First look at my 100% custom work in progress

[Acoliite]

Hello, I'm Acoliite. This is my first post on here! :D I recently started working on a game and decided I wanted completely custom graphics game.

I've already got the story pretty fleshed out and if all goes according to plan my game should be very unique from other games in terms of graphics and gameplay.

Since the game is in its early stages I would like to use this thread for feedback and suggestions on how I can improve my graphics and mapping. This is so I can make my game the best it can be. :D

I won't be releasing details on the storyline but I can assure you it will tie in nicely with the game and the world.

I am looking for a sprite artist that can match my style as closely as possible to create the characters, enemies, and npcs (since spriting is where I lack the most). So if anyone is interested please send me a message.

Here is the first screenshot, using graphics that I made today. Not all graphics have been used but I tried to put as many as I could in while still keeping the map aesthetically pleasing.

Note these aren't screenshots from the game, just preview maps showing off the tiles, when I'm not trying to cram as much as I can into one map the maps will look a lot better.




Please give me feedback on how I can improve or any suggestions you may have.

-Thanks :)
Acoliite

[Dark Crusade]

Good to see more people using custom graphics. However the first issue I noticed is inconstant outlines. There are 1 pixel thick outlines around the grass, 2 pixel thick around trees, yet none around dirt.

[Acoliite]

It's hard to tell, but the outlines around the trees are only 1 pixel thick, it only looks that way because the outer part of the wood is darker. I will probably change that later.

Is it bothersome that there is no outline around dirt? Because my plan was to make grass-dirt transitions have no outline.

EDIT: I've updated it now. I've changed the outer edges of the trees to a lighter color so it doesn't make the outline look thicker. I've also added an outline to the grass around the dirt.

Thanks for the feedback Kreator I think it looks better now :)

[Dark Crusade]

Agreed. Alright lets try something else. Now instead of having all the outlines black, make them use a dark shade on the tile they are from. For example, dark green outline around leaves,  pale dark brown around dirt, dark green around grass, etc

[Patrick]

I find the light green grass is a tadd to bright and an eyesore. Try dimming it a bit?

[Acoliite]

I'm going to keep the black outlines because I want my game to look more unique and I think that kind of gives it a different style than others. :)

I don't think it's that bright, it may just look that way because it's surrounded by the black background of the forums.

[Dark Crusade]

Ah ok fair enough. How about we make the fence look less pillow shaded? Grab another color for the fence and attempt to texture it.

[DrNova]

I really like it actually. Kreator is right on the fence though, stands out a bit oddly

[Acoliite]

Thanks for the comments :cheesy:

I've updated it for the third time with some newer stuff like the single logs, wood stacks, and more plant variety. I've also added more detail to the fence, will probably change it more later since it still seems a bit off.

[Sigait]

Nice,I like it more than soe other custom graphics I've seen,keep it up.

Sigait.

[Harris6310]

It looks really flat. Like a picture not a game.

[Drummerpete]

Probably some of the best custom tiles I've seen in a while.
I like the black outline, gives a good cartoon feel to it.
Well done. :)

[Acoliite]

Thanks for the compliments :azn:

I was sort of going for a cartoon feel.

I just finished the first of the mountains. I will post a second preview map and try to use as many of the newer graphics as I can on it. It will probably be posted when I've finished at least 2 types of mountains, 1 water type, and some more scenery.

[JayT]

good stuff Acoliite, it does look kinda unique aswell which i like, let me know when Alpha comes out and i'll play for you!

[Dark Crusade]

Nice going man, I see a lot of improvement since the first screen.

[Dthen]

Wow, those are really good. Congratulations on being able to get your custom gfx that far…

[Owen F]

it doesn't look like a map i would walk on, more like a… a... how do i say this.
Well What i mean is just... it doesn't seem like a part of a world, more like it IS an individual world, and you would walk parts of it save the trees and the fence which may replicate villages and forests.
yeah i probably sound crazy.

[Acoliite]

yeah Owen I really don't understand what you're saying. haha

[Dark Crusade]

Definitely pay no attention

[Alster]

I love that sign post. And the log stack. And pretty much everything else.

[Acoliite]

I posted a new screenshot using some new tiles including mountains and water :)

[Ruins of Hell]

If your using customs, then your game gets my vote, keep up the good work ^^

[Sigait]

You second map is definitly better than the one but maybe you should make you water moving.

Sigait.

[ddunit]

Nice use of cliff tiles, love it.

Grass looks a bit bright thought.

[Acoliite]

Seems that some people think my short grass is too bright. So I made it 10% darker to see what you guys think of it.

Which is better, the brighter or the darker grass?

Edit: Preview of some stone walls and stone path within the next few days, depends on how much I feel like making tiles.