Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Lelle on November 18, 2006, 02:24:03 pm

Title: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 18, 2006, 02:24:03 pm
Started working on a Tank Boss. Wanted to post it to get your opinions before I mess it up too much!

Itīs supposed to be half like that, because you will never see the upper part. The mockup is the exact size of the mobile phone itīs supposed to be for. Also I guess I will have to make another version for smaller phones with 128x128 screen, this one would be kinda huge on those ;]
The rocket launcher pack will be animated, also some parts will "shake" making it look somewhat like it's moving.

  Without operator:       A different tone and in a mockup:
  (http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/6156/tankanim5he1.gif) (http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/3530/mockup6bx6.png)

176x208
(http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/5759/mock5gc3.png)

128x128: a bit too large?
(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4396/mock5blu4.png)

Any opinions/critique or anything welcome! Both on pixelation and functionality etc!

Cheers,

Lelle



Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Ian on November 18, 2006, 03:08:49 pm
I would start by making the "camo" of the tank contrast much more.  It's difficult to notice it.  Maybe shift the "darker" camo to a little greener hue so it sticks out nicely.  Great job on the whole.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 18, 2006, 04:08:15 pm
Thanks Ian! I made a revision with your suggestion, I already had a green version of the tank, havenīt decided what colour it will be in the end yet, so it was easy to change it. You think it turned out better now? I need to work a bit more on the contrast though.

(http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2315/mock5cdn8.png)

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Schu on November 18, 2006, 05:05:30 pm
Green isn't very good for desert camouflage. I'd go for more dirt camouflage (like brown, beige, etc) but if you google around you'd notice the desert tanks with green on them are mostly beige to match the area. However, since your location is pretty orange, then the tank would most likely try to blend in more with similar colours. Nice tank though, but the gun barrel is pretty small for such a big vehicle. Doesn't make the boss look very menacing either.
------
Schu
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Ian on November 18, 2006, 09:51:04 pm
Schu is absolutely right it looks bad with green... I still stick to my guns that it needed some more contrast somehow, but I'm not going to make any reccomendations on color this time.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 18, 2006, 09:51:41 pm
Thanks for pointers Schu! Aye, the camouflage isnīt too effective I'd say hehe, so changed it to what I would guess is Standard-1A when it comes to desert camouflage :]
I understand what you mean about the gun barrel, but this is only supposed to be a heavy machine gun operated from within the tank by a person(which instead would make it too large all of a sudden I guess...). Itīs true itīs not very frightening though, but I only thought of it as a secondary weapon.

So, I changed the camouflage and added some movement to it! I will try to concentrate on the functionality on the rocket launcher arm cause I donīt think it look very practical right now :]

(http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/452/tankanim3iq3.gif)

Iīm sorry if the operator looks like he is milking a cow! Or something worse even...

Cheers,

Lelle

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: sk8m8trix on November 18, 2006, 09:54:59 pm
...kill the opwrator, it would be better if u never saw him, make him be in the take, nice animation and tank (not counting operator)
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 18, 2006, 10:02:14 pm
...kill the opwrator, it would be better if u never saw him, make him be in the take, nice animation and tank (not counting operator)

Thanks sk8m8trix! I would remove him, however, if this turns out to be for a game I'm thinking of the operator will be a fundamental part of the game(an evil general) and will operate all of the end bosses. If it in the end looks totally out of place maybe it could be possible to make him get into the machines and vanish while operating them.

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Ian on November 18, 2006, 10:16:26 pm
Ah! Much much more pleasing to the eyes... sorry bout that.  :y:
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Ryona on November 19, 2006, 05:39:14 am

Iīm sorry if the operator looks like he is milking a cow! Or something worse even...


Lol!


Ahem
I totally love how the tank looks and moves! Very nice vehicle design and camouflage too!
If you are indeed going to use this for a game, I can already see that the game is going to look awesome.

Love your little man with the gun too.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: sk8m8trix on November 19, 2006, 05:43:39 am
Thanks sk8m8trix! I would remove him, however, if this turns out to be for a game I'm thinking of the operator will be a fundamental part of the game(an evil general) and will operate all of the end bosses. If it in the end looks totally out of place maybe it could be possible to make him get into the machines and vanish while operating them.

Cheers,

Lelle
it sorta remids me of the new sonic game that came out, eggman had 2 boss battles.... pretty good, but that guys looks too insignificant, maby make him look more elaborated (i mean all evil bosses have a gay duchebag costume)
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: zhangyue27334 on November 19, 2006, 06:11:31 am
I think,it look like a litte briefness,can you protract a little complex for the tank?
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Aleiav on November 19, 2006, 09:21:59 am
Thanks sk8m8trix! I would remove him, however, if this turns out to be for a game I'm thinking of the operator will be a fundamental part of the game(an evil general) and will operate all of the end bosses. If it in the end looks totally out of place maybe it could be possible to make him get into the machines and vanish while operating them.

Cheers,

Lelle

If you want to make it a little more realistic in that aspect you could put a clear dome over the head of the operator. That way they could theoretically have protection and at the same time you could see who's good and evil.

Although if it doesn't work in the game... understandable. I see the potential for a cool *swish* dome animation, though.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 19, 2006, 04:15:41 pm
Thanks for answers all!

I will think more about making the operator in a cooler way, now he look more and more misplaced for every time I look at him :-|

Aleiav: you mean like a glass "bubble" surrounding him? Or like a protecting glass like on motorcykles infront of him?
zhangyue27334: It seems like you used a translator of some sort cause what you wrote is kinda tricky to figure out, or maybe itīs just me. But I think you meant there is not enough details on the tank right? I will try and make it more complex, thanks!

So, I made another frame on the rocket launcher pack turning around. And made a more functional arm attachment for it. The arm isnīt casting any shadow on the rocket launcher pack yet...

(http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2720/tankanim4gc6.gif)

Thanks again for all help, keep it coming!

Cheers,

Lelle

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: ceddo on November 19, 2006, 06:45:10 pm
I love the tank's camo, good progress since the first version :P
I think it's bobbing up&down too fast though. Tanks are slow, and even with the huge motor and everything, I find it hard to imagine a tank bobbing that fast. Maybe add a frame or two?

The turret rotating is a good idea, but it looks a bit plain at the moment. Since it's firing rockets. maybe you could add a couple on each side of the turret, along with a couple of high-tec looking tubes... etc?

All the rest is great :) Well, maybe you could make the operator do something different? lol. Make him hold a talkie-walkie in one hand, and push dials with the other (No, not levers)

.c
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Faceless on November 19, 2006, 06:54:03 pm
It looks really weird how the rounded corners of the missile launcher become sharp as the angle changes.
Also, when the rocket launcher turns to the left the holes have their depth on the wrong side.
Apart from that, nice work, but I'd continue to play around with the palette... not quite right yet.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 19, 2006, 08:06:48 pm
I tweaked the colours a bit, even took a desert camo picture I found and did almost the same colours so now itīs my "orange" desert that is off :]

I will try and fix the rocket launcher pack, I agree that itīs both too sharp and dull. Maybe I should add rockets sticking out of the tubes! Maybe thatīs what you meant? The bobbing is supposed to be from the shock absorbing though, while itīs moving, not vibrations from the engine. Itīs just in test fase yet though so dunno how it will move around exactly in the end.

Put it in a mockup:
(http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/3530/mockup6bx6.png)

Keep up the good critique! :]

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Aleiav on November 22, 2006, 08:12:57 am
Aleiav: you mean like a glass "bubble" surrounding him? Or like a protecting glass like on motorcykles infront of him?

I mean like a bubble. Like Buzz Lightyear has. XD
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Dusty on November 22, 2006, 08:28:04 am
I personally like the operator.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 22, 2006, 01:56:28 pm
Thanks, I think I will keep the operator! :]

I remade the operator a bit, looks more like a boss character now I think. Though he doesnīt stand out too much next to the tank, need to make him more contrasted(and he will close the hatchet after he is done talking). The text is kinda misplaced but you get the idea I hope hehe :] Also temoved the tiny machinegun and mounted two short barrelled cannons instead!

Also the "arm" isnīt casting shadow correctly on the rocket launcher pack yet.

(http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8999/mocker7gifyg3.gif)

Cheers,

Lelle



Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Jad on November 22, 2006, 02:05:41 pm
I just think you should redo the camo, as it is right now it doesn't make me think of camo but rather that somebody have spilled coffee over the whole tank or something D:

I think the contrast between the dark and light camo-colour-blotches should be lesser, plus that the blotches would be more uniform in size..

(http://www.rctankcombat.com/tanks/T001/20Camo-large.jpg)

A bit like that (sorry for hueg pictarr)

THe operator is super, though :]
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 22, 2006, 04:21:35 pm
Yea I know what you mean :] I found some pics at google to look at and came up with this camouflage. Also changed the colours a bit.

(http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7307/mockup7pz4.png)

Better or worse one might ask? :]

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: baccaman21 on November 22, 2006, 07:03:11 pm
Lelle...

here's a tip for ya regarding camo...

take the tank.

color it in one tone. (i.e. remove the camo)

then make mulitple copies of said tank and brighten and darken them a few times. (using the same pallette regestries obviously)

then with say... three or four (at a push variations) you can cut out sections and paste those sections on top of the original (single colored) tank...

you can go crazy with this so be careful...

check these droids (not mine) that I camo'd up in this fashion a while back...
(http://pete.ptoing.net/Petes_Pixels/2rob10xp_green_camo.gif)(http://pete.ptoing.net/Petes_Pixels/2rob10xp_pink_camo.gif)

(I'm sure someone round here'll remember who pixelled these puppies) all I did was camo them up...  personally I prefer the angled camo... the germans invented it during ww2 and I think it's called 'splinter' these days...
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Jamie on November 22, 2006, 07:12:07 pm



check these droids (not mine) that I camo'd up in this fashion a while back...
(http://pete.ptoing.net/Petes_Pixels/2rob10xp_green_camo.gif)(http://pete.ptoing.net/Petes_Pixels/2rob10xp_pink_camo.gif)

(I'm sure someone round here'll remember who pixelled these puppies) all I did was camo them up...  personally I prefer the angled camo... the germans invented it during ww2 and I think it's called 'splinter' these days...


That would be neverest  ;) topic here - http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=1002.msg11962#msg11962

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 22, 2006, 11:52:48 pm
Cool, thanks for tips baccaman21! I think I got the idea correct but perhaps I need to try harder :]

(http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/2115/tankmockfm8.png)

Better or worse? Maybe I should use bigger chunks cause it looks more like a leafy-kind-of camo now I guess.

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Gunne on November 23, 2006, 08:42:47 am
I think the splinter-camo is excellent.

Were's the operator? Get him back! :P
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: baccaman21 on November 23, 2006, 09:04:20 am
bigger chunks... for definate... be brave with it... :)
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 23, 2006, 01:44:53 pm
Was a bit bolder here with the chunks! Maybe they are still too small though...

(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6272/tankmock2rw8.png)

And the operator is back in! :]

Cheers,

Lelle
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: baccaman21 on November 23, 2006, 02:15:12 pm
...possibly... or mayve you need to overlap them with each other a bit more...

looking good though :)
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 23, 2006, 04:30:51 pm
Thanks! :]

I overlapped them more like you said and itīs starting to look like real camouflage now I think!

(http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1093/tankmock3hx3.png)

Thanks for all the help!

Cheers,

Lelle

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: xanthier on November 26, 2006, 07:46:38 am
major improvement, that looks like real camoflage and the operator looks way less generic and like a real character.
what system is this game for?
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: sharprm on November 26, 2006, 08:39:03 am
I think the green operator looks a bit big. I really liked the other operator. This one looks like his arms are too wide and maybe
he wouldn't be able to squeeze out of the tank. Other than that its looking really good.  :y:
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 26, 2006, 11:42:51 am
Xanthier: Thanks! Itīs for cell phones so not much to play with when it comes to some phones :|

Sharprm: Thanks! I think I prefer the new operator since his appearance is much more powerful. Even though it doesnīt look 100% functional itīs easier to see that he is a Boss-character now. I do like the old cow milker though, he looks kinda cute :] But not too menacing hehe.

Cheers,

Lelle

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Larwick on November 26, 2006, 11:14:51 pm
Really good updates.

I think the character in the tank could use some more contrast and definition, at the moment he looks like a green splodge or such (a well shapen one.. but still).  :y:
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Feron on November 26, 2006, 11:16:56 pm
the tank drivers face looks mashed, just use one color for it.
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: buloght on November 26, 2006, 11:43:06 pm
This looks great, keep up the good work  :y:
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Lelle on November 27, 2006, 12:33:03 am
at the moment he looks like a green splodge or such

Haha, I know what you mean I'm too much into details, so it gets all clogged up in the end. I usually give people advice like "less is more" but I donīt follow them myself :]

Feron:Youīre right, Iīll fix it!

Buloght: Thanks, Iīll try! :]



How about this?
(http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9050/tankmock3um0.png)

Sharprm: Now it automatically got smaller too hehe.

Cheers,

Lelle

Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: Feron on November 27, 2006, 04:34:24 pm
sweet.
could do with more contrast and some different hue variations.  it just seems to be a brown square a tthe moment, in a nice way :)
Title: Re: [WIP] SHMUP Tank Boss!
Post by: snader on November 27, 2006, 05:33:38 pm
are there gonna be smaller tanks as regular enemies in this level? in that case you might wanna vary the designs a bit between the both of em, like put spikes on the front or something, and a decal logo, so players can see it's not a regular unit easier