Secrets of Grindea » Weekly Recap #96: The Faces of Evergrind

This week we’ve kept on working on getting things in order – fixing bugs, adjusting levels and implementing the new animations and interfaces.

We’ve also been discussing the portraits (yes, again!). This time around we’re toying with the idea of keeping the high-res versions of the portraits in the game rather than making them more pixelated, which proved quite a challenge when it comes to keeping all of the details.

Nothing has been decided yet as all our options each have their own issues and advantages, but here’s a mockup of what it might look like with the high-res portraits in the game:

(Click image for full size)

What do you guys think? Is it too distracting to have a high-res portrait among the rest of the pixel art, or do you prefer to see the characters in this form, which is more detailed compared to the old portraits?

In the animation department we’ve noticed that the Collectors’ Headquarters have been in grave need of some extra flare for a while and we figured it’s finally time to start correcting that! We really want to give the HQ a busy feel, so Fred have been bashing away at some minor flavor animations to liven up the place:

Reading

We’ve also got some news regarding the game outside of our workroom! It seems like we’ll be going to Gamex again this year, so if you’re near Stockholm/Kista at the end of October, be sure to visit us there!

Posted by Secrets of Grindea at 2013/10/15. Tags: animation, npc, Portraits.

Rob wrote at 15/10/2013 04:53:

While the high-res portrait in the screenshot looks really nice, it looks a little out of place next to the pixelated text.

Artephius wrote at 15/10/2013 04:57:

i really liked the hd!, but as you said, it is distracting and not get on together

Nick wrote at 15/10/2013 05:36:

But is being distracting really such a bad thing when the player needs to focus on the dialogue anyways? I personally find the hd portraits good enough since my imagination isn’t too great but pixelated portraits could work too.

Chris wrote at 15/10/2013 06:45:

This issue isn’t that it’s distracting, the issue is that it feels a bit out of place in the art scheme. Really nice work though!

Ebenholts wrote at 15/10/2013 08:21:

ahahaha, “HD”

I want the D and the H

diegopau wrote at 15/10/2013 10:02:

I think the old pixelated portraits fit much better in the game. I looked for them and I find them detailed enough!

Truemas wrote at 15/10/2013 11:20:

I can´t make a out a favourite. While indeed the HD portraits get the attention do their difference compared to the rest onscreen i think they look really nice but havent had a probleem with the old portraits either. Seems like most commenters here like the pixelated ones so maybe it is a good idea to stick with it. =)

Truemas wrote at 15/10/2013 11:22:

Sometimes i wish for a edit function for stupid mistakes like an unnecessary “a” and “do” instead of “due to”

Martin wrote at 15/10/2013 12:09:

Like many have said before, I prefer the pixelated versions. I mean, the avatar looks really nice but it feels out of place.

J wrote at 15/10/2013 12:35:

I don’t care about the portraits either way, but I have a fondness for all things pixel.

Just go with whatever requires the least amount of time investment on your part. They both look fine.

Conny wrote at 15/10/2013 14:15:

Yes, it’s too distracting. Keep it in the pixel art realm, it works better in overall. Pixels blended with high res feels like black lines does in a painting. It just stands out too much.

Joe wrote at 15/10/2013 15:03:

I really prefer HD version. A detailed avatar adds depth to the character. I enjoyed the rpg-maker games with HQ avatars more.
It is not ‘out of place’ but a nice complement to the otherwise pixeled graphics.

Bryan wrote at 15/10/2013 15:30:

The high-res portraits look great and add diversity to the pixel artwork used through out the game. Keep it FO SHO!

claudekennilol wrote at 15/10/2013 15:37:

As it is, the HD portrait takes too much of the focus. Above, Nick said “is being distracting really such a bad thing when the player needs to focus on the dialogue anyways?” This is not the case as the focus isn’t on the dialogue but the portrait.

I do like how the portrait looks, though. I’d like to see a mockup of an entire “HD HUD”, but that takes more resources (time, effort, etc). It’s just the “HD-ness” of the portrait really brings out the pixelation of the rest of the HUD–and not in a good way. Without that effort, it’d probably be best to just leave it all pixelated.

Snibb wrote at 15/10/2013 15:46:

If the text in the window were a bit more HD, I think that the HD portrait would fit better. I like it otherwise.

Sogomn wrote at 15/10/2013 15:53:

The high-res portraits are way better! The old ones were cool, too but these new ones fit more.
There’s only one thing I find weird: The portrait doesn’t really fit to the character. Will you fix that?
Apart from that, the new portraits are cool!

And: YES! The captchas are changed!! It took me like three tries to figure out what stands there.

Sogomn

Qortzkt wrote at 15/10/2013 17:53:

My first impression was that the image looks kinda out of place compared to the rest. But this is no problem for me. Both versions work and the pixelated one just fits a bit better. However, the game looks cute no matter what images you choose.
Even with this weird font you are using for the dialoges. I never noticed it before, but why looks every pixel in this game sharp (no anti-aliasing effect) except for the font in the dialogues? I mean, even the menus look perfectly clear. And now that I look deeper at the font, I don’t like its colour.
So, the game looks amazing. Can’t wait for its release. But take your time, guys (and girl)! ;-)

Joey wrote at 15/10/2013 18:15:

Why don’t you give an option to switch between HD and regular portraits?

Tiggs wrote at 15/10/2013 18:44:

The whole UI should be in HD If HD style is implemented. It would be cool if you could have both like Joey suggested, but it would require double work for all portraits!

It’s difficult to know which way that works best just by judging a still picture. Can you please add two comparison animations where a dialogue box pops up?

Schtarek wrote at 15/10/2013 19:03:

PLZ You have to release the game. open beta or whatever.

waiting since Februar 2012 :-(

Mienk wrote at 16/10/2013 00:49:

I’ve played so many RPGs, especially JRPGs, and have to say that nothing about the high def portraits seem out of place and is the only place we’re going to get a detailed look at the character. It’s that detailed portrait that helps is fill in the gaps of what a pixel art character looks like.

I agree with Tiggs a little above me that it might fit better – or just look better period – if the whole UI was also high-res.

Tarquinn2049 wrote at 16/10/2013 02:11:

Hmm, I think the option between Full HD portraits, and ones that are just down res’d without much tweaking to make them look perfect would be a decent compromise.

That way if people really want to see exactly what they look like they have that option, but for those of us that would rather consistent pixel density over the cost of face details, a simple down res filter isn’t much work.

And just tweaking anything that ended up super terrible looking from the filter wouldn’t be too much time.

listoric wrote at 16/10/2013 11:27:

I like the pixelportraits better, but the HD definitely looks good. As others said, with a HD UI it would definitely blend better. But even then I’d proably prefer the pixel portraits.

A comparison with some more options would be nice. You can even make a poll to get some more info.

Antar wrote at 16/10/2013 22:27:

In my opinion, I like the HD portraits better. I find it cool when there is a mix of HD and pixelated art.

Kokushi wrote at 26/10/2013 12:42:

For me the portraits don’t really blend in with the rest at all… not as to say they’re bad, they just dont mix in, imho.
It should be a little more like in FF tactics, the portraits really ‘translate’ the pixels really well.
Other than that, i’m sooooo looking forward to playing this, portraits or not! :D

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