Comments on: Sprite Comic http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/ You don't need to know my name. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:02:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Joe http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-277 Joe Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:53:55 +0000 http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-277 I just started fooling around with some replacement sprites, actually. I'm thinking about going back to- gasp!- 2D graphics. Or, at least, throwing together a quick and attractive 2D interface to use until the 3D interface gets improved. Here's my idea: Do some tiles similar to the Planet Cute ones (google it if you've never seen it; why not use the Planet Cute tiles directly? Because I want stylistic unity, and also because I need more stuff than they have). For the characters, monsters, and mecha do front-facing SD "big head" sprites with short fidget animations. Draw an arrow beneath the model indicating what direction it's facing and whether or not it's moving; possibly only do this for the selected model. By using templates and layers I should be able to get most of the terrain done very quickly; by doing only one view for the sprites I should be able to get a fairly large number of them in a short time, too. Since the sprites are going to be SD, maybe in this mode the mouseover info can show the model's portrait. I just did a websearch for some video captures from Sunrise mecha shows (Gundam, Dougram, Dunbine, and Escaflowne mainly) and I'll be using these to help decide the color palette and general look of the tiles (obviously, since I'm going SD and cute I won't be using the exact same look). I have no classes today because the students are doing a test, so I have a bit of time to play around with this. I think I could write the code for a new interface pretty quickly, since it'd be mostly the same as the OpenGL version except for the map renderer. Hopefully I can get a demo running before the men in the white coats come to get me since I am clearly out of my mind. I just started fooling around with some replacement sprites, actually. I’m thinking about going back to- gasp!- 2D graphics. Or, at least, throwing together a quick and attractive 2D interface to use until the 3D interface gets improved.

Here’s my idea: Do some tiles similar to the Planet Cute ones (google it if you’ve never seen it; why not use the Planet Cute tiles directly? Because I want stylistic unity, and also because I need more stuff than they have). For the characters, monsters, and mecha do front-facing SD “big head” sprites with short fidget animations. Draw an arrow beneath the model indicating what direction it’s facing and whether or not it’s moving; possibly only do this for the selected model. By using templates and layers I should be able to get most of the terrain done very quickly; by doing only one view for the sprites I should be able to get a fairly large number of them in a short time, too.

Since the sprites are going to be SD, maybe in this mode the mouseover info can show the model’s portrait.

I just did a websearch for some video captures from Sunrise mecha shows (Gundam, Dougram, Dunbine, and Escaflowne mainly) and I’ll be using these to help decide the color palette and general look of the tiles (obviously, since I’m going SD and cute I won’t be using the exact same look).

I have no classes today because the students are doing a test, so I have a bit of time to play around with this. I think I could write the code for a new interface pretty quickly, since it’d be mostly the same as the OpenGL version except for the map renderer. Hopefully I can get a demo running before the men in the white coats come to get me since I am clearly out of my mind.

]]> By: clasic_traveller_diehard http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-276 clasic_traveller_diehard Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:14:46 +0000 http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-276 SPACE SHIP! if your going to do a sprite over haul let me know I may be in a position to contribute (though i'm scheduled to drop off the face of the internet in about 6 months) p.s. totally unrelated but did you know there is a free pascal compiler for the GameBoy Advance? SPACE SHIP!

if your going to do a sprite over haul let me know I may be in a position to contribute (though i’m scheduled to drop off the face of the internet in about 6 months)

p.s. totally unrelated but did you know there is a free pascal compiler for the GameBoy Advance?

]]> By: Joe http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-275 Joe Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:32:31 +0000 http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-275 The trouble is, I don't think I have pulled it off properly. The sprites are awfully pixely. I was talking with Michalis a while back about replacing most of the graphics code that I wrote with his VRML engine; he wrote a patch that linked the VRML engine for mesh rendering, but I haven't had time to take the next step and replace the world rendering code as well. SD is a good idea. I'll add that to the idea box. Hmm... maybe I'll have time to throw together an experiment next week. The trouble is, I don’t think I have pulled it off properly. The sprites are awfully pixely. I was talking with Michalis a while back about replacing most of the graphics code that I wrote with his VRML engine; he wrote a patch that linked the VRML engine for mesh rendering, but I haven’t had time to take the next step and replace the world rendering code as well.

SD is a good idea. I’ll add that to the idea box. Hmm… maybe I’ll have time to throw together an experiment next week.

]]> By: Burzmali http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-273 Burzmali Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:36:15 +0000 http://ataraxiatheatre.com/2008/12/22/sprite-comic/#comment-273 As it stands, the graphics look like cel-shaded 3D. That is a very hard effect to pull off properly even with a full 3D engine (see the recent Appleseed for an example). In general, if you want to maintain the isometric look, there are a couple tricks to improve the graphics without a full graphic designer on call. 1. Animation - Adding transition effects, looping stationary characters through a 5 frame fidget animation, Billboards that flash or walls that drip. Really anything that adds a little life to the screen. 2 SD Mode - It may sound silly, but gamers are conditioned to accept the Final Fantasy style "Big Head Small Body" sprite. If the sprites are aiming for a realistic look, they are graded much more harshly than a stylized look. As it stands, the graphics look like cel-shaded 3D. That is a very hard effect to pull off properly even with a full 3D engine (see the recent Appleseed for an example). In general, if you want to maintain the isometric look, there are a couple tricks to improve the graphics without a full graphic designer on call.

1. Animation - Adding transition effects, looping stationary characters through a 5 frame fidget animation, Billboards that flash or walls that drip. Really anything that adds a little life to the screen.

2 SD Mode - It may sound silly, but gamers are conditioned to accept the Final Fantasy style “Big Head Small Body” sprite. If the sprites are aiming for a realistic look, they are graded much more harshly than a stylized look.

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