(05-12-12) Update: We've been getting so many great suggestions that I decided to keep this open for another week before we start narrowing them down for a poll. Keep 'em coming!
It sure has been a while. On Thursday, Dan filled you in on the graphical overhaul and why things have been so slow for us lately. It's certainly been a busy, chaotic time.
But I'm happy to say that I feel more positive about this project now than I ever have. You shouldn't let this speed bump worry you, because things are looking up! I should also be sure to mention that there are absolutely no hard feelings from me in regards to this change of direction; I do not feel that my job with the company is in jeopardy, and I do believe that this change is the best for everyone.
Just what does it mean to you, the player, though? It is sad to say that very few of my graphics will be appearing in the final game now, but you should expect the same overall style regardless of this new direction. Dan and Evan seem devoted to sticking to that style, and you can be sure that I'm devoted to making sure everything maintains the same (or improved) charm.
This brings us to the purpose of this blog. I have no plans to discontinue it, but the amount of final assets you see may wind up being limited. What you can look forward to seeing is more concept art and test animations for characters and creatures alike. I'm planning to make a post highlighting just what myself and the rest of the art team (we're a team now!) are working on, but I didn't want to clutter this homecoming post and distract away from what everyone's really interested in...
Community Impact Opportunity #002:
Pets! That's Right... Pets!!!
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| Images represent a game currently in development. |
Please be sure that you're logged in to Blogger when you leave your suggestion, so that you can be properly credited if it comes down to your idea winning.
Until next time!
That sounds good.
ReplyDeleteHere are some pet ideas I came up with.
*A Baby Whelp
*A Cat
*A Dog
*A Lemming
*A Small Bird
*A Plant Creature
*A Pixilated Creature
*A Rock Creature
First? How about a ghost for either a combat or a non-combat pet?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, will the stages and backgreounds be 3D, or will those be 2D?
ReplyDeleteWe haven't gotten that far yet. On a hunch I'd say 2D, since that's one case where drawing everything out will be faster than modeling it. But I shouldn't be quoted on that, since it's still very much up in the air.
Deletetop 25 (not very promising, but I was late in seeing the blog post :()
ReplyDeleteAnyways... I'm glad we are going to have pets, since I know only one or two tower defense games that have them, and they were really good. In my opinion, Aardvarks are awesome. You can't get more awesome than Aardvarks (unless you work for Snd)! (I'm 50% sure you either A) don't know what it is, or B) don't know what it looks like. Wikipedia it.)
I doubt this will win, but I'm hoping to have an aardvark as a pet.
I personally will be looking for unique suggestions (and not dog/cat/snake), so I'd say it has a shot at being considered at the least.
DeleteWell while aardvarks are awesome, we can't forget armadillos. Aardvarks and armadillos would be the best pets ever.
DeleteLemur! And welcome back Kevin. :)
ReplyDeleteI want a turtle! If you could make it flying (some mecanics) it would be epic!
ReplyDeleteAnd i won't log in! Don't care about credits
Fire-breathing chinchillas.
ReplyDeleteGenius idea. A ghost crocodile with one floating yellow eye bouncing around its skull. A hole in the lower jaw allows for swallowing of its body turning it into an armored wheel with little weight.
ReplyDeleteI guess that would be more of a in-battle pet...
DeleteMaybe it would be more suited as an enemy...but it would be unique...
Deletethere should both be good and evil. what about a Skeleton/Zombie-wolf
ReplyDelete-a fairy. I know that it sound stupid but it could heal the character wich is equiped . it could be an out-battle pet
ReplyDelete-changing theme
there shuld be an hability that can invoque a friend with those stats
lvl-1-no armor- 1h hamer
lvl-2-gloves-1h axe
lvl-3-boots,pants and gloves-1h sword
lvl-4-boots, pants, gloves and helmet-2h sword
lvl-max-complete armor-1h sword
I think a lot of you are mixing up out-of-combat pets and combat pets. For the record we're working on some better identifying terms to avoid confusion in the future.
ReplyDeleteOut-of-combat pets will likely not have any buffs or effects. If they do, they won't be exclusive to certain pet types. We want people to take pets they like, not buffs they like.
Wow cleaned up the progress chart.... Well I'd like a Gorrila With dun dun dun........ With out a tail! for some reason people keep making gorrilas with tails and its making me mad..... Also I want a scar over it's LEFT eye. If it's too big, make it a tiny it smaller. Not sure if I have to be actually LOGGED IN but I'll put my name... Hope this get's in!
ReplyDeleteHow about a hamster or ferret. The little pudgeball of a hamster would look so adorable contrasted to, say, a big orc fighter in full heavy plate. :)
ReplyDeleteI resent my previous post. I agree with this guy.
DeleteHow about an eagle that grants a mini-map and some offense?
ReplyDelete-Haxing Cat
Give us Killer Squids! A squid with seaweed for a headband like a piece of sushi!
ReplyDeleteI think you just won.
Deleteyeah he did :) (nice job)
DeleteNarwhals, hermit Crabs, giraffe, manticore/ any chimera etc. or a like a spider or something :3
ReplyDeleteAbout how long will it take to make a pet?
ReplyDeleteIdeally we want it to be simple enough that we can sit down and knock one out real quick whenever the mood strikes us. Since they're so small, they don't have to be too crammed full of detail, either.
DeleteIf you mean how long will it be before they're added to the game, well, the jury's still out on that one.
A small penguin whelp
ReplyDeleteMeerkats! :D
ReplyDeleteI was thinking maybe we should get (and I know this really shoudn't be under non-combat pets) pangolins at some point, which would be extra armor stuff.
Other than that... Anything interesting-looking would probably be an in-combat pet that I can think of, e.g. narwhals, elephants, stuff like that. The one combat I want would be a blue spirit wolf.
Uh, I honestly can't think of any non-combat pets I would want, except maybe make a secret button in credits that, like, if you click the big SnD games sign, gives you a pikachu pet? I don't know :I
Anywho, good luck.
*Revised:
Make a gopher. Yeah.
~Grawlithe
Sharks with fricken laser beams on their fricken heads... or Navi "hey, hey, listen"
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a whelp.
ReplyDeleteButterfly, thats all i have to say.
ReplyDelete-Clarinerd
Got some insperation for a pet in a comic which came out today:
ReplyDeletehttp://darklegacycomics.com/
(note: for people who sees this post after 21/5, you need to look in the archive of the webside)
I know! Sam, Dan, Kevin, Bill, or anyone else on the SnD team. A little child-looking version. :)
ReplyDeletean Egyptian mummy cat!
ReplyDeleteA Undead Red Scorpion with a flame on its tail like charmander!Another Question Will pets also be in 3D? It would be GREAT if you could do that. How many polygons will you use for a single entity?
ReplyDeleteThe in-game graphics won't exactly be rendered in real-time right in front of you. What we're doing resembles how the graphics in games like Donkey Kong Country and Diablo II were created.
DeleteSo smaller creatures won't be created with less polygons for the sake of loading them faster, or anything.
How would you do a turtle/swordfish cross?
ReplyDeleteI would make a turtle with a swordfish tail/fin instead of legs and 2 swordfish "swords" instead of arms. The head, body, and shell would be the same.
this is a non-combat of course, but could be a base for a combat or new species *eyes glint wickedly*
DeleteLoyal Cat: Grey cat wearing a red cap with golden Outlines, gold shoulder guards and gold steel claws.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have a question: What is the point of buying a non-battle pet? Sorry I'm not a vivid RPG player.
A grey cat wearing a red *cape.
DeleteHow about a hedgehog? It's cute and can be painful.
ReplyDeleteAnd a manticore, it is cool like a Gryphon or dragon, but not as mainstream ;-)
Where did any activity whatsoever go? I am missing this blog greatly. Please come back soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on putting together a post highlighting what all of us artists are working on at the moment.
DeleteI meant to post it last sunday, but... well I don't know what happened. I thought about it when I woke up, and then as I went to sleep that night I was all "oh I forgot to do that".
I am working on it, though.
Back peepz
ReplyDelete:)
Im thinking a tiny armored demon....Chubby and cute, but can breathe/burp fire and is badass in battle!
A tiny black duck with a feather sticking out on its head.
ReplyDeleteA Ponycorn! A pony/unicorn hybrid that burps rainbows. I guess that could end up being some sort of buff. If not, burping rainbows for just aesthetic value :)
ReplyDeletea kung fu penguin
ReplyDeletewhat is more badass than a penguin karate chopping with flippers
what if, and warn if I'm talking mambo jambo, but I think it would be amazing if the pet was a super cute litlle fox whith kind of bipolar disorder, turning into a crazy kung fu fighter.
ReplyDelete