Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

squirrel · 2012-11-18 17:53:42

Hi!

Original sprites seemed kinda "flat" to me, so I tried to "improve" them, just for fun. Here's what I've got:

Yeah, there's only 1 sprite for each character, but I hope these will inspire somebody to improve other sprites as well some day. Cheers.

Original size:

KZR · 2012-11-18 18:01:48

I really like that

maybe you would like to put that style into action here: http://opensnc.sourceforge.net/forum/vi … hp?id=1427

S32X · 2012-11-18 23:09:38

Wow these are really good, but it sorta looks like Surge's base is same as Sonic 2's

squirrel · 2012-11-19 07:47:37

KZR wrote:

I really like that
maybe you would like to put that style into action here: http://opensnc.sourceforge.net/forum/vi … hp?id=1427

Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely that I'll be able to redraw all sprites (if you meant that); but yes, you can use these sprites for Open Surge Reanimated if you like them.

squirrel · 2012-11-19 07:55:39

S32X wrote:

Wow these are really good, but it sorta looks like Surge's base is same as Sonic 2's

Actually, I didn't tried to copy Sonic's style (to make it clear - no copy/paste or anything similar was used; both are hand drawn by using only original Surge/Neon as a source) but I've also noticed that it somehow turned out that Surge looks too similar to Sonic (and I don't like that). Maybe I'll try few more experiments with Surge to make him look unique.

Update: here's another variant of Surge (Neon left as is):

Original size:

Last edited by squirrel (2012-11-19 08:25:23)

KZR · 2012-11-19 10:31:58

squirrel, could you draw them in double size with split body parts? i could then use them to build new animations

squirrel · 2012-11-19 12:57:14

KZR wrote:

squirrel, could you draw them in double size with split body parts? i could then use them to build new animations

Not sure what you mean by double size, is it simple resize + draw additional pixels on all borders (including borders between 2 colors)? If yes then what do you need it for? I mean, if you are planning to quickly move/rotate/skew bigger parts and then resize them to smaller ones, I doubt if it will give you better results than same manipulations using original size parts (IMO). Both cases will still require huge amount of manual work if you want characters to look really nice.
Anyway, if you wish I can do it.

Here is original size Surge (updated once more) split to parts. Let me know if you need any additional details split (ears?) or drawn.

Also, before starting the job I think we should wait other devs' opinions, maybe noone else will like it.

Last edited by squirrel (2012-11-19 12:58:46)

KZR · 2012-11-19 15:53:45

well, i can do the resampling and refine the big graphics so they look crisp and clear. having all the body parts split will help a lot, since i'll try to animate using an awesome tool i have been alpha-testing called VIDE.

so you can understand better how it works, here's a bit of me testing the app: http://youtu.be/aT-9MNDM5J4

squirrel · 2012-11-19 17:01:14

KZR wrote:

well, i can do the resampling and refine the big graphics so they look crisp and clear. having all the body parts split will help a lot, since i'll try to animate using an awesome tool i have been alpha-testing called VIDE.
so you can understand better how it works, here's a bit of me testing the app: http://youtu.be/aT-9MNDM5J4

Ok, I'll try to draw remaining body parts next weekend then.

S32X · 2012-11-20 04:22:56

squirrel wrote:

S32X wrote:
Wow these are really good, but it sorta looks like Surge's base is same as Sonic 2's
Actually, I didn't tried to copy Sonic's style (to make it clear - no copy/paste or anything similar was used; both are hand drawn by using only original Surge/Neon as a source) but I've also noticed that it somehow turned out that Surge looks too similar to Sonic (and I don't like that). Maybe I'll try few more experiments with Surge to make him look unique.
Update: here's another variant of Surge (Neon left as is):
Original size:

Eh... Surge sort of looks smushed now. Try extending the vertical portion of his eyes

lunarrush · 2012-11-20 04:24:53

I'm rather enjoying the overall style of the art you've been creating. I like the way the color depth on the sprites has been increased. Awesome work

squirrel · 2013-08-19 18:30:34

A little progress:

Alexandre · 2013-08-20 18:06:11

squirrel wrote:

A little progress:

Nice try, squirrel, but wouldn't you mind dropping this task for now? Redesigning Surge is a lot of work, and almost all our sprites use a more "soft" skin-style. I believe that this new Surge won't make it for 0.2.0 (maybe I'm wrong?), because there are so many frames. Aren't we dealing here with waste of resources (as you mentioned in the other thread)? If you're too concerned about Surge-Sonic similarity, please propose a simpler modification. We can redesign it fully at a later date.

Instead of working on this, would you be interested on working on the (improved) brickset for level 1? This we *really* need for our first release, and this task has been frozen for about 5, 6 months (nobody is doing it anymore). Our current brickset has too many problems with slopes. We have a new template full of curves, loops and interesting constructs. This template must be adapted (painted with grass and wall texture), so it becomes adequate for Sunshine Paradise. Improved level objects such as new trees are also welcome.

This template has been originally drawn by artist Matwek and reorganized by svgmovement: http://upload.surgeswarehouse.com/upload/on-grid.png

What do you say?

squirrel · 2013-08-21 18:20:03

Nice try, squirrel, but wouldn't you mind dropping this task for now? Redesigning Surge is a lot of work, and almost all our sprites use a more "soft" skin-style. I believe that this new Surge won't make it for 0.2.0 (maybe I'm wrong?), because there are so many frames. Aren't we dealing here with waste of resources (as you mentioned in the other thread)? If you're too concerned about Surge-Sonic similarity, please propose a simpler modification. We can redesign it fully at a later date. smile

Probably you are right. It will take huge amount of work to redesign Surge tileset, although I think that we can live without certain sprites during first releases (e.g. idle sprites, drowning sprites, etc.). But I still think that this should be top priority task for second major release, as the main character must look as good as we can make it.

This template has been originally drawn by artist Matwek and reorganized by svgmovement: http://upload.surgeswarehouse.com/upload/on-grid.png

Is this 1:1 size?

What do you say?

Ideally it would be good if someone could make 1st level draft using raw template file you provided as brickset. This will show us which bricks in set are really used, so we can concentrate our efforts on them.

Last edited by squirrel (2013-08-21 18:20:32)

Alexandre · 2013-08-24 09:30:59

squirrel wrote:

This template has been originally drawn by artist Matwek and reorganized by svgmovement: http://upload.surgeswarehouse.com/upload/on-grid.png
Is this 1:1 size?

yes

squirrel wrote:

Ideally it would be good if someone could make 1st level draft using raw template file you provided as brickset. This will show us which bricks in set are really used, so we can concentrate our efforts on them.

Alright. It might not be trivial to identify which group of bricks are being used (because each brick is a smaller cell and the level is continuous). Maybe a tool will be needed, but we can try that, yes.

squirrel · 2013-08-24 10:25:31

Alright. It might not be trivial to identify which group of bricks are being used (because each brick is a smaller cell and the level is continuous). Maybe a tool will be needed, but we can try that, yes.

If I understand you correctly then it's easy to solve - just mark each brick on template with number.

By the way, who is usually making levels for Surge? I've seen a thread listing active members somewhere around, but I'm not sure if it is up to date currently.

Alexandre · 2013-08-24 17:31:45

squirrel wrote:

By the way, who is usually making levels for Surge? I've seen a thread listing active members somewhere around, but I'm not sure if it is up to date currently.

I am. However, I'm not touching the project until September, due to qualifying exams for my master's degree.

aronthehedgehog · 2013-08-26 23:29:16

Alexandre wrote:

squirrel wrote:
By the way, who is usually making levels for Surge? I've seen a thread listing active members somewhere around, but I'm not sure if it is up to date currently.
I am. However, I'm not touching the project until September, due to qualifying exams for my master's degree.

good luck!

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#1 2012-11-18 17:53:42

Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#2 2012-11-18 18:01:48

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#3 2012-11-18 23:09:38

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#4 2012-11-19 07:47:37

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#5 2012-11-19 07:55:39

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#6 2012-11-19 10:31:58

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#7 2012-11-19 12:57:14

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#8 2012-11-19 15:53:45

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#9 2012-11-19 17:01:14

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#10 2012-11-20 04:22:56

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#11 2012-11-20 04:24:53

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#12 2013-08-19 18:30:34

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#13 2013-08-20 18:06:11

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#14 2013-08-21 18:20:03

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#15 2013-08-24 09:30:59

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#16 2013-08-24 10:25:31

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#17 2013-08-24 17:31:45

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

#18 2013-08-26 23:29:16

Re: Improved sprites for Surge and Neon

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