AuthorTopic: Aliens: Infestation (DS) (Read 39992 times)

AdamTierney · **on:** October 09, 2011, 07:09:57 am

After many years the game is finally out. Congrats to everyone that worked on it, including the following Pixelation alumni:

Director: Sals (me)
Sprites: Jawsh, Gustav
Animation: Konjak, Paul Robertson
Interface: Panda
Backgrounds: Helm, Ptoing, Vedsten

Rosse · **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2011, 07:43:45 am

I must admit that I find these posts very encouraging. Thanks a lot for posting, and of course, thanks a lot for keeping pixelart alive, Wayforward Technologies!

.TakaM · **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2011, 09:13:24 am

Congratulations! I remember when a video leaked of the game and I posted it here, but I guess some of the guys here already knew about the game

This is probably the best time to ask, but is there any chance of it being ported as 3DSware? I ask because I no longer have a regular DS and DS games don't look too great on the 3DS, especially if you let it upscale, and it would look even better with the bigger resolution and 3D effects.

blumunkee · **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2011, 11:53:05 am

Dude, just get a DSi XL, they rock!

I'll def be ordering this off amazon.com next week. Congrats on getting this released guys.

ptoing · **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2011, 02:32:28 pm

\o/ finally \o/

Helm · **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2011, 11:58:48 pm

blumunkee · **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:33:54 am

I've been looking at screenshots online, and I can already spot a door that had to be drawn by Helm. I will enjoy picking this apart looking for individual artist's giveaways.

[edit1]

Here's SEGA's website: http://www.sega.com/games/aliens-infestation/

[edit2]

Dude, 19 playable characters?! Many of them hot chicks to boot?!! Dude!!!

Gaspy Conana · **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2011, 10:44:54 pm

Wow, awesome, congrats. It's neat seeing so many of you guys in one game.

Froli · **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2011, 03:25:13 pm

Wow it has gathered a good number of nifty reviews. Congrats guys

Helm · **Reply #9 on:** October 11, 2011, 04:04:50 pm

oh, is it reviewing well? Can we see some links?

Helm · **Reply #10 on:** October 11, 2011, 04:53:05 pm

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-aliens-infestation/17-5037/

-The art in this game I like a lot
-Yeah it's got a nice style to it
-And even though it's all taking place on a giant metal ship, it's not monotonous
-Yeah it seems they kinda find good ways to mix things up

Well, that makes me happy as it was my MO with my background art for my part of the game.

Jakten · **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2011, 02:20:32 am

WOW, I didn't know there were so many people from Pixelation working on this. I've been eagerly awaiting this since it was announced. Congrats to everyone involved!

Froli · **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:49:29 am

Sorry for the lateness

Critic Reviews

1UP    A-
D+PAD Magazine    3 out of 5
Eurogamer 8 out of 10
Game Informer    8.25 out of 10
gamrReview    7 out of 10
IGN    10/11/11   8 out of 10
ImpulseGamer    8.3 out of 10
Joystiq      4 out of 5
N-Europe       8 out of 10
NGamer UK    80 out of 100
Nintendo Life    8 out of 10
Nintendo Power   8 out of 10
NZGamer       6 out of 10
Official Nintendo Magazine UK    82 out of 100
PALGN       7 out of 10

http://www.gamefaqs.com/ds/636598-aliens-infestation/critic <-- list and links of the reviews

Sample review
http://www.1up.com/reviews/review-aliens-infestation-isnt-perfect-essential-ds

Helm · **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2011, 01:56:00 pm

Thanks!

TomF · **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2011, 08:19:32 am

This looks incredible. I guess you can't go wrong with a team like that.

I'm having trouble finding any raw unfiltered screens, all jpegs. If anyone happens to come across some please do share.

jams0988 · **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:42:45 pm

Congratulations, guys. The artwork looks pretty awesome, and it seems to be reviewing pretty well. Hopefully it sells as good as it looks! =)

junkboy · **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2011, 09:05:47 pm

Can't wait to play this! It really looks like the kind of game I dreamed up after seeing Aliens and subsequently became obsessed with it. Congrats to everyone involved!

ptoing · **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2011, 10:53:59 pm

by Helm:

Helm did most of the Sulaco, which I think is probably also the biggest area in the game. This is but a fragment of what he did, but I do not have more.

by Vedsten:

LV-426 interior (Helm made the lineart for it.)

by Jawsh:

by me:

I made the interiors for some research facility in space (this is just a few of the locations in it, there is quite a bit more, also those doors and elevator shafts are by Helm, I just recoloured them to fit into my locations better.)

These 2 all share the same 1024 tiles it is I think. Or might be twice that. Not sure. Not too many anyway, which is why it is not super detailed since it is quite a large area.

Bit of LV-426 of which I made the outside graphics (Jawsh made the far background and Vedsten the interiors)

Also keep in mind that these graphics were made 2008 - early 2009, so they are not up to scratch with our current skills. I know I would do a lot of stuff different looking at my gfx for it. But it still looks alright and it was good fun and I am just glad this finally came out.

Also I do not know if this is how the stuff looks in game or if they edited it a bit more at WF, these are all gfx how I sent them or what I got from Helm, or WF in the case of Vedsten's and Jawsh's stuff.

blumunkee · **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2011, 11:13:55 pm

I knew the door was partly or mostly Helm's work. Lots of screenshots online feature that location. Helm's style seems to favor more imaginative palettes and lots of texture and speculars, whereas ptoing seems to go for a more unified palette with flat surfaces and chiseled shapes.

Jawsh's sprites are terrific and Vedsten's background is real moody.

Great stuff guys!!

Helm · **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2011, 11:24:04 pm

Here's some more.

I like the lighting here

Have I mentioned how much I dig flashback?

I like bio scanners.

And storage compartments.

Though the best are toilets.

Here's some showers.

blu, I enjoyed the idea of a spaceship that doesn't look all_the_same even if it meant doing more tilework to get it like that. For metroidvania games, visual landmarks are really important. It makes a nice change when you get down to the planet map which is all Cameron Aliens style blue and moody.

The best pixel art work on this game is easily by Vedsten imo, but that's the usual, he's world class.

Phlakes · **Reply #20 on:** October 15, 2011, 05:24:56 am

Wait, really? I knew we had some professionals in here, but this is a pretty high profile release (for a DS game, I guess). I kept hearing good things about the art, and it makes a lot of sense that it came from you guys.

Dusty · **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2011, 06:58:56 am

Quote from: Phlakes on October 15, 2011, 05:24:56 am

Wait, really? I knew we had some professionals in here, but this is a pretty high profile release (for a DS game, I guess). I kept hearing good things about the art, and it makes a lot of sense that it came from you guys.

They also developed Contra 4

Contra is pretty high up there as far as profile goes.

Shantae was another game they made(on the Gameboy Color and I think on the DS) that received a lot of positive feedback(especially for pushing the graphical limits of the GBC), but sadly isn't a very well-known game.

AdamTierney · **Reply #22 on:** October 15, 2011, 10:28:18 am

I was so proud especially of the BG team on this game. You guys rock! I always try to work with the ideal artists for the job, especially on a license like this where it's critical to nail the style of the source material. I'd worked with Sven and Vedsten previously, but had only been a long admirer of Helm's style. The harsh, dark tones of his artwork seemed perfect for this project. I auditioned Helm and another (well-established but will-remain-unnamed) pixel artist at the same time, and Helm blew the other guy out of the water. Hopefully he doesn't mind me posting, but this was Helm's audition piece (sprites and HUD added later):

The instant I saw that, I knew we had our game's style. That image captured everything I love about James Cameron's aesthetics from the film, and what's more, it was a very dark and complicated environment, perfect for creating fear in the player and giving the aliens areas to hide.

Helm worked tirelessly to create the bulk of the Sulaco ship (which is massive and incredibly varied). Ptoing and Vedsten helped with a few areas of the Sulcao toward the end of art production. Vedsten collabed with Helm for LV-426, and handled all the organic xeno sections. His alien hives and derelict ship interior are just gorgeous.

Ptoing owned the Phobos facility, which has a ton of great details and easter eggs scattered throughout (all from Ptoing's brain). Jawsh also helped with BGs in a few areas, but primarily designed all the game's amazing sprite models.

Last thing worth mentioning - these guys didn't just act as artists, they constructed each world from start to finish. What you see in the game comes 100% from them. We didn't use tilesets on this game. Instead, I gave these guys limitations on tile count and color palettes, and then very simplified 1:1 floor layouts, and they pixeled everything over those layouts in multiple layers. I've taken that approach on a few games and while it can be an intense, draining process, I find it always yields the best results because the artists are in control of where they put their detail, and how the spend their tile budgets (as opposed to having a level designer work from a very limited tileset).

Anywho, congrats again guys! Some of the best pixel art in any WF game ever created, hands down.

Lizzrd · **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2011, 12:44:36 pm

Man all of this is just beautiful.

ErekT · **Reply #24 on:** October 15, 2011, 05:40:50 pm

I just gave it a playthrough and enjoyed it a lot. Everything from artwork to sounds to pacing click together in a satisfying way, and the atmosphere is right. Congrats

Argyle · **Reply #25 on:** October 15, 2011, 06:46:35 pm

Quote from: ErekT on October 15, 2011, 05:40:50 pm

I just gave it a playthrough and enjoyed it a lot. Everything from artwork to sounds to pacing click together in a satisfying way, and the atmosphere is right. Congrats

I'm doing the same. Though I have only had time to pick it up here and there (have only just started seeing aliens yesterday during lunch) but I must agree that the atmosphere, the music, and everything work very harmoniously together to create an excellent Aliens experience. Really well done, guys, I've archived all these shots for both learning and inspiration!

blumunkee · **Reply #26 on:** October 15, 2011, 07:46:48 pm

Yeah, Helm really nailed the industrial scifi look from the second Aliens movie. The Flashback influences are readily apparent, but the execution of his backgrounds exceed Flashback IMO.

I'd be interested to hear from some of the background guys: how was it working to DS specs? Did it feel limiting, or did you have an overabundance of palettes/memory/tiles to play with?

ptoing · **Reply #27 on:** October 15, 2011, 08:43:33 pm

It uses an older engine, so yeah it was quite limited, newer WF stuff is less so (if at all).

Basically the limits were 2048 tiles per area (in my case some areas were quite big, like those numbered rooms i posted with the lab stuff) 8x8 tiles, and 16 palettes 15 colours + transparency. Also 4 layers.

It was good fun, but sometimes quite challenging.

Helm · **Reply #28 on:** October 15, 2011, 09:06:53 pm

That's quite the compliment, though I think the flashback art is much, much better than mine.

ptoing · **Reply #29 on:** October 15, 2011, 10:35:34 pm

In what regard do you think it is better? I think that in execution yours is a lot better and as far as atmosphere goes your stuff in Aliens is on par, easily.

Helm · **Reply #30 on:** October 15, 2011, 11:39:09 pm

Well it's based on moebius designs I think. Take a look at the 'Earth' tileset.

so, so good. Clean where it wants to be, dirty and rugged in other places. A huge inspiration, still to this day.

Dusty · **Reply #31 on:** October 16, 2011, 01:12:10 am

Glad to see some clean pixel art posted on here, most websites jpg the screenshots and such.

ptoing · **Reply #32 on:** October 16, 2011, 08:37:20 am

I don't think Moebius was officially working on this as far as designs go, inspiration probably, but then he was even bigger then than now, in terms of being active and in Heavy Metal/Metal Hurlant.

The buildings and such look cool, but then again that kinda stuff would not fit into the Sulaco and I think that your stuff is at least just as good and in terms of technique worlds better. I think you are just being too modest.

Geti · **Reply #33 on:** October 16, 2011, 09:30:07 am

Looks excellent, guys, I might end up playing this over summer when I have access to my brother's DS. Until then I'll just oogle the tiles

AdamTierney · **Reply #34 on:** October 16, 2011, 06:09:56 pm

Quote from: Helm on October 15, 2011, 11:39:09 pm

Well it's based on moebius designs I think. Take a look at the 'Earth' tileset.

so, so good. Clean where it wants to be, dirty and rugged in other places. A huge inspiration, still to this day.

That's from the original game? Looks much more modern in pixel style than I remember.

I loooooove Flashback. In my top 5 games of all time.

blumunkee · **Reply #35 on:** October 16, 2011, 06:27:59 pm

Flashback has aged quite well over the years (fuck, almost 20 years!), but yeah, I still say Helm's rendering, palette, atmosphere, etc. all meet or exceed Flashback's. I also need to reiterate just how good Jawsh's sprites work with the style too.

I'm just waiting on the mailman to deliver my copy. Ordered Contra 4 while I was at it, whoo!

On a related note, you can watch Helm play the Genesis version of Flashback here: http://www.viddler.com/explore/HelmLL/videos/

vierbit · **Reply #36 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:46:19 am

Great stuff guys. It certainly captured the look and feel of the alien universe quit well. Love the crazy hue shifting in some parts.

Would love to see some animations, especially for the bigger creatures.

Helm · **Reply #37 on:** October 17, 2011, 03:25:59 am

Thanks for the kind words. You must be seeing something I'm not seeing, but I'm fine with that.

Argyle · **Reply #38 on:** October 17, 2011, 04:18:49 am

Quote from: Helm on October 17, 2011, 03:25:59 am

Thanks for the kind words. You must be seeing something I'm not seeing, but I'm fine with that.

If this is the shifting being mentioned, I have to agree and really respect the way the coloring was done here. Like a water colorist or oil painter might approach a rendering of metal/rust, it's just nuts seeing it pulled off so well in pixel art. So yes, modest Helm, it is lovely, and I am inspired to practice palette exploration more since it comes out so naturally that it is isn't too big a deal for you

.

alspal · **Reply #39 on:** October 19, 2011, 09:15:24 am

The art looks nice, though is the game design excellent? Hope they hired a Japanese action game designer.

AdamTierney · **Reply #40 on:** October 19, 2011, 10:34:46 pm

Quote from: alspal on October 19, 2011, 09:15:24 am

The art looks nice, though is the game design excellent? Hope they hired a Japanese action game designer.

Why? It's an American film and an American game developer.

Mathias · **Reply #41 on:** October 24, 2011, 11:19:19 am

Thanks so much for posting all this artwork!

Quote from: AdamTierney on October 16, 2011, 06:09:56 pm

I loooooove Flashback. In my top 5 games of all time.

Hehe, you mean number 7.

This is a significant PA victory. Pushes the envelope. Love all the work done. The combined experience and talent of the artists involved really shines through.
Hah, Helm - the humility is refreshing. If only all capable artists had the same attitude.

This really caught my eye:

A tasteful homage to Giger's original and massively inspiring artwork done when he was commissioned to design the alien itself, when the first Alien movie was written.

The original:

[Large]

The Giger alien is my favorite beast design of all time.

GREAT job, guys!

skamocore · **Reply #42 on:** October 25, 2011, 08:34:09 am

This is awesome, I didn't know all you guys worked on this

My copy is in the mail, can't wait to play it when it finally arrives.

Cyangmou · **Reply #43 on:** October 26, 2011, 12:01:37 pm

I read some articles about the game and wondered who made the graphics because it looked really good. It's great to know that it was made by someone I know more or less. Thumbs up for that great job. Now I am really thinking about buying it to see the art together and in action.

Froli · **Reply #44 on:** October 26, 2011, 05:08:09 pm

Quote from: alspal on October 19, 2011, 09:15:24 am

The art looks nice, though is the game design excellent? Hope they hired a Japanese action game designer.

What does this suppose to mean? lol
"As long it's Japanese, It's Kakkoii!"

fil_razorback · **Reply #45 on:** October 30, 2011, 03:15:00 pm

I'm a bit late for the party but...wow !
Incredible work, congratulations to all of you :3

Godsent · **Reply #46 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:58:37 pm

I'm really sorry for bumping this, but I really felt the need to point out that, while playing this the other day, I found a really annoying glitch. At some point (I forgot exactly where, but fairly far down on, I think it was the second level) you can randomly fall through the floor, and end up walking around at the bottom of space. Excellent game though, loving it so far.

BladeJunker · **Reply #47 on:** March 01, 2012, 06:24:11 pm

I too didn't know many regulars here worked on Aliens: Infestation, great work btw, some of the best sprite art I've seen on DS. This game is actually at the top of my DS game buying list. Congrats on your big publish cation, we need more awesome games like this on DS.

Chris Burrows · **Reply #48 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:48:04 pm

Hello,

My apologies for bumping an old thread. I just bought Aliens: Infestation and the art work is amazing. I was trying to find more work by the artist and I came across this page http://digitalmosaic.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/i-am-looking-for-work-as-2d-graphic.html

The work is by Joshua Astorian. Is Joshua the same person as Jawsh or Gustav?

Cheers

Helm · **Reply #49 on:** July 09, 2012, 06:10:19 pm

Joshua is the same person as Josh, but not the same person as Gustav Kilman.

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AuthorTopic: Aliens: Infestation (DS) (Read 39992 times)