Toranos

@Toranos: > To clear this up to people who think this is the 'Ambershire' base, a base I worked on for another project of my own during the middle of this year. Here they are for comparison: > >  > > The Merrimint base uses a softer, simpler color scheme for the skin, similar to Chibi style. It uses dark outlinings to bolden it, giving it a bolder appearance, like popular MMO MapleStory, also in a way, chibi styled. The dark outline also keeps the base consistant, and although the Ambershire base seems more leaned toward the art direction, the Merrimint base is more practical for games, as its dark outline will go well against any light background. > > The Merrimint base's eyes are more respectable, they seem to give off a more chibi/cute vibe, whereas the Ambershire eyes seemed to be colorful dots. The perspective of the Merrimint base gives the sprite more facial space, rather than half the head covered with hair. It also will tie in nicely with the tilesets I plan to make, and doesn't have any extreme forward, or straight flat 2D look. > > The Merrimint base versus Breeze. As you can see, there is about 3x more space to work on, giving clothes a bigger range of possibilities, rather than sticking in the same 5x5 limit practically. Hair can be given more detail, along with clothing again, and the face has a more expressive appearance. The arms for the Merrimint base makes more sense than the arms of the Breeze kids, and yet again, the perspective is at a much better angle. > >  > > Lastly, if its the walkcycle that seems awkward, Chibi characters don't exactly have kneecaps, so the walk will always be rather stationary. I'm not going to give them 2cm long legs and have the body nearly half that. > > Thanks for reading through my ramblings :) > Toranos.

Hm, interesting.. I believe it was Matt that pointed the engine out to me in the first place, or DFA perhaps.. I was unaware of that, Robin.

I believe the chat bubble is used in the mock-up just because… It's how Toranos did it. The engine is a "custom" engine. Mostly just pieces ripped from various sources, mostly Mirage-Realms and Mirage Creation (which may have ripped DX8 from Robin?) and is VB6.

Are you attempting to access it from the .org domain? For some reason the name servers haven't switched over yet and the redirect isn't working quite right with the database..

 http://www.merrimint.net Hello, my name is Anthony, I'm the co-founder of Merrimint and current owner of the game. It's possible you may have heard of the game and know it's history of reboots. Mostly this is due to lack of time on my part (work, school, family, etc.) and I have finally decided to try and hand over my main job as programmer to somebody else. This will be an unpaid job, unfortunately. However we are all here basically trying to satisfy our need to create something we want to play and have fun doing something we enjoy. It's a hobby for most of us :) The current team working on Merrimint is a lot of fun and we're a pretty hard working group when we have the time. We have web designers, web programmers, pixel artists, concept artists and a lore master. If you're at all interested please send me an email at [email protected]. Or drop by the forums, sign up and say hello. By all means, if you happen to be interested in joining as another position please let me know! We are always looking for talented people :) 

@disagree: > … **I have also created a Facebook page.**.. You have several people on this thread that have seen people like you come and go, sure you might be different, but the possibility of that is really low. Realize that they mean people don't want to join a project that is destined to fail, why would they join someone who has done the simplest of things, such as the quote that I pulled from your post, when they have the skills and talents to start their own game? Bring something to the table others are looking for, not someone who is throwing around cash so that they can direct a game, when they know nothing about game development, or have any skill in art, coding, or design. Don't be an idiot, listen to others who have seen it all before, and go learn something to do with game development before you start wasting cash, like everyone here is trying to tell you.

Great improvement, really liking the roofing now. Just one thing, try smooth out your pixel curves, they are a bit too jagged. Example:  Other than that, good job Milk. ;)

@Pinkamina: > I like them. The only main thing I noticed was that the legs kinda look like it's kneeling, but that's just the style, I suppose. Yeah, while they're still it gives off that look, but once they move you'll realize they aren't kneeling. Didn't notice that before.. @Muffen: > I actually like them. I like the smooth style to it. I really like the fishing animation. What game are you doing these for? Topic Title: "Merrimint's (third?) attempt. Pixel preview." Might have heard of it, might not have. It's a game that keeps failing, then rebooting. Only because the project leads either join the Navy, or don't have enough time to keep it running. But most of our current team have too much time..

Good going Rory, loved them both. :D And great competition Dash. Oh and thanks for Most Creative! -holds up imaginary trophy-

@Frostyy: > Sprite looks kind of sad. He should look happier if it's for a chibi game, imo. Probably just the lack of animation, not moving, no facial expressions.. I've created different eyes, but there's not really a sadness indicator in all of them, is there? For example:  The third set are the sad eyes, the second set is a bit more fierce, but not overly, and the first set are like the default. Animations will have bubbly looks, over-expressive facial appearances, and what not. I just don't really want sprites walking around with a big grin glued onto their faces, which i'm sure would probably break the 'sad look' you speak of.

@DogOwnzU: > Very Nice Thanks DogOwnzU, :) @Your: > Lets quit mucking up this thread. Thanks. Nice shoulders btw.

@Bonk: > If it was Chibi, wouldn't it have stubby little arms and a dramatic face, too? Thats how I remember them from old mangas, anyway. Not really creating a manga, it's chibi 'styled'. They are supposed to have chubby arms, you are right, but I couldn't seem to work them too well into animations so I had to extend them. New breed I suppose.. Also if you look at the fishing animation, it's dramatic..ish. :\

@Your: > I'm talking about the arms looking like disgusting noodles. He doesn't have any shoulders.  Should I add pulsating muscles next? Thanks for the opinion, but I think it's fine the way it is. Just add missing shoulders to the missing mouth, nose, kneecap, elbow, fingernails, toenails, feet.. But seriously, There'll always be something wrong with someones art in someone elses eye. I personally don't like symmetrical bushes, or sprite heads that don't follow the same perspective of the body. Sorry, but i'd rather not follow your advice. Also, referring back to [this](http://www.freemmorpgmaker.com/files/imagehost/pics/575b8e04dc302fdf6efb943601746dd9.bmp), who sticks their arms out like that all day? EDIT: P.S. Thanks for posting.

@Your: > Only thing I don't like is the position and size of the arms compared to the body. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chibi_%28term%29](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chibi_%28term%29) Not everyone likes it, just like not everyone likes retro, or realistic. But you don't like the position? What's that, standing? Lol?

I must say i'd be surprised too, but it's all for fun. It's more motivating to work on a project for pixelling, rather than pixelling for random reasons, and going from  to  means at least it wasn't in too much vain if the project dies. It's a hobby for most of us, and if it does get released, it will be a surprising milestone, I won't lie.

@Robin: > The style never rubbed well with me. Now it just looks like Ambershire.  :confused: I don't see it, but I appreciate the opinion. Merrimint did look good, but so does every other game that uses the same sprites and tilesets. Even if it isn't better in some eyes, custom graphics show there's a bit more effort done than public domain images. Anyways thanks for the comments all, @Owen, Yeah I didn't go overboard trying to perfect the head as it will pretty much be covered all the time.

Hard choices :o Best Overall Costume: Annahstas - Spiderman Most Creative Costume: Rory - Rainbow Dash Most Scary: Pixelspore - Creeper Cutest Costume: Xbatz - Zooey Worst Costume: Kocho - Adam from Eden @Toshiro: > Cutest Costume: Toranos' Hooker. (Lol'd.) ;)

@nameless_soul: > The sprites, naked, are really disturbing. But, forget bout me and my dirty mind At least I didn't post the explicit version. Not really.. But thanks for the compliment sandwich. :P. Even though every developer says this about their revived games, I'm going to too: I think it'll make it through this time. @-Jake-: > Yea that's definitely it. & No problem, anxious to see more! (Especially being Merrimint.. again :P) Yeah well, the reason it's been given up on so much is the shift of owners. Hikaru leaving for the Navy, Anthony not finding enough time.. So yeah. Next attempt.

Actually yeah, that seems to be something i've neglected.. Removing the black line around their forehead areas should hopefully fix that. Thanks Jake.

     Just a show off of some sprites i've been doing for Merrimint, the chibi ORPG that has travelled from engines like Mirage, to TMW. Some older members might remember Merrimint, Hikaru, Anthony Fleck, Perfekt, Lea.. This project has gone on for some time, using Breeze and GreenRaven's tiles/items. We're deciding to make it more custom as Breeze has started to become more used, and everyone 'borrowing' off each other. With our 6 people team, minus a coder, hopefully we can get a good alpha testing out. If you have the right eye, you can probably see that these look pretty much like a blown up Breeze template, because we wanted to keep the cute look, but have bit more space to decorate. Not much else to say.. Just displaying the pixels.

@Dash: > Oh my that is sweeeet, should I get rid of the entry limit…or up it to 5 or something? I don't really want to block anyones impulse to pixel :D Go ahead if you want I guess, i'll probably do them tomorrow if you do, working on my own pixelling before I head off for the night.

Alright. Couldn't bare it. Damn you for making a good base D:! Aurora/Storm:  That's it.. finally..

@Dash: > Is that some pixel nip slip action I see going on?? XD It's a disturbing halloween this year.. It is..  My last addition for today. Might make my last tomorrow. Great competition, and a great base. :P

_Scary hooker_ is scary:  If I changed the base too much, i'll make a boring edit.. Only if though.

^Yeah. You've left a lot of white space top and bottom, you should crop it, because it always annoys folks. Other than that, nice colors, the shadow on the 'Graphic Artist' looks nice, i've always liked that effect.