Topic: Castlevania Dungeon Award Sprite Contest

[theANdROId]

I think the base X/10 with explanation is best.  Simple to use, simple to understand.  If there are any ties, redo amongst the ties.

Since I missed the judge train...is it fair to ask how to get started making a sprite?  I can draw just fine on paper, but that wouldn't be very useful on the forum, methinks!  What kinda program do you use for this?  Recommendations?

[darkmanx_429]

I think the base X/10 with explanation is best.  Simple to use, simple to understand.  If there are any ties, redo amongst the ties.

Since I missed the judge train...is it fair to ask how to get started making a sprite?  I can draw just fine on paper, but that wouldn't be very useful on the forum, methinks!  What kinda program do you use for this?  Recommendations?

Check that out dude. It should get you started in the right direction.

http://kiwi-rgb.deviantart.com/art/Pixel-a-Capcom-background-133030150.
http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Pixel-Artist

Also, if you have a paper drawing and access to a scanner. Try scanning your image digitally and then just digitally paint over your image.

[theplottwist]

Since I missed the judge train...is it fair to ask how to get started making a sprite?  I can draw just fine on paper, but that wouldn't be very useful on the forum, methinks!  What kinda program do you use for this?  Recommendations?

Honestly, I think you can only start when you start. Begin by outright copying an sprite and analysing how the pixels were placed to convey shapes. Or simply opening a graphics program, resizing the canvas to a very small dimension, and creating something out of your mind. Posting it on pixel art forums is a very nice way of getting feedback. If you already can draw nicely on paper, this will help you greatly when you try to do pixels.

I use MS Paint and nothing else, for drawing the pixels themselves and polishing. Sometimes I use Photoshop or Graphics Gale to edit colors and the such, but I do everything on MS Paint beforehand and leave only the smallest adjustments for other programs.

If you have time to kill, read these:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pixel-art-tutorials/

[Dracula9]

I use MSPaint almost explicitly. When I need to make a fully-shaded sprite solid color to do a new frame or whatever, or if I want to sprite over a scanned drawing, I use Photoshop out of convenience.

But yeah, what ^they said. Especially what plot said. We can show you technique, but ultimately nobody can tell how or where to find the spirit of the art. You have to find your own style yourself, it's a practically-universal rite of passage in the arts.

[theANdROId]

Thanks all!  Sorry for disrupting the thread (probably shoulda started a new thread with my question :-S ), but thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[uzo]

OK, how about this...

Judges will vote amongst themselves on three entries explicitly for first second and third place. A vote for first place is 4 points, a vote for second is 2 points, a vote for third is 1 point. Whichever entry gets the most points based on all the judge votes fills in the top three in that order. Anything else doesn't place and isn't necessarily ranked. Ties will have a revote between the equally scoring entries.

All entries will get a writeup of how each judge felt about them.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I like uzo's suggestion.
It has a bit of math but is not a headache to score. And since everything is subjective, the writeup would cover the explanations necessary for sour grapes (if ever they are any).

[Dracula9]

Works for me.

[darkmanx_429]

OK, how about this...

Judges will vote amongst themselves on three entries explicitly for first second and third place. A vote for first place is 4 points, a vote for second is 2 points, a vote for third is 1 point. Whichever entry gets the most points based on all the judge votes fills in the top three in that order. Anything else doesn't place and isn't necessarily ranked. Ties will have a revote between the equally scoring entries.

All entries will get a writeup of how each judge felt about them.

That's a cool idea.

Like it.

How does Jorge feel about it?

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

[BLOOD MONKEY]

After this, should we do a Halloween sprite contest? I suck at doing small trophylike things, so this contest just isn't my type o spriting yo. You know what I'm sayin?. :I


http://youtu.be/4GYLDLAHW-4

[Inccubus]

OK, how about this...

Judges will vote amongst themselves on three entries explicitly for first second and third place. A vote for first place is 4 points, a vote for second is 2 points, a vote for third is 1 point. Whichever entry gets the most points based on all the judge votes fills in the top three in that order. Anything else doesn't place and isn't necessarily ranked. Ties will have a revote between the equally scoring entries.

All entries will get a writeup of how each judge felt about them.

I'm cool with it.
It's pretty close to the judgement system I used to use on the Final Fantasy Hacktics forum.
Minus the explanations.

Updated first post with guidelines for the judges.

After this, should we do a Halloween sprite contest? I suck at doing small trophylike things, so this contest just isn't my type o spriting yo. You know what I'm sayin?. :I

I'm cool with that too.


Contestants!!
I added a new requirement to the first post.
For this contest, each entry must be submitted in a gold, silver, and bronze color schemes.
This will make it easier for the judges so that they don't have to imagine what the entry will look like as a different place prize.
Update your submissions accordingly.

[kaonstantine]

Contestants!!
I added a new requirement to the first post.
For this contest, each entry must be submitted in a gold, silver, and bronze color schemes.
Update your submissions accordingly.

I have no submisions yet, but the kind of sprite i was working on is more like the current Awards you can see under the user avatar (no exactly the same, but similar style). What I mean is that my sprite is not a depiction of a medal nor a trophy, so I can't make color schemes of it. Probably this is a stupid question, but am I required to make the sprite look like a medal/prize/trophy?

This will make it easier for the judges so that they don't have to imagine what the entry will look like as a different place prize.
Update your submissions accordingly.

If I submit a silver sprite, my sprite will only compete with other's silver sprites? I don't think the judges need an specific color. From what i understand (maybe i'm wrong), the contestant wouldn't need to make different color schemes since all the submissions compete each other, and the winner (first place) will be the sprite with more points, no matter its color. But well, if I'm wrong i'll make gold, silver and bronze versions. 

Thanks in advance

[Inccubus]

I have no submisions yet, but the kind of sprite i was working on is more like the current Awards you can see under the user avatar (no exactly the same, but similar style). What I mean is that my sprite is not a depiction of a medal nor a trophy, so I can't make color schemes of it. Probably this is a stupid question, but am I required to make the sprite look like a medal/prize/trophy?

Well the theme is for an award which is pretty general, so no, it doesn't need to be a medal or trophy specifically.
Just take into consideration that these are intended as contest prizes rather than standard awards.

If I submit a silver sprite, my sprite will only compete with other's silver sprites? I don't think the judges need an specific color. From what i understand (maybe i'm wrong), the contestant wouldn't need to make different color schemes since all the submissions compete each other, and the winner (first place) will be the sprite with more points, no matter its color. But well, if I'm wrong i'll make gold, silver and bronze versions. 

Thanks in advance

I clarified this requirement in the first post.
You should submit your sprite in three palettes to represent what it would look like if it were used for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
The thing is that the sprite can look pretty different with different color schemes, so the idea is not to leave anything to the imagination.
What were to happen if a gold sprite won 3rd place and a primarily silver one won first place.
If left alone they would cause some confusion to the average user and if recolored after the fact it could affect the look of the sprite.

[uzo]

Either that or three individual images would work I gather. They should show an obvious progression of lest to greatest. Think of how the Potion, Great Potion, and Super Potion are represented in later CV games. They're identifiable as the same, but one looks obviously better than the other. You can tell just be looking at it.