slynyrd

Native Grasslands II - 6

Oil Pump South of Catherine

64x64px (128x128px frame)

19 colors

Photoshop

Thyrian Defenders - 41

WARNING! Large craft approaching! 

Boss design WIP for the VR level. This guy will be fairly simple in behavior but have deadly firepower. 

Dune Digger

Art featured in Pixelcast 37

188x188px

16 colors

2.5 hours

Photoshop

Prints & Merch

Pixelcast - 37

Dune Digger

Hulking contraptions draw out the last bit of life from deep within the planet, sustaining the decadent lives in the city until the final day.

Music track - As the Days Get Shorter

Tools used
Photoshop
After Effects
Screenflick
Logic Pro X
Final Cut Pro

Prints & Merch 

Native Grasslands II - 5

Combine on the County Line

64x64px (128x128px frame)

22 colors

Photoshop

Prints & Merch 

Thyrian Defenders - 40

Just a little tease of the VR Simulator in action. Everything is procedurally generated in this level. Compared to our hand designed levels with specific objectives, the first impression was that it felt somewhat pointless. In order to bring meaning to the random waves of enemies we decided to implement a destruction meter and a time limit (placeholder UI at the moment). The meter fills up by destroying the enemies, with the value based on HP. Along with the time limit, this really forces you...

November Schedule 2019

Hey folks! It's going to be another busy month busting out the pixels. The schedule is a bit top heavy so I could free up some time for possible holiday plans near the end of the month, but you will still be getting the usual content regime.

As planned, Pixelcast will return this month on its new bi-monthly schedule. A new TD update will already be coming later today. I wrapped up the top down tutorial series last month, for the time being anyway, so you can expect a whole new topic th...

Native Grasslands Series II - 4

Ruined Farmhouse by 370th Avenue

64x64px (128x128px frame)

19 colors 

Photoshop

Prints & Merch 

Tutorial - 57 - House

A step by step process. More helpful info in full article.

Full article

Tutorial - 56 - Character Sprite Reference

A basic guide to inspire top down character designs. More helpful info in full article.

Full article

Tutorial - 55 - Walk/Run Animation

Make a fully animated top down character. More helpful info in full article.

Full article

Tutorial - 54 - Character Sprite Process

A breakdown of a character sprite in 3 directions. More helpful info in full article.

Full article 

Tutorial 55 Source File

This Photoshop file reveals exactly how I set up my project and synced the animation.

Download 

Pixelblog - 22 - Top Down Character Sprites

In the 3rd installment of the top down series we’ll bring the world to life with character sprites and animation. 

Full Article 

Thyrian Defenders - 39

Putting some final touches on the upgrades menu to give the scene a bit more life. New elements include the cables, ground textures, maintenance droid, and all animations.  

All the art except for the boss design has been completed for the random generated VR levels and we're in the process of implementation.

Deep Aqua Station 01

Static version of Pixelmotion 22

Art data included in animated post. 

Prints & Merch 

Pixelmotion - 22

Deep Aqua Station 01

Whenever an inspiring vision pops into my head I try to make a thumbnail sketch, or at least write a note of it to bank it for a potential scene. Sometimes I have a particular concept in my head for weeks that I think will make a great piece. Occasionally, that idea comes to fruition more or less as I saw it in my head, and that can be very satisfying. However, more often than not, when I sit down to execute an idea, the script quickly goes out the window and I come...

Native Grasslands Series II - 3

Abandoned Homestead by Riverview Road 

64x64px (128x128px frame)

20 colors

Photoshop

Thyrian Defenders - 38

Came up with a variety of color schemes for the VR levels. There are 4 main colors and 3 highlight colors for a possibly of 12 different combos. However, there are only 10 levels and the color combos will always be consistent to give each level its own feel and indicate your progress, as each level seamlessly flows into the next without breaking from gameplay. Layout and enemy placement will always be random. Note that I'm just showing off some of the color schemes here. Every level will also...

Cosmic Mission

Interstellar missionaries brave the unknown reaches of space to deliver the word of the creator.

188x188px

16 colors

Photoshop

Prints & Merch

Thyrian Defenders - 37

Well, the VR level is coming along nicely. The assets are pretty much done, now we have to figure out the procedural assembly. Every time you play, the level will be procedurally generated, but there will be several difficulty levels that determine the types of enemies and their strength. Also, might play with hue shifting to give everything a different color at random, just to keep things fresh. Or, manually create a few different color sets for the assets.

2019-10-04 12:34:25 +0000 UTC View Post

October Schedule 2019

Hey everybody! As always, I got some nice content planned to fulfill your pixel cravings this month.

In last month's schedule I mentioned I was thinking about making Pixelcast bi-monthly. Well, I decided to try it out, but I'm still going to fill that slot with alternative content. This month I will make an original static artwork, sans time-lapse. Expect this to be the usual content on months without Pixelcast. This will give me a chance to invest more time into the art itself withou...

Native Grasslands Series II - 2

Bales by Airbase Road

64x64 (128x128px frame)

21 colors

Photoshop

Prints & Merch

Tutorial - 53 - Man Made Objects

Common man made objects you often find in top down rpgs. More helpful info in full article.

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Tutorial - 52 - Rocks

3/4 top down rocks designed to use on a 16x16px tilemap. More helpful info in full article.  

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Tutorial - 51 - Tree

A 3/4 top down tree designed to use on a 16x16px tilemap. More helpful info in full article.

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Basic Nature Source Files

This includes a Pyxel Edit file with all the tiles from Pixelblog 20, and all the objects from Pixelblog 21 broken down as tiles. By default all the objects and cast shadows are laid out on separate layers to help you identify the shadow pairings(press tab to show tile numbers). Have fun creating your own tile maps! Also included is the Photoshop file of Tutorial 51. See how I set up my tutorial animation!

2019-09-24 12:48:08 +0000 UTC View Post

Top-Down Starter Assets Pack

Includes all the assets featured in Pixelblog 20, 21, and 22.  
- 44 Grass and dirt textured tiles (16x16px) - 10 unique objects, including houses, trees, rocks, chests, crate,  barrel, and pot.
- Objects also come as 16x16px tile variants, with coinciding drop shadows for flexible implementation in game engines.  
- 24 front only character sprites - Animated male character sprite (4 direction walk/run - 15 images) - All files are png format  
- With this purc...

Pixelblog - 21 - Top Down Objects

Continuing from last month’s tile lesson, now we create several natural and man made objects to further bring the world to life. 

Full Article 

Thyrian Defenders - 36

Got an exciting development in the world of TD! Since the game requires you to replay the same levels many times as you level up and complete different objectives, we decided to create one procedurally generated environment. Here you can still collect GP to upgrade your ship, and just refresh a bit if you get stuck on a regular level. The concept is a VR simulation, so think of a Tron like city filled with geometric patterns, glitch effects, and other techno aesthetics. This level will also s...