AuthorTopic: The demo-skinning challenge with 100 dollar prize (no kidding) (Read 62864 times)

Holymonkey · **on:** January 16, 2009, 08:40:17 pm

Hello fellow Pixelation members,
I present to you the 100 dollar demo-skinning challenge!

I originally created this little demo for a friend of mine who’s looking to break into the pixel art field but has no portfolio. I figured the next best thing to an actual published game would be a small demo that mimics a game. Simply replace the art in the folder with your own png’s of the same name and size and when you run the demo it will use your pixel creations!
I’d love for my website to someday host a gallery of countless artist’s re-skins of this and several other demos I plan to make. To help this become a reality I’m offering a 100 dollar prize to the Pixilation member who is voted (by the rest of us pixilation members) as having created the favorite (creativity and execution) “skin” for the demo. I’d like to set the deadline for submitting the finished “re-skins” to Sunday, March 29, 2009. I can pay the winner via paypal or by mailing a U.S. check (if the winner lives in the US.)

You can learn more and download the actual demo from http://holymonkeystudio.com/?page_id=12
I hope this proves fun and useful for us all.

Post your progress and discussion in this thread

Edit: Fixed the image -Panda

Indigo · **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:44:58 pm

I'm moving this to the Challenges section so it doesn't go unnoticed.

buloght · **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2009, 12:54:43 pm

When I try to download the demo it says page not found.

Live-Dimension · **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2009, 12:55:16 pm

And I get no image.

JonathanOfDrain · **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2009, 02:06:54 pm

http://www.holymonkeystudio.com/skinables/a_demo.zip

Must've just been linked wrong on the site.
It works, I tested it.

Metaru · **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2009, 06:49:53 am

seems a good idea/excuse to give life to some pixels.

ilkke · **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:19:40 pm

This is great.
I always dreamed of every game/app being skinnable so I can toy with it and see the results in realtime.

Holymonkey · **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:19:04 pm

I'm really excited that you like it. I had the same wish many times. I will definately be making more of these as time allows. I think my next one will be a super simple but actually playible side-scroling platformer.

Zenobia · **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2009, 08:39:14 pm

Quote from: Holymonkey on January 18, 2009, 05:19:04 pm

I'm really excited that you like it. I had the same wish many times. I will definately be making more of these as time allows. I think my next one will be a super simple but actually playible side-scroling platformer.

Ohh yay! I like that even better!

Holymonkey · **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2009, 09:40:28 pm

I'm partial to platformers too, but the intent of this shooter demo is it requires the least possible art. (no walk/run.

I'lll definately do a platformer demo, but dont hold your breath just yet, its gonna be at least 4 months before its done. Very bussy. Also, I might not have the passion for making these if this first one gets no participants. Please let me know if any of you are planning on partaking.

Atnas · **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2009, 10:45:39 pm

I plan on participating, but I really can't start until march, so it's great that the deadline is so far in advance.

Zenobia · **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2009, 12:31:07 pm

I plan to participate as well, but I am very busy trying not to fail school at the moment... and I also don't like killing things so I need to work out a good and friendly concept to apply to it first haha. Maybe I can do it in my spring break in three weeks.

Holymonkey · **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2009, 10:16:45 pm

I'm checking in on this Challenge. Anyone partaking? If only one person makes the skin by the end of this month, they get the 100 dollars by default.

I've more than half-done making an actuallly playable platformer that can be skinned but I might not find the energy and time to finish it if no ones interrested in participating.

Atnas · **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2009, 10:54:01 pm

I've got something in the works.

Holymonkey · **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:35:35 pm

Awesome news. Thanks Atnas. It promises to be a nice looking skin judging by your website. Can't wait to see.

Feron · **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:43:03 pm

I'd love to have go at this, but i can't run .exe files (due to being on a mac), so i would have no way of looking at them in game.

If you could post a load of screenshots that would be handy so i can see where everything goes..

Or any chance of a mac port?

Holymonkey · **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:42:46 pm

Hi Feron,

Here's a video recording in a couple of formats. I hope this will be enough.

http://www.holymonkeystudio.com/skinables/skinme1.avi

http://www.holymonkeystudio.com/skinables/skinme1.mp4

Holymonkey · **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2009, 01:52:27 pm

Cheching back in. Reminding people the proposed deadline is tomorrow. Will anyone be finished by then or do we have to postpone the deadline a bit? I'l check back tomorrow.

Atnas · **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2009, 02:13:06 pm

Wouldn't mind another week, but that might be a bit selfish because I was ill and family was visiting. I guess if you get no entries you should postpone it, but people who finish things on time should be rewarded.

Holymonkey · **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2009, 10:17:23 pm

If no one else submits a finished work, then I guess the only sensable thing is to either agree on a later deadline, or simple give the first one who submits the prize, which in a bad online community would produce many "asweome scribble game skins"!

I'll check back in tomorrow and see if anyone else submits or agrees to an extension. Anyone else working on something for this?

Zenobia · **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2009, 11:15:16 pm

I'm sorry. I would have loved to enter, but I simply can't until June.
I hope you get some nice entries though!

Holymonkey · **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:18:16 pm

I've got no problem with extending the deadline. In fact, I think we should, but I want to make sure thats cool with all those involved. Anyone else for or against extending the deadline maybe 2 weeks or so? Anyone else want to join in?

Dr D · **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:36:11 pm

I'd love to maybe try something (but I doubt I'd finish), but it seems as if the link on your site is broken?

Atnas · **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:48:39 pm

I'm for it.

Holymonkey · **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2009, 05:50:42 pm

The link works fine every time I try it, but theres a history of some poeple having trouble... bizarre...

Please try again and let me know if it still doesnt work for you. If need be I'd be happy to email the zip file to you personally.

Sorry about the inconvenience.

Dr D · **Reply #25 on:** March 29, 2009, 05:58:00 pm

It didn't work, but I was able to get to the download by typing the address in manually, thanks though.

I'll see what I can do.

Holymonkey · **Reply #26 on:** March 29, 2009, 07:04:41 pm

WOW. I think I know why the links not working for you. Are you using firefox? I just visited my website for the first time using firefox and both the link to the file and the screenshot dont function! Thats totally not cool! I'll have to find out why it works fone and not in firefox. Anyone here have any ideas?

Dr D · **Reply #27 on:** March 29, 2009, 07:35:51 pm

Yeah, I'm using Firefox.

Holymonkey · **Reply #28 on:** March 29, 2009, 08:13:40 pm

Think I fixed it

Please let me know if its still broken, anyone.

Dr D · **Reply #29 on:** March 30, 2009, 01:03:27 am

Sweet, works for me! Thanks.

Some of you should post your WIP's.

Holymonkey · **Reply #30 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:59:01 am

Hi everyone. Just checking in again to see if there's any activity. I hope people are still working on finishing these up. I'm a little worried, because this one's a breaze compared to the skinn-able side scrolling platformer I'm about to finish making. It's fully functional (playible), has tons of moves, several enemies, 3 levels with layered scrolling, a sophisticated hud, titles screens, and a Boss. I hope I didnt make it for nothing.

Zenobia · **Reply #31 on:** April 12, 2009, 03:43:09 pm

Quote from: Holymonkey on April 12, 2009, 07:59:01 am

Hi everyone. Just checking in again to see if there's any activity. I hope people are still working on finishing these up. I'm a little worried, because this one's a breaze compared to the skinn-able side scrolling platformer I'm about to finish making. It's fully functional (playible), has tons of moves, several enemies, 3 levels with layered scrolling, a sophisticated hud, titles screens, and a Boss. I hope I didnt make it for nothing.

Oh that's awesome! And more my kind of art.

Holymonkey · **Reply #32 on:** April 18, 2009, 07:46:03 pm

for those who wish to visit http://holymonkeystudio.com/?page_id=12 you will see that i've finished a playable 3 level side scrolling platformer that can be skinned as well. I'd love to see this become a community activity or challenge. Be warned, skinning this would be a huge indertaking.

Zenobia · **Reply #33 on:** April 19, 2009, 08:10:24 am

Quote from: Holymonkey on April 18, 2009, 07:46:03 pm

for those who wish to visit http://holymonkeystudio.com/?page_id=12 you will see that i've finished a playable 3 level side scrolling platformer that can be skinned as well. I'd love to see this become a community activity or challenge. Be warned, skinning this would be a huge indertaking.

Ooh I'd love to do that one. I probably can't until June though, but when I have time, I will!
Perhaps we should team up? Anyone? I'm far better at making tiles than sprites.

eckered · **Reply #34 on:** June 14, 2009, 03:58:14 pm

1: im almost finished with the first demo. is the hundred dollar prize still available?
2: id also be interested in collaborating with someone on the platformer, anyone interested?

eckered · **Reply #35 on:** June 15, 2009, 01:14:32 am

almost done with the first one.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JB76L4CZ

4-5 hours work so far, all i have left to do is
1- replace the glowing thing with palm leaves blowing in the wind
2- replace the damage indication on the bananas
3- see if i can restore the layer i had underneath the palms in the front, that had bushes scrolling by, but got ruined when i tried to add transparency to it.

Holymonkey · **Reply #36 on:** June 17, 2009, 09:20:34 pm

Wow. I'm glad I decided to check back in on a whim... I'd pretty much given up on the chance of anyone partaking in this project/challenge. Technically the originaly and second extended deadlines are long past... but does this sound fair?
Once at least one other person makes the skin, the community can pick a winner and I'll honor the original prize promise and grant the 100 dollars to the winner.

eckered · **Reply #37 on:** June 17, 2009, 10:45:51 pm

alright, thanks

Atnas · **Reply #38 on:** June 18, 2009, 02:26:19 am

I don't know about anyone else, but I have still have some done from when I was last working on this. Now that school is out for the summer, I have more free time. So here's one more contender.

Holymonkey · **Reply #39 on:** June 22, 2009, 06:31:46 am

Cool. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

eckered · **Reply #40 on:** July 01, 2009, 01:43:23 pm

any news?
also, im starting on the platformer

Atnas · **Reply #41 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:15:20 pm

sorry for the wait! I was taking small bites of this between large chomps off of my main project.

edit: oh right, what did demo.001 do? It was taking up 2.88 MB so I DESTROYED it and there were no adverse side effects.

eckered · **Reply #42 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:11:00 pm

wow, great spriting
i love those tiki-looking stakes that scroll by too, and the subtle animation of the little guy in pumpkin-mans tenticles is priceless

Atnas · **Reply #43 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:22:22 pm

haha, thanks. I think yours is much better in terms of unity than mine is.

Holymonkey · **Reply #44 on:** July 13, 2009, 04:26:19 pm

Very cool guys. I guess please post when their officially finished and I'll talk to the admins about how to incorporate the voting here.... Is there no-one else working on a "skin" for this? 3 to choose from seems so much nicer to choose a favorite from.

eckered · **Reply #45 on:** July 14, 2009, 12:00:57 pm

im actually surprised at such a small turnout. this is the kind of stuff that the community here is really into :/

easyname · **Reply #46 on:** July 14, 2009, 12:17:46 pm

Quote from: Atnas on July 08, 2009, 10:15:20 pm

edit: oh right, what did demo.001 do? It was taking up 2.88 MB so I DESTROYED it and there were no adverse side effects.

That's a backup for the original MMF2 project file, so yeah, deleting it shouldn't matter.

Holymonkey · **Reply #47 on:** July 14, 2009, 08:37:39 pm

yeah... shouldnt even be there...sorry about that. just delete it. I'll update the zip file to be without it sometime soon.

Atnas · **Reply #48 on:** August 02, 2009, 01:50:36 pm

After waiting, I don't think anyone else is going to enter. I looked over my entry this morning, fixed a few things, and am content. At same URL as before.

8bitty · **Reply #49 on:** August 03, 2009, 04:15:38 pm

wtf how has no one noticed this? how have i not noticed this?

brb skinnin time

8bitty · **Reply #50 on:** August 03, 2009, 06:45:38 pm

ok give me a little longer i am loving this! it's the first time i've ever found something like it!

Holymonkey · **Reply #51 on:** August 06, 2009, 01:09:35 pm

YAY! entry number 3. As soon as the remailing two entry-er's are done, lets set up the voting!

8bitty · **Reply #52 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:49:55 am

ok well this is what i have atm. i've been pretty busy this week so i still need to squeeze out s'more stuff, such as an enemy...

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HFTG0P2J

JosephSeraph · **Reply #53 on:** August 12, 2009, 02:09:04 pm

Why the hell i always get things late? T_T
This was so awesome.waaah besides, if i acctually won this..... (i don't htink i would... yet still-) my mother would recognize that pixel art actually is money-rewarding. A good job. and she would stop bugging me about that. It would be a golden chance. Aaaargh.

Gil · **Reply #54 on:** August 12, 2009, 03:36:10 pm

The contest isn't actually over Joseph, read the thread. You can still enter.

Holymonkey · **Reply #55 on:** August 19, 2009, 07:37:25 am

Hi Joseph,

If you wont take more than a week or two, I'm guessing the other contenders wouldn't mind. I don't think they're all finished anyway.
ALSO, you can tell your mom that pixel art literally took me from absolute poverty (literally ghetto and high school drop out) to making over 40k a year for my first gig and drastically more now that I've been in the industry for a few years. I was also comepletely self-taught so I don't have a massive college loan debt looming over my head. (not that I'm recommended you to avoid college if you have the chance to go.)

However, keep in mind that technology is improving dramatically fast, and while its always important to have strong hard-core pixel skills, you WONT make it in the industry (even for mobile phones) in a few years unless you can also do low poly 3d stuff and character animation. So at the very least, start learning DAZ studio and poser sort of programs and ideally also start to learn 3d max. This will insure far greater job security and a vastly improved skill-set and just make you a more powerful artist all around. Its a necessary investment.

Atnas · **Reply #56 on:** October 03, 2009, 04:44:04 pm

Any updates on this? . o .

Holymonkey · **Reply #57 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:41:04 pm

I was wondering the same thing. I think its about time to set an absolute final deadline. ...

Holymonkey · **Reply #58 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:03:03 am

Anyone still checking in here? Please post your finished demo asap and lets decide on a final deadline we can all aree on.

Holymonkey · **Reply #59 on:** November 08, 2009, 10:49:18 am

Seriously, Anyone still out there? Lets all post a link to our finished versions ASAP. I'm guessing at least one of you is still interrested in the hundred dollar prize.... I'd hate to give it to the only person who ever responds instead of the person most voted for

Atnas · **Reply #60 on:** March 25, 2010, 10:16:45 pm

SUP

a vote, or new entries, haaa? peskybothersome, but hey! : D

7321551 · **Reply #61 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:25:55 pm

I like the idea here - a whole bunch of graphical variations on a single game.
I might make a skin for one of those games even without the prize incentive.

Is it possible this was underexposed?
Seeing one's art in a game is beyond a lot of people's means, so I'm surprised it didn't bring more participants.

Holymonkey · **Reply #62 on:** April 01, 2010, 05:43:56 pm

I was surprised too... Did you see on my site www.holymonkeystudio.com I alo have a 3 level platformer (fully playible) that can be totally"skinned"?

7321551 · **Reply #63 on:** April 03, 2010, 07:17:28 am

Yeah. It's surprisingly good - a whole bunch of features! I'll definitely work with it some time - excellent way to practice. (you omitted a 'y' in the url, by the way) I'll post the results here when I eventually get around to it.

Holymonkey · **Reply #64 on:** April 27, 2010, 02:24:25 pm

awesome... I'm glad you like the platformer. I can't wait to see what you do with it. Some day I'm gong to make a much simpler more (basic) mario style platformer which would require the creation of much less art. This one I had made is a huge undertaking, perhaps a bit daunting and too time consuming for many.

Holymonkey · **Reply #65 on:** July 22, 2010, 06:54:21 pm

VERY IMPORTANT. everyone please continue with this here:
http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=10671.0

PLEASE NOTE, THE NEW AND CONCRETE DEADLINE BFORE JUDGING IS TUSDAY, JULY 27th 2010

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AuthorTopic: The demo-skinning challenge with 100 dollar prize (no kidding) (Read 62864 times)