Topdown NBA Game

[pixelsforhire]

Ok, I'm making a game for a friend. She's a big mavs fan, so I'm making a Pacman, Dirk Nowitzki (sp?) game. Basically, you run around a maze looking for the ball, which you then throw at either an enemy (logo of a non-mavs team) to make it respawn in the map's center, or throw it at a goal to earn a point. I here's the sprites I have. The side animation is pretty poor, the dribble looks bad when animated, and the hair needs to move. I'd like to see other people's edits and comments before I continue. Help, please!

[pixelsforhire]

No one's going to at least say "work on X" for me?

[Indigo]

often times threads get 150+ views before someone replies (as is the case here), PixelsForHire.  No need to double post, just give it time.

I personally like these a whole lot.  they're cute and stylish and get the job done.  To me, the shading on the hair seems a bit random.  And those two pixels on the top of the head stick out too much from the outline.  Also, in your jersey you're using straight greys.  Try to avoid 100% desaturation.  Greys are alot more interesting with a hint of hue in them.  Thats it for now, i'm leaving for an appointment.  I might come back here for more in-depth critique.

[AdamTierney]

The run needs to be more extreme. Pick his legs up higher in the extreme frames. In fact given his proportions, it would probably look best if his legs stick straight out and straight back, parallel to the ground.

- Adam

[pixelsforhire]

Ok, I added some extra frames. It looks pretty good with a pause at the points where his feet are fully extended. I know I'm going to have to change up the "bounce" somehow, but I'm not sure which frames he should be up on. Also, Adam, I love your work and have known about you for some time. I am really in awe that I'm getting comments on my work from people I have so much respect for (you too, Indigo, but I've already told you that.)

[Aleiav]

It seems a bit odd for a walking cycle, like his feet are going up too far in comparison with his body. I'd make them not go so far up?

keep going! 

[pixelsforhire]

The run needs to be more extreme. Pick his legs up higher in the extreme frames. In fact given his proportions, it would probably look best if his legs stick straight out and straight back, parallel to the ground.

It seems a bit odd for a walking cycle, like his feet are going up too far in comparison with his body. I'd make them not go so far up?

Gah! Conflicting advise! *head explodes*

[Faceless]

Pick them up more for the side view and less for the front.

[Aleiav]

Legs & Feet <--- two different things.

He doesn't have much in the way of leg but... think about the way you walk. Are your legs stuff all of the time? With your feet high in the air? Unless you're a marching Nazi, I think not. Especially if you're trying to play basketball. I think he needs some knees or at least some bending in the legs, without so much view of the foot.

[junkboy]

I think the basketball bounce is way too sluggish. I would make two seperate spritesheets, one where the ball is up and another one where it's down, and then just switch between those two during the walk. That would give the ball a more realistic bounce. Then again, there might be game-engine limitations preventing this sort of stuff. 

Good luck with your project!

[pixelsforhire]

Hmmm, I probably won't do the ball seperate. I kind of like the floaty style. I think I'm going to get some work in on the side view before I start polishing the front. Thanks for all the comments.

[pixelsforhire]

Ok, I made this much of the side view pretty quick and have been trying to get a decent animation for the leg in the background, but all my trail has just led to error. Any recommendations/edits?

I'll get to the arms next and fix his awfully misshapen head.

[Aleiav]

He looks like he's walking on one foot.

[pixelsforhire]

He looks like he's walking on one foot.

Yeah, like I said, I only animated the front one so far and figured I'd go ahead and post it. I've been busy with work and other stuff, so not much pixel time. In fact, I should probably get off the forums now...

[Lelle]

Looks really nice, but I took a shot at the walk animation and made a quick animation, 6 frames long. After the leg has reached its backmost position, it gets lifted back to the front again instead of sliding back on the ground. Not very beautifully done but I hope you get what I mean :] Also the leg in the background is just a mirror image of the opposite frame placed behind and then painted gray.



I really like the look of him! :]

Cheers,

Lelle

[pixelsforhire]

Sorry for posting without an edit, but I haven't had time for pixel art, holiday season and all. I like how you handled the other foot, but I'm still in the dark on when he should be up and when he should be down. I guess I'll keep doing it my way. Coming back and seeing it again, I can see a lot of things that need fixing and hopefully I'll have time. The biggest thing is the back of his leg when he puts his foot forward (in my image.) It looks like he's stretching out a whole lot of extra limb there. Oh well, enough talk. Its like 2:30 and I need sleep.