I have been very busy lately so coding progress has stopped for a while. My computer recently became infected from a customers computer (I run a computer repair shop) and I was forced to install windows on another partition to access my files. I've removed the virus completely, but I still need to back up my things and do another format. I just haven't had time to do so.
Although coding progress has somewhat halted, Jason has been hard at work on yet another graphical overhaul.
Check it out
Over the course of the next week, I am going to try to find time to fix my computer up, get mmf2 installed, and get back into the groove of coding.
I also may have found someone interested in creating music for the game.
[J.A.B] Revision of Adam, crits really helped out! thank you so much for the insight. Edited posture, edited left leg juxtaposed positioning... cell shading process begins, and more to be soon! !_!
I love the goblin enemy dudes... Gotta say I liked the previous version of the hero character way better. It was just more appealing looking and felt more polished. This one looks a little more amateur and not so appealing to look at.
I agree with you Konidias. Everything can still be considered a WIP, but I'm not sure if Jason is going to change the character much. I have asked him to, but I can understand where he is coming from with the "goofy"(ish) stylistic choice as well.
I really mainly have a problem with the lower half of him. The upper half is fine by me ;p.
I've already harassed him about it (lol) so only time will tell =]. Comment edited by GamesterXIII on 9/6/2009
in all the incarnations ive seen so far the main character's arm has just stood out as being far too chunky. Or stumpy. There's just something wrong about the whole characters proportions actually.
I understand it's most likely a style choice but thats what I thought when I first looked at it.
It doesn't matter so much on the goblins because they're not really supposed to be human.
Thank you so much for your informational comments! You know I take into consideration, usually, everything people say. However sometimes if that thing differs from an artistic choice I've made for a 'look and feel' it may be ignored. Overall, I have Re-edited his deformed arm, originally I wanted it to be bulky but after bringing him to various sites, and Derrek's eccentric attitude about it ~ IT HAD TO GO!
The next update will provide a lot more information about the story and bosses and/or friends you will encounter. I would like for you to see the diverse cultures that will be entangled into this drama, good vs. evil, love or not to love dilemma that foreshashadow's all of this quirky characters... hehe This shall be an Adventure to Remember! ^_~ Feel free to message me via jason.buividas@gmail.com or AIM Mistajaye for comments and questions, crits or anything else I can serve you for!
ALMOST FORGOT, add me mister Derrek!
Oh yeah, me and Derrek are working on this project. Me and him are like the same person but two different people. We generally think a lot a like. Although we don't act a like. ^_~. But yeah he's been my best bud for 8 years now! So I don't trust anyone but him to do my art justice! ^_~
Here's a new update arm revision with your advice ^_~, thanks again!
I'm still digging the previous character far more... but oh well, that's just my opinion. It's not my game after all. It definitely turns me off from wanting to play the game now... knowing what could have been. But you can't please everyone, so don't listen to me.
edit: you know, the thing I think that bugs me most, since I'm an animator by profession... it's the stance you have him in. It's really unnatural and off balance. That might be bugging me more than the actual changes to his face and such.
Here's an example of what I mean:
The red lines represent straight vertical. The orange lines on the left image represent the space being taken up by the character along those vertical red lines. The yellow in the second image represent the space there. Notice how the yellow is all curvy and weird? It has no balance as opposed to the original.
Thirdly, the green lines indicate the arc through the stance. The first is a nice solid standing straight up arc. The second is a slightly oddly bent angle. For good animation and posing you need strong curves or straight lines. Never a bent line. Sorry if I'm nitpicking, but I think it makes the game look far more amateur compared the the first character. Comment edited by Konidias on 9/9/2009
and one more comparison to show why the goblin guys work so well and the character is failing.
You can see how curves can really tell a person about a character. The hero character needs to have a nice straight and upright stance, to show that he is strong and balanced. You could alternatively go with a nice curved stance to show he is ready for action and agile. Right now your guy is sort unsure as to what he wants to do. He doesn't seem very heroic or capable of fighting. You have him in a sort of standing heroic pose and a half fighting stance... which isn't working. You've gotta either have him prepared to fight or standing there defiantly. Curves can tell a story all by themselves.
I beg to differ my friend. Standing straight up would look more unnatural to me. The reasoning behind that is 'when your off on an adventure with a heavy burden on your Shoulders would you be standing straight up? with a white shine on your teeth? Not in my fiction, I believe thats traditional, lil quirky and unrealistic. People usually show good posture because they think they're above everyone else, and this game does not promote higher order and definitely doesn't portray any of those attributes. Standing up straight could be a polite gesture, however I wanted to portray a more of an alert ready to pounce type of hero. This guy probably doesn't even know what posture means or just doesn't care I'm looking for more of an archaic, relentless atmosphere. ^_~ I really hope this doesn't draw your attention too much, because once it's in the polishing up stages you'll understand what I mean.
You also didn't comment on the new enhanced sprite I posted in the previous comment. And chose to still comment on the old ... or maybe you knew that the posture was virtually untouched in both pieces?
@Konidias
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I also prefer the old character personally, but Jason has always pulled through in the long run (though he does confuse me while in the process) .gif" border=0 alt="">. The game is also his idea and hes the artist so I'm letting him do his thing.As a perfectionist, I just pressure him when I think something looks incorrect. I prefer the old character, but I look at the new character as having more flare (goofy though imo) to him.
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The thing that bothers me a lot is his legs. Do they seem awkward to you?
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@ Jason
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I still think the arm looks really weird in the new one. I think you should post it up somewhere =p. Comment edited by GamesterXIII on 9/9/2009
Jason, I think you're letting your personal opinion get in the way of good artwork. Good posture is not the sign of a stuck up snob who thinks they are above everyone else, as you put it. It just means the person is strong and balanced. If you're going to make the excuse that he doesn't know good posture and he's ready to pounce, then you definitely need to have him leaning in more like that middle goblin is doing.
I'm just trying to explain good curves through poses. Pick up any animation book and it teaches the same thing. Sure you might think the pose you picked is best, but if cartoonists thought the same, most cartoons would lack a lot of the fluid and strong posework. Making them look amateur and a hobby animation at best.
I didn't comment on the new enhanced sprite because I feel that not much has changed. You might have modified a few details but the overall look and pose is the same.
It's nice that you're choosing a new art direction. I just wish it had the same quality as the old. It's totally okay if you don't want to change his pose because you like it how it is. But if you're just refusing to change it because you don't want to do the work... well that's not very good.
Anyway, good luck with the game. The artwork looks very nice, and I only nitpick art that I feel is strong in the first place. I'm not going to spend my time with really crappy art... so don't feel too bad.
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