Green Ronin Publishing Forum

by **SuperStar** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:06 pm

Some screenshots of a character portrait generator I am working on. It's similar to Hero Machine but in a more DC Animated style.

Links:

http://raventower.com/images/comicartist/ca040903_01.jpg

http://raventower.com/images/comicartist/ca040903_02.jpg

http://raventower.com/images/comicartist/ca040903_03.jpg

( Thoughts, comments, feedback appreciated. )

Note: edited to fix URL link 3.

by **bwgwl** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:30 pm

hey, looks good! i'll definitely be interested in seeing this as it becomes available to the general public.

not being an artist myself, i find such programs indispensible; especially in the supers genre, which is so visual -- being based on a visual medium.

i've been making heavy use of Hero Machine so far, but i wouldn't mind taking a look at another similar program.

by **Paladin** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:31 pm

Well, just from those three pics you can tell it's a powerfull tool...

Very versatile, I noticed there are buttons for everything, hands, mouth, beard, etc.

Cool feature the one that lets you choose between body height and weight, there is bound to be more variety than that allowed by Hero Machine.

Trés cool.

Now, I have two questions:

1st - What about the other features, Bodysuit, Clothing, Gear and Powers?

2nd - How much is it gonna cost?

Edit: Love the degradee on the black/silver guy!

2nd Edit: How much for user interactivity? Can I use my own art with it? Logos, gear, etc?

by **Megasquidd** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:49 pm

looks great! man that looks very user friendly... when do you think you will have it done?

(oh and thanks for leaving the genital area blank....)

Megasquidd

by **arcady** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:50 pm

Looks nice.
Flash right?

I always wished heromachine could take in external image files. You can do that in flash without too much trouble.

If you're still early on, I'd ask for leaving one external file on the application that is nothing more than a series of frames and layers.

One layer for each type of image, and one frame for each image. and one frame that is nothing but stop actions and a flag for weather or not that frame holds images in it's other layers, or if this is the last frame that should be looked at.

Left blank as a .fla that the application loads in and uses as additional images...

That lets a user with Flash put in their own additions.

You could also tell me a filenaming sceme, and any png's [or gifs...] in a certain directory using that filenaming sceme would get pulled in as options... I haven't tried to code something like this, but flash should be able to handle it.

by **SuperStar** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:05 pm

hey, looks good! i'll definitely be interested in seeing this as it becomes available to the general public.

Glad to hear it! I hope to release an initial version soon and add additional feature packs later (dark urban, cosmic, scifi, etc.).

Cool feature the one that lets you choose between body height and weight, there is bound to be more variety than that allowed by Hero Machine.

There will also be a zoom and back ground feature so you can setup your portrait just as you like.

1st - What anout the other features, Bodysuit, Clothing, Gear and Powers?

They are still in development, but I've got most of the scripting and artwork done, just have to make the two play nice.

2nd - How much is it gonna cost?

"Of course, if that's what you want, but you have to really want it."

Actually, quite free. The only cost will be that if you save your character others will be able to view it in a gallery.

Edit: Love the degradee on the black/silver guy!

Ah, that's a skin texture. There are more and will be similar options for clothing and bodysuit. Really, my only limit is trying to keep the file small enough for the web.

2nd Edit: How much for user interactivity? Can I use my own art with it? Logos, gear, etc?

I hadn't thought of that, but that's a really great idea!! I'll have to give it some thought. (Though I had planned on a request form.)

by **Vengeance** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:17 pm

bwgwl wrote:not being an artist myself, i find such programs indispensible; especially in the supers genre, which is so visual -- being based on a visual medium.

I second that. I will definitely be interested in this. It looks good.

by **misterkimball** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:54 pm

I've been looking for something like this forever!! I can't wait until the initial release!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by **SuperStar** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 5:45 pm

looks great! man that looks very user friendly... when do you think you will have it done?

(oh and thanks for leaving the genital area blank....)

I am shooting for a beta demo in the very near future (possibly this weekend but I can't promose) which would include the basic male and female figure models (plus bodysuit/clothes/etc).

Still debating whether or not to have nipples for the men (ala aquaman, sub mariner). I might make it a skin texture.

Flash right? I always wished heromachine could take in external image files. You can do that in flash without too much trouble.

Oh yes, flash.

Since there seems to be a demand for external files, I have some ideas for how to do this fairly painlessly. I think I will handle it as importing of custom gear images. Gear can be dragged and dropped (paperdoll style) onto your portrait. This would allow clothing, tech, symbols or whatever to be added in and positioned as desired. Might release the beta first.

Glad to hear all the enthusiasm!

by **Ether** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 5:48 pm

Actually, quite free. The only cost will be that if you save your character others will be able to view it in a gallery.

Wow...

SuperStar... you are so very cool. The program looks great, and I look forward to seeing it completed.
Those of us who are amateur artists (at best) and "stick-figure picasso"s really appreciate people like you, and the work you do on this sort of thing.

Thanks...

by **Teflon Billy** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 6:06 pm

This looks incredibly cool.

more so than HeroMaker

Please sign me up for the Beta Test

by **MasonsDad** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 7:22 pm

I have to agree with TB. While HeroMachine has served it's purpose, yours looks to be leaps and bounds above it. I've never really cared for the 'style' of art used on HM...yours on the other hand rocks. It seems to be more Comic Book oriented and less generic. Now, stop reading posts and get back to work on that thing....we need it.

by **Nahualt** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:11 pm

WOW!!!

You rule....

by **Sketchpad** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:26 pm

The pics look quite cool

I'd love to beta this when you have one ready

by **The Fifth Wanderer** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:37 pm

Put me on the beta list too, please. :green:

by **Doctor Otaku** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:52 pm

I'll be more than happy to beta this for you also, SuperStar. This prog is very good!

by **Beowulfx** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 2:28 pm

Ditto for the beta list as well.

Beo :wink:

by **Apex** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:13 pm

Preach on and sign me up!

-A

by **Corwin** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:14 pm

OK, I'm not just going to toss my hat into the ring for being yet another beta tester, I'm going to play the neighborhood greedy, impatient step-child and say...

I want it NOW!!! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW!!!

Seriously though, what an amazing program this looks to be.

Lemme just put it this way...

If it's half as good as the screenshots make it out to be it'll be twice the program HM is.

by **infidel** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:37 pm

Excellent work!

Please add me to the beta list.

by **Corwin** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:53 pm

infidel wrote:Excellent work!

Please add me to the beta list.

HEY!?!

Infidel, what the heck are you doing posting? I thought you said you were too busy today to post on our game thread. So I know you aren't hanging around here...

by **infidel** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 4:06 pm

Oops!

It was just a short break

by **Nightshyft** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 4:08 pm

Can I be on the BETA also? This looks absolutely fantastic!

by **Eletarmion** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 5:14 pm

If you're still taking Beta testers, I'm volunteering!

Best,

Eletarmion

by **Dr. Rune** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 5:51 pm

Hey, sign me up too!!!

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Character Creator - progress shots

Character Creator - progress shots

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