Sprite tests

Not sure what the hell to do with sprites, but here are some tests.

More Nini

She's so fun to draw now (though I'm having trouble thinking of how to make her move, which is why there are so few of these)

I found my Nini!

Roughs

It is fun and fairly easy to keep consistent! More to come. = )

More Nini Tests

As I did not get any feedback on which were better, I combined them a bit.

Ignore the awful body, I'm more focusing on hair and face. Will try out action poses and maybe a walk cycle to see if I really like it.

Nini Sketches

Trying something a little taller, with a bit more detail. Longer hair will animate better, trying to get the big buns to bounce properly was driving me nuts anyway.

I have also been informed that little rounded-headed chibis are not terribly relatable.  Hopefully this is better.

Still not sure how she'll jump, but I like the fall up there on the right. Could fix up the hair a bit, but it's a nice start.

Nini Walk Cycle - Pixel Roughs

Still rough, but it's getting there. And Colors! Those are there.

...Now to figure out ...all the other animations. Also, give her a doll.
Still not sure how I'll handle those, I know how she will hold them and whatnot, just not how to get the dolls in her hand to move properly.

Rough Nini Walk

Little better now. Still need to fix the hair and get the head to stop wobbling.

Nini Pixel

Concept for sprite style, and a new outfit

Nini's folks are the wealthy family in town, Father is the Mayor after all. So, I thought she needed a better dress than the plain one I had her in. Things are subject to change, of course, but this is nice and symmetrical. ...I mean pretty. Yes.

Bobble-head Nini - Walk WiP

Quick use of copy-paste makes wobble head

Her legs are the only bit I was paying attention to, which turned out perfect. Now to get her head straight and make those arms/torso sway.

Then I get to start the other movements, and give her a doll to drag around. Just wanted a simple walk so I wasn't staring at a stiff sprite in Construct. ><

Decision, Decisions - seriously..halp.

Lineless, high contrast, bright, cute, simple

Lines, even toned, not as bright, still pretty cute and simple

Ahh. Which one. I like them both...

Maybe I should try it with a monster too. Keep using Nini for tests as she's the most important to nail down. But...now I don't know.

Construct has opened so many doors and I'm pretty overwhelmed with just learning the program. The -design- aspect is amazingly fun but also incredibly frustrating. The chance to design everything myself is exciting, but it's not exactly easy to figure out -how- to do these things.

So. Many. Choices. ><

Animation practice!

VERY rough walk cycle. 10 frames total.

I will be honest, I heavily referenced Link's walk cycle from Minish Cap.

I don't think it fits. Her bangs are moving too much. I think she should be more bouncy, maybe skipping. Arms out all the time. I will work on making it fit her personality better.

I just needed some practice animating in this perspective, and getting something down to work from. So, it's not a waste of time, at least. ^.^

Beginnings of a sprite

1600x Zoom, Top left is Actual Size

She may be too small. I'm not sure really. New stuff for me here.

Anyway - Working on a style for the sprites. Not sure I like this. I'm using Minish Cap sprites for reference on position, but I may have incorporated the shading style by accident. I need to figure out my own.

Something simple would be preferred, as it's my first foray into game making and I don't want to go nuts and burn out. This didn't take long, but I'm not sure I like how it came out. =/

More Mock-ups

Hurling fire at a voidthing

Quick mock-up of some battle action. Not sure what I'm doing, and perspective is a little wonky. But hey, it's something. The thing she's setting on fire came out looking like an evil eggplant....I am okay with this.

Oh, Brother - New Nini Costumes

Nighty - Start game in it

Favorite Outfit - Found in beginning

Cute Miner Gear - Second outfit

Little Witch Robes - Third

Magical Girl Costume - Final

Nini's costumes, in order obtained. I redesigned them for the sake of fitting the chibi sprites better, and ended up making them quite a bit better than before. I think, anyway.

I may also start using this style for such concepts, it was pretty quick/easy and looks a bit like the sprites so it'll be a good ref.

If it isn't clear, the idea is to keep things cute and girly. I also have backgrounds for all of the areas where she finds these, which influenced the design of the outfits.

They also each have their special abilities, on-field abilities, which I wanted to show a bit in the design also.

The Magical Girl Costume is one of three variations, which I need to design, of the same basic costume. It's an important event in-game to obtain it, so it is unique depending on choices made. I'll probably keep the other two designs secret, as they may give too much away.

Oh, Brother - Portrait sketches

Coren Vlademere Chelestra - Daddy = P

Nini FACE - WiP Meme thingy

I did pictures - working on game. Eating all my freetimes.

Oh, Brother - World Map...and more!

"Oh, Brother" world map

Nini expression sketches

Doing more writing than drawing lately, but this is something.

Also, page one of a story found in-game that leads Nini on a very long side-quest.

----
The Adventures of Petite Magi Kirin pg1

We join our heroine just steps outside the legendary Dorna En Caves, at the base of Mount Kanfahl. She and her spectral companion have agreed to rid the local town of a shadowy beast that has been stealing away children in the night. The tales of those who have escaped it's grasp weigh heavy on her mind. This will not be an easy task for our little heroine. -

Her eyes narrow in an attempt to see through the inky shadows past the mouth of the cave.

"Kiriiin~! ", a high-pitched voice squeaks from the inside of her bag.

"We can't turn back now, Kitsch - those people are counting on us...", the hesitation in her tone does not go unnoticed, but she has no time to fret over the what-ifs. Now is the time for action.

"But, but, I'm scaaaared~!", a softly glowing face peeks out from the bag, big white eyes round and pleading.

"Kitsch, what did you tell me when we first met?", no hesitation there. Good. She's ready. Her companion, however...

Those glowing orbs that pass for eyes disappear beneath pale blue lids as he juts his fuzzy little snout and button nose into the air. Kirin gives the bag a good shake.

"Kitsch!"

He throws his entire frame into a deep sigh before letting his head drop downward.

"...If you wish to become a Magical Girl, you must be willing to walk the jagged paths, gaze into the toothy maw of madness, and stand tall before the darkest shadows.", the words tumble from his furry lips. He didn't want to say it. He didn't care what he said those many years ago. She smiled. He wasn't afraid for his own safety..

Giving her best hero pose, she stood tall and raised her voice high.

"That's right! And I have done all of those things. This is routine, Kitsch! We're going to charge into that cave, knock that monster senseless and hurry back to town for a hero's welcome!", she was trying to hide her own fear with boastful words. She failed miserably. Kitsch wasn't buying any of it. His glowing white eyes narrowed, she felt a scolding coming on. Some sass perhaps. They didn't have the time. Waiting meant more children missing from their homes..

"It doesn't matter what's in there, Kitsch.", her resolve returned, Kitsch had no choice but to perk at her tone. "We have a job to do. On my honor as a Magical Girl, I must protect the innocent. We're going in there.", with a heavy heart and a few fearful squeaks, Kirin took her first step.

-----

Oh, Brother - Portraits

This is the outfit Lyra wears when she's not out monster murdering

Inks, Colors and a colored sketch of Lyra in her casual attire (what she'll be wearing most of the time) -
I did not do the smart thing and just draw a base for these, because I am stupid, so she looks a little different in this outfit. I need to make a base for the non-physical emotes.

There will certainly be a few that break the base, but a base would help..probably.

Oh, Brother - Portrait Sketches

Intense mother is intense

THIS IS NINI - SHE IS ALWAYS HAPPY. ALWAYS.

That is a lie, about Nini. I'm sure she's sad sometimes. She just doesn't like it when other people are, so HAPPY FACE. Magical Girls must bring joy all the time. Even when subjected to terribly depressing situations. (I really enjoyed a certain series about a Magical Girl)


So, portraits are the thing now. I'm using those in messages. They will have more emotion than shown here, but these are roughs (and my first time doing this sort of thing).

This is happening. This is a thing I'm doing. I am making a game.

...I'm scared...

Painted Nini

Nini

More lineless painting experiments. Not sure I like it for battler graphics, and the bangs in her face are not as cute as I thought they'd be. =/ Might be a useful style for something else. Took too long again, I'll need to work on that.

Oh, Brother - Nini Costume Sketches

Nini has four costumes, counting the default, that act as her armor.

These are the three she obtains on her travels.

-Cute Miner-
A mining outfit, complete with light.

-Little Witch-
The preferred garb for any witch, allows teleportation.

-Magical Girl-
Nini's ultimate armor. Unlocks special abilities.