Some steampunk things.

[EkbatDeSebat]

Furnace on the chest? Well, I wouldn't have recognised that. 

In this case a small sketch with your concept could help us guide you in pixeling that idea.

And, no offense, but I don't think you can say 'generic robot' and expect everyone to come up with a similarly designed robot. Some might think Robbie the Robot, others C3PO, etc. Does the 'generic robot' have feet or wheels? Or maybe it floats? And if feet: what kind of feet? Long and spiny, short stumps, does he have 2 or 4? I could go on.

Point is, the more accurate you present us with your concept, the better we can help you make it in pixels.

[Lizzrd]

I'll make some drawings then.

[Draco9898]

Do they have to be so small? They look like the super tiny robots that shoot at you in Gradius  

Try at least making them something that fills up at least a 32 x 32 box




I wanted to try to make something similar, I probably failed.

Even this seems pretty damn small...

Look at this example for an idea on keeping things readable at such a small scale...could probably use more contrast on some colors...oh well

[Gil]

I like the original a lot more than your edit Draco. Why do they need to be bigger? I'm sure the game needs them to be so small for a reason.

As for the original: As long as readability is an issue, simplify! Get rid of details until something readable remains. I like how they look right now, but I'd change the furnace, it just looks like bright pixel noise. Try maybe a 2x2 red square instead?

[Lizzrd]

It's for a forum game, where you use paint/other pixel app to take turns, kinda like a turn-based strategy game.

[Morden]

Found a nice, though armless steambot, posted by Jad back in 2007. Came across it by accident, but I thought it would be a better example than explaining the inner workings of a steam engine.



Here's the original message. Sorry Jad, hope you don't mind.