Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Zizka on July 14, 2012, 10:05:37 pm

Title: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 14, 2012, 10:05:37 pm
This once again is for the game I'm working on. Instead of having text, I want to have icons to represent the four basic stats.

Strenght
(http://img15.picoodle.com/i57e/freemind/103u_1d6_u5vq6.png)

V.2:

(http://img13.picoodle.com/i57e/freemind/113y_c58_u5vq6.png)

Speed is done but I'm having trouble with it. The thing is I'm using transparency for the speed blur but I can't keep my alpha channel when saving as a .gif. Is there any way around this? It's kind of annoying  :mean:.

I'm looking for criticism, comments, just about anything, thanks.
Title: Re: Strenght, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Lachie Dazdarian on July 14, 2012, 10:53:25 pm
Interesting ideas (I hope) I found via Google:

(https://billpay.itstelecom.net/esp/Content/Themes/ITS09ESP/Landing/images/LG/ITS_Speed_Icon.png)

Chinese symbol for Chi:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ki_obsolete.svg/120px-Ki_obsolete.svg.png)

Maybe this for Chi:

(http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/4906990/2/stock-illustration-4906990-retro-tai-chi-icon.jpg)

Toughness....hrm...when trying to differentiate it from Strenght...difficult.
Title: Re: Strenght, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 15, 2012, 12:12:05 am
Thanks for the ideas, Lachie Dazdarian.

It give me some idea:

Speed
(http://img15.picoodle.com/i57e/freemind/x1n5_ba6_u5vq6.png)

Again, this is still WIP but the main idea is there.
Title: Re: Strenght, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: ptoing on July 15, 2012, 01:13:14 am
That speed one reads like nothing really. Unless that is what your player looks like. A blob.

How about something like a winged boot?
Title: Re: Strenght, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Grimsane on July 15, 2012, 01:23:43 am
agree, rather difficult to read as anything logical. and the old Hermes referencing winged boots would definitely be a viable approach, it's already widely associated with speed.

and no one has mentioned yet but you've got a typo in your topic and message, strength *
Title: Re: Strenght, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 15, 2012, 02:03:06 am
The hero is a blob  ;D.

Here's an older build of the game (now defunct) but should give you guys a better idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7RQkYh3Ts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7RQkYh3Ts)

Here's an attempt for Chi:
(http://s11.postimage.org/np8mefspb/Chi.gif)

Had this one as well for Speed but it looks like crap without transparency unfortunately (and the framerate is all messed up as well):

(http://s8.postimage.org/6ibnucz4h/Speed_2.gif)

Now, I know some are missing frames and whatnot but this is just a WIP, I'm trying to find what looks better, animated or still, with or without frame, if with frame, static or animated, etc... This is a research process if you will.

Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Ürch on July 15, 2012, 06:13:56 am
I really don't think these need to be animated to demonstrate things like Speed, Strength, Chi, or Toughness. You could convey these sorts of things just with static symbols or objects. If you want all of them to be animated, that's different, but 'Strength' is done very, very differently from the others, then.

A flexing arm for strength works fine. For speed, you could probably have a winged shoe/sandal, or just wings. Toughness could be a shield, maybe. Chi... not sure, maybe some sort of energy ball or a spiral shape.
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 15, 2012, 12:13:03 pm
Thanks for the feedback, Ürch.

When you level up in the game, you get to spend points in one of your four stats. I was thinking that the stat you select would become animated while the other ones would remain static (until they are selected if that makes any sense).

I'm hesitating to use the protagonist of the game in each stat or just symbols.

For speed, I'd rather stay away from the winged boot because the boot is already used elsewhere in the menu (for accessory). I suppose I could always change my accessory icon though.

Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 15, 2012, 02:22:28 pm
Ok, again, this is wip.

Toughness:
(http://img14.picoodle.com/i57f/freemind/c1sh_727_u5vq6.gif)

*The game is to learn Japanese, so I'd like to keep things a bit oriental focused (which is why I chose a samurai helmet instead of a shield).
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Lachie Dazdarian on July 15, 2012, 02:52:19 pm
Maybe the face showing more resolution, not only a bold smile.

Like this:

(http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/toughguy_02_03/t06_21966269.jpg)
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 15, 2012, 03:17:15 pm
Good idea.

Ah ok, something more like this then:

Before:
(http://img14.picoodle.com/i57f/freemind/c1sh_727_u5vq6.gif)

After:
(http://img13.picoodle.com/i57f/freemind/cdua_6bf_u5vq6.gif)

Status progress bar (indicates the score for each stat):

(http://img15.picoodle.com/i57f/freemind/1a7r_8b9_u5vq6.png)
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Lachie Dazdarian on July 15, 2012, 03:42:40 pm
Yeah, better IMO.
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Ürch on July 16, 2012, 07:25:56 am
I'm not sure if you really want a scowling face in a light-hearted game!

(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13052502/Misc/ForYourConsideration.png)

Just switched the eyes/mouths of the respective faces. Just something to consider. I made some other small edits, as well.
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Kazuya Mochu on July 16, 2012, 09:55:59 am
why not have a dumbell from strength a boot with wings for speed, a yin-yang for chi and a shield for toughness?
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 16, 2012, 11:38:37 am
Thanks Ürch for the edit. Maybe I could make the face less daunting like this:

(http://www.ewjfan.fr/images/news/jimgun2.gif)
(I'm talking about the teeth here).

@Kazuya:

I'll keep the arm for strength if only because it was a pain to do (and it still needs to be tweaked). Same thing for the samurai armor, I like the way it looks. I can't use the winged boot because it's used elsewhere for the game and the chi is also used elsewhere.

When the player gains a level, he is given a certain amount of golden chi. Those golden chi can be invested to increase the stats:

(http://img14.picoodle.com/i57f/freemind/fmhq_2a7_u5vq6.gif)

Thanks for the ideas though  ;D. (I checked your portfolio, what a great idea you had to make us explore the place  :y:).

What I'm looking for now are ideas for: Chi and Speed

I'm also looking for ways to improve: Strength and Toughness.

Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Kazuya Mochu on July 16, 2012, 01:34:35 pm
ok what about chi being a face with closed eyes, and some blue light coming from bellow?

and speed could be a hand with a trail
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: PypeBros on July 16, 2012, 01:38:36 pm
how about depicting the chi "a la Dragon Ball" with wave patterns surrounding the character ?
Title: Re: Strength, Speed, Chi and Toughness
Post by: Zizka on July 18, 2012, 01:00:07 pm
Quote
ok what about chi being a face with closed eyes, and some blue light coming from bellow?

Quote
how about depicting the chi "a la Dragon Ball" with wave patterns surrounding the character ?

I like those ideas the best. So you mean something along these lines:
(http://img15.picoodle.com/i57i/freemind/h0ra_609_u5vq6.png)

Still haven't tried with the eyes closed, I'll keep you updated.