Hello.

EDIT/ This post has been updated to house WIP animations

I'm working on a set of 1-Bit flash games... a compendium really. One file with 3 or so games all built on the same core game engine.

I'd like to try an open work flow and see how it goes... Basically designing, building, playing, designing... All in little chunks

Dev log:

-One button gameplay. UPDATE: Basic keyboard movement.  UPDATE: Mouse movement - spaceship has inertia.
-Single screen. Wrapping game environment UPDATE: Side-scrolling with parallax background layers. UPDATE: Single screen & scrolling with parallax background layers (level dependent).
-Basic gameplay abduct people. UPDATE: abduct and avoid projectiles. UPDATE: abduct, avoid, destroy, move objects

Game play mockup:


You'd be amazed what a different the larger spaceship makes - so much more fun... you feel all powerful.

Characters/Objects:



Everything is  inspired by games of my youth - played on a Mac Plus. Dither patterns are mostly the ones I played with years ago in MacPaint...

So I decided it was time I dedicated some time to improving my pixel skills.

I've set myself a challenge for January: a pixel self portrait every two days... Hopefully this will kick me into gear.

Each portrait will be based on a selected, and referenced, artist's work.
I intend to emulate the selected work's style - to keep things simple (and easy ) I will work with the same palette and size restriction.
I will always include a WIP and a real brief write up.


Crits, edits, and anyone willing to join in very welcome.


================
No.1
Artist: Joshua Unknown (maybe someone can help me out here?) thanks Cow
Colour count : 9 (Originally 10 but I decided to ignore what I think is an accidental black shade)
Size: 62 x 80

Approach: very loose tablet beginning.
Style notes: emphasize asymmetry.
Difficulties: eyes of the correct racial background. hair highlights. strong 3d form definition.

ORIGINAL:

by Joshua

MINE:
=>
status: scrutinising

WIP:


================
No.2
Artist: Monsoon2d
Colour count : 14
Size: 90 x 74

Approach: colour blocking.
Style notes: symmetrical, flat paper box.
Difficulties: silhouette fitting style and long hair...
ORIGINAL:

by Monsoon2D

MINE:
=> => =>
status: complete

WIP:



================
No.3
Artist: Ikke
Colour count : 11
Size: 32 x 32

Approach: line art.
Style notes: symmetrical with limited exceptions bold & strong definition.
Difficulties: maintaining bold definition and likeness(ish)
ORIGINAL:

by Ikke

MINE:
=> => =>
status: complete

WIP:



================
No.4
Artist: Helm
Colour count : 10
Size: 100 x 100

Approach: ?
Style notes: wide pixels - this might be an issue with photoshop... NB
Difficulties: optimum use of palette
ORIGINAL:

by Helm

MINE:
=> = >
status: wip

WIP:
=>

NB. Anyone interested in using photoshop to produce a wide pixel piece here's the method I used improved by Ptoing.
1/ Create a new document with half the intended outcome width (in this case 50x100 [100x100 final])
2/ Change to wide pixel display: Image: Pixel Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic 2:1
  When complete
3/ Change to square pixel display: Image: Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square
4/ Double the horizontal size using: Image: Image Size: & the "Nearest Neighbour" resample option. (in this case 100x100)

This lets you work in and then save as wide pixels.


================
No.5
Artist: Ptoing
Colour count : <need to choose a head>
Size: ? x ?

Approach: i have a wip of ptoing's Ptoing WIP. will study and attempt a similar approach
Style notes: FUN. perfect angles. no aa.
Difficulties: Implying depth while maintaining simplistic shading and strong character.

ORIGINAL:

by Ptoing

MINE:
=> =>

WIP:


================
No.6
Artist: schrumpfkopf
Colour count : 14
Size: 83 x 84

Approach: super volume concentration.
Style notes: worried about dealing with these colours. but i love the palette
Difficulties: TBA

ORIGINAL:

by schrumpfkopf

MINE:
=> => => =>

WIP:


================
No.7
Artist: Ptoing
Colour count : <need to choose a head>
Size: 69 x 88

Approach: taking some time to digest recent advice and familiarise myself with this unusual pallette. Starting with a greyscale image to promote thought about values.
Style notes: simple limited yet expressive shading.
Difficulties: TBA

ORIGINAL:

by Ptoing

MINE:
A => =>
B => or
C =>

WIP:
A
B

================
No.8
Artist: Helm
Colour count : 17
Size: 128 x 128

Approach: thinking about values. identified a key skin tone palette and worked basic volumes with that.
Style notes: limited use of very dark darks. 'soft' shadows but still convincing depth. dither shading. grosteque.
Difficulties: TBA

ORIGINAL:

by Helm

MINE:
pose was too boring. concept wasn't personal...
=> => =>

WIP:

voodoo badger; tea beard; pixel will

-> ->
charlotte (any ideas on leg improvements welcome)


tea beard: beard rethink...

any crits appreciated. intended use is 200% (bottom row)

more characters to be added soon*

edit: names added

Hello all,

I've decided to use this wonderful resource and ask for C&C - i think this piece is at an early enough stage to be altered but far enough along that you can see where its heading?

My pixeling background is in character and animation.  This piece is a major diversion from my comfort zone.

Please view at 2x.

  -> 


Colours are near to their final resting place but palette suggestions are welcomed. (10 col's (some extras have crept in and will be removed when done) - web output so no real restriction but I like to keep things minimal)

EDIT: updated but struggling to finish