Background pictures

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Zeus · #51 Post by **Zeus** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 12:52 pm

i am definately sure JLM5 that YOU, know what and how to fix the icons and do a good work, as you did in your background art.

JLM5 · #52 Post by **JLM5** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:53 pm

I know that I shouldn't reveal too many backgrounds at this time... but I couldn't resist to show you one picture more. As you can see, the picture is a little different one than the backgrounds I have shown here earlier.

And if someone is interested, the game's name will probably be "The valley of Ultimathia" (that's the name of the game's world).

Surprisingly, it is a lot of more difficult to draw totally new good-looking icons than make good backgrounds.

deltamatrix · #53 Post by **deltamatrix** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:37 am

A top class effort

BUT...

about that doorway, is it boarded up or is it a stairwell? Its hard to tell.

Very good pic.

Swift · #54 Post by **Swift** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:42 am

Nice picture.

Jafar · #55 Post by **Jafar** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:04 am

Stairway. Trust me, I'm a certified genious.

JLM5 · #56 Post by **JLM5** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:53 am

Jafar wrote:Stairway. Trust me, I'm a certified genious.

Yes, it is stairway.

MuzlakOofmay · #57 Post by **MuzlakOofmay** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:30 pm

The perspective is wrong then. try to squish it more.

MusicallyInspired · #58 Post by **MusicallyInspired** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:41 pm

Maybe make the higher steps a little darker to show depth.

I'm no BG artist or anything, just my outsider's opinion

.

JLM5 · #59 Post by **JLM5** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 11:41 am

Thanks for comments.

Ps. It would be nice to hear also Erpy's and perhaps AGD2's opinions about the pictures and icons I have shown here.

#60 Post by **navynuke04** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 1:30 pm

I'm not Erpy or one of the AGD's, but hey, maybe I'll work.

These are interesting screens. One thing I think might improve the interior screen is to add a light source, and then add shadows and such. Screens like this always look so much better when they have proper light and shadows highlighting everything.

I'd also consider adding a bit more detail. Things like broken bricks on the wall, spider webs in the corners, puddles of water on the ground... You know, things like that.

Maybe using a bit more color could improve it as well. Right now everything is greenish grey. Because the scene is almost entirely one color, it kind of starts to get boring. Are those logs lying on the ground? Perhaps adding a bit of brown to them would sit them apart from the ground.

Other than those things, I really think this screen looks good. I like the overall design and layout. The perspective looks pretty goood. Great job overall. Much better than I could do personally.

JLM5 · #61 Post by **JLM5** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:14 pm

Ok... this is the newest version of the game's interface. However, it is not the final version (for example, the inventory-icon will be changed).

So what do you think? How the icons still could be improved?

Ps. The eye- and hand- icons are founded on the scanned pictures of my own eye and hand. On the other hand, the talk- icon is drawn by using the talk-icon of King's Quest 6 as a model.

Also thanks for Blackthorne519 about helping with the walk-icon. You didn't answered my e-mail about sending the "high-quality"-version of the icon to me, but never mind.

Zeus · #62 Post by **Zeus** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:25 am

this interface is successful. I like it.
The last modification could be a more 3d look, with a shade on the icon of properties.
very good.

MusicallyInspired · #63 Post by **MusicallyInspired** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:53 am

That looks very nice. Good job!

Blackthorne519 · #64 Post by **Blackthorne519** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 2:48 pm

JLM5 wrote:
Also thanks for Blackthorne519 about helping with the walk-icon. You didn't answered my e-mail about sending the "high-quality"-version of the icon to me, but never mind.

Hmm. I thought I sent it to you via email. I never got a response back, so I figured you either got it and didn't tell me, or you hated it and didn't want to tell me! I'm sorry! It looks great, though!

Bt

JLM5 · #65 Post by **JLM5** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 3:29 pm

Blackthorne519 wrote: Hmm. I thought I sent it to you via email. I never got a response back, so I figured you either got it and didn't tell me, or you hated it and didn't want to tell me! I'm sorry! It looks great, though!
Bt

Did you sent it to address jlm@mbnet.fi? When did you sent your e-mail? This is strange... What was the subject of the e-mail?

If you still have the e-mail you wrote me on your computer, you can, of course, still send it to me (with "high-quality" version of the icon). Like I said, the interface is not still completed. If I remember right, I asked also something about Quest for Infamy in my original e-mail.

Corby · #66 Post by **Corby** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:04 pm

I really like your pics and have been keeping up with them. I noticed that if you use a pixilate filter on them, they look very sierra-esque. Detail is lost however. Just some advice as many people try to emulate sierra art. You have a great unique style though, I'm not saying the pixilated look is better by any means, just that your art can look very similar to sierra art with this method.

First pic is pixilated 2 degrees, second one by 3 degrees to show the differences.
Keep up the good work!

Fribbi · #67 Post by **Fribbi** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:17 am

Hey and I thought I was the only one here with this blur problem. Your gamecharacter needs to be just a little bit smoother but is is really looking fine. You paint background much better than I do, if you must know that too.

Keep it up my friend.

LucasFan · #68 Post by **LucasFan** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 12:30 pm

V-G-A
The ONLY way to let pictures look great...

JLM5 · #69 Post by **JLM5** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:03 pm

LucasFan wrote:V-G-A
The ONLY way to let pictures look great...

Don't you mean I should drop the resolution to 320x200?

Well, I have thought and tested that possibility seriously. However, it probably would just make the quality of the backgrounds (and especially dialogue pictures) worse. The reason is that the pictures and sprites are drawn and optimized exactly for 640x400 resolution. So the dropping of the resolution would destroy many details from them.

I haven't currently good enough reason to drop the resolution from 640x400 to 320x200.

PValiant · #70 Post by **PValiant** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:31 pm

I like you're doing a project by yourself. But like said before, the art could use some improvement

Besides the rather pixelated look, i also think you should watch out for your colours. Some of the green is too flashy and could use some work to look more real. I did a quick job on one of your backgrounds to show what i mean. There are more things you can improve but you're certainly on the right track. Good luck

LucasFan · #71 Post by **LucasFan** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:46 pm

JLM5 wrote:So the dropping of the resolution would destroy many details...

Maybe you "loose" some pixels but the final result will be much better. It's difficult to describe why. It's just the magic of 320x200.

Btw.: The most and best adventure games were made in the 320x200-age. After the first SVGA games came out, the adventure genre died. Think about it.

JLM5 · #72 Post by **JLM5** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 2:40 pm

LucasFan wrote:Maybe you "loose" some pixels but the final result will be much better. It's difficult to describe why. It's just the magic of 320x200.

Btw.: The most and best adventure games were made in the 320x200-age. After the first SVGA games came out, the adventure genre died. Think about it.

Hmm... I have a same opinion that the best adventures were made in 320x200 age (like Quest for Glory 1-4). However, it doesn't mean that the 640x400 games couldn't look as good or better?

How many has played King's Quest 7? Wasn't it a good game? My opinion is, that the game's interface was poor, but personally I liked the graphics and animation very much.

What is Erpy's opinion about resolutions and does he has any advice to be given?

MuzlakOofmay · #73 Post by **MuzlakOofmay** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 2:53 pm

Your style is different. I would recommend perfecting it, and not worrying about changing it.

LucasFan · #74 Post by **LucasFan** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:28 pm

JLM5 wrote:How many has played King's Quest 7? Wasn't it a good game?

Blackthorne519 · #75 Post by **Blackthorne519** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:34 pm

JLM5 wrote: What is Erpy's opinion about resolutions and does he has any advice to be given?

You just LOVE the ole' Erpster, don't ya?

Hehehe.

LucasFan gives good advice. He's probably the most successful retro-game designer on the net. As for Erpy's opinion, I cannot speak for him, but I will offer this chain of logic. Erpy works for AGDI, started out as a big fan. AGDI works soley in 320x200.

Besides, Erpy doesn't make the art for the games. He's a better programmer.

Bt

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