Ultimaodin: Glad you like. For the APNGs, I'm using GIF Movie Gear - the demo version, currently, but I think I'll purchase the full. I am glad the new rotors read well, it was becoming a major concern of mine...
Conceit: Yep, those are what the exported sprites from MAX look like, just animated. when you say don't go overboard on the alpha on the explosions...what do you mean exactly? The explosions do need to fade out, right? I'm not sure what you meant by this.
Anyhow. Been going kinda slow, just done another couple of play area art pieces.

I think I need to do a projectile for the bumblebot, a taunt/alt idle animation, and a death animation.  I also need to come up with another enemy type - on the light/melee only type. I'm thinking something buld around a rolly-polly, with a green lighting taser attached. Ah, yes. Then I need to make the player character. I've kinda been putting that off because I'm not completely certain about the colors and style, but I think I'm snagged onto an awesome idea and I probably need to run with it.

ptoing: Thanks. That may end up being what I have to do.
CrazyMLC: Thanks. As for the awkward recoil...that's kinda the effect I'm going for. I'm not expecting something called a "BumbleBot" to be particularly badass. I *like* that it looks somewhat unstable.
Zoggles: Thanks. The rotors are counter-rotating right now - that's the only thing that makes sense, given torque issues. As for your (and others) concern that the flash might be to impressive...well, that just means I need to step it up on the big bad boys later on, right? That is a challenge I think I will enjoy. As for the roof bits - I'll be making and showing some roof edges and transitions to break everything up.
Ultimaodin:Thanks. I kinda like the width of rotors as they are - that they look almost too small to actually keep it in the air, is awesome to me. Really adds in the "bumble" part of the bumblebot. As for the width of the blurred portion of the rotors, good call. I'll narrow that down pronto.
I like the Centipede idea. Maybe for a boss?

Okay, so all the transparency issues have driven me a bit nuts. I've started using another gif-making program to try and get around them. This particular program also supports APNG, so if you have a browser that supports it, you should see correct-alpha animated version of the GIFs.



How's that work for everyone?

Better?

CrazyMLC, Opacus:Thanks, glad you like!
alspal:yeah, it's a function and result of how I was doing the particle effects... here's an update.
Jakten:Thanks for the ref!
micintexp : The images are assembled in Graphicsgale and exported to GIF format. They're initially generated in 3DSMax 2009.
ptoing: Sort of. The problem is that these particle systems use filtered textures for the explosions, and if I turn that off it looks really bad. With that on, however, I have no control over the interaction with the background. At this point I've just turned the alpha off.
So, made a new enemy! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the BUMBLEBOT!

This is really cool! When it comes to the environment, my only suggestion is to sprinkle some brighter/more saturated elements here and there. Things like flashing lights, yellow/black warning tape, that sort of thing. Looks really neat, other than that! I really like the extremely subtle reflection of the gun on the transparent helmet. Good job.