Learning Pixel Art

[Theoretical Observation]

I've recently been inspired by low bit platformers to begin studying video game making. Here's my first background. I appreciate critique.

[Theoretical Observation]

The stars are somewhat obviously on the tiles. I'll use a background for parallax in the game.

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

If those are fueling hoses and intended to terminate at the same point on the spacecraft they mismatch. Perhaps a small but obvious fuel port on the craft.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Kamilah Hauptmann

If those are fueling hoses and intended to terminate at the same point on the spacecraft they mismatch. Perhaps a small but obvious fuel port on the craft.

I imagine the hoses bend behind the crafts. If it's annoying, I'll not do that in the game.

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

It’s not a big deal. In a realism environment ideally the hoses would bend from the point they’re hanging from. Harder to do with pixel art known for the straight lines. Then it becomes a challenge of a lot of measuring so the parts that overlap look good.

Good start so far!

[Theoretical Observation]

I figured the weight of the hose pulls it straight. I plan to swing the damaged hoses by the striping.

[Theoretical Observation]

One hose would have to be on an engine. I almost uploaded a pic with the ship on the left cut off, because I thought there might be a problem. I'll not lay tile the same way next time.

[Ari]

I like it!

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Looking at it again, there's a bar on the bottom for the floor and no bar up to for the ceiling. There's a couple ways to go with this depending on the tone of the game you're making. Without a visible ceiling you have a great big hangar, to me this suggests a lighter tone to the game. A ceiling would make the space feel more enclosed and to me would suggest more tension in the game. It just depends on which way you'd like to go with that.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Kamilah Hauptmann

Looking at it again, there's a bar on the bottom for the floor and no bar up to for the ceiling. There's a couple ways to go with this depending on the tone of the game you're making. Without a visible ceiling you have a great big hangar, to me this suggests a lighter tone to the game. A ceiling would make the space feel more enclosed and to me would suggest more tension in the game. It just depends on which way you'd like to go with that.

This is a human vs robots scenario. I've some goofiness in mind.

[JoeP]

Just goofiness?

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Just goofiness?

Twin stick goofiness.

[Ari]

What engine/language are you writing the game in?
I don’t know much about how modern ‘8-bit’ games are made, but my one suggestion is to make sure you’re within whatever limits/parameters before getting too crazy into adjusting details.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Ari

What engine/language are you writing the game in?
I don’t know much about how modern ‘8-bit’ games are made, but my one suggestion is to make sure you’re within whatever limits/parameters before getting too crazy into adjusting details.

Godot.

[specious_reasons]

My uninformed opinion is that it looks neat, and I can figure out what everything is. I like the little soda can on the workbench. Maybe the ships are a bit small in proportion compared to the lockers, which I presume are roughly as big as a person, but not outrageously so.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by specious_reasons

My uninformed opinion is that it looks neat, and I can figure out what everything is. I like the little soda can on the workbench. Maybe the ships are a bit small in proportion compared to the lockers, which I presume are roughly as big as a person, but not outrageously so.

I had this concern when designing the tiles. The player character is 2 tiles tall, so the lockers work with a helmet shelf up top. He also fits in the ship. I think moving the seat back will make the ship look roomier, but I wanted to keep the definition.

[Theoretical Observation]

The cylinder on the desk was supposed to be ambiguous. When I colored the cylinder red, I immediately thought of soda, thanks to marketing. 2 other people have as well.

I know what the person in the photo looks like. Do you?

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

A Space Invader dropping a laser or Munch’s Scream?

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Kamilah Hauptmann

A Space Invader dropping a laser or Munch’s Scream?

I see a pouty mouthed redhead. My wife sees Hitler.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Theoretical Observation

I know what the person in the photo looks like. Do you?

Before I saw your question I was going to ask is it Vladimir Putin? Or is it Charlie Chaplin as the Great Dictator? (This hinges on whether a certain pixel is just a mouth or a moustache and a mouth.)

[Ari]

Originally Posted by Theoretical Observation

I see a pouty mouthed redhead. My wife sees Hitler.

Funny I was thinking about this and how weird/wild a lot of our art would look to aliens. I don’t know what her facial expression is but I too ‘see’ a redheaded woman, even though when zoomed in, it’s three grey dots on a oval with a line coming out of it.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Ari

Funny I was thinking about this and how weird/wild a lot of our art would look to aliens. I don’t know what her facial expression is but I too ‘see’ a redheaded woman, even though when zoomed in, it’s three grey dots on a oval with a line coming out of it.

By "pouty mouthed," I mean full lipped. This type of portrait seems like a projective test.

[specious_reasons]

Originally Posted by Theoretical Observation

By "pouty mouthed," I mean full lipped. This type of portrait seems like a projective test.

Read that as "potty mouthed." That's a lot to get from a low-res image

Recognized it as a picture of a person. To me, it suggests a woman with long hair, but I'd expect that in the context of a garage or a hangar. i.e. a "man's space".

[Pan Narrans]

I thought it was Lena.

[Theoretical Observation]

Originally Posted by Pan Narrans

I thought it was Lena.

Thanks for the education.