[WIP] Side-Scroller

[japez]

This is a WIP of a recent online-sidescroller that i'm making. Its still WIP and i know it needs some work.
The character sprites are suppose to look non-human if anyone is wondering. The gradient is just for WIP because i can't be bothering doing the dithered sky just of yet.

[mozzy]

I assume that its an ocean in the background. Right now it looks more like a long wall.
Here's a good reference (by Blackbeltdude):

It gets darker and less detailed the further back it goes.

[JJ Naas]

It gets darker and less detailed the further back it goes.

It gets darker when seen from the shore as it gets deeper and the bottom reflects less ligt coming from above but out in the open sea it won't. A sunset doesn't reflect light from the bottom either due to the angle. I agree that textures might make it look more water-like.

[slym]

Very nice, although when the sprite is facing to the right, you have the depth off a bit.



Great job!

[Shiny]

One thing that's apparent to me is that the characters look off-balance, as if they're leaning backwards.
Also, the outlines on the rocks along the top edge of the platforms seem much too harsh in contrast with those that are below them.
I like the clouds .

[ndchristie]

the platforms will need much higher priority than that in-game I think, right now they really disappear into the environment.

[japez]

Hmm, I tried the water. I don't think it turned out too good. Too grainy or too distracting for a background. Any suggestions?

[ndchristie]

try blending fewer shades in an area, with more straight shots and fewer ditty-dotties, and make the marks in the foreground longest while fading the marks in the background to flat?

some sense of waves might not hurt either.  THis is just a quick smear, but something like this motion worked up nice with your other two colors could do well by you:

[Reo]

I reqognise that pallete http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/42134.htm
Doesn't really matter but a mention would have been nice cause it looks like this has been based off my little mage, again Doesn't really matter but asking before is always nice 
Anyway this looks quite good but the character has different sized legs.
 I like the background.

[Mathias]

I hope you plan to spice up that player character, he's mighty borin'. I agree with the priority issue. If you're not married to the palette I'd trying using different colors for  the bg as you use in fg. Or even if you don't want to deviate, try different color treatments to distinguish bg from fg.

[japez]

I reqognise that pallete http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/42134.htm
Doesn't really matter but a mention would have been nice cause it looks like this has been based off my little mage, again Doesn't really matter but asking before is always nice 
Anyway this looks quite good but the character has different sized legs.
 I like the background.

Yeah sorry for not mentioning your palette, but i didn't feel obliged too since its just a set of colours. But yeah, it isnt really based on your mage. The sprite also has 2 different sized legs because of the perspective, the other leg is farther away from the point of view so its smaller.

I hope you plan to spice up that player character, he's mighty borin'. I agree with the priority issue. If you're not married to the palette I'd trying using different colors for  the bg as you use in fg. Or even if you don't want to deviate, try different color treatments to distinguish bg from fg.

Yeah, I adding more stuff to the characters, its just a base. And i plan to add more colours.

[Cure]

Some may think I'm completely anal retentive, but I really hate it when folks are all "it's just colors".  Drawings are "just lines", PA is "just pixels".  As much thought and time can go into crafting a good palette as can go into making the piece itself, it's still an aspect of the image that the artist spent time and creativity on.

I agree with ND that the platforms have priority issues, maybe try adding some bright highlights, especially to the top surface.
The water texture looks much better, but you've got these three really distinct bands that could intermingle a little and look a bit more natural.

[ndchristie]

But yeah, it isnt really based on your mage.

Let's stick to the important part which is being open with and grateful to your sources.  An orange you bought from a store that's been sliced, sun-dried, mixed with granola and blended in yoghurt is still an orange.

[japez]

I used his sprite as inspiration and I'm sorry if i didn't credit him but i sure will if i ever publish this on a website or something i'll be sure to credit. I'll probably redo the sprites anyway since this is still a WIP. I was wondering if the background is too distracting for a background, How would i go by making the focus of the game to be on the foreground?

[Indigo]

the problem we have here is this wasn't "inspiration" by any means.  This was an edit.  Edits are simply not allowed here unless given as critique.  You already were warned of citing your sources with the palette, yet you still fail to mention the sprite.  Claiming someone's work as your own by not citing references is a serious offense.  And in all honesty, even if you had cited your reference, that is not the purpose of this forum and you would have been directed elsewhere.  What do you have to say on this?

[japez]

I won't be using my edit of his sprite anymore. Ill make my own sprite completely, I'm sorry if didn't cite the reference i used or "edited" and i'm sorry i disrupted this forum in some way or mad anyone angry, but i don't think it has. I'm still a novice and was not sure about if i had to mention the palette. I don't get what the purpose of this forum then? I thought it was a pixel art forum which you post your WIP designs and the other members can help you improve, critique and comment.

[Kren]

I don't get what the purpose of this forum then? I thought it was a pixel art forum which you post your WIP designs and the other members can help you improve, critique and comment.

Well, yes the purpose is to improve, but someone can't improve if he doesn't learn how to choose his own colours or how to correctly sprite by editing.