Pixel Challenge 1: Sci-Fi Platformer

[Perihelion]

As you may have gathered from the topic title, I'm launching a series of pixel art challenges to encourage people to try new things and practice pixeling. I'm currently planning on these being biweekly, but that and the amount of work involved in these may be adjusted depending on how much interest this generates. If you've ever been to Pixel Joint, this is basically me ripping off their challenges and making them more game-oriented.

How It Works:
You have two weeks from the time I post the challenge thread to complete some pixel art meeting the requirements. You can post WIPs in this thread or make a separate thread for them if you intend to do a lot of art, whichever you prefer. To submit the art for judging, PM it to me when it's complete. At the end of the two weeks, I make a poll with all the art to determine the winner. If you have any questions or ideas for future challenges, post 'em here or PM me.

Disclaimer: I'm making something for practice, but I am not entering it for judging. Entering my own contest would be pretty lame.

P-P-P-Prizes!!!
You get bragging rights, a custom user rank you get to keep until you're unseated by the next winner, and your pixel art with a link to wherever you want on the mainsite. We'll also plug your stuff anywhere else we can think of, for example the ezine and TWODO.

This Week's Challenge!
Make a mockup of a science fiction SNES-style platformer. It doesn't have to be a complete mockup--that is to say, it doesn't need to be the full 256x224 resolution or have a HUD--but it's encouraged and will probably increase your chances of winning. Regardless, it must contain at least ten unique 16x16 tiles and two sprites of whatever size you feel is appropriate (a hero and an enemy). Also, everything must be 100% custom made by you. You can reference other sprites, of course, but no templates--you only need to do one frame, so it shouldn't be that hard to draw a couple sprites.

Note: PM me the tileset in addition to the mockup so I can count the tiles. Also, for uniqueness, "unique" in this case means at least, say, 50% of the tile must not be duplicated anywhere else.

Deadline:
February 6, 2010. Get busy!

Here are a few platformer screenshots to give you ideas.











Have fun, and good luck to all the participants!

 

[coyotecraft]

Will all the challenges be game related? IMO a mockup seems pretty advance if you're aiming at people who are new to pixel art. Maybe something simpler like a character or a vehicle in the future.

 

[moxie]

This is awesome, I've always loved PJ's challenges.

I'll try and participate despite my extreme amateurishness, because this sounds fun.

Is there not a color limit or anything like that?

 

[piggman77]

My WIP:



This has been pretty fun so far for me, working in 16x16 definately makes it seem to go faster, and it was nice to do something different.

I'm kinda wondering about the color limit thing as well. Nothing was posted, so I'm assuming it's fine as long as we don't go overboard in colors?

 

[Perihelion]

@coyote: Well, the main goal of this is to get more activity on this board and get people to try unusual things. So while I hope beginners will try to participate as well, it's not aimed at them per se. But I think this challenge isn't too bad as far as difficulty goes. Platformer tiles have the easiest perspective, SF tends not to have lots of organic shapes, and the tiles are small.

As far as mockups go, you don't have to actually do a full mock, but I think there's a lot to be said for designing tiles and sprites in tandem. Keeping in mind how background and foreground interact is a huge part of designing graphics for games, and a lot of people who just draw one or the other in isolation frequently overlook that. And you need to be good at both if you want to actually make a game without relying on other people.

Also, yeah, all the challenges are gonna be game-related unless I run out of game-related ideas. I intend them to be somewhat meaty because you have two weeks to do them, but that may change depending on the interest level.

@opium: Do whatever you want for colors; I doubt you'll use enough for it to be a problem. IIRC the SNES uses a 256c palette, and you probably won't come anywhere near that. There will probably be challenges in the future using GBC and NES restrictions, but I thought that was a bit much to start with. And no worries about being a noob; as long as you have fun, that's all that matters, and we all have to start somewhere. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

@pigmann: Hey, looking nice! I like the ground and the boxes. The pipes look pillow-shaded, though. Try fewer colors and more texturing, maybe some bounce light if you can fit it in.



I think I'm prolly gonna make something too, although I won't enter it for judging. I doodled a couple tiles earlier.

Oh, also, guys, when you're done, PM me the tilesets too so I don't have to count tiles from your finished product. I'm gonna go put that in the first post, actually.

 

[Perihelion]

Uh, I don't have much, but I did this:


It'll be SF eventually, I swear!

 

[Tindy]

I think I actually want to participate O_o

lucky me, I'm done with classes just in time (!!!)

 

[mawk]

oh hell yes I am so in

 

[Perihelion]

Drew some more tiles, although I still have no idea what this is going to look like when I put it all together. Probably not all of it will make the cut.

 

[Tindy]

Pfft. Peri, I wish I had half your skill.



I'm on the fence as to whether or not the bathtub should be the enemy. It doesn't seem sci-fi-y enough.

 

[Perihelion]

Give it laser eyes. Then it will be SFy enough. Nice work so far! I'd recommend making the metal on the bathtub smoother, though.

 

[Tindy]

Oooh, laaaaaaaaaaaser eyes! And a curtain cape.

 

[Eriol Clowphengire]

Just trying, yet it's a work in progress. Apparently, this might train me in making side-scrollers since it may come in handy in my software engineering subjects.

((thinking about Demonophobia + Metal Slug + Left4Dead twist while spriting this))

And my friend and I decided to make a side-scroller shooting game (a run-and-gun zombie game).

 

[Jason]

I think I'll have a blast at this, however, mines gonna' be VERY different... if I can get it done in time, lol.

 

[coyotecraft]

Idk where I'm going with this either.

 

[Perihelion]

Yeah, I'm skipping around a lot. Here's today's update:



I played a bit of Xenosaga III to get tile ideas, although those are still obviously WIPs. Also started on a sprite. All of my sprites turn into nerds. :I

EDIT:


Rendered the sprite. Not sure how I feel about it, but it works for now.

 

[Perihelion]

Much as I hate throwing out things I spent time on, the industrial tiles I made are all inferior to the environments. I also revisited some things. This is where I am now:



It needs more tiles, but idk what. Preferably, uh, science fictional ones. :I Suggestions? I'll probably do some kind of robot for an enemy.

 

[Eriol Clowphengire]

Dead Spartans? and them some alien shelling somewhere?

 

[Tindy]

Bathtub's out for the moment. Background pipes are hard D: though I'm pleased with how the scene as a whole is coming.

 

[Perihelion]

Hey, looking nice, Tindy! This may be helpful:
http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/49694.htm

Tonight's update:

I was gonna put a spaceship over on the right, but it wasn't working compositionally for me. I think the tree is gonna be nice when it's done, but I'm gonna have to detail the clouds to match, probably the mountains too. :I The clouds need some interior AA regardless. I also want to redo the dirt so there's more depth to the part the player can walk on. Also fixed the sprite up a bit; I think it's nicer now.

Here are some refs just so I don't lose them:
http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/ ... -china.jpg
http://pig.sty.nu/Pictures/solus_na_mad ... ee-b+w.jpg
http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/21003.htm#
http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/34629.htm#