Pixel Joint Forum: [WIP] The name of the game is Yeomen...

Message

   Okay. So. First post here. Kind of intimidated. Not even sure if I'm putting this in the right place. Oh well. I'll try to condense this as much as I can.

I have five friends that are programming and marketing a PC game for their senior project. Because their school has no art department and I'm the only person in their group of friends with any artistic experience whatsoever, they have commissioned me to do the art for them. Being an aspiring concept artist (and a little enamored with the idea of being able to say I was an Art Director for a marketed PC game), I told them sure. Now, the catch is... I only get 1/6 the money, and I only have 14 weeks to do it.

The idea behind the game is that you're an archer. As this archer, you've been given a job -- to protect your king from the opposing archer. I don't have full details, however I do know there will be monsters you must slay for gold and upgrades, as well as accessories and items you can use to improve your archer.

I am to assume that the resolution for the game will "look nice on the largest widescreen monitor I can think of", and the archer should be 96x128(though I'm hoping to negotiate that to a smaller size.)

I don't have a full list of what I need done, but so far, what they've given me is...

Archer-
-Walking (4 directions)
-Shooting (4 directions)
-Melee (4 directions)
-Spellcasting (4 directions)
-Recolors (At least one)
-Death

Monsters-
-Specifics not yet given

The King-
-Specifics not yet given

All maps-

-Specifics not yet given

Sky-
-Morning sky
-Evening sky
-Night sky

Backdrops-
-Trees
-Stone Walls

Other-
-HUD, etc.
-Menus, etc.
-Icons, etc.

All of my progress will be posted here, but that's not the sole reason I'm writing this. In hindsight, accepting this task, very clearly, may not have been the best idea. I'm one man doing the work of many, here, and it's a bit frightening given the time constraints. Basically, I'm coming to you with the question of "How can I manage a project of this magnitude on time?"

I appreciate any and all advice you guys can give me.

Thank you in advance.

Author	Message
aColossalBear Seaman Joined: 10 February 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Topic: [WIP] The name of the game is Yeomen... Posted: 10 February 2011 at 2:24am
	Okay. So. First post here. Kind of intimidated. Not even sure if I'm putting this in the right place. Oh well. I'll try to condense this as much as I can. I have five friends that are programming and marketing a PC game for their senior project. Because their school has no art department and I'm the only person in their group of friends with any artistic experience whatsoever, they have commissioned me to do the art for them. Being an aspiring concept artist (and a little enamored with the idea of being able to say I was an Art Director for a marketed PC game), I told them sure. Now, the catch is... I only get 1/6 the money, and I only have 14 weeks to do it. The idea behind the game is that you're an archer. As this archer, you've been given a job -- to protect your king from the opposing archer. I don't have full details, however I do know there will be monsters you must slay for gold and upgrades, as well as accessories and items you can use to improve your archer. I am to assume that the resolution for the game will "look nice on the largest widescreen monitor I can think of", and the archer should be 96x128(though I'm hoping to negotiate that to a smaller size.) I don't have a full list of what I need done, but so far, what they've given me is... Archer- -Walking (4 directions) -Shooting (4 directions) -Melee (4 directions) -Spellcasting (4 directions) -Recolors (At least one) -Death Monsters- -Specifics not yet given The King- -Specifics not yet given All maps- -Specifics not yet given Sky- -Morning sky -Evening sky -Night sky Backdrops- -Trees -Stone Walls Other- -HUD, etc. -Menus, etc. -Icons, etc. All of my progress will be posted here, but that's not the sole reason I'm writing this. In hindsight, accepting this task, very clearly, may not have been the best idea. I'm one man doing the work of many, here, and it's a bit frightening given the time constraints. Basically, I'm coming to you with the question of "How can I manage a project of this magnitude on time?" I appreciate any and all advice you guys can give me. Thank you in advance.
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ChrisButton Commander Joined: 10 September 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 371	Posted: 10 February 2011 at 4:01am
	Make workable drafts, and stick to them. Constantly improve them. Use references. Post lots of WIPS!
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aColossalBear Seaman Joined: 10 February 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 11 February 2011 at 2:11am
	Okay. So. It's not much, but it's a start. This is the default archer I have. Tomorrow, assuming all is well with it, I'm going to start walking animations. Any suggestions before I continue?
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Hatch Admiral Joined: 05 August 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1387	Posted: 11 February 2011 at 3:36pm
	His arms are really short!
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aColossalBear Seaman Joined: 10 February 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 11 February 2011 at 11:04pm
	I did fix the arms, but I didn't think that warranted an upload on its' own. Does anyone have any references for walking type animations? Edit: ^ that is my WIP so far. Basically, there are a few variations of the front view, and my work in progress on the back view. Having some trouble with perspective due to lack of reference. Edited by aColossalBear - 11 February 2011 at 11:45pm
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aColossalBear Seaman Joined: 10 February 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 13 February 2011 at 11:47pm
	Small update. Anything?
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aColossalBear Seaman Joined: 10 February 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 16 February 2011 at 1:48am
	I hate to keep bumping a thread that isn't drawing much interest, but here's another frame for the walking animation. I haven't animated anything yet and if I did I'm 100% sure it would look like garbage because I don't really know what I'm doing at this point. I have to be honest, the lack of replies is discouraging.
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tanuki Commander Joined: 01 April 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 333	Posted: 16 February 2011 at 2:42am
	I just animated the newest one with a mirror of itself to see how it would look at the extreme ends of the walking animation. He's definitely in need of one or more midstep between the two frames. I think this is especially true because of how far he's moving his arms and because of how detailed he is, as well as it just making animation in general more fluid when there's more than two frames. The single frame pixel work looks good for the most part and is well detailed, but it seems to me that you're showing the legs moving forward and back (e.i. walking) by means of moving his legs out to the sides. In an animation that looks more like dancing than walking. Try pointing his feet more forward when he walks. They can still point out at angles when he's standing still. This is a good, although small, reference for walking in different directions- Ashtree - walking animation Right now the only things moving are his forearms and shins. Try experimenting with moving his torso up and down a little, his shoulders forward and back, and his hips tilting up and down on the sides depending on which leg is forward and which is back. Edited by tanuki - 16 February 2011 at 3:13am
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WIP (Work In Progress)
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