Screenshot Critique, Please read first post Options

[MISTER BIG T]

Have you instead of making the selection become lighter instead of darker, as in highlighting the selection? That may be your ticket to making it good.



Showcasing Mary's new sprite walking on the intro credits, so I'm immersing credits with gameplay.



Showing walking.

It appears as if she's twisting her body when she moves, movement should be fluid and I know flipping does save time as I've done it but add that extra frame or 2 so that it's smooth between transitions.

Most people I know do move their bodies when they move, myself included. The upper body is made to move because it'd look really weird in sprite form if she wouldn't when her arms move.

It already has six frames which is twice the normal frames. It is very smooth in game mostly because this is the walking cycle, standing cycle is different so that she has 7th frame she can reset to when you stop movement. It's very hard to animate the gif to replicate the walk cycle because of that and I wasn't sure how long to put wait between the frames when making the gif.

This post has been edited by MISTER BIG T: Dec 31 2012, 03:17 AM

[Zinx10]

I feel like the animation for walking is good, MISTER BIG T. Anyways, I was wondering what people thought of this map I made:


In case someone doesn't know what this is supposed to be (please don't happen), it is a general store with items like potions or books.

This post has been edited by Zinx10: Jan 19 2013, 10:33 PM

[nichodo]

@ Zinx10 Nice map. Though it could need something more i'm not sure though.

Here's a world map i made using one of chrono triggers world map tileset.

[Show/Hide] Its in here.

 World_map.png ( 172.8K ) Number of downloads: 16

This post has been edited by nichodo: Jan 20 2013, 05:40 AM

[Shaddow]

@nichodo - It looks nice enough, and I realize you are using a Chrono Trigger tileset, but it really just feels like a slightly modified CT map. Even the shape feels very similar.

I would recommend trying to add your own unique style to it, even using borrowed tools you can make something very unique.

[nichodo]

@nichodo - It looks nice enough, and I realize you are using a Chrono Trigger tileset, but it really just feels like a slightly modified CT map. Even the shape feels very similar.

I would recommend trying to add your own unique style to it, even using borrowed tools you can make something very unique.

Its an island of a planet in my game.

[LoyalLedger]

Nichodo: I like it. But I also felt like it was REALLY similar to the island you start off on, though I've only ever gotten to the racing segment early game.

Here are some screens of my game. These are NOT good maps, that is why I am posting them. I need some really good advice on how to do mountains. This is the one of the last areas in my demo, and I can't wrap it up until I've improved on these maps.

[Show/Hide] Screenshots

Screenshot 1
That "elevated" structure the character is standing near is supposed to...an elevated structure. But I'm not sure what tiles to use to make it look good.


Screenshot 2
The black space is supposed to be sky, or otherwise something to represent the edge of the mountains. I tried using the Sky parallax, but it didn't look quite right to me. If you want to see that, look at Screenshot 5. That is the same elevated structure viewed from a different angle.


Screenshot 3
Again, black space is sky. Personally, the black space looks worse than sky to me, but I don't know. Maybe that is how it is supposed to be. The wall he is standing in front of is supposed to be the mountain wall, but clearly I don't know how to do that.


Screenshot 4
This is what the cliff looks like with black. Screenshot 5 uses Sky Parallax. I've never been good at cliffs. The mountain itself is pretty barren, but I don't really know what I can put on a rocky mountain, other than rocks.


Screenshot 5
Same map, but using the Cloudy Sky Parallax background.


Please give me any and all advice.

This is a screenshot of one of the early game towns, to prove I'm not completely incompetent! XD I'm pretty happy with this town myself.

[Ndoelicious]

Can I post a download link here?
My map can't be shown since it's too much and the size of each map is to small..
But you can download the entire city with that

[nichodo]

Nichodo: I like it. But I also felt like it was REALLY similar to the island you start off on, though I've only ever gotten to the racing segment early game.

Here are some screens of my game. These are NOT good maps, that is why I am posting them. I need some really good advice on how to do mountains. This is the one of the last areas in my demo, and I can't wrap it up until I've improved on these maps.

[Show/Hide] Screenshots

Screenshot 1
That "elevated" structure the character is standing near is supposed to...an elevated structure. But I'm not sure what tiles to use to make it look good.


Screenshot 2
The black space is supposed to be sky, or otherwise something to represent the edge of the mountains. I tried using the Sky parallax, but it didn't look quite right to me. If you want to see that, look at Screenshot 5. That is the same elevated structure viewed from a different angle.


Screenshot 3
Again, black space is sky. Personally, the black space looks worse than sky to me, but I don't know. Maybe that is how it is supposed to be. The wall he is standing in front of is supposed to be the mountain wall, but clearly I don't know how to do that.


Screenshot 4
This is what the cliff looks like with black. Screenshot 5 uses Sky Parallax. I've never been good at cliffs. The mountain itself is pretty barren, but I don't really know what I can put on a rocky mountain, other than rocks.


Screenshot 5
Same map, but using the Cloudy Sky Parallax background.


Please give me any and all advice.

This is a screenshot of one of the early game towns, to prove I'm not completely incompetent! XD I'm pretty happy with this town myself.

What game are you talking about again? Oh and nice maps OF YOUR GAME though.

This post has been edited by nichodo: Jan 21 2013, 01:08 PM

[kayden997]

@LoyalLedger
Your maps seems to be right in size but could use a bit more work.
A few options you could do is incorporate more elements from the tileset.

[Show/Hide] here's an example

Your town is very good, although the dirt path is missing it's variety. Try adding more pebbles or rocks.

[LockeZ]

Zinx10: Not bad at all, very solid indoor map. A lot of people make their indoor maps way too big, yours is perfect. General stores are hard to make interesting, you put a decent amount of stuff in there though, I like it. I think it looks weird not to have the top of the wall extend over the door into the back room, though.


LoyalLedger: The town is not bad, I like the color scheme, very dusty and desolate, kind of a wild west type town. Solid layout and good use of space. Kill the lillypads, add some rocks in the water instead, it'll add to that desolate feel. They're the only green thing in the town and it's unfitting. Having a well two feet from a fresh water source is kind of dumb, consider moving the well to the west side of town.

The cliff maps are sort of horrible, sadly, I'm not even sure what to tell you to do. They just end half a tile below the ground, why don't they extend downward? Why can't you see anything beyond the walkable area? The ground just comes out of nowhere, it doesn't have ground under and around it. The black looks horrible. Here are some random RPG cliff maps for you to look at, notice how they have many different heights and also are filled with objects, and the area around where you walk is also filled in as if there's more cliff there, even though it's outside your path: pretty good example 1 super sexy example 2

Look at this short mapping article, it has several good pointers for improving outdoor maps: http://rpgmaker.net/articles/503/


Ndoelicious: Sorry, not gonna download the game just to look at a map. Try recording a video instead, you will get way more feedback. A video is just a lot of screenshots in a row.

This post has been edited by LockeZ: Jan 23 2013, 10:38 AM

[Ndoelicious]

Ndoelicious: Sorry, not gonna download the game just to look at a map. Try recording a video instead, you will get way more feedback. A video is just a lot of screenshots in a row.

Yeah..I guess so, but it's pretty hard because the point I wanna show isn't the entire map, but the 'soul' of the map itself.
Still, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it ^^

[Zinx10]

Zinx10: Not bad at all, very solid indoor map. A lot of people make their indoor maps way too big, yours is perfect. General stores are hard to make interesting, you put a decent amount of stuff in there though, I like it. I think it looks weird not to have the top of the wall extend over the door into the back room, though.


LoyalLedger: The town is not bad, I like the color scheme, very dusty and desolate, kind of a wild west type town. Solid layout and good use of space. Kill the lillypads, add some rocks in the water instead, it'll add to that desolate feel. They're the only green thing in the town and it's unfitting. Having a well two feet from a fresh water source is kind of dumb, consider moving the well to the west side of town.

The cliff maps are sort of horrible, sadly, I'm not even sure what to tell you to do. They just end half a tile below the ground, why don't they extend downward? Why can't you see anything beyond the walkable area? The ground just comes out of nowhere, it doesn't have ground under and around it. The black looks horrible. Here are some random RPG cliff maps for you to look at, notice how they have many different heights and also are filled with objects, and the area around where you walk is also filled in as if there's more cliff there, even though it's outside your path: pretty good example 1 super sexy example 2

Look at this short mapping article, it has several good pointers for improving outdoor maps: http://rpgmaker.net/articles/503/


Ndoelicious: Sorry, not gonna download the game just to look at a map. Try recording a video instead, you will get way more feedback. A video is just a lot of screenshots in a row.

I did try that before I did how it is now, but it just looks weird, imo:


Also, I really like how your images are. That map is huge, too!

[Ndoelicious]

I really can't show anything just from the screenshots,
but yeah, those peeps are doing their lifes lol

Attached File(s)

 1.png ( 233.62K ) Number of downloads: 21

 

[LockeZ]

Oh, the door doesn't go all the way up? That's bizarre, find some doors that are the correct size for RPG Maker

[Magical_RuNE_Kni...]

I did try that before I did how it is now, but it just looks weird, imo:


Also, I really like how your images are. That map is huge, too!

i think... that maybe just think of it more like an art, and just express urself/ think of your dream shop.
i ended up editing ur map, maybe something like this u will like more?:

[Show/Hide] .

Hmm. Don't b afraid to experiment and think outside the box. If u add variety to the walls and floor though, u can rly make it more interesting. Looking at real-life references is also very useful.

I think the concept of "filling up space" is more about what u want the space to express, and striking a visual balance. So its not so much a task to be completed, but a task to go through.

[Zinx10]

Thanks, but I feel like that would feel too filled and distracting.

[MISTER BIG T]

i ended up editing ur map, maybe something like this u will like more?:

No offense but that looks a lot worse than the original.

[nichodo]

I did try that before I did how it is now, but it just looks weird, imo:


Also, I really like how your images are. That map is huge, too!

i think... that maybe just think of it more like an art, and just express urself/ think of your dream shop.
i ended up editing ur map, maybe something like this u will like more?:

[Show/Hide] .

Hmm. Don't b afraid to experiment and think outside the box. If u add variety to the walls and floor though, u can rly make it more interesting. Looking at real-life references is also very useful.

I think the concept of "filling up space" is more about what u want the space to express, and striking a visual balance. So its not so much a task to be completed, but a task to go through.

I agree it does look weird.

But here's the updated World Map I did.

[Show/Hide] IN HERE!

 World_map_2.png ( 167.56K ) Number of downloads: 7

[Magical_RuNE_Kni...]

Hahahaha, odd. (XD)

Maybe its just personal opinion then, i guess.
Cuz my family likes it, lol. Actually, most people usually like my mapping.


Oh well, i tried. d :

No offense but that looks a lot worse than the original.

Also, ouch, thanks. d :|

This post has been edited by Magical_RuNE_Knight2001: Feb 3 2013, 03:55 PM

[highlander4]

I feel like the animation for walking is good, MISTER BIG T. Anyways, I was wondering what people thought of this map I made:


In case someone doesn't know what this is supposed to be (please don't happen), it is a general store with items like potions or books.

That map's fine, it's okay the way it is you're not gonna stand there for more than 5 minutes anyway unless that shop's a big part of the story but if you want something to add then I guess put a two square shelf and replace that one square bookshelf and make it on the upper left corner of your item shop

oh and here's a map I improved on and it has the events showing too... BTW don't mind the heavy door and the dog... it's the Map Extractor's fault
so anyway here it is:

[Show/Hide] Verde Village

This post has been edited by highlander4: Feb 8 2013, 07:20 AM