Pixelation
Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: redballoon on August 05, 2009, 03:45:33 pm
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Hello
Looked at the lovely pixel art in here for so long I've decided to post.
I'm a graphic designer who specialises in graphics for the ZX Spectrum computer.
I've just recently finished an illustration for the latest issue of Edge magazine on their article covering the rivalry between Sir Clive Sinclair (the creator of the ZX Spectrum) and Chris Curry (the creator of the BBC computer) and the forthcoming BBC4 docu-drama. The images are based on actual photographs.
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/zx_sirclivesinclair_colour01.gif)(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/zx_chriscurry_colour01.gif)
I've also managed to discover some old graphics for games that just never materialised as well as just general 'farting around'.
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/alien_small.gif)(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/predator_small.gif)
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/spectrum/batman2_small.gif)
Here's the game graphics.
First some tileable mountains for a scrolling shoot 'em up
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/mountain01.gif) (http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/mountain02.gif)
And some animated graphics for a top down adventure.
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/crusher.gif)(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/pixel/fan.gif)
Oh, I do do more than 2 colours per 8x8pixel square and I'll post that up later.
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Maybe I should explain more about this ZX Spectrum for those that don't know. It was a UK computer released in 1982 although there were variants released all over the World during it's lifetime - it was released as the Timex in the US). It originally was released with 16K of memory but was followed by 48K although there was a 128K version released later on. It edged out the Commodore 64 in the UK as the nations most popular computer/games machine. The screen size was 256x192 pixels and it only had 8 colours although there were bright variants of these colours. You could only have 2 colours per 8x8 pixel attribute which was known as colour clash - which is why it looks like there is colour bleed in some images. And there you go.
Anyway, here's a mockup map using in-game graphics of that top down adventure game still sitting in limbo. As you can see, I based it on the 2D version of Zelda.
If this is image is too big, I'll make it a link.
(http://www.redballoon.demon.co.uk/stuff/th_map.png)
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I'm glad you decided to join and show these here. Excellent work!
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Agreed. Incredible what you did with such limitations... it's such a unique style. ;D Especially with the Death in the Family pixel, it doesn't even look like it limits what you can do, instead adding an extra dimension.
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my only issue is with the alien and predator it took me forever to figure out what they were. otherwise i love these.
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Thank you all for your comments. :)
Yeah, the Alien and Predator art is something I've got so used to over the years it never occurred to me that others might not be able to instantly recognise them easily.
I'm trying to find all the frames for the sprites for both the Zelda-esque game and the shooter..although I might be a bit hesitant in showing them - I was pushing the limits to have 4 frames for each animation (ooooh, the future is here ;) )