AuthorTopic: Alien (Read 14515 times)

zeid · **on:** April 27, 2007, 08:22:52 am

need some critique I think as I'm fairly happy with this so far but which palette would you guys would recommend, I'm leaning towards the first one at the moment but i want it to be aesthetically pleasing to everyone not just me. I think the leg might be a bit long before the knee are there any other anatomy problems, and should i bother fixing this or is it not too drastic? I sort of want slightly odd anatomy as it's not human but I'm not sure if something like that would impede movement.

Snippa · **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2007, 08:42:13 am

sorta reminded me a bit of super metroid... not sure why...
all of them, with the exception of the first, appear to look a bit metalic, was this what you were aiming for?
If not, I'd have to say the first one. If you were going for a metalic look on the otherhand, i'd say I like the blue ones.

The leg does look a bit odd, though I'm not the person to ask whether it would impede movement. I think alot of it has to do with your imagination and if you can animate it without it looking too awkward.

zeid · **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2007, 09:02:42 am

Yeh i think my main problem with the other colours is they look too metallic. The reason it reminds you of metroid is probably due to the space pirates

completely unintentional likeness. Originally my creature wasn't going to have bladed arms like this but i changed my mind last minute.

Snippa · **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2007, 09:22:38 am

mm, after comparing...

not so much
Maybe it was the arms, I'm not sure.

(that took a bit of looking to find those images...)

mangust · **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2007, 10:25:47 am

Me like more light blue color sheme.
Yes, it's some metallic but it's not horrible, in my opinion ))
About his body I am have some little changes:

Maybe more agressive pose? His arms is too straight for this pose and have a some swords (if I not wrong) - maybe do his metalic more? And legs maybe use something like a satyr. And his head more down and eyes more tiny and ominous. Than you will have a menacing creature )) Good luck!

zeid · **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2007, 04:54:29 am

I took on some aspects of your edit, but tried not to deviate from my original character design to much. I really wanted this alien to look insect like, hence i didn't adopt the muscular look and decided on the greens as oppose to the heavy metallic look. The relaxed pose being the main thing, I adjusted the legs to be longer and portray more 'bounce' like your satyr like legs presented. I might adjust the head a bit later but not as drastically as yours has. Thanks everyone for their help so far.

>>>

zeid · **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:04:55 pm

New alien, he is meant to take a sort of Egyptian god look hence he looks a bit like Horus... with a Katana. This one is using the rather popular silver palette, So far each character uses 7 colours plus 1 for transparency, I'm not sure if I should add more to the palette or leave it and allow the single colours to distinguish characters more easily.

Snippa · **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:13:38 pm

Maybe I'm just too tired, but I think on the new one you may want to work on the lighting on the head a bit, at first I wasn't sure what I was looking at until I zoomed in a bit.
*shrug*

zeid · **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:37:04 pm

ok quick edit on the head, i think it might of been a tad disjointed this is quite minor, but i think it might look better.

1up · **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:48:05 pm

I may have just ruined it, but the head still looked pretty flat IMHO. so I took a crack at shading it. hope you don't mind me editing it.

zeid · **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2007, 06:21:49 am

update. I shifted the upper body from the pelvis up aside 1 pixel to balance him more and bring greater unity to the pelvic area and abdomen.

zeid · **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2007, 11:39:41 am

not finished and still working on his design a fair bit for his legs mainly, but here is the Big monster style character, slow strong and a bit stupid looking, I think i might need to revise some of the texturing i'm doing on him to make him suite the rest more...

zeid · **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2007, 07:15:57 am

update... anything you guys see that needs changing?

madartiststan · **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2007, 03:11:38 am

In my opinion I think that the third character, the big stupid sort of enemy, seems a bit well...Off balance. As if he's shifting or is tilting forward a bit. It may help you otherwise in the animation if you're going for something of him having really gangly and clumsy movements.

If so, just ignore my comment.

zeid · **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2007, 07:34:07 am

changes made to the 3rd sprite to help balance him and make it look more natural

zeid · **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2007, 06:42:17 pm

Palette change for the 3rd guy, as well as some redesigning of the face and minor detailing so to make him look more serious and less goofy.

zeid · **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2007, 08:00:13 pm

Another one, haven't finished the weapon but the rest of him is done. Any critique appreciated as I've noticed a lack of comments for a fair while and would like to know what you guys think of my edits thus far, both on an opinionated and technical level.

alkaline · **Reply #17 on:** May 16, 2007, 01:51:25 am

they look pretty good. I like the colors. I think their stances are all a little weird because all that 45 degree legs are kind of awkward I think? I would also put highlight on the third guy's blade. their waists all get very thin at one point too, it may be an 'alienish' thing but kinda weakens their powerful look

zeid · **Reply #18 on:** May 16, 2007, 06:09:32 am

I think the leg structure for all but the second one is mostly fine. The hawk ones pose needs to be redefined as i want to put him into a more samurai like pose (two handed with different footing). The first one is meant to bring emphasis to his running speed I did this as i cant find reference for a good Kama stance (his scythe like arms represent this weapon)*edit found one* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OLWsxG9M2k. The 3rd character is less representative of technique so he has a somewhat relaxed pose though his footing is in a good set up for a lunge, blocks, etc. even though his sword is in a more hack, hack pose. The final is in a typical spear wielding stance. The thin waist was intended to make the second last one actually look somewhat vulnerable, I'm planning on bringing in an even bigger powerhouse character.

***
Update on the weapon:

Turbo · **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2007, 05:49:40 pm

The character's silhouettes read well at 1x, but not the inner details. I'd recommend full blown bright highlights, and more contrast generally (the one that reads better is Horus, which coincidentally is the one with the most contrast).

Poses, design, anatomy, all good

zeid · **Reply #20 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:10:37 pm

OK this new guy needs some help, I'm not finished yet (only just done the torso). I want to know from some experienced animators how his amount of dithering and contrast between dithering might impact on the animation.

As far as the contrast increase to the other characters, I'm actually thinking of going the other way with Horus and making his colouring more similar to the others I'm not actually liking the cleanness his look gives.

Larwick · **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:14:22 pm

These are really nice, i think. I love the selection of different character types you've made so far.

With the amount of detail you're giving them, i'd imagine it's going to be rock solid to animate. Good luck though!

zeid · **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2007, 06:04:09 pm

The Giant Purple Jellybean Monster WIP is coming along:

The biggest character, not quite as big as I was originally going to go but close. Legs aren't done but please critique away. Should I clean up that dithering around the chest I'm not sure if it looks okay, It was intended as alien physiology. Also I am fairly sure there are some perspective and anatomy issues, please point them out if this is so.
***
fixed some anatomy issues

just saw them:

***
Finished him just about

***
and final edit for tonight/this morning

chigsam · **Reply #23 on:** May 18, 2007, 10:39:48 pm

wow thats awseome

btw what program do you use?

zeid · **Reply #24 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:00:56 pm

microsoft paint. I should probably upgrade to something else sometime but I find it sufficient

.

chigsam · **Reply #25 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:03:25 pm

oh dear i feel sorry for you trying to make that fake smile.
the only thing i find good about paint is that you can store colors you made in the boxes.

zeid · **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:29:54 pm

I like paint

... but back on topic.
Brought in the shoulder and brought up the thighs a little more. I'm getting far to desensitized to my work, So hopefully someone can help with anatomy while i take a break.

chigsam · **Reply #27 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:33:00 pm

im just putting this one here from the last so people can compare easier from the differences. I say he is awesome

Delgneith · **Reply #28 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:56:04 am

I think my favorite so far is either the first one you did or the second one. First one seems to have the most dynamic and thought out lighting and the second one has the nicest colors.

What I think the pieces are lacking is lighting. Could just be me but it seems they are getting equal light on all parts of their bodies. It just isn't reading well.

I made a quick edit to give you an idea of how you could maybe add a bit more interest to them with some simple lighting.

Also the anatomy on the big guy seems a bit flaky.

Seems a bit stubby and thick. Not sure maybe someone can do a more in depth anatomy critique.

Looking good so far

chigsam · **Reply #29 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:12:24 pm

oh i just noticed his elf feet, i dont really like that part but when he's in a horror game and you get really scared after playing it at midnight you can laugh at his elf feet to make everything feel normal so you can sleep

zeid · **Reply #30 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:20:12 pm

more anatomy issues fixed, the original 'final' version is on the left, the newest on the right. I decided to forgo the alien physiology on the forearm and went with a more conventional look so it better matched the other side.

As far as lighting goes if I am hoping to put them into a game I can really only go for top down light. Your edit seems a bit extreme but I think I get your point, and it is probably a problem mostly with this character.
... BTW something is going funny with the colours, he is actually only 8 but when i upload him it's splattering him with pixels for some reason

I might look at changing aspects of his design such as his feet, but I may leave them as is.

zeid · **Reply #31 on:** May 20, 2007, 06:28:17 pm

the new guy was just some design ideas i was thinking of, unless i greatly improve him he isn't going in the game. I like his face and pincer however. Thats a tongue hanging out of his mouth and if i animate it, it will wriggle and such. Do the purple guys legs look right, i gave the thighs more length. Maybe they looked better before?!?!

chigsam · **Reply #32 on:** May 20, 2007, 06:33:37 pm

I can't see the difference on the jelly bean giant, as for the new guy....

i only like his head the rest is kinda funky

Feron · **Reply #33 on:** May 20, 2007, 07:59:36 pm

all of these sprites just have random highlights all over, im guessing just for the sake of having something there.

There nice colors there's just no proper form to your bizarre shading. There was a good lightsource edit a few post up - i suggest looking at that more closely.

chigsam · **Reply #34 on:** May 20, 2007, 08:01:37 pm

if hes putting them in a game (which im pretty sure he said he is) then he wont need shading. in most games that are platformer horror (castlevania) there isnt any shading from a light source. i like them just how they are!

Xion · **Reply #35 on:** May 20, 2007, 08:18:58 pm

Quote from: chigsam on May 20, 2007, 08:01:37 pm

if hes putting them in a game (which im pretty sure he said he is) then he wont need shading. in most games that are platformer horror (castlevania) there isnt any shading from a light source.

That is so not true. They are lit from the top.

And I agree with Feron, there are some pretty random hilights.

Also, the dithering, along with the random hilights, is making everything look very messy.

I like 1, 2, and 4. The rest are kinda meh. 1 and 2 are the only ones with clear lightsources.

The big dude's left (ours) leg looks kinda too twisted, especially with his feet facing virtually opposite directions. I think that leg should be more facing the viewer.

The new one, no offense, is pretty dumb looking. I like the head and the arm, but that thin sticklike torso and those legs are, as chigsam said,

.

I think you really need to simplify these dude. They're just too small to have all the detail you're trying to pack in there be clearly visible. This is especally eviedent in 2's chest, what with the horizontal lines and all.

3 looks ridiculous unbalanced.

zeid · **Reply #36 on:** May 20, 2007, 09:46:30 pm

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There was a good lightsource edit a few post upI did point out I agreed but thought it was a bit to over the top, I am taking it into account but have been working out the anatomy problems of the big dude first.

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That is so not true. They are lit from the top.I personally thought I nailed that with the first one, so I am trying to bring that sort of look to them all in this edit:

Ok, without to much change I incorporated some more adequate self dropped shadows. Thus removing a number of random highlights, I think 1,2 and 4 are pretty spot on now.

The big dudes foot on our left is meant to be on a slight angle so i tried to better present this. Also I haven't quite finished applying the shading mentioned above on him.

The new one was retarded in regards to everything technical (weight distribution, etc.) I just wanted to experiment a bit and show some design ideas. and here are some more:

I will likely keep experimenting till i get one i actually use. I'm liking the quadruped movement idea though.

As far as simplification goes, I was going for look with excessive detail and am happy with the results. 2's chest may get a revamp however as I might make the lines a little less obvious.

***
more shading done for the Jellybean, colour change for Brute and small edit on Horus:

zeid · **Reply #37 on:** May 21, 2007, 02:38:25 pm

Shading done. Also the possible new character though I may not make him playable if I include him. Depending on responses to him will depend on how motivated I am to continue his animations etc.

***
some colour changes to better tie them together, and give some more contrast.

@Xion:

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3 looks ridiculous unbalanced.could you explain this, perhaps with an edit because to me he looks fine

.

zeid · **Reply #38 on:** May 22, 2007, 10:59:39 pm

I'm working on some tiles right now so I can get everything to look themed. It's not really as I would like, It seems to light. So far I've just done some rock tiles that border the path of where characters walk. The path itself is not textured yet and I might get rid of the ramp as I might not include them in the game.

zeid · **Reply #39 on:** November 02, 2007, 03:42:30 pm

Alien walk animation, still WIP but gives a good impression of how it is progressing. Technically the project is at a halt until further notice but I thought I might as well get as much feed back as I can for now.

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AuthorTopic: Alien (Read 14515 times)