Ehh, to be clear, by expert I meant someone who has sufficient skills to accomplish the work. If you also have to spend time learning skills (example: making a seamless tile), then the time required greatly increases.
To get a better measure of your productivity, I suggest we make this a proper challenge. The goal is not to compete for speed, but to give yourself a better idea when estimating for jobs.
Step 1: Note the current time on your computer. Write it down somewhere. Write down the date, too (in case this takes a long time).
Step 2: Choose a tile size: 16x16, 32x32, or 48x48. You will make 8 tiles at this size. For optional added fun, make 7 tiles of this size and one tile at 64x64, because the game needs UI and/or title screen. Or maybe the customer doesn't really know what he needs.
Step 3: Head to one of the random generator sites:
http://nine.frenchboys.net/index.phphttp://www.seventhsanctum.com/or any other random source that you like.
Select one place generator. Generate no more than two places.
Select one character/monster generator. Generate no more than 4 monsters or characters. Select three of the four.
Select two categories of items, clothing, or treasure. Generate no more than two items from each. Select no more than one from each category.
If you chose to make a larger 64x64 tile, then go to
http://chaoticshiny.com/tarotgen.php and generate no more than two tarot cards. Select one.
This is to simulate someone else controlling what needs to be made. You get to make some selections to avoid totally bad results, but you don't get to pick and choose until you get really good results.
4) Draw the tiles.
Note the time to complete a first draft of all the tiles, and the time when they are all finished. You may also track the time spent actually working separately.
For the map locations, draw either one tile for a map icon for each place, or 2-3 tiles as a sample for one of the places.
For the characters, make one tile each of them.
For the items, make a tile for each.
For the tarot card, if you chose that option, make a larger tile that incorporates the result. It doesn't need to be a tarot card, but it needs to include most of the elements.
Optional fun: If you just want to restrict this to terrain type tiles to emphasize seamless tile building, then select one of the locations and build all 8 tiles based on that. Even the larger tile if you chose that option.
5) Tally the times. Compare time spent making pixels vs total calendar time, including eating, sleeping, and whatnot. Time spent on the web sites above count against the total time spent.
If you think, "this might be fun, but I'm not sure I have the time right now," then this challenge is for you. Real life interferes. If you set aside dedicated time to pixel and isolate yourself from distractions, you distort the results a bit, because you generally can't do that on larger projects.
If the generators give you results that are incomplete, you can 'ask for clarification' by supplementing the results with the results from a different table, blending the results. Character + clothing for example, or equipment + room. If you do this, generate no more than two results and select one to include. Also, add at least an hour to the total time, up to half a working day (3-4 hours) for a more realistic response time.
If you really want to add to the fun, after you have made the first draft of the tiles, add a half a day to the total time, head back to the generator sites, generate another round of choices, and blend one additional separate result to each of the tiles you have just made. This simulates the customer requesting a revision or changing his mind. Don't replace what you have done entirely, but incorporate one or more elements for the revision. If round one says 'man with red shirt' and the revision is 'woman with blue shirt' then change the sex or the color, but not both. For places that only generate names or titles, add some detail based on a different generator instead.
Again, the goal is not to compete to see who can pixel the quickest, it's to give yourself a more realistic estimate of your productivity when responding to job requests.
Tourist
PS Should I post this to the challenges board?
