Extreme Makeovers! | dudecles | Commander Keen

[dudecles]

Extreme Makeovers! | dudecles | Commander Keen
http://www.gameartisans.org/contests/competitions/uploaded_thubnails/33-game-concept-art-1238-1183650460-thumb.gif

dudecles has entered the competition!

[dudecles]

Hey guys, I think i'm in here over my head by a good margin, but i'm going to give it a shot. I really have almost no experience sketching game characters (surprisingly), I usually write game designs instead, so my internal reference library is tiny and my thumbnails take 3x as long as a result. Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more of your time self-depricating, but any and all comments/crits are more than welcome.

Here's a description of Commander Keen (was the first game i can remember playing):

"The main character in the game is Billy Blaze, a genius eight-year-old kid with an IQ of 314. He has constructed a spaceship in his backyard from old soup cans and other household objects, called The Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket. When his parents are out and the baby sitter falls asleep, he takes his brother's football helmet and becomes Commander Keen, The Defender of Earth."

I just starting sketching, and have a long long way to go, but it's a start :)

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/other/keen1.jpg

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/other/keen2.jpg

Haven't begun to really veer away from the initial concept much yet, just trying to establish a base. I want to keep it pretty light-hearted and not serious. I'm thinking of making him very slightly chunky, and a little awkward.

Again, suggestions welcome, i can use all the help i can get!


--ps-- i have a portfolio up at http://www.loreaxe.com if you want to see some stuff i've done.

[dudecles]

done some various possible faces.

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/Heads.jpg

As far as clothing goes, what do people think about keeping the t-shirt/jeans?
I like the red all-star shoes, give an early-90's feel, so i don't really want to change those. Alternatively, i've been toying with the idea of giving him a gaudy x-mas sweater, one size too big.

gadgets:
pogo stick?
laser gun?
wrist info device?
calculator?
AA Battery bandolier?
shirt pocket with pens/pencils?
Can & String telephone?
backpack?

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/gadget.jpg

let me know, thanks,

-dudecles

[FredH]

Nice start here:thumb: Even though, like you mentioned, you don't draw much, you have already begun to develop a good habit. I like how you have drawn multiple sketches to figure out which one you would like to go with. You got the makings of a real pro. But, you have to sketch more my friend:) Don't be afraid to use real life references from magazines and books to find clothing, poses and body parts (faces, hands and such) to enhance your work. You mentioned that you have to build up your internal library, looking at refs will help you accomplish this. Definition of looking... stare at it and only take your eyes off of it for a second. My teacher used to hit us on the head every time we glanced at our reference and then tried to paint everything without ever looking at our reference again. This is no good. You will have to look at your reference 70% more than you look at your actual picture.

Babbling aside (sorry of my long speech:inocent: ) I hope you will continue on sketching. You got some interesting items going on in here. I think the more you add on him, the better it will get.

[Sorenson]

The large football helmet with a small boy, is a very good combo, however, if you make the kid even smaller, I think it could be funnier and more cute. Something like the boy in Pixer's Incredibles.

Nice start, keep them rolling:)

[dudecles]

a few more sketches, does the x-mas sweater work? It's growing on me, personally.

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/other/four.jpg

and one with a stylus:

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/other/keen4.jpg

[dudecles]

Here is a rough concept for the final pose, i'm likely to change it a good amount, but i think it has some promise, hopefully i can pull off a good final product :)

http://www.loreaxe.com/img/other/keen3.jpg

[dudecles]

well, some bad news:

I managed to get an interview for a job in DC this week, so although that is good for me, it also means i won't be able to finish this entry in time, as i have to fly out tomorrow and will be down there without a computer until the 30th.

I'm pretty bummed because i really wanted to finish this in time... hopefully i'll be disciplined enough to paint the final render even after the comp is over, or we get another week extension :D

So unfortunately, i have to bow out, i hope i'll be able to participate more fully in the next competition (if there is one?)

Good luck everyone, there are some really great entries shaping up, i can't wait to see the final projects when i get back.

[Jill'san]

Good Luck with the interview. Hope it work out for you.

[FredH]

"So unfortunately, i have to bow out, i hope i'll be able to participate more fully in the next competition (if there is one?)"

If? These comps will always be here for those who have time:) Good luck with your interview and perhaps we will see you around these parts in a future comp:)

[East]

Sad to see you drop out, Commander Keen is somewhat of a youthhood hero of mine. But hey, what better reason than a job interview, eh? :) Good luck with the interview.