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Is this art direction any good?
- Thread starter soggie
- Start date
hoverdog
dog that is hovering, Wastelands Interactive
looks mightily fine.
...but wait, is that a fucking exclamation mark over a quest-giver?
...but wait, is that a fucking exclamation mark over a quest-giver?
SimpleComplexity
Arbiter
The buildings are too high except when you can't go there anyway. Thing is if you make all buildings that high most of the game takes place behind buildings where you can't see shit. As for the artstyle if that's for a postapoc game or sci-fi game with a depressive future, yes it fits.
Andyman Messiah
Mr. Ed-ucated
Looks really cool.
SimpleComplexity said:
There will be alpha-blending to show what's obscured behind buildings, and the landscape that is planned would look more like JA2 than what is shown on the sample image.
The idea is that instead of going full 3D or pre-rendered backgrounds, hand-drawn tiles might bring some uniqueness to an indie title.
PS: *silently anticipating criticism of floating exclamation-consoletard-marks*
hanssolo said:
Wrong on both accounts. It's about a story of Jack Black clones.
Edit: Some of his sample artwork if we decide to go this route:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kYmJDb8Ocgw/S ... chouse.jpg
SimpleComplexity
Arbiter
I'd the describe the darkstyle as depressive, definitely pessimism instead of optimism. So the game you are making has to be pessimistic otherwise the artstyle doesn't fit to the game you're making.soggie said:
The exclamation mark was an obvious joke, the Codexians(most of them anyway)are too smart to fall for that.
Quilty
Magister
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2008
- Messages
- 2,413
Looks really cool, definitely go with this style. The people look a bit oversized when compared with the buildings. Maybe focus on buildings that aren't as tall so you don't have to think about proportions all the time? Or set it in a village or series of villages that only contain huts or smaller houses? I think Arcanum did this well since most buildings were of similar height.
Post some more as you go along or if you have more stuff. Not necessarily related to the game, I'd just love to see more of your art.
Post some more as you go along or if you have more stuff. Not necessarily related to the game, I'd just love to see more of your art.
Looks good. Really good.
Note to everyone: this isn't an in-game screenshot yet, just an artstyle example.
And while I'd prefer the characters to not be cel-shaded as soggie suggested (which is a thing we can still debate about since the char models will be 3D anyway), these 2D backgrounds look incredibly sexy. Stylistically better than pre-rendered 3D background elements, definitely.
So:
And while I'd prefer the characters to not be cel-shaded as soggie suggested (which is a thing we can still debate about since the char models will be 3D anyway), these 2D backgrounds look incredibly sexy. Stylistically better than pre-rendered 3D background elements, definitely.
So:
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2009
- Messages
- 3,103
I think it's a fucking great artwork, I love the pessimism and post-apocalyptic vibe it gives, as SimpleComplexity said.
Just two things, please make the buildings proportionate to the characters and the rest of the world, don't keep them like that, might sound stupid but it drives me crazy when buildings/vehicles/anything aren't proportionate to the rest of the world.
And don't ruin it by using cel-shading on the characters, I don't think it would fit well with the mood of the above image, and the characters that can be seen there look sexier with that minimalist look, I would prefer sprites with those looks than any 3D model.
Just two things, please make the buildings proportionate to the characters and the rest of the world, don't keep them like that, might sound stupid but it drives me crazy when buildings/vehicles/anything aren't proportionate to the rest of the world.
And don't ruin it by using cel-shading on the characters, I don't think it would fit well with the mood of the above image, and the characters that can be seen there look sexier with that minimalist look, I would prefer sprites with those looks than any 3D model.
curry
Arcane
Actually, that looks really sweet. 
mvBarracuda
Augur
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2006
- Messages
- 478
curry
Arcane
soggie said:
No.
SimpleComplexity
Arbiter
This.curry said:soggie said:
No.
(Although it also depends on what is cheaper and faster to produce. If it's the original style then a double no. If it isn't yes.)
soggie said:Here's a previous concept art:
I really like this. I would be tempted to make a point an click adventure game, if I had lots more like this one. Or I'd make it in 3D and try and imitate the lighting and colors. Very nice.
The programmer art you have is obvious programmer art.
The image in the OP looks okay if a bit artificial and toy like. If that's your intention it looks fine. I assume the oversize vehicles and people are part of the toy or board game look.
Zed, the first image is just a sample of the art style (hand-drawn isometric, thick and rugged lines, stylized draft-quality artwork). Buildings will be scaled accordingly to the 3d character models.
There are 3 incentives to change style: (1) it is much faster to draw it in 2D (about 50% less time) than to do it the original way, which has to go from high poly model (for normal and depth maps) to low poly, and (2) much more personality.
The drawbacks are (1) it'll cost more (more sprites to draw vs simple rotation-and-re-render of 3D sprites) and (2) it's less reusable (meaning we have to draw more sprites, which ups the cost).
Personally, I'm okay with the cost increase, because I can afford it. I'll have to postpone the purchase of my first house, but that's a relatively small price to pay.
There are 3 incentives to change style: (1) it is much faster to draw it in 2D (about 50% less time) than to do it the original way, which has to go from high poly model (for normal and depth maps) to low poly, and (2) much more personality.
The drawbacks are (1) it'll cost more (more sprites to draw vs simple rotation-and-re-render of 3D sprites) and (2) it's less reusable (meaning we have to draw more sprites, which ups the cost).
Personally, I'm okay with the cost increase, because I can afford it. I'll have to postpone the purchase of my first house, but that's a relatively small price to pay.
SimpleComplexity
Arbiter
Another thing to consider: Since the artstyle is unique to this guy, you'll always be dependent on him. Not saying he isn't trustworthy or something but if something happens or he suddenly demands more money or whatever may happen you're pretty much fucked. Then you're forced to find a different artist who has his own style.
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