pixelsapiens

[pixelsapiens]

Project Craver at Gamescom 2017! #projectcraver #gamescom #gamescom2017 #videogames #videogame #köln

[pixelsapiens]

Wacky Spores: The Chase art style

Hi everyone! The release date for this little game is approaching fast, so I thought I would let you guys and gals have a closer look at the art style of the game.

The look of Wacky Spores: The Chase has changed quite a bit during the (long) development process (mainly because I am much more mature as an artist), but the core idea is there: solid colors on high poly 3D models and pre rendered sprites on colorful backgrounds.

Palette

The first big game-look-changer is the new palette. Not only it uses light concepts from color theory, but the color themselves are way softer and make more sense. 

The result is a palette that’s way easier on the eye with characters popping out of the background, making it easier to understand what’s going on. 

3D Modeling

Second huge thing was the change from 3D plus 2D to full 3D for the characters, especially the mushrooms. 

Now even their face is 3D (instead of a texture), which not only means that close renderings are possibile without any loss in quality and detail, but that if needed I can change facial expressions in a more natural way.

Animation

Last big thing is animation. I went from 10 frames animations to at least 32 ones.

Every animation is now also using some of the more impactful concepts from classic cartoon animation.

Final touches

One little thing that helped with the flash-y/cheap look was reducing the strength of the black stroke around sprites. Pair that with general improvements in 3D lighting and increased resolution (from 1280x720 to 1920x1080) and there you have it: the game now looks way more mature and less cheap, but still colorful and funny.

The game is coming out on Steam on 10 February 2017! See you guys there!

[pixelsapiens]

We all know #steam is not the the same of 5 years ago but setting up the store page still felt very... #emotional. #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #release #gaming #videogames #macbookpro #mac

[pixelsapiens]

I'm setting the tags and exporting the tracks of the Wacky Spores: The Chase #soundtrack. This is #exciting! #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #game #videogames #ost #music #audio #sound

[pixelsapiens]

Here is the new desert area for Wacky Spores: The Chase!

[pixelsapiens]

Doing some #balance and #testing for Wacky Spores: The Chase on the way back home! Random places where I work. #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #train #digitalnomad #commute #game #gaming #videogames

[pixelsapiens]

Meet the fly version of the Joker! He's going to be a boss in Wacky Spores: The Chase! 

[pixelsapiens]

People playing Wacky Spores games at #romics! #indiedev #indiegame #gamedev #gaming #games #show #playtest

[pixelsapiens]

Real men table. #chic #selfie #diy #diytable #romics2016 #romics #bricolage

[pixelsapiens]

Finally going back to sound effects recording! #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #sfx #microphone #sounddesign #recording

[pixelsapiens]

Some business card design, just in time for #romics! #digitalart #businesscards #lowpoly #colors #photoshop

[pixelsapiens]

Random places where I work. #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #developer #digitalnomad #pizza

[pixelsapiens]

Somehow I managed to model and animate the dumbest bumblebee ever!

[pixelsapiens]

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A post shared by Lorenzo Bellincampi (@pixelsapiens)

Here's some main characters at last! Grog, Spoon and Spaz will be some of the playable mushrooms in Wacky Spores: The Chase. #indiedev #indiegame #gamedev #animation #3dmodel #cute #toon #cartoon #mushroom

[pixelsapiens]

Bee enemies progression for Wacky Spores: The Chase. This one is a drone, personal guard of the Queen herself! Now onto animation! #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #3d #3dmodel #3dmodeling #3ds #3dstudiomax #cute #cartoon #toon #insect #bee #bug

[pixelsapiens]

I've spent the last couple of days looking at bees, drones, queens, and other not-always-beautiful things. Well, that and creating some 3D models of my own bees for Wacky Spores: The Chase. This little worker bee here will be one of the first enemies. He'll probably build some wax walls around to block some bullets.

[pixelsapiens]

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A post shared by Lorenzo Bellincampi (@pixelsapiens)

Let's try a video, shall we? Looking at insects finally gave some results, namely the working bee, one of the first enemies of Wacky Spores: The Chase. #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #3dmodel #3d #insect #bee #bug #game #gaming #animation #3danimation #computergraphics #3ds #3dstudiomax