Program to create 2d gaming retro art?

Niklas

At the moment I am doing something very silly. I'm writing a roleplaying game called Platform Hero. It's a 2D, pen and paper RPG simulating the golden age of platform gaming. I would like the rules to be heavily illustrated with examples of gaming, and I want the illustrations to look like old platform games like Super Mario and Wonderboy.

Also, I want the adventures graphically represented in a suitable style.

The problem is, I have no idea how to create art like that. I'm fairly artistic, but this is a technique I have no idea about what so ever, So, I was wondering if there is a program out there who helps you create this retro goodness? I guess it would also be sufficient with some kind of map editor for platform games. I could use it and take screenshots in that case.

Thanks in advance

nakirush

Like... pixel art? You could do that in Paint. Just Google along the lines of sprite making, pixel art, etc.

Also, you broke the cardinal rule of the AC - only create a new thread if you are posting art - this belongs in the Questions thread.

Niklas

nakirush wrote: »

Also, you broke the cardinal rule of the AC - only create a new thread if you are posting art - this belongs in the Questions thread.

Oops, sorry. I shall post a picture of a cave then!

Skelly B

Sounds like a fun project.

I would use photoshop over paint for pixel arting. The pencil tool with square brushes should do you right. The pencil has no anti-aliasing. Under edit>preferences>general change Image interpolation to Nearest Neighbor when you're doing any pixel art. This will let you use the transformation tools fairly well and without any anti-aliasing.

Keep in mind that old school gaming machines limited the color palette for sprites and backgrounds. It will have more of an old school feel if you do the same.

wakkawa

Paint your picture like normal in photoshop. Say 8x10 250dpi or whatever the fuck resolution you want.

Once finished, resize the picture to what is needed ingame. Like 100x100 pixels. Go to image -> image size to do this. In that box there will be something that says "Resample Image" Change it to bicubic or whatever it is at to nearest neighbor.

Experiment with that and you will get what you want.

Forbe!

Yeah photoshop it.

I've used paint and a mac program called pixen to create pixel art with some success. Pixen is great.

Nappuccino

Wakka, you should make a female brawler game art that turns out like that.

I'd play it.


@OP: It seems like it might be an instant fail if you fail the trap or jump down the hole. If I were you, i'd correct this since many players would get frustrated by something like that so early on.

ManonvonSuperock

You should look into emulating the b&w illustrations that accompanied NES-era games, really. Check this site for manual scans, in particular Super Mario Bros or Bubble Bobble, or really any platformer.

Visti

Deluxe Paint for the amiga was the business for this. They were all these techniques that would take ages to recreate even with photoshop.

Skelly B

If you're going to go wakka's route then you can also try indexed color. Image>mode>indexed color. Select something like Local selective with 8-12 colors and do a forced custom palette. Set dither to pattern.



look, old school.

Niklas

wakkawa: that looks great, thanks for your advice.

Thanks everyone and sorry for breaking a cardinal rule. I feel like a total wanker for not reading up on the rules and I won't do it again.