Looking for advice on creating old school RPG
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Printed Date: 13 September 2025 at 3:30pm
Topic: Looking for advice on creating old school RPG
Posted By: Lobotomist
Subject: Looking for advice on creating old school RPG
Date Posted: 14 February 2011 at 2:19am
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Hi guys. Newbie pixel artist here. A wannabe , should i say  I already did some work in the style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEopZAmMd1E - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEopZAmMd1E But now me and buddies are creating a RPG that is aimed at all nostalgic gamers - trying to recreate feeling of D&D Gold box and RPGs of the age. But in same time graphic should be attractive for everyone  So I really want that old school pixel art feeling , but sprites will be quite large , and feature a lot of D&D type monsters. Also there has to be lot of dungeon walls and furnishings. Any tips , tricks , recommendations , examples , ideas ? Thanks  p.s : Should i worry about palette ? Limit the colors ? Will this make the art look "old school" If yes - could you recommend me a good palette ? Because there should be a lot of large monster sprites , inventory , and dungeon walls |
Replies:
Posted By: tuaarita
Date Posted: 16 February 2011 at 6:44am
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Best way would be to pick the console or computer you're trying to imitate and learn it's restrictions and color palette.
The people over at http://www.wayofthepixel.net - Pixelation probably know more about those. For example here are NES specs. http://www.games4nintendo.com/nes/specs.php - http://www.games4nintendo.com/nes/specs.php ------------- I'm running in the desert, running in to the sun, running out of blood and I'm going numb. |
Posted By: Lobotomist
Date Posted: 16 February 2011 at 7:52am
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Interesting. So , what you are saying - the way towards getting this old school pixel art feel - is limiting the palette ? Now. 2 things First off , i am more of a drawing guy, i have not good eye for colors :( So creating palette myself will be a disaster  Second - 16 colors palette , is bit too drastic. I need to make at least 40 monsters , dungeon backgrounds , items , portraits ...etc I think bit more generous palette would be in order , dont you think ? Now only if someone could recommend me a good generic palette ? ( like this one for example http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=4306.0 - http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=4306.0 but with more colors ) |
Posted By: t3nshi
Date Posted: 17 February 2011 at 3:52pm
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man, you couldn't belive what you can do with a 16 colors palette! And if the nostalgic feel you're searching for, the NES palette is perfect :O
Also I didn't play D&D Gold box, but with a speed search I can see the palette is like the old Amiga games, so reducing the colors will certanly cast an aura of nostalgic oldness to the whole graphics! |
Posted By: tuaarita
Date Posted: 18 February 2011 at 5:53am
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Originally posted by Lobotomist
Interesting.So , what you are saying - the way towards getting this old school pixel art feel - is limiting the palette ?Now.2 thingsFirst off , i am more of a drawing guy, i have n... I'm not telling you to use the NES-palette, I used the site to show the NES limitations, colors on screen at once, colors per sprite and sprite/tile sizes. Colors alone don't give the old-school look. Besides NES has a palette of 56 colors, of which 16 can be shown on screen at one time, or 25 with background colors. So you can pick your colors from the 52 for each level. At least that's how I understand it. Obviously you don't have to abide by all these rules but it would certainly give the classic style if done correctly. Why don't you just create a mockup with a palette you like, post it in the WIP-section and go from there? Take a look at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_videogame_consoles_palettes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_videogame_consoles_palettes ------------- I'm running in the desert, running in to the sun, running out of blood and I'm going numb. |
Posted By: Lobotomist
Date Posted: 18 February 2011 at 11:55am
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Well this is certainly some good advice guys. Again. It would be nuts to do it 16 colors. I would try it though. But if you find some other biger palette to recommend i would be more than happy |
Posted By: tuaarita
Date Posted: 18 February 2011 at 12:13pm
It's impossible to recommend a palette, but since it looks like that's what you're after, what about this.
It's 128 colors from Atari 2600 NTSC format ------------- I'm running in the desert, running in to the sun, running out of blood and I'm going numb. |
Posted By: Lobotomist
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 11:37am
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Love that one
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Posted By: Zeratanus
Date Posted: 03 March 2011 at 2:56pm
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Bit old by now, but man, 16 colors is nothing. look at the original gameboy and see what can be done with 4.
And i'd say color restrictions, sprite size, and overall resolution all have an effect on making something seem "old school". And simplification of animations and such too to an extent (For example, River City Ransom, where your character will grab a roast and shove it in his mouth and chew happily... or a bowl of soup!) |
Posted By: grimofdoom
Date Posted: 04 March 2011 at 3:29pm
| well, your pallt size epends on what oyur making(or amoutn)and my sugestion is that you use 20 colors,not saying you have to but you can do alot with just 8 colors in 32x32. |
Posted By: Carbin
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 7:45pm
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Originally posted by Zeratanus
you use 20 colors,not saying you have to but you can do alot with just 8 colorBit old by now, but man, 16 colors is nothing. look at the original gameboy and see what can be done with 4. And i'd say color restrictions, sprite size, and overall resolution all have an effect on making something seem "old school". And simplification of animations and such too to an extent (For example, River City Ransom, where your character will grab a roast and shove it in his mouth and chew happily... or a bowl of soup!) E: >:( ------------- |