Open Surge Forum

A fun 2D retro platformer inspired by Sonic games and a game creation system

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Our community has moved to Discord! https://discord.gg/w8JqM7m

#1 2011-02-07 13:30:41

darkcity
Member
Registered: 2009-10-31
Posts: 113

Getting help with graphics

Hi

I know in the past it has been a struggle to find artists for concepts and graphics.

Have you tried contacting artist forums such as deviantart.com

Here the Cult of Sonic is strong, see the following artists:-

http://beckythehedgehogplz.deviantart.com/
http://sugarthehedgehogplz.deviantart.com/
http://venusthehedgehogplz.deviantart.com/
http://oohlala423.deviantart.com/
http://jemylover.deviantart.com/

just a thought ; -)


done

Offline

#2 2011-02-07 17:17:02

Alexandre
Administrator
From: Brazil
Registered: 2009-01-27
Posts: 3,300
Website

Re: Getting help with graphics

Welcome back, darkcity.

These are all very talented, but I've given up on hanging up on forums or sending e-mails to artists because this approach just doesn't work. There's a huge difference between being talented and being committed to a project.

It doesn't matter how often or how loud you ask people who don't know your project to help you. Most of them don't get interested at all, and the few who do will just say "this is a very nice project, goodbye". At best they will send one incomplete piece of contribution and say "i hope you found someone else for the job, no hard feelings i hope, kthxbye". Most of the times they will just vanish without saying anything.

So I'm no longer asking anyone to do anything. I'm not their boss. I'm just a guy who wants to create a good quality game.

What I've found out is that people must come spontaneously. They must believe in the project, not in a silly request where we beg for help. They must commit to the project because they want, not because someone asks them to. Real contributors are naturally attracted to the project, and they want to help because it feels good for them, as they become part of something important. If you think about it, all contributors we have today followed this same pattern: they came spontaneously and they just started contributing.

A committed contributor is more valuable to us than a super talented artist. Things are not perfect, but at least there is some measurable progress in this project.

Offline

#3 2011-02-07 17:23:40

darkcity
Member
Registered: 2009-10-31
Posts: 113

Re: Getting help with graphics

I see what you mean people need to be dedicated.  I guess the other side is people need to know about the project before they can contribute.


done

Offline

#4 2011-02-07 18:40:14

J0nnJ0nes
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 180

Re: Getting help with graphics

darkcity wrote:

I see what you mean people need to be dedicated.  I guess the other side is people need to know about the project before they can contribute.

True. But it's not quite in a state that we can advertise everywhere, or so I think. There are still ripped graphics and sounds in the stable, distributed version, and the physics system is still being overhauled. The main characters aren't even finished.

Of course we need contributors for JUST this reason, but it's quite a leap to make everything legitimate, legal, and original. I can say, for a fact, that there are people who would choose not to contribute because they consider it illegal, or, even worse, that they consider it just another knock-off. Frankly, I think the only things keeping this from being an official knock-off (just like all the others) are:

- the project being open-source.

- original sprites, artwork, story, and sound are being made to replace the ripped ones (albeit with difficulty and slowly).

- a much larger fan base being attracted, considering it's free, Sonic-like, and, most importantly, easily customizable by anyone (with a moderate learning curve), thinking their wildest Sonic dreams will come true (especially the true Sonic fanatics).

So, for now, I think the only contributors that might be more willing are likely from sprite ripping sites, especially the ones that make fan sprites, like that of Amy and Shadow from the Sonic franchise. When enough original content is made, all ripped content is discarded, the game is more easily and precisely customizable (level editing mainly), and the game is more optimized to run on a wider range of computers (mine is new and quite good, and it uses 100% all the time of just one core ... very few of the best 3D games do even close), then there will be an advertising spree (be it on my behalf, or others) that may likely attract many, and maybe kick-start the project to new levels....

Or so we're hoping. Other than that, everything's like Alexandre said, and I can give a very significant example, if you like.

Offline

#5 2011-02-08 00:28:07

darkcity
Member
Registered: 2009-10-31
Posts: 113

Re: Getting help with graphics

It's a bit of a 'chicken and egg' thing smile

I forget that Sonic is a current franchise because I remember the game from many years ago - which makes me forget about the legal aspects.

Also, guess so many fan games just try to replicate sonic, people expect this to be the same.

Open Source won't be familiar to everyone.


done

Offline

#6 2011-02-08 02:54:27

Alexandre
Administrator
From: Brazil
Registered: 2009-01-27
Posts: 3,300
Website

Re: Getting help with graphics

what we can do now is to get help from our current contributors. I'm really hoping to get the first version of Open Surge done in june or july.

the steps required to do that are pretty straightforward:

1. replace the last ripped graphics and sounds by original content and finish the new physics system and the related stuff <-- WE ARE HERE
2. develop the initial cutscenes
3. make the first level, Sunshine Paradise

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB  hosted by tuxfamily.org