themselves can still do with some editing. Overall, I am quite pleased with this, but if it can be improved, let me know. If, once again, I've not made an improvement over the original, let me know as well.



Your comments, suggestions and edits are, as always, very much appreciated.

EDIT:

Have a look at some nude women in art poses on the net.  Not only is it refreshing...

Forgot to mention. This made me laugh.

EDIT 2:

Just for the sake of having explored some more options, some more versions. Original on left. Only small changes, but at this res one pixel makes all the difference.



I know that it seems like it's taking me forever to get this, and I'm being stubborn about changing how the character looks too drastically... I just feel this look is closer to what is right for her. ProgZmax - I really appreciate the paintovers you've been doing, and they show a number of different styles, all of which I'm interested in - and certainly I've learnt things from them, especially the legs from the last edit. I don't want it to seem like I don't appreciate your edits, I feel I should mention, because I do, I just have an image in my head of how this character should look, and am trying to work towards that. My apologies if it seems I am being overly stubborn here...

Sorry for the lots of text, and thanks for the help once again, all.

Thanks Pesty.

I like the original version, but I am going to try more edits - I would rather spend a couple of extra hours now trying to adjust it than getting a week down the road from when the game is released and thinking "I could have done this character so much better - it would have only taken me an extra few hours" and regretting it.

If I fail - I can always return to the original.

Pleased to hear that you'll play the game - it's been a little labour of love for me so far .

Wow! Fantastic edit, ProgZ. Thanks - I'd best have another shot at her .

Ps, the "hair" is meant to be a sort of leather cap that she's wearing, with chin straps hanging loose... does it look too much like hair?

I think it looks good. The elements combine quite well, and the colours strike me as being exactly like MI 1 colours.

About whether it feels like Monkey Island... I would say that yes, it does. Put some brightly coloured characters on top and you've got a good style.

Personally, I would not recolour anything, as it all blends in fairly well. The only thing I would say is that if I saw this, I would not think "circus" - the only thing that suggests it is a circus is the tickets booth. You might want to consider putting a big top in the distance.

Finally got around to having a go at this.

Keeping in mind your comments, and following shading closer to that in the edit of the trooper guy, I've tried to do an edit.



I feel her forehead shape was creating some of the masculinity problems. I also feel that in my original version, the side view makes her look like Shrek (ugly in a cute way). I now feel she may look like she has chin stubble or a beard. I've tried to keep her body fairly close to the original, with only a few changes to the breasts.

Please help me out with your thoughts - I am concious that this may not be an improvement, but rather a step in the wrong direction.

(Ps - yes, I know the side view has no arms. I find it easier for animation purposes.)

Cheers

Actually, now that DG mentions Futurama, I remember the episode with the Truckstop Sandwich worms and how Fry plays the holoflute badly at the end. Made me go "Awwww".

And Scrubs. At a friend's house and it was on and I found some moments in that which made me go "awww" as well. I should watch tv more, perhaps...

I can't say I cry when I watch tv. But I don't watch tv....

I'd like to move slightly to the right of topic to mention games, and them making people cry.

Now, I've never actually cried because of a game. But, I found the cutscene in Dreamfall: The Longest Journey where Zoë comforts her sister to be very, very touching. I honestly cannot think of many other games that have made me feel this way, although I recall the dialogues in Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn to be very touching during the points where you have the oppurtunity make her love your player. Why don't games make me feel this way?

Sorry to dodge your topic Stu, but I felt this was at least a little relevant.

Oh and hmmm.... Planescape Torment had some incredible writing in there (in my opinion), but I never did feel overly touched.

I was going to post last week, but I tried speeding it up and slowing it down and slowed it down to the point where it took 5 days to get through the song  8).

Here are my thoughts on your song.

First of all. There are lots of bangs at the start, and throughout the song. Why? I agree that bangs can make a song interesting and dynamic if used once, at the climax or end of a song, as you have done. I do not feel like using these strange bangs as a beat makes your song sound good. Just a thought, but good on you for trying something different .

Secondly, the drum beat. Why this drum beat? I don't want to sound mean but this drum beat is awful. Absolutely awful. There is no variation, no attempts at a drum fill or anything... wow. Please, if you're using samples, find some more varied ones and use more than one in a song. If you're designing the drum beat, perhaps try some 16th notes in there, vary the kick drum and snare timing - the amount of combinations you can come up with a 4/4 time signature and a kick and snare drum is fairly extensive, there is no need to stick to one beat.

Thirdly, the little melody line - I know it probably sounds nice and pop techno dance whatever catchy, but I don't find this sort of melody helps your song. It's there from the start, it's there at the end. Techno is not a form of music I find ultra enjoyable even when done well, so perhaps I'm biased. If you are going to use this form of melody, at least make it more dynamic, because it really is rather repetitive.

Fourth, the bass - why don't you have more bass in here? Basslines help you establish the rythm of a song and give it some depth.

My last suggestion would be to tell you to listen to more music, normal music you hear on the radio, and figure out what makes you enjoy the song more. Simple, effective elements such as the use of a verse-chorus-verse etc structure, key changes, bridges can help make the song interesting to the listener.

I am not a composer of computer music or instrumental - although I am in a band, I do not write songs - so these views are from somebody who doesn't try to do these sort of things and therefore isn't completely experienced with them. I do listen to a lot of music but, and I know what I like. I don't mean to discourage you from making music, and I am not saying that other people will not like your song - these are just suggestions that I feel will help you improve as a songwriter. I can hear that you tried to make a statement by ending with a bang, and that you've got some dynamics in there, but I feel that these don't make the song non-repetitive.

Two last points I'd like to make.

The little click in there annoys me - could just be me being biased.

Speeding up a song is something I used to do on my father's record player with my mother's records and the assistance of my brother - the speed settings were our favourite feature. I do not feel it makes a song any more enjoyable unless you are looking to get some giggles about Rod Stewart sounding like a chipmunk.

I've been getting PM notifications fine.

Perhaps a spam blocker?

Difficult choice - personally I'd go with red, but why let us choose what colour to make her?

Ps - half orbs are sexy. The television told me it is true .

I love PixelJoint, and I visit it at least once a week - even have an account there, with one lousy image I put up ages ago.

But I'm hesitant to ever put any work on there because I don't feel good enough to join in their forums with my art at it's current level.

Now, I know this may seem silly on my behalf, but I keep getting visions of people criticising me on exactly this sort of situation - using 12 shades of green, cheating by using the fill tool (heh - jokes) or whatever. I'm not saying that I think PixelJoint people are bad people because I love lurking there but I just feel like anything below a certain level of art or not sticking to a fairly specific set of techniques either gets lost in the sea of works by people who are *not* (for the most part) making their art for games but for the sake of art OR criticised because you're not as good as Fool.

I am sure there are people there who will take the time to help you improve your works and show you tips etc, and I mean no judgement on the people of PixelJoint, for I respect many of them greatly, but this is the way I feel about the situation

Ah ProgZ, not taken the wrong way, I assure you.

She's not meant to look manly or boyish, but neither did I mean for her to be some ultra curvy babe - I really just wanted to sprite up a young woman.

If you mistook her for a male, though, it probably means I'll have to do an edit. Thanks for your edits - I see exactly what you mean about the hips and breast level - I'll definitely get onto this.

After I sort out this next walking animation!

Cheers again,

Ben

EDIT: gah, while I'm here.

I hate not being able to do diagonal walkcycles. So I have decided it is time to learn.

Apparently, however, I suck.



This is how far I've gotten, and I hate it. For some reason, I *can't* seem to be able to draw a foot moving diagonally without having it go all perspectived out on me. It's really, really annoying me - I look at the front cycle, and it's not over done, nor is the side one, but this cycle looks like I've got the camera on a nearly isometric view and it is bugging the pants outta me. If anyone has a tutorial link, reference images, anything, I'd be grateful x100. I'd really love to get the 'camera' on her centrally, not this top down rubbish.

Cheers

You mean the dark purple ones on the windmill island?

nihilyst - Yes, the shadows and highlights show a complete disregard of the position of the sun. I'm choosing to ignore it because I'd like to move on from backgrounds or else the game will never get finished . Thankyou for your nice comment.

I have added some up & down to the walkcycle, as well as produced, for your criticising pleasure, a new one.




2x

Thoughts?

I think it looks fantabulous. Definitely add another frame unless there is some kind of momentum/gravity reason that I don't know about causing it to slow down.

Holy poor animation excusing plot device Batman!

I had not considered the Gorrilaz video clip, but I did like that island floating along quite a bit... if that's what it reminds you of, I'm pretty happy with that .

vict0r - Yes, up downs is the next thing to add. Thankyou for kind words .

Cluey - Again thankyou for kind words. We shall see how I go with clouds, hey?

tube - The wonky chest is something I will look at in a little while (once I've got some other stuff out of the way )

Snarky - I agree. I'll work on this.

Nikolas - Yes, yes, more hours . I am pleased to have so many nice comments... I was going to make this a one week game only but I started on Sunday, and today is Saturday - meaning a week is gone, and there are a number of things I have added and I wish to add, so... it could take a little longer. Thankyou for your nice comments - makes me smile and keeps me going!

I had a play around last night to see about some background animation as Darth suggested - I think I could do with another frame because of a jerky spot, but hopefully overall it looks nice...

Haha, ok.

I'm cautious of exagerrating it too much though and thereby making her look like she's hopping...

Thanks Andail.

PS: That was a quick response!

Darth,

Again, thanks for the edits! The shading looks good - I'll have to give that a shot and I love the little balloon animation...

With regards to how the tower works, the screen is facing the face edge of the building so the door will be like this:


As soon as I read "Animate the clouds" I had ridiculously wild fantasies of making the clouds characters with movement paths, built so they repeat and loop and move in parallax.... but I think I'll leave it for now. If I do things like that, this game will take me forever! It was meant to be a short one week break from the other big project, and it will probably take a bit longer than a week just to get it done how it is, so I don't won't to get any more ambitious than I have gotten.

For those interested, I've been working on my walkcycle animations (Logged on here for a quick break). I looked at mine, hated it, took one look at one of Lemmy and Binky's and, after several minutes of going "Stupid, stupid, stupid, you have no idea how a person looks when they walk!!!!" got to work on fix-o-fix.

It *will* be my best sideways walkcycle to date, I know it!

Thanks for the edits, again.

EDIT: Ok, now for that walkcycle I mentioned earlier...


2x

Any changes you can recommend (Please, for my sake, don't make them too big )