Here's a tutorial I wrote to help you guys make your own art for your game! The tutorial was actually written for the guys at (url="http://"http://www.pixelation.swoo.net")http://www.pixelation.swoo.net(/url) , but I'm sure it would come out usefull to some of you coldstone users. It's a hut for a game that I'm working on.

It covers basic shading and drawing in an overhead POV. Here's the image that the tutorial is based on:

I'm posting it here because I'm using it in a game that's using coldstone as its engine and because I honestly think that some of you could make use of some of the techniques (mentioning all that before I get "hate posts" for it).

The link is here: (url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com/goodies/pixel_hut_tut.zip")Pixel Hut Tutorial(/url)

Enjoy!

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

Your first link is dead...

------------------
"Perish in flames!"
Ghostbusters
Let us all scream that as we pass a windows users on the street, then point and laugh at them.
My game's (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/pfbgames/")site(/url)

They're both showing up fine on my side... wierd.

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

Klatu

thanks for the tut.

PB

try it without the www
(url="http://"http://pixelation.swoo.net/")http://pixelation.swoo.net/(/url)

or just go here:
(url="http://"http://pixelation.cjb.net/")http://pixelation.cjb.net/(/url)

~stray

------------------
Cooldstone_Dev Resource: (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/straytoaster/")Coldstone_Dev Resource(/url)

See Coldstone_Tips at: (url="http://"http://coldroom.150m.com/CGE_Stuff/CGE_Tips.html")CGE_Tips(/url)

Oopps, sorry. I must have overlooked that!

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

I like the "So you wanna be a Pixel Artist?" tutorial. The first one I read before Coldstone was even out.
(url="http://"http://pixeltutorial.cjb.net/")http://pixeltutorial.cjb.net/(/url)

------------------
In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti
(url="http://"http://bean.itcp.net")Studio Bean(/url)|(url="http://"http://www.evula.com")Just...just click, ok?(/url)|(url="http://"http://www.penny-arcade.com")Penny Arcade!(/url)|(url="http://"http://www.thinkgeek.com")think geek.(/url)|(url="http://"http://www.homestarrunner.com")Homestarrunner.net "It's dot com!"(/url)

Nice work Klatu, a very easy to do step by step tutorial.
Just one question:
Why do you choose this method of layers and shapes to fill, why not freely draw the whole thing by hand, using any color you want, then selecting the background color range to delete it and finally saving as a 16bit pict?
Your method seems rather limiting and restricting to me, what are the advantages for you?

------------------
"Get back to work, you slacker!" - Duke Nukem
(url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/templequest.htm")Templequest(/url) (url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/coldstone.htm")homemade tiles(/url) (url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/pog/pogscreenshots.html")Funny POG screenshots(/url)

That's a good question... and honestly, I have no idea.

Seriously, I chose that method because I saw that a bunch of people were saying they didn't know how to draw, so I decided to show a simple way of maintaining the perspective and shape without requiring the user to know all that much about drawing. Make sense?

Basically:
1-to help maintain the perspective that you choose from the first oval.
2-to not require to much knowledge of drawing

As long as you learned something from it - be it shading or layer tricks then I'd call it a success. Thanks for checking it out!

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

what do you use to make the art klatu?? what program or whatever

------------------
The Penguin strikes again.

Photoshop - it's great! And if you're concerned about the price tag remember that they have a low end version - which has everything you'll need - trust me - for about $100. I forget what it's "sub-name is though"

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

I believe your refering to Photoshop Elements for $100. It doesn't have layer masking though, but most people don't need layer masking.

------------------
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
"Logic is futile"-Scott Adams

No layer masking? No biggie - just make a duplicate of your layer in case you mess up and erase away!

------------------
Here's my site! There is art, music, movies, and games are on there way!
(url="http://"http://www.sinthesisent.com")http://www.sinthesisent.com(/url)

This would all be great if I even had the slightest ability to draw on a computer...I'm serious, I can't draw anything very well on a computer. I can copy and paste and edit it, but I just can't draw..I believe no tutorial can change the natural abilities of someone. One reason why I had to download sprites for my game; I just can't draw on a computer..And the only scanner we got belongs to my 15 year old territorial brother...

------------------
"Perish in flames!"
Ghostbusters
Let us all scream that as we pass a windows users on the street, then point and laugh at them.
My game's (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/pfbgames/")site(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by PinkFluffyBunny:
**This would all be great if I even had the slightest ability to draw on a computer...I'm serious, I can't draw anything very well on a computer. I can copy and paste and edit it, but I just can't draw..I believe no tutorial can change the natural abilities of someone. One reason why I had to download sprites for my game; I just can't draw on a computer..And the only scanner we got belongs to my 15 year old territorial brother...

**

Perhaps you can bribe him with Dollar Hamburgers from McDonald's/Burger King...
::jibberish:: RUbBle ruBblE
A lack alas,I happen to have a scanner, but the fact remains when you scan in art;

it either has to be camera ready (superclean/you drew it wearing gloves)
you have a method to knock out the off white pixels (tolerance,KnockOut)
or you feel like sitting there erasing (digitally or physically)

i've come to the conclusion of building 3D models(embrace the polygon) and using the scanned art as texture maps
(I have PangeaSoft's free textureMapper on my site...amongst other things)...

of course you've already considered/examined the above...and this...this has been an excercise in futility.

------------------

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 11.30.02(/url)

• (url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/index.html")eLL' webDesign Portfolio(/url)

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")5 coldStone specific PDFs(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by Klatu **
No layer masking? No biggie - just make a duplicate of your layer in case you mess up and erase away!**

Quote

Originally posted by spitfire:
**
Also, your 3dmf mapper requires it to optimize it first, and the 3dmf optimizer link is broken. For .obj's you can always use uvmapper.
**

Oh you mean the link to PangeaSoftWare's Mapper that doesn't really require you to use Optimizer but highly suggests that you do because it has no idea what sloppy modelling habits you might have, and there for only deletes overlapping, stray or internal points in order to get the texture map to deform correctly. I was missing a '4' (versionNumber)

(url="http://"http://ellrx.250free.com/3dmfoptimizer4.sit")Pangea Soft's 3DMF Optimizer v4(/url)

3DMF...the only 3D format you can view in simpletext...oh wait that's because its the native format...guffaw.
Obj. you can't be serious...

I believe the process your referring to is called inking, and you might want to use a pilot or fine nibbed graphic pen would serve you best, or if you happen to have PhotoSHop which everyone assumes you do just fine tune the CutOut/Graphic Pen filter.

Levels...tolerance, they're based on the same technology, and since most people don't even have a version of photoshop to upgrade sticking to modifying tolerance levels (whichh by the by are available in numerous paint apps, Graphic Converter for one)...
which admittedly is permanently free as long as you remember to dump the pref file...oh shareware when will you ever learn.

------------------

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 12.07.02(/url)

• (url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/index.html")eLL' webDesign Portfolio(/url)

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")5 coldStone specific PDFs(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by ellrx:
**
Oh you mean the link to PangeaSoftWare's Mapper that doesn't really require you to use Optimizer but highly suggests that you do because it has no idea what sloppy modelling habits you might have, and there for only deletes overlapping, stray or internal points in order to get the texture map to deform correctly. I was missing a '4' (versionNumber)
Pangea Soft's 3DMF Optimizer v4
3DMF...the only 3D format you can view in simpletext...oh wait that's because its the native format...guffaw.
Obj. you can't be serious...
I believe the process your referring to is called inking, and you might want to use a pilot or fine nibbed graphic pen would serve you best, or if you happen to have PhotoSHop which everyone assumes you do just fine tune the CutOut/Graphic Pen filter.
Levels...tolerance, they're based on the same technology, and since most people don't even have a version of photoshop to upgrade sticking to modifying tolerance levels (whichh by the by are available in numerous paint apps, Graphic Converter for one)...
which admittedly is permanently free as long as you remember to dump the pref file...oh shareware when will you ever learn.
**

Hmmm, I must have sloppy modeling, because it made me use it.
As for your .obj comment, I use Poser (in coordination with some cheap 3d programs), and Poser only likes rectangular polygons. .obj is one of the only formats that lets you use rectangular polygons. (Don't quote me on that, I might be wrong.)
Lastly, I wouldn't recommend posting pirate tecniques on a software development company's public board.

------------------
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
"Logic is futile"-Scott Adams

(This message has been edited by spitfire (edited 12-08-2002).)

(This message has been edited by spitfire (edited 12-08-2002).)

firstly It works best with a trimesh, secondly it only makes you do so if it detects a problem, most likley
because you're used to doing innefficient rectanglular modelling, which is fast but far from point by point meticulous trimesh construction.

Rectangular polygons(two congruent triangles trnasposed) are by nature sloppy , the smallest polygon by definition is the triangle,its what you need and should use.

Let's be serious;
Poser Costs(and can't keep a stable developer),
photoshop Costs(and gets upgraded every 18-24 mo.),
and not just one time fees. They continue to cost (plugIns,upgrades,Model Licensing...blah bla)

Second of all perhaps i should correct that,deleting the prefs file keeps the load time from tripling from 10-30 seconds
(which it increases to after 30 days). Also you'll forgive me for being such a promoter of illegal activity...deleting the prefs file...what was i thinking OMG, i think i'll turn myself in.

I didn't exactly decompile the app, run a pirated IDE and modify the code and/or backwards engineer the freaking thing.
Its called basic computer maintenence;
delete old prefs
install new software
FBC indexing
disk repair
rebuild desktop file...and that, is exactly why I have a working Mac + still running.

If they had sense they'd attach an appleScript to the app that toggles the pref file from in-/visible.
Its not exactly state of the art but it'll keep the majority of users from figuring out what's happening

------------------

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 12.07.02(/url)

• (url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/index.html")eLL' webDesign Portfolio(/url)

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")5 coldStone specific PDFs(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by ellrx:
**< polygons, piracy, & prefs>

**

I don't mean to start a war here, but...
First of all, did I say that rectangular polygons are better? No, I merely said that Poser uses them, and I use Poser. I have no polygonal preference, myself.
Secondly, Poser is not a modeler. My modelers don't use rectangular polygons either. You would not believe how much I went through to get Poser to accept 3-sided polygons. For the most part, because I'm cheap, I use Clayscape (which I never would have found if it weren't for you, thanks) and a free Strata 3D I got awhile back. I'm not sure why it wouldn't work with the mapper, but I'll try again.
And lastly, I have no objection to deleting your preferences and maintaining your computer. But, you acknowledge that you are using software that you shouldn't legally and morally be using, do you not? Give 'em the $35. You can't possibly be that poor. And even if you are, I would be willing to bet that had funds to spare for it at one time or another when it was on your hard drive.
Anyway, enough with my rants.

------------------
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
"Logic is futile"-Scott Adams

YOu call that a rant??

::cracks; neck,back,chest,shoulders elbows and knuckles::

Ahem, like you said i was "promoting" the illicit behavior i paid for my copy as of version 4.0.9
you'll excuse me if i staved off a 30 second delayed launch 3 or 4 times...it was necessary not immoral.
It is a fallacy to assume or wager that i have the means to do anything, or that anyone percieves anything in the same order of importance.

Trust me i don't stay up half the night because i'm illegally using software(there are worse things on the bottom of my shoe) on my machine that is devoid of spyware, and because i broke a license agreement that's only purpose is to help solidify a court case in the event of real piracy.

I'll remind you ShareWare is on a good faith basis. If you're all about the oh o, uh o 0 o 0 o o's on your bank statements then go commercial get investors, save the money, do some marketting and put your suff in stores. That's how small business gets done...what makes you any different, just because you have the option of sitting on your butt all day waiting for shareWare to scrub your feet and wash your hair doesn't mean you should.

Hmm pay your cell phone bill or pay for Graphic converter(i'll give you a hint one of them you can actually touch). People don't pay for softWare because its virtual produce, sure someone's sweat equity went into building that product, but after all parties have been consulted and its distributed with nominal overhead...the work load significantly lightens in comparison to any physical manufacturing process. The only time someone dies trying to build you the perfect game is when the engineer suffers from an undiagnosed congenital heart condition.

Morally wrong....nope...its called survival.

Clayscape eh, have you ever noticed that you can add 8 times as many vertices/points in the span of a second...pretty sloppy but then again organic things do tend to be.

::hydraulics hiss,gears whir to a hault, bulbs crackle and hum themselves to sleep::
exeunt

------------------

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 12.08.02(/url)

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")WHAT...!!!!??, eLL' softWare Just underwent a redesign and has BBs' available for active interested developers...tell me more(/url)