[WIP] Rob The Squirrel - Little platforming game

[MegaLeon]

Hi guys
I started this small platforming proect, the game will run on a resolution of 160*144 scaled 2x.
trying to running low on colors, i'm using Arne's 16-color palette.

Here's the main player


EDIT: Decided to go for a naked version

and leave two shirts as power-ups.  

And a running animation, with and without shirt.
         

The sprite box is 24*24 (however is not completely full).

I also drawn some acorns (alias coins  )

Here's a little mockup


Any tips for improving the quality of my sprites?

[infinity+1]

he doesn't look like he's moving forward.
just kind of jogging in place.

edit:
i went a head and whipped up something to show that you shouldn't be afraid to redraw new frames for animation, rather than just move parts of a sprite.

i know they aren't great, but i think it gets my point across.

[MegaLeon]

Oh, i see what you did there.

Alright, following your advice, I made this:


How does it look?

[infinity+1]

you're on the right track, but i went ahead and added two frames.
in yours, he doesn't seem to ever get off the ground.

also, there were multiple issues with file conversion and etc that made this look like total crap.

[MegaLeon]

Oh, thanks, those two frames really make the difference.
Now i'm quite satisfied with the sprite's feel

I guess i can go ahead with other animations!

[thedaemon]

When you run, when your left leg is forward your left arm is behind you. When your right leg is forward your right arm is behind you. Whichever leg is forward goes with opposite arm.

[infinity+1]

now that i'm looking at it, i would try moving the head 1 pixel to the right.

[MegaLeon]

now that i'm looking at it, i would try moving the head 1 pixel to the right.

Got it, let's give it a try.

When you run, when your left leg is forward your left arm is behind you. When your right leg is forward your right arm is behind you. Whichever leg is forward goes with opposite arm.

Whoa, it's true, i actually tried it.

OK, here's the new animation according to your suggestions. compared to the old one.
 

And here's a mockup with the new tileset. Changed the resolution to 320*240.

[Emtch]

I think it looks like he's moving the leg and arm on the same side forward at the same time, which is a very, very weird way to run. Try to make the legs easier to tell apart.

[Phones]

Did a quick edit for you, since that's the best way I seem to get my point across.

[Indigo]

The sprite is cute.  I like the critique you've recieved about it - though it looks like a fox way more than a squirrel to me...  in fact, it looks intentional.  is he supposed to be a fox?  influenced by skid the squirrel at all?

[MegaLeon]

The sprite is cute.  I like the critique you've recieved about it - though it looks like a fox way more than a squirrel to me...  in fact, it looks intentional.  is he supposed to be a fox?  influenced by skid the squirrel at all?

Absolutely!
If i have to tell you the truth, nights ago i dreamed about making a platform game about a squirrel named Rob (Don't know why Rob, maybe beacuse i watched Wall-e that night), so here i am.
I recall seeing that Skid image long time ago, when i was on my first pixel experiences, but i totally forgot about it.
I instead took Conker as a reference.

Maybe you're misleading it for a fox because of the spikey tail (seems that squirrels have it a bit more round and fluffy)

[MegaLeon]

Did a quick edit for you, since that's the best way I seem to get my point across.

Nice edit you have there.
A bit too much brown in the legs, but it have some nice highlights.
Here's the new sprite


About the power-ups, don't know if it's better a shirt or a sort of flag around the neck.


Also, made the first enemy, a little snake.

[snowsoft]

It looks like you've gone back to moving the same arm and leg forward again. I adore that snake though. 

[MegaLeon]

It looks like you've gone back to moving the same arm and leg forward again. I adore that snake though.  

oh noes.
So, the right one is the one on the RIGHT, right?
 

[PypeBros]

the way he's running like a human right now unfortunately reminds me of "skunny" (a shareware character, e.g. in "skunny wildwest"), which i never could find lovely in animation. I'd love to come up with an edit that'd make him more squirrel-looking, maybe using Spip (sidekick in a belgian comic) as a reference.

but that cannot be tonight. I'll be back.

[thedaemon]

It looks pretty bad still, but animation is a whole 'nother can of worms. I do have a few questions though to help you better.

Do you want the animation to look good, or just serve it's purpose to make things look like they move?
Do you want the squirrel to be more animal or human like? If he's more animal like, a squirrel run cycle, (go outside and watch squirrels) would be far more pleasing on the eye and accurate. I've never noticed them walking upright, although there was this one smoking a cigarette......

And one last comment, keep it up!

[MegaLeon]

Thanks for the comment and the crits, guys.

Do you want the squirrel to be more animal or human like? If he's more animal like, a squirrel run cycle, (go outside and watch squirrels) would be far more pleasing on the eye and accurate. I've never noticed them walking upright, although there was this one smoking a cigarette......

Neither hedgehogs do walk upright, nor rabbits, nor bandicoots  

I'd say i'm really pleased with this style, and it is my intention to make him walk like a human. I'm not looking for reality, but like thedaemon asked, i'm trying to make this game visually appealing and do my best. I have restricted myself with low resolution graphics and low colors to keep myself motivated.

Anyway, i came with a new version, with a rounder belly and a different tail. Hope it looks less foxy now.


Hover, i have no idea on how this new tail would move in an eventual animation 

[MegaLeon]

Alright, i was somewhow busy these days, anyway

besides the snake you already know, here are some more enemies, an hedgehog and a slug.

      

[PypeBros]

I haven't detail-checked the frame-by-frame running animation of your hero, but it looks that he's moving left arm and left leg forward together. That might explain why the run "looked odd" to me previously, as usually, you swing arms and legs in opposite directions to keep balance when running.

I similarly note that your hedgehog lifts both right legs together and both left legs together. Camels do that, and afaik, very few other animals do. It gives the HH somehow an "army" look that you might want to reinforce (camouflage, rambo style, whatever) or you could prefer to make him lift opposite legs (e.g. front-left and back-right) together, as most 4-legged animals would do.

No antenna on the snail ?

They all have an adorable look, aniway.

i have no idea on how this new tail would move in an eventual animation

twisting left and right ? It must help him keep balance, anyway.