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Let's argue about models and designs

Discussion in 'General Sonic Discussion' started by Azookara, May 15, 2010.

  1. Thats probably how they changed the design. They probably started with the classic model, then changed "this" and "that" till they arrived at the current model.

    I.E.

    Classic Model
    >Hands/feet too large? Make smaller
    >Limbs too thin? Make limbs thicker
    >Too short? Make Taller
    >Quills too short? Make Quills longer
    >Looks too simple? Add Green Eyes, add details to the shoes
    >Hands/Feet look slightly small? Enlarge slightly.
    Modern Design

    That is usually how they evolve a design. They don't just wake up one morning with a revelation; "I see it.....we must CHANGE the design of Sonic!!".
    Not to sound like an ass there.

    EDIT: Upon seeing the previous images, yeah they do work. I can see that design being used in adventure. It does look similar to the DreamCast model, minus the green eyes. However, you can already see some modifications to the original Classic design. His quills are slightly longer and his limbs are slightly thicker.
    As I mentioned above, they probably started with a fully classic 3D model and just added to it or made some changes till they arrived to the one we see today.
     
  2. Azookara

    Azookara

    yup Member
    Yeah, but that still didn't stop it from being able to be done right in 3D, like (at least the first three of) those pictures I just posted.
     
  3. Mr. Pictures

    Mr. Pictures

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    Maybe the original model didn't read as clear in some camera angles, so they made his limbs longer? That makes sense to me, but I don't know about the rest of the design's alterations.
     
  4. True that.
    It was done right. However, Naoto Oshima/Yuji Naka and the like may have thought it looked "off" and may have got the modelers to make some changes until Sonic Team unanimously settled upon a design. I don't fully know what Sonic Teams motivations were to change the design, but to be fair, it really isn't that bad-looking. I wouldn't call it an "eyesore" there are far worse design choices than that...*cough* Werehog *cough*.

    Maybe the original model didn't read as clear in some camera angles, so they made his limbs longer? That makes sense to me, but I don't know about the rest of the design's alterations.

    I don't really know why. Maybe they thought it looked to....simple for the shift to 3D, what with a full 128-bits to play with. They might have added stuff like Shoe-souls and green eyes to add to the appearance.....
     
  5. Azookara

    Azookara

    yup Member
    However technically these changes were done with classic Sonic before the models were made. For examples, see the Sonic OVA.

    But yeah this is getting a little off-topic and we might need a split from this, unless there's already a topic for this ^^;
     
  6. Scarred Sun

    Scarred Sun

    Be who you needed when you were younger Administrator
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    Welp, this.
    Please, please, please keep the designwank in this thread.

    If any of you derail a third topic over this (I'm looking at you, Volpino), expect a suspension.
     
  7. Mr. Pictures

    Mr. Pictures

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    I suppose some of it was to whore out the DC's graphical capabilities. I guess you could say the same is still being done today with the high-res renders featuring textured threads on the gloves of different characters. Although I have no idea why Sonic Team is so obsessed with this stuff, it really doesn't make the games.
     
  8. Thats VE studios. They do most of the CGI work.
    Ass for the added graphical detail. Every game has that. Even Mario. In Galaxy you have advance lighting and particle effects. Mario looks more detailed than he's every looked.

    I think that its a good thing that they put the effort in to animate all of that. It shows that they do care.
     
  9. Mr. Pictures

    Mr. Pictures

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    Why are they putting so much work into such tiny details? I don't think that creates any entertainment value for anyone.
     
  10. Hey, at least they put some effort into that. I mean sure these games haven't been great, but they would have been worse, if it hadn't been for their presentation.
     
  11. Mr. Pictures

    Mr. Pictures

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    That's where I see the problem. There's a lot of work put into a something like the threads in Sonic's gloves or his fur that it doesn't even matter. It doesn't make Sonic or the other characters look anymore fun either. I think a lot of it is covering up for the lack of entertainment in a game. Unfortunately, I don't think it does a very good job, because it can't replace my amusement for a good game, so in the end it's a wasted effort. I agree with you that presentation is very important, and that a game should look professional and be marketable, but I'm seeing a lot of it handled as if it's all about the surface and no real meat underneath.

    Plus, I'm starting to think that Sonic Team might be beginning to realize that the more realistic Sonic is made, the stranger he looks, so they have to find some weird half way point.
     
  12. Willie

    Willie

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    omfg... That's one of the worst Sonic designs ever, and I've seen some pretty bad ones. x_x

    I agree with this statement 100%.

    However, I disagree with this. For the sake of consistency, I'm glad they used the adventure models for the Advance and Rush games. However, I do wish they used classic Sonic for Sonic 4.
     
  13. This much I can agree with. Sonic games have never had "bad" graphics. Colourful and lively for the most part. I'd say 06 had decent graphics, not amazing but not bad.
    I think in Unleashed, there was a fair amount of meat, it was just undercooked, if you pardon my analogy. They needed to spend some more time on it in order to iron out some of the retarded framerate problems.

    But thats off-topic.

    I have little to nothing else to add to my opinions on character design. I think the modern design looks better than the old one. Blasphemy? Fuck it, its my opinion.
     
  14. Azookara

    Azookara

    yup Member
    I'm naturally more of a fan of classic Sonic than any other Sonic there is, but right behind (and I mean RIGHT behind) is the Unleashed Sonic. Both Sonics to me are truly very lively, and almost timeless designs that symbolize being fun for all ages; with their over-the-top cartoony expressions, that 'bad attitude, good guy' look, vibrant colors and charming designs. It never bothered me to see modern Sonic in Sonic 4, really. The reason why is because since I see Unleashed Sonic being so absolutely well done it doesn't bother me and I actually accept it over S3K's sprites.

    Because really, S3K's sprites were pretty ugly IMO. :colbert: Sonic 1/CD/2B plz.
     
  15. Solid SOAP

    Solid SOAP

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    I'd be bothered if they used the lifeless and disgusting look Sonic '06 character model, but I loved Sonic Unleashed and how well Sonic was portrayed in that game so I really can't complain.
     
  16. Mr. Mash

    Mr. Mash

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    drawing
    I love the classic design and there are a good few examples of 3D models of that design that show it can work pretty well.
    However after Sonic heroes' pretty horrible looking model, the one in Unleashed looks awesome. Especially in the opening cut scene where he's dashing about the space ship, before that I was pretty sceptical about it, having only seen a few renders, but damn it was nicely animated! The newer render from Sonic 4 with the slightly trimmed spines is really cool as well, a good mix of cute and badass.
     
  17. ICEknight

    ICEknight

    Researcher Researcher
    Damn, that model looks awesome even if the quills look a bit longer than usual.

    I don't think Travellers Tales made that, even if it was used for Sonic R's manual or wherever they put it. Just compare it to the other Sonic R model seen in the Title screen, and this one looks much more "alive". I'm even suspecting that was part of whatever Sonic Team was working on right before Adventure's redesign.
     
  18. Azookara

    Azookara

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    To me it looks just like the one on the Sonic R boxart/titlescreen but in a different pose, and slightly more saturated colors. :psyduck:
     
  19. Iceguy

    Iceguy

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    Hell. It's in my head.
    Internal system recovery
    Now that you have mentioned it... it really does look like that. o-o

    Or at least resembles, geko. I think the eyes are smaller.
     
  20. Clutch

    Clutch

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    Yeah, I really don't see a whole lot more "life" in that image that can't be attributed to artifacting.