Levels & Items Art

<!--quoteo(post=270484:date=Jan 20 2009, 02:39 PM:name=The Growler)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Growler @ Jan 20 2009, 02:39 PM) </a>[/quote]
Intentionally missing, for a couple of reasons. There aren't any such dark blades of grass in the original art (turn on a filter, it's shading), and fine details like blades of grass that are very small and not seriously affected by lighting are nearly impossible to shade so that they don't look flat. There's already been hours of work put into just the blades at the top and bottom, and they still don't have the same appearance of depth that the rest of the art does.

 

Looking fantastic guys - keep it up. I want to see a full release by February :D

 

<!--quoteo(post=270385:date=Jan 20 2009, 10:15 AM:name=Vincent)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vincent @ Jan 20 2009, 10:15 AM) [/quote]It's looking very good, but the top looks a bit flat... Perhaps adding some clear/dark contrast on the left/right parts of each blade of grass could help them come with more volume?

Quick example (with exaggerated lightning):

 

<!--quoteo(post=270594:date=Jan 20 2009, 06:15 PM:name=ICEknight)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ICEknight @ Jan 20 2009, 06:15 PM) [/quote]It's looking very good, but the top looks a bit flat... Perhaps adding some clear/dark contrast on the left/right parts of each blade of grass could help them come with more volume?
[/quote]
We've already done that. ;p

 

Or maybe add some subtle inclinations on the grass, so it doesn't look boringly flat. I've attached an example, but it's not so good. But the idea is explanatory.

 

I think I've said it before, but that sprite has come a long, long way.

What we're posting right now is just for the sake of getting the shapes and shading correct. There are literally dozens of tiles that use the grass with all sorts of variations in height and positioning. I've built the art so it'll be easy to copy, paste, and adjust for most cases.

 

Oh ok, then I have no other comment on the grass' design.

 

New/Old








Blocks are still old conceptual work, background is from the tech demo, rings haven't been properly shaded and are probably the wrong size, and the shadows cast on the blocks by the grass are a cheap photoshop job.

Chances of this hitting the front page of blogs desperate for views: high.


Question of the moment: What elements of the mockup clash with the rest of the art, and why?

 

Rings, Spring, Checkpoint, Badniks.

They're all shaded differently from Sonic and Tails.

It's like you have an animated Sonic The Hedgehog, and then some crappy gradients on everything else.

 

For me, it's the bush. It's the only 3D object, while the rest are 2D and plastic. Also, when comparing to the palmtree leaves and grass...I don't know, it doesn't blend in well (aside from blending in with the background, but I'm guessing there would be some shadows behind the bush). Like, the bush has "box" leaves, while the palmtree and grass have some sort of actual leaves.

 

Agreed, however, it's very possible that this problem with completely dissolve once the level is animated complete with scrolling BG. The perceived depth from that will likely cause players to overlook the exaggerated depth of the bush.

 

It seems there's a huge contrast difference between sprites/items. (Mainly caused by the gradients, I guess)

The starpole looks too bright. The rings seem a bit too bright as well. And Tails has the color and shading of a delicious croissant.

 

<!--quoteo(post=270594:date=Jan 21 2009, 04:15 AM:name=ICEknight)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ICEknight @ Jan 21 2009, 04:15 AM) [/quote]

Whoa! Smooth and sexy grass ICEknight! The bright light brings the GHZ sun effect which makes Sonic 1 GHZ so 3D. I think you caught that precicely. Yet again you amaze me with your hidden skills!

 

I think that gives a nice cartoony effect, and it's very possibly what the original artists seeked.

Here's the Japanese commercial, for details.



EDIT: By the way, I've just noticed that the cloud looks quite odd, like it's lost half of its shape.

 

Well, the rings mostly, but I also have a feeling that Sonic and Tails appear to be too small.

 

<!--quoteo(post=270686:date=Jan 21 2009, 03:40 AM:name=Sciz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sciz @ Jan 21 2009, 03:40 AM) [/url][/quote]

I'm definitely liking the less perfectly-even grass alright - it seems to add a bit more 'character' to the grass; I suppose it depends how easy it would be to tile if we're keeping it or not. I guess as with any long single-section of the environment, it can be a little difficult to make it look naturally uneven when something is tiled (apart from when it's meant to look like that).

 

I think there is a nice 3D perspective with this mock up however I think that perhaps the bush is a little too 3D while the post looks a bit too flat. The red on the top could do with looking a little darker.

EDIT:
Having another look - the post at the bottom is fine. It's just the top that I feel could do with a bit of a look at.

 

<!--quoteo(post=270894:date=Jan 21 2009, 02:39 PM:name=The Growler)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Growler @ Jan 21 2009, 02:39 PM) [/url][/quote]

I'm definitely liking the less perfectly-even grass alright - it seems to add a bit more 'character' to the grass[/quote]I disgress. I don't think deforming the original shapes so much should be the way to go.


By the way, is that the latest version of the grass tiles?