slynyrd

Runway Kids revision

Taking me outside my comfort zone, I knew this series would be a challenge, but that's also why I wanted to do it. To my surprise, I've really enjoyed creating these characters. Combing experience, research, and imagination; I've especially invested into creating their backstories. However, I feel the sprites weren't quite capturing the expressive characters I had in mind. While there was nothing majorly wrong with the way things were going, it just lacked style, which is unacceptable for a s...

Runway Kids - 6

Melody

Age 20 

Seoul, Korea

Student/Model

As a middle child, Melody never felt the weight of her parents’ expectations quite as severely as her elder brother. What was first sensed as neglect became her freedom. Free to explore her creative interests, she took up singing and dancing from a young age. While she’s already found a small slice of success creating pop music, a desire to expand her brand into fashion brings her to the academy. Deep down, she just wa...

Thyrian Defenders - 30

Toxic slime! Don't want to give any context to spoil how it's used in the game.

Also, this squishy brain wall tile.
That is all.

Star Formula Platform

Art featured in Pixelcast 35

256x144px

36 Colors (made from Mondo)

1.7 hours

Photoshop

Prints & Merch

Pixelcast - 35

Star Formula Platform

As above so below. Every angle attuned to heavenly glow.

Watch process

Recently found a rich source of inspiration within the unique forms of Indian architecture. This particular structure is inspired by the astronomical observatory Jantar Mantar, and other buildings of the like. It's unique design is based off astronomical calculations. Definitely going to explore in this subject m...

Thyrian Defenders - 29

Got a new thumbnail and description for the briefing screen. This level has been complete for some time, but just now getting to these ui elements. Just one more needed for the final level!

Briefing -

We may have just discovered a gateway to hell. Intel can't pinpoint where this wormhole leads, but a massive Exodon presence can be detected. It's believed we'll encounter the origin of our attackers on the other side. 

You must maintain high velocity or the space fabric...

July Schedule 2019

Yo pixel peeps! It going to be a hot month, both literally and figuratively. We're jumping right in with a new Runway Kids, which I already published this morning. I still have Thyrian Defenders updates in my weeklies block. We've been working on the last level and boss encounter over the past month and have a little ways to go. I really don't want to spoil this content so some updates may be a little skimpy on what I can actually show you. Hope to get back on the story sequences soon.
2019-07-01 19:10:48 +0000 UTC View Post

Runway Kids - 5

Goro

Age 60

Kyoto, Japan

Headmaster/Business Tycoon

Headmaster Goro is a bit of an enigma. He comes from a business background and everything he touches seems to turn to gold, but little is known about his personal background. Even his claim as a native of Kyoto has been called into question, with rumors circulating that he’s not even Japanese. No matter, he’s incredibly handsome and personable, making the perfect figurehead for Zed. Although kind and well-mann...

Runway Kids - 4

Irina

Vladivostok, Russia

Age 38

Instructor/Designer/Model

A true beauty, and tough as nails, Irina is a pure reflection of the rugged landscape where she grew up in far east Russia. As a child, making her own clothes was a matter of survival. Now, she’s a prominent figure in the fashion industry, most renowned for her intricate patterns. Overcoming the odds, and achieving so much at a relatively young age, she is an inspiration to all, and a welcome addition to the ...

Thyrian Defenders - 28

Here's a quick glimpse of the opening fortress section of the Mega brain level. Just showing off the environment and parallax. The level hasn't been populated with enemies yet in this particular build. That's why it looks a little lonely at the moment. Even without the enemies it's tough to navigate through all the environment obstacles. We even have a section where the screen scrolls faster. Gunna be epic!

I want to apologize for posting late. I actually had this post scheduled for ye...

Pixelmotion - 18 (audio version)

Hey, I made some music to go with this animated scene. The title of the track is Deep Water Moan.

Watch on Youtube 

Prints & Merch

Tutorial - 44 - Cloud Types

A reference to help inspire your sky backgrounds. More info on how to identify the different types in full feature.

Go to Article 

Tutorial - 43 - Biplane

Based on the Fokker DVII, a German WWI plane. 

Go to article 

Tutorial - 42 - Airship

A bit fantastic, but actually inspired by real dirigibles.

Go to article 

Age of Flight Assets Pack

This asset pack includes all the sprites and cloud images used in Pixelblog 18. Have fun using these in your pixel art studies or personal game dev projects.

Download

Pixelblog - 18 - Age of Flight

Let’s fly! Learn to pixel airships, biplanes, and beautiful cloudscapes in this flight themed feature!

Go to article 

Thyrian Defenders - 27

Hey, got some odd and ends to share this week. Since we're on the last level we've been throwing down as many ideas we can think of. We can always strip out whatever isn't working, but don't want to leave anything on the table.

The above animation is custom animation for moving spike tiles. Since the level has barriers with collision the spikes can potentially run into, we needed some kind of breaking animation. So, 8 frames and about half day's work later we got this. 

2019-06-14 16:30:21 +0000 UTC View Post

Pliodonis

Static artwork from Pixelmotion 18. Obviously put some extra effort into this one. Actually started making this on the side a couple months ago. For several weeks it was just a rough pixel sketch on my desktop labeled as 'Untitled-1.psd.' It was quite ugly and I nearly deleted it at one point, but I Ioved the concept and knew it would just take time to connect the slop on the canvas to the vision in ...

Pixelmotion - 18

Pliodonis

Endless voyager on the silent sea of death

348x196px

22 colors (developed from Bright Future)

348 frames (0.1s frame duration)

Photoshop

Prints & Merch 

Runway Kids - 3

Kazu

Tokyo, Japan

age 20

Student/model

major - design

Growing up in metropolitan Tokyo as an only child to overworked parents, Kazu had a lonesome childhood. He got along well enough in school to not be outcast, but failed to form deep friendships. Fortunately, he found a place he could be himself among the fashion tribes of the streets. Gyaru, lolita, cosplay, he loved it all so much he could never dedicate to a single fashion tribe. Rather, he took inspiration...

Thyrian Defenders - 26

Hey space cadets! Got some exciting progress on the intro scene. I was finally able to string together all the the little animations I've been working on the past couple months into one sequence. There are a few small details I might add later, but I'm quite happy with the sequence, and the way the overall presentation is shaping up. Now, a few more scenes to go for this intro. Hopefully they start coming together faster.

This is actually 100% created in Photoshop. Definitely, some of ...

Elysian Fields

Artwork featured in Pixelcast 34.

144x188px

17 colors (from Mondo)

2.3 hours

Photoshop

Prints & Merch

Pixelcast - 34

Elysian Fields

The perfect state of affairs became unbearable, signaling the mortal life still left in him. With a sudden sense to flee, he vanished into the hills, alone.

Watch process

One of these days I'd like to take you behind the scenes and show everything that goes into the production of a Pixelcast. Creating the artwork is actually the easy part. Editing it all together and writing music take up ...

June Schedule 2019

Hey everybody! Can't believe the year is already half past, and I still have a tendency to want to write 2018! Well, can't slow down time. Best to try and make something you're very proud of with the time given.

The creative flow is always there, but I've been feeling especially good art vibes lately. Excited to see where this inspiration takes me next. Onward to another month of pixels!

Couldn't keep it up without you guys. Thank you patrons!