Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Souly on May 24, 2008, 07:11:42 pm

Title: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (first post updated)
Post by: Souly on May 24, 2008, 07:11:42 pm
(http://i29.tinypic.com/azjg5j.gif) (http://i28.tinypic.com/24ew709.gif)

(http://i28.tinypic.com/28w18ie.jpg)(http://i29.tinypic.com/2eaqps1.jpg)(http://i26.tinypic.com/jsyo8k.gif)(http://i32.tinypic.com/de21aq.jpg)(http://i31.tinypic.com/28thl36.jpg)(http://i32.tinypic.com/21n1iro.jpg)(http://i31.tinypic.com/fcvhgy.jpg)

Wanted to make a river city style zombie game.
Gave Bobs sprite some weapons, so far Baseball bat, Chain, Pistol, Dualies, Knife, Nothing
Still need more variety in zombies.
Title: Re: Biker Bob
Post by: Xion on May 24, 2008, 09:27:17 pm
the zombies are camoflauged against the grass.
zombie children have tiny tiny heads.
red blood is very red.
I think the baseball bat is meh...maybe add a bit of an angle to it so he's not holding it perfectly vertical?
the knife is tiny tiny.

hmm...

why are the zombies pointing?
the street is very clean, the fence neat, the grass kept...seems like zombies would've caused a bit more turmoil than that, you know?

love the dude's hair.
Title: Re: Biker Bob
Post by: Souly on May 24, 2008, 10:32:02 pm
(http://i31.tinypic.com/1zqslg0.gif)
I'll see what I can do to mess things up a bit.
Title: Re: Biker Bob
Post by: Joseph on May 24, 2008, 10:40:16 pm
lol xion, did you mix your replies?  the lizard is in the other topic.

your little zombie girl is weird...I would think her hair would be more 'dead', not so lively bright and bouncy.
and her dress isn't doing it for me.  looks like a cake.

the bat is much better.
Title: Re: Biker Bob
Post by: Souly on May 24, 2008, 11:09:36 pm
(http://i28.tinypic.com/28w18ie.jpg)
Still working on this.

(http://i26.tinypic.com/20tf8fs.jpg) (http://i29.tinypic.com/33dz7g2.jpg)
First car(s) I've ever drawn.

Added more weapon icons, and made it so only the close zombies have their arms out.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: sharprm on May 25, 2008, 02:37:39 am
I think you need to redo those trashcans. They are too long and dithering is a mistake. Also, not circle enough at ends (if that makes any sense).

Cool designs. You might want to have highlights on pavement and texture to liven it up.

I haven't played the game you refer to but it seems like a funny idea if the suburban zombies live like normal suburban people. Like the human guy is the one causing all the chaos.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Souly on May 25, 2008, 02:46:04 am
(http://i29.tinypic.com/2eaqps1.jpg) (http://i30.tinypic.com/6f2jxy.jpg) (http://i26.tinypic.com/29pt15v.jpg)

(http://i26.tinypic.com/315inwi.jpg)
I completely changed the stance with the bat, I wanted him to actually use it like a bat, not a club.
The trash cans we're very iffy with me, I was thinking of removing them, maybe throwing in some newspaper dispensers and mailboxes.
Thinking of making a playground in the top right.
Also added a victim to the car crash.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Revolution Bomb on May 25, 2008, 03:51:49 am
Bob needs to swing high if he wants to make sure a zombie is dead.  :P
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Sherman Gill on May 25, 2008, 04:20:03 am
Your animations don't have enough movement, and what you have is way really jumpy. When you punch or swing a bat, you don't just move your arms, your whole body shifts its weight.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Xion on May 25, 2008, 06:50:22 am
The garbage cans don't look right because they're dithered in a flat-shaded world.

A little more of the tops of the cars could be showing. Also, the dithering on them looks out of place for the same reason as the garbage cans.

Might I suggest:
Some blood spatters on the pavement
broken bottles
a little tone variation in the road, some dark spots, like where new concrete was poured over potholes, the like.

Sherman's also very right about the animations being choppy and, well, they don't really have much expression. Like when he swings the bat, he's not really moving like he's trying to bash a zombie but like he just wants to put forth the minimal effort required to knock one down. I'd suggest something like one or two windup frames, then WHAM! he swings that thang at full force, maybe two frames of actual swinging, both at close to full extention, before bringin' it back around, where it waits for a second before he returns it to starting position.
Also, what's with the lifting of the leg?

I think the arm in the punch needs more extention. If a zombie gets close enough for you to hit it at that range seems like the damage'd've already been done.

I still love the hair. Bouncy-bouncy
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Ben2theEdge on May 25, 2008, 12:55:48 pm
Awesome!
My primary suggestion is I think you're using too much black right now. It works well for Biker Bob but not so well for the zombies. I got the impression that they're supposed to look like a stereotypical 50's sitcom family but they look like they're going to a funeral. If you gave them more colorful "happy" clothing it would not only make it easier to differentiate them from Bob (important since the sprites are so small) but it would also help the joke.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Souly on May 25, 2008, 07:09:26 pm
(http://i26.tinypic.com/2mr6ux4.gif) (http://i29.tinypic.com/2rqedeg.jpg) (http://i26.tinypic.com/334ugxf.gif)
Not sure if this is more what you're talking about for the bat animation.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2upfmm9.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/fcvhgy.jpg)
She may be a bit too fast.
However I don't want slow dead zombies, they gotta be fast.

Edit: Made a new frame for the bat animation.
Better or worse?
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Sherman Gill on May 25, 2008, 09:11:35 pm
His arms need to extend all the way in the bat animation.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: AdamAtomic on May 25, 2008, 09:24:16 pm
I really like the style of the characters so far, but the animations are really boring, and the trash cans, cars and playground seem to have come from a different game or project entirely!
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Souly on May 25, 2008, 09:34:05 pm
(http://i27.tinypic.com/25tuasy.gif) (http://i29.tinypic.com/2rp5oh5.gif) (http://i26.tinypic.com/jsyo8k.gif)
(http://i30.tinypic.com/15vocj.gif)

I haven't drawn a car since grade 6. D:
I though that was pretty good.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Joseph on May 25, 2008, 09:55:42 pm
if I were swining a bat around, I think I'd get more force behind it if I had it in my right hand and I through my entire body towards the zombie.
I'd certainlly animate to show you, but I suck at it.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/joseph_ch/pixel/others%20edits/bob-swing.png)
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Dusty on May 25, 2008, 10:05:04 pm
I think the swing needs hardly any vertical movement. Perhaps look at some baseball videos?
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Souly on May 25, 2008, 10:07:23 pm
(http://i25.tinypic.com/ffdc0j.gif) (http://i27.tinypic.com/2rgkoly.gif)
Perhaps over head?
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Revolution Bomb on May 25, 2008, 10:09:22 pm
The last animation looks great.  ;)

For the zombie animation, it should be a tad bit slower and more beast like (she has great posture for a dead gal  :D).

I for one like this quite a bit, keep it up Souly.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Liksmaskaren on May 26, 2008, 12:48:36 am
Don't know if this ruins the style of the game, but I would like to see some more pixels moving around in the animation.
I made a little edit to show what i mean:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/andreas_hahaha/2rgkoly.gif)

I really like the design of Biker Bob.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Souly on May 26, 2008, 12:54:21 am
(http://i31.tinypic.com/zjuo20.gif)
Decided to kill off the first granny.
Mail box fell over.

That is some nice pixel animation. :]
I'll have to see what I can do.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2ef6rs9.gif) (http://i26.tinypic.com/2wna2bq.gif)
So like this liksmaskaren?

Changed the far hand movement.

(http://i30.tinypic.com/m9sphh.gif)(http://i29.tinypic.com/2pq0qvo.jpg)
Edit: started a chain twirl animation
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: PypeBros on May 26, 2008, 06:30:39 am
afaik, chains do not really stay straight when you make them turn around (unless you make them turn *very* fast), but rather bend a bit as it takes more and more time for the movements to commit towards its end.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Willows on May 26, 2008, 06:41:01 am
Love it, which is why I've kept silent until now.

BUT, two things.

One, I think the animation of the chain is fine but won't it get totally lost when standing on a sidewalk or in front of a garbage can?

Two, the half-second you'd have to wait after pressing the -swing the bat- key would be EXTREMELY annoying during gameplay. You don't have TIME to wind up, man! A zombie is attacking you!
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Souly on May 26, 2008, 07:17:35 am
Well notice the hands stay on the bat, I was hoping that it would just play the animation from that point and then continue as the person kept pressing attack.

As for the chain color, I'll change it.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: PypeBros on May 26, 2008, 08:05:56 am
Two, the half-second you'd have to wait after pressing the -swing the bat- key would be EXTREMELY annoying during gameplay. You don't have TIME to wind up, man! A zombie is attacking you!

So that might be the key for proper use of the bat. E.g. Biker Bob can move at normal speed if attack button is idle, grab the bat when you press the button (and then still move, but slower) and attack is unleashed when you release the button. I'd suggest that he just punch the zombie if button is hit too fast (inspiring from megaman's shots).
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Souly on May 26, 2008, 08:13:57 am
(http://i28.tinypic.com/24ew709.gif)
Still not enough carnage for me...

I made an old stores clerk.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies
Post by: Liksmaskaren on May 26, 2008, 09:19:31 am
(http://i32.tinypic.com/2ef6rs9.gif) (http://i26.tinypic.com/2wna2bq.gif)
So like this liksmaskaren?

Yes!  ;D
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: megane on May 26, 2008, 12:46:07 pm
You could have two bat attacks, a quick little smack for tapping the button and that big overhead smash for holding it down.  Think, uhhh... Knuckle Joe in Kirby All-Stars :D

Bob's nuclear cowlick is pretty much the best thing ever.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Opacus on May 26, 2008, 03:33:34 pm
Here comes the critique train, choo choo!

About the run animation. It doesn't work. I'm actually only assuming it's a run, it's hard to make out from a walk in this case.
But since he's killing zombies and trying to save the world and all, I'm just assuming he's in a hurry and running.

He doesn't seem to be pushing any weight at all. Running is basicly pushing yourself away with one leg and catching yourself with the other.
We push, fall, and catch ourselves and that goes on and on.
When we catch ourselves one leg has to carry quite alot of weight, so that's why the catch is the lowest part in the run. Also called the 'down'.
Then we push ourselves away, with a certain amount of strength, propelling us foreward. So the leg stretches as far as possible. This is why the push off is the highest point.
Or, the 'up'. Take that in mind when you make a run animation.

Inbetween the up and the down, we have the contact.
The contact comes after the highest point of the FEET.
This is where the foot makes contact with the ground, but it doesn't take the weight yet, so the leg is still stretched.
And remember, heel hits the ground first :)
Normally we also have the pass, before the up, but in my sample the up is basicly also the pass

Also, note the arm movement. The arms are the highest at the down, and the lowest at the up. The hair actually moves in the same way. Kind of countering the position
of the rest of the body.

So, we now have 4 positions in this run. I gave them a letter on the animation, lower left.
I hope it's self explenatory which letter is which position.
I also hope this is of any help. Anyway, here you go:
(http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9936/edit94et7.gif)
(The run is a bit extreme, I know, but I thought it might fit the style of your game)
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Fool on May 26, 2008, 05:22:45 pm
Like that guy attitude, he's seriously rocks.=)
Got some fun to play with a bat swinging, it's not that is something wrong with your - just can't resist. I think i post it anyway as it might give you some ideas.
(http://www.foolstown.com/misc/2wna.gif) (http://www.foolstown.com/misc/3wna.gif)

And chain stance - if you go uneven on chains ghosts, like  one frame - 3. another - four, another - none at all etc, you might get better feel of it. Now it a bit like a propeller.=)
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Souly on May 26, 2008, 06:29:48 pm
I really like the jacket flapping idea.
Also that side swing is nice. :]
I'll have to think about secondary attacks.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/28thl36.jpg)(http://i32.tinypic.com/21n1iro.jpg)
New trail frame.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/de21aq.jpg)
Also reworked the walking animation a bit.
gotta still do it for the actual walk animation.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Joseph on May 26, 2008, 09:06:08 pm
the walking looks like this left leg is moving front to mid, and his left is just dragging.
the new bat swing is excellent though, and yes, I totally agree with secondary attacks.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Xion on May 26, 2008, 09:59:01 pm
(http://i32.tinypic.com/21n1iro.jpg)
That was weird - it was going with the beat of my music for the entire song and hypnotized me. anyway, looking much, much, much better

(http://i32.tinypic.com/de21aq.jpg)
Also reworked the walking animation a bit.
gotta still do it for the actual walk animation.
Seems like you're missing a keyframe where he lifts up his foot behind him.
What's making it look like one foot is dragging, as Joseph noted, is that there's a column of legness that almost never moves. It just wiggles a bit, but for the most part looks to be the same entity. Seems like one leg is standing in the same place for far too long.
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (updated)
Post by: Vertigo-zero on May 27, 2008, 04:17:19 pm
The wsing is out of perspective :(

Your street: /--/--/--/
Your swing: /--|--|--\

Looking cool so far!
Title: Re: Biker Bob vs Suburbian Zombies (first post updated)
Post by: Souly on May 28, 2008, 12:54:16 am
(http://i30.tinypic.com/28kk4ud.jpg)

I'm actually planning on re-doing the street and sidewalks.
As for the walk animation still working on it.