The VG Resource

Virtuaboy, I'd much rather get some advice instead of a complete edit, although I do love what you've done with it.
It's not to be an ass, but your edit is much more complete and now I have no way of improving mine without it being the one you made, which kinda takes away my work.
And if you don't mind I've taken your edit and putten it on the front page now.

Now, I don't mean to be an ass either, but making edits to demonstrate what you should do is completely fine.
You don't need to do it exactly the same way, it's just made to give you an idea on how you should do it.

Anyway, is this like a sprite project where anyone can submit? Or are you just planning to make a few cards?

I'd love some submissions from others, as a matter of fact

If you just want to do the art that's cool, I can make it into a card for you if you want. OR I could upload the PSD I've made, and you can mess around with it?

Yeah I get making edits to demonstrate what you mean. But like with the growlithe, it's just been improved and I can't see how I can edit it further than what Virtuaboy did.
It's not that I'm pissed with him for doing it or nothing, I actually really like his edit, he did what I thought I couldn't. But now I don't have a chance to do it myself, that's how I see it.

But if it's just me being a sensitive prick, I do apologise, I don't mean it in any negative way.

Well, ok. I can see why you wanted to do it yourself, I get that. (That sentence sounded really weird for some reason.)

As for collaborating, it would be cool, even though I probably suck at spriting now. Some of the cards have really cool art

Well, it would be cool if you uploaded the PSD. I'd like to help, but please don't expect high quality.

Ahahaha, I see what you mean with that sentence..

Hey I know the feeling, and I hate that people feel like they shouldn't show what they can do, because they aren't professional.
I'm shit at it aswell, but if you just keep editing your work, making small changes here and there, trust me eventually it's gonna look half-decent.

Trust me I won't do anything other than give what little advice I have, so please do some work, I would love to see it.
And give me a moment while I upload my PSD somewhere.

-EDIT-
Here you go: https://www.dropbox.com/s/08eavbjqtuw2td...%20tcg.psd
Just a note though, theres like over a 100 layers in this, so it might take a little bit loading up.

Opps
You had said
"Oh yeah heres the reference if anyone's interested"

I took it as fair game to try and make it better. While at the same time give some pointers.

Yeah I'm sorry bro, didn't mean to come off as a jerk. Your edit was great, and I've updated my original card with it.
It's just that now I can't really say I've made it anymore, without looking like I'm better than I really am. But I did get your intention, I just ask that people tell me what I can do better instead of just doing it for me, if you get what I mean.

And I meant that if anyones interested in seeing the original card on that post.

Again sorry, hope I haven't scared anyone away from this now..

Gengar:


Wow this one was a god damn pain, and I can't be arsed with it anymore.
I'd really like to hear some critique on this, as I'm totally unsure of it.

I presume this: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/G...hant_94%29 is your source?
(I would not mind at all if you made it a habit of linking to your source)

In which case, I think you ought to move it a little more to the center...Its fingers seem to fan out to much in your sprite, and the arm itself might be too long (Gengar's arms are pretty stubby). Its horn could be more slanted, and generally, I think the body isn't quite at the same angle. The top right corner also should start transitioning into its horn if it was placed like that, otherwise, it looks as if it was bald on that side. Again, this is probably related to how the sprite is at the wrong angle. The lighting also seems to differ substantially from the original, from what I can tell.

As for Jolteon, there's something that bugs me...The sprite looks kind of...round all around? Like, the ears and the tail spikes are all nubby. The card doesn't show any shine around Jolteon, so I don't think it needs that white outline, but maybe that's part of the style. Isn't the snout a little too long, too? The background seems a tad inaccurate, especially the lower half. I'd say it should have darker colors, and it doesn't really reflect the pattern of the original card well, but that might also have to do with the style.

I'd also say the little things like the eye glare(twinkle) would make it more authentic. The lighting does differ too.

Also the background is different too. It may take a few tries but I think its doable.
Here's an example

Not one good thing eh, are they really that bad?

The gengar didn't seem that off to me, but yeah it needs a lot of polishing. Also some things like transitioning its "horn" sooner at the top, is hard as the frame size from the GBC game, and the actual card frames don't have the same dimensions, so I'm afraid of squishing his shape.

You must also understand I'm trying to go with a limited palette, so with Jolteon, having both Togepi and Ratata in the picture, made me have to limit the background to something simple. Also I do get what you mean with the overall color and I'll see if I can find something a bit darker, but again I have a small palette available, and I'm trying as best I can to make my palette small so it fits with the style. And the outline is on most of the cards in the GBC so yeah a style thing.
I'm confused what to do with the roundness, the general spikes on its back I can't do much more spikier without clashing the outlines too much, and since it's supposed to be a light jolteon it might suit it better anyway.

And Virtuaboy, the shines on gengar's eyes and the twinkle were both attempted, but because the highlights I had to work with was red and white, it really didn't come out as a shine and stood out way more than intended, so I dropped it to keep it a bit more simplified. Which is the name of the game here in my opinion. Also I don't quite understand what you are trying to show with that example..

There was a project like this a while ago.

http://www.vg-resource.com/thread-18905.html

You should take a look through them.
They could be helpful for reference

Shiny Pikachu by Yo-Yo Boy

(03-15-2014, 11:14 AM)CaSquall Wrote: [ -> ]And Virtuaboy, the shines on gengar's eyes and the twinkle were both attempted, but because the highlights I had to work with was red and white, it really didn't come out as a shine and stood out way more than intended, so I dropped it to keep it a bit more simplified. Which is the name of the game here in my opinion. Also I don't quite understand what you are trying to show with that example..

I attempted it and got it to come out pretty well. Instead of not being confident with how it came out I say post it, that way people will be able to critique it.

The Drowzee example is showing that it's possible to stay close to the original despite color restrictions and even keep the background similar.

the edit I made(look if you want)

Thanks for the crits

---

Tried updating the pikachu with highlights, and foil inspired by the Yo-Yo version above.



I'm kind of losing motivation in this, seems like I'm doing a lot worse than I thought seeing as there's little to no positive feedback at all. I appreciate the feedback I've gotten though, it just kind of stumped me how much was bad.

If you're just looking for positive feedback, you can drown in that in places as dysfunctional as deviantart. The criticisms you are receiving here are making you a better artist, please don't get discouraged just because it doesn't seem like anyone is liking it. What you've done so far has been very good, but there is always room for improvement.

The key is patience, if this is something you are passionate about, it is more important that you make the project have the strongest presentation that you can make it than to just crank out pieces as fast as you can but never build yourself up as an artist. This project is one step of your work as a pixel artist and you've got a good base going. You are attempting a large project with some pretty heavy restrictions (GBC is not the easiest platform to design for) and it isn't going to go off without a hitch.

If you really are feeling like this project is stagnating, fine. Just make sure you don't let this discourage you as an artist. Try another project you can start with as much intensity, and when you receive criticism here, appreciate that we are trying to help you and try to patiently listen to critique and learn to self-evaluate because it is really the only way to improve. I honestly hope you keep this up, I really enjoy seeing your updates.

That's about all I had to say but I look forward to seeing what you come up with next!