I had a couple of different ideas rolling around in my head for this one, but ultimately went to E.Honda due to the face paint / stripes on his 'clothing'. Thought it could add an interesting dynamic. Also, the background is a bit of a nod to the bathhouse level from Street Fighter II.
I love video games. I've played them for as long as I can remember, and despite what your cabal news networks might like you to believe, I think it's made me a better person. A million different titles from a thousand different studios from a hundred different countries mean that a lot of ideas get thrown on the collective table. They have inspired me, and in doing so, have made me a better artist.
Three days ago, I tasked myself with proving it with the following criteria;
1. List your favorite childhood, 16-bit era games.
2. Narrow the list to six (a well rounded number).
3. Interpret the games on the list artistically and uniquely.
4. Do not repeat artistic styles between the six pieces.
The results are as follow. Good, bad, ugly. As always, click on RED to see the full-sized pieces.
Streets of Rage 2 was the first game I bought with my actual money, as I remember. Not growing up in a particularly rich household, it was something I earned. I do love Final Fight and Double Dragon, but I'm not sure there has ever been a better brawler released. When crafting this piece, I tried to go for a 'street' feel, mixed with some flavor of Japanese Manga. The mixture creates a most unfortunate scenario for Galsia, a generic thug that has appeared in all three Streets of Rage games.
I probably don't need to explain why this holds a special place in my heart. It's quite simply the best side-scrolling shooter ever crafted. Years later, it's unique characters and imaginative level designs still set a bar that few games even come close to reaching. When I set out to bring these characters to life, I focused on the concept that the names of all the characters are based on colors - Gunstar Red, Gunstar Blue, Pinky Roader, etc. Using that logic, I set out to create a piece that was primarily defined by the bright color elements.
I don't really play sports games, but I always found the Mutant League games fascinating. I remember pouring over the trading cards that came with an issue of Gamepro, completely enraptured by the art. I also remember being terrified of the magazine add, which showcased a severed arm and head... that just technically made it past the touchdown line with football intact. This is the only piece that is almost straight-up photoshop. I wanted to try to maybe capture some that creepiness that I felt as a kid with that magazine ad.
We had Mario, and we had Sonic, but it wasn't until Earthworm Jim that we had an actual CHARACTER in videogames. Every frame of animation defined Jim's personality in a time before cutscenes and true voice acting were available to do the heavy lifting, some would say that EWJ still pulls ahead in charm despite the lower tech. I'm one of them. I wanted to tap into that cartoon energy, but acknowledge the handrawn work. So, we get angular lines with rough finish overtop that makes the piece look like an animation test. I also went with a fairly flat look on Jim's face - I figured that an earthworm with the sudden gain of arms and legs might be a little confused, pretty much at all times.
The sheer volume of quarters I plunked into this arcade cabinet could have put me through college twice over, at the expense of all the fun. Simple, arcadey action. Nothing like it. When I begin to visualize the concept on this one, I hovered over a few different ideas; the wanted posters, some of the bosses. Ultimately, it was the visual of your cowboy of choice booking ass across the backs of stampeding steer that I kept coming back to. Additionally, when doing the research on the piece, I came across the text present in it - the actual text used in the game. I found it so hilariously forward that it sealed the deal. Special thanks goes to Krow for the suggestion of the game.
I loved Mario, but Sonic blew my face off. I remember standing in a Sam's Club, watching a demo of the game being played on a large television. The colors, the sounds, the speed, it was like sending my brain through a worm tunnel to some far off galaxy. I finally got the game and system for my birthday some time later, and was hooked. It was the first game I ever woke up early to play BEFORE going to school. I knew I wanted to do something Sonic-related, but wasn't sure what. I didn't want to do something stereotypical. I got stuck on Robotnik, because I found it so interesting that he was the only human being present in the original Genesis-era games. Additionally, he was the very definition of evil. In a world of cute Hedgehogs and Foxes, there was a depth there to mine. So, I made Robotnik the ugliest of humanity. Pimples, drool, foodstains, he's grease and oil and darkness incarnate.
THE CLOSING
Well, you made it to the end of thos (very) wordy artblog. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did. These pieces were not just good practice, or good portfolio, they were trips back to my childhood. I think that made the brush move just a little bit smoother... a little bit more magically. Videogames. Is there anything they can't do?
- Since this is an "odd" numbered entry, this counts as a variant piece as assets were reused (similar to Slow Your Beast Roll CE and Bearhug (Mech Zangeif).
- First of the New Challenger entries to be in a horizontal layout
- Although I directly wanted to reuse many of the assets (to play on the reuse of assets in Street Fighter II), I wanted there to be subtle differences. Thus, the blue drop shadow is slightly different in the two pieces, and Ken has shading in his hair whereas Ryu does not.
- I was having a huge issue getting the Hadoken pose down correctly, so I actually worked directly over the sprites used in Street Fighter II.
Next entree (whenever it drops), will be a singular one (next variant will likely be Vega). Out of the remaining Super Street Fighter II cast, who would you like to see next?
Man, oh man. Hello there. Been awhile, hasn't it? Seems so. Miss me? I sure missed you. Isn't it awesome when life gets so busy you can barely find "me time", which for yours truly translates directly into "art time"? Yeah, that's so awesome.
Anyway, enough bitchy chit chat! We're here for doodles! (remember to click the RED for big)
First up is Gilgamesh, as requested by Krow. Having only played through Final Fantasy VII completely, and being rather unfamiliar with the other installments in the series, I wasn't that familiar with this character. So, that explains why it's not an exact 1:1 of the true design. I sort of went a little wild and crazy, playing up the cloak and angles.
This one is called Are We Red?. I wanted to do something really odd and layered. So, I did. Please feel free to print multiple copies of this out and paste it all over the bathroom for your roommate to come home to.
Ugh. Okay, first of all, yes, Dexter is an awesome show. Absolutely love it. So, when I decided to try my hand at developing a promotional poster, it was a surefire go. Only I kind of hate how this came out. There's something good there... just not what I wanted. This is probably going to be v 1.0, and normally I wouldn't even post something that I don't really like, but I spent too goddamn much time on this just to have it sit on my hard drive. C'est La Vie, yes?
Who are these strange little guys? My new favorite thing, that's what. I'm feeling like this could become a regular little series of pieces, and you know? Jim Dandy by me.
---------
Well, that's all for now, dear friends and neighbors. Hopefully I can make the next update more timely. It's good to see all of you fine freaky folks again, stay well and be excellent to each other!
Ever since it began development, comic nerds have been curious about TIm Burton's Superman Lives project. Burton, having come off of making two successful Batman films, was instructed to reintroduce Superman to the modern populous in grand fashion. The entire production was shrouded in a cloak of secrecy, and it wasn't until years later when Kevin Smith, who had been contracted to write the film, performed "And Evening With Kevin Smith" that we got a small glimpse into the insanity that brought the film down before it ever really begin. Said insanity involved polar bears and a giant spider, as a means of reference. And that was it, as far as information went.
Until now.
I present, Nicolas Cage in the Superman costume. Also known as the best/worst thing ever.
Fake? Maybe. But dear lord, I truly hope not. The thought of Cage walking around in that suit, looking like a life-sized action figure is a pretty strong candidate for my new favorite.
You're all very welcome. Eyebleach is to the left.
Earlier today I blogged about how I hadn't been able to art it up. Well, I guess Stella Got Her Groove Back. Or something. I made myself do a jam session tonight, and was quite surprised to see a small theme emerge at the end of the doodle tunnel. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all o' that.
I was born in the year 20XX and sent back into the past via space capsule to prevent Judgement Day. I think they sent me back too early, because nothing is really happening yet. So, until I get the call, I'm usually just sitting around, readin' comics, playin' videogames, and drawrin' pictures.
LIFE GOAL:
- To get the power-up and save the princess. Will settle for steady job with decent healthcare plan.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
