The Dink Network

Ok I'm working with new graphics

(Here's what I have so far.)

Anyway, I can't think of new things to make, so what about a wish-list?
What graphics would you like to use in dink smallwoood? Post suggestions here and I'll add them to the list!

Wish-list:
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Finished =
Yet to be done =
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*New spells for dink (What should they look like, and what should they do?)
*New npc(s) (Until then)
*Cadles, with candlesticks (Done! Animated with fire, also one render without, so you can light it. )
*New Bridge(s) (A bridge in parts so that it can be used on rivers of varying size)

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When I have enough stuff this will all be packed into a big graphics pack and uploaded.

New spell/weapon animations would be at the top of my list, close to new NPCs, but I assume animation isn't part of the wishlist possibilities?

I don't want to sound like an ass, but those beds look absolutely non-fitting for Dink. The shelves are better, but still could use some work. The trees, on the other hand, are pretty good.

Honestly? They rival with Simon Klaebe's graphics, but I don't really like his graphics either. I think graphics made with Blender or such as, don't really fit into Dink. Dink has more realistic looking graphics than you can get with Blender, which make things look more like "computer-animated".

But you're good, I'll give you that.

EDIT: And I'm still asking for those horse graphics.

"Dink has more realistic looking graphics than you can get with Blender"
That sentence is just wrong.

Look at stuff like this: Click here!

back to topic.
I can't do new weapons for dink, as that needs editing images, frame by frame.
New spell animations on the other hand is not that hard (as I don't need to change the animation dink does, only the new spell) Any new ideas for spells?

Same thinks goes for dink on a horse, there aren't a 3d model for dink out there, and frame by frame editing isn't what I do.

Animated npc takes a lot of time, but I've done Alex.. so I could do it.

Anyway, you mean monsters too by npc?

Hehe, that one guy looks like an Utrom. But yeah, those images you linked to don't actually fit in the Dink atmosphere that well. And I still think they look too "computer-animated". That's just me, probably.

frame editing isn't what I do.

Well, then you really can't do much graphical increase for Dink, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry you don't appreciate my graphics. Maybe I shouldn't have modeled, rigged, animated and rendered two monster for your dmod.

EDIT: Oh, add scripted and written ini lines to that.

I'm not saying I don't appreciate your graphics. You are very good with Blender but things created with Blender really don't fit into Dink.

Geez, and MsDink called me a drama queen.

"Well, then you really can't do much graphical increase for Dink, I'm afraid." ?

Pretty much sounds like you don't think my graphics are useable at all in dink.

They are usable. Just not very fitting. Those graphics you did for me were much better than these you showed right here. You seemed to put a lot more effort into them. Or at least, it seems that way to me.

Methinks those graphics should be a bit darker because they look like candy marshmallows.

Oh, I also noticed the beds don't have shadows.

@skorn
Is that a bad thing'?
But, Yeah, they probably should be, I'll make them a wee bit darker.
@skull
Yeah... or should they? I know hte original graphics do, but shadows like that would never appear inside, as there isn't a sun for directional lighting.

Hmm... Personally I'd like to see some large candlesticks. Usually I make them by just placing a fireball above the pole with the snake around it, but the pole doesn't always work well as a candlestick in more luxurious surroundings.

You actually make a good point thar, with the shadow-indoor-logic.

You would be surprised at how much light got through those kinda roofs.

Except you're forgetting how thick they are.

A new bridge. Don't care how you do it, but I'm sick of the rickety little thing we are supplied.

I'm on it, pillbug

Nice

I can see what Skull means though about the beds. That type of thing often tends to look a little 'plastic' and not very realistic (realistic here meaning within the Dink world).

If you made a person absolutely true to life for example and stuck it in a D-Mod it would probably look ridiculous, not that there would be anything at all wrong with the model itself.

An example is Rabidwolf9's Ninja Dude (the model's from Reiner I think). It's great, but to my eyes it just doesn't really fit in with the original Dink graphics.

Can't think of any suggestions for you right now though
The trees are great!

Yay

What is the main problem with the beds, the sheets (Maybe they need more variation in color, more wrinkles and such) or the wood texture (It's doesn't really work in such low resulotion, think it needs higher contrast to make the variations in color visable) ?

Anyway, finished a bridge too.

What kind of spell-animation would you like to see?

The problem with the beds is very hard to explain. It's like Sparrowhawk said, they look too "plastic". I used the word "computer-animated". I don't really know a better way to say what's wrong with them.

What kind of spell-animation would you like to see?

ANYTHING but that boring old fireball.

Well I think it's fine to let your own imagination run wild for the spells. Perhaps some sort of nova effect, a more visually appealing explosion, some new missiles types, ...

I think they look great. In fact, I think some of your graphics looks way better than the original Dink graphics... That's why some doesn't fit.

Wow, you work fast. Any screenies for the bridge?

This might sound a bit totally random, but for my current project I'd really like some ancient tablets. (Small pieces of inscribed stone) Preferably small enough so it doesn't look out of place on top of a table. An inventory graphic of it would be nice too. (In Paninga you need to look for ancient tablets.)

I was thinking. This "Blender style" would fit much better into making new tiles rather than sprites.

What is the main problem with the beds, the sheets (Maybe they need more variation in color, more wrinkles and such) or the wood texture (It's doesn't really work in such low resulotion, think it needs higher contrast to make the variations in color visable) ?

I agree with all this and what Absolution said. Make the mattresses lumpier and the colors muddier, and give the wood texture more contrast. It looks too smooth right now.

there aren't a 3d model for dink out there

Since Dink is so small and low resolution, would it be hard to create a new 3-D model of him that would look basically the same? I know nothing about Blender. But if someone released a model like that, it would be a really valuable file.

it would be awsome if u made a car...or a bicycle

This "Blender style" would fit much better into making new tiles rather than sprites.

Make tiles in blender? I don't think so.

Since Dink is so small and low resolution, would it be hard to create a new 3-D model of him that would look basically the same? I know nothing about Blender. But if someone released a model like that, it would be a really valuable file.

^it would be a really valuable file - Indeed.

What many forget is that it isn't just "to create a new dev file with an awesome character"... It takes a lot, !A LOT! of time making all frames and their blasted shadows. Say you want a new main character. You want at least 8 frames for his basic walk animation in 8 directions... Now, you also want some sort of attack animation AND idling animation. Do the math. All shadows must be done manually, one by one.

People would just complain and whine about how it was done and that it don't fit at all in Dink. Great motivation. blergh.

All shadows must be done manually, one by one.

Do you do this in Blender? Is there a tutorial somewhere that talks about it?

Not so hard but yes time consuming,
Long way:
you would select the area you wanted (be faster to copy over dinks shadow and add or delete to make it fit.) and then reverse the selection and sit it over the "squares" grid (i made one heh)and copy the bit in your selection and stick it with fairy dust onto his toes. If you look at Dinks shadows theyre really not that specific and he doesnt move much really, so theyre all pretty similar - start with one and adjust slightly for each frame. I mean has any of you actually thought geesh whats with Dinks shadow - its going the wrong way?

To do the above create these on a transparent background and you are not carefully having to selecting around him/your character all the time. The above is only if you have not made the original model ...

Short way
I dont know blender but if you use bryce (original trees are from here) or poser to make the models you just add a light and wella theres your shadow no matter how you turn him... because hes so small you can turn - take pics and save as bmp's turn and soon you have a whole new monster/hero

I should do a screen capture movie thingi and show yas how easy it is... hmm....

Actually, after checking, Dink's shadow is nearly as perfect as you can get. Justin must be pretty dang good at maths to have drawn that.

if you use bryce (original trees are from here) or poser to make the models you just add a light and wella theres your shadow

That's what I was thinking.

I can see you have muddied the beds etc up a bit IPD, same with the vases etc, if you are interested, a suggestion would be to bring the vases into your photo editing program, use the selection tool - select the side with less light, feather the selection (to blend it in better) and darken it a bit more, so they arent so clean looking muddy them up with some random 'noise' hehe yeah I love that noise filter. Then add a splatter of white or something because if you can see something - then there is light on it. There is still light in a house - windows give soft diffused light and if a room light was on - it will also cast shadows. (Think about a persons eye, if you have no white bit in the black pupil bit it looks quite flat and lifeless - add one or two pixels of white and you lift it right out..)

As an example - look at the shadow on dinks legs in the picture you put up... see how dark it is in the shadow? (That would be too dark for the vases but you see how it needs darker on that side.

as an example of what I mean Sorry its enlarged so bad but if i did it normal size you wouldnt see it...

Same with the beds darken bits, make wrinkles (wrinkles are dark AND light bits) and stuff. Theyre great but they need to be not so umm.. shiney and new maybe? Hope thats constructive and helpful for you.

I really liked the trees you did, you have darkened one side wonderfully and they look really awesome. The shapes are great - I would love to see those uploaded You really are doing an excellent job IPD *go you!*

Do you do this in Blender?

Well... No.

They must be added with an old version of MS paint - or a similar program without the antialiasing. Which makes the process a lot more tedious.

I hope someone can prove me wrong on this; I'd love continuing making graphics without having to work on the shadows 50% of the time.

I think MsDink is right on the money on why the inside graphics look so out of place; there's no shading at all. The two bottles on the top left are ten times better than the rest (perhaps a bit bright, but that's starting to split hairs).

Of course blender renders shadows, otherwise it would be a very bad 3d software.. The problem is that they aren't a black and white checkerboard, but real shadows, and dink can't handle alpha values like newer games.
I've been working on a way of replaceing the darkest area of an image (the shadow) with a image that's made up of the black-n-white squares in the blender compositer but I can't get it to work just right...
If I get it working it would be really good, and save lots of time! (If I do I'll send it to you marpro)

Anyway I'll add all the stuff to the list once I get home

Edit: thank for the tips msdink!

Sounds awesome, IPD! It would make a huge difference.

I can resend the checkerboard graphics I made if ya want IPD - any use to you??
And no probs, just hope you dont think i am picking on your stuff - you are doing really well, your shapes are excellent, just need some fine tuning on the shading. I just hope my comments are helpful - just use what is useful to you and ignore the rest

And I think, always look at what other Game-devs are doing. Especially 90s games which are similar quality to DS.

Ok, I actually got the dinkshadows set up, which turned out to be a quite complecated set up, anyone using blender can pm if you want it.

Anyway started making a new bed design, which color works better?

(Do you like the shadow? look at the other indoors graphics, they haven't got any...)

Anyway now I can make a new character or monster with shadow! That will be awesome

Those beds are much much MUCH better. Although still containing that little "plastic feel" to them, I'd put them in my D-Mod if I needed new bed sprites.

Keep working on them, and they will turn out great.

Yeah, they look good. I think most things in that type of setting should have a rumpled look.

I like the beds

I still think you should focus on stuff Dink doesn't already have though. Then again, the most important part is having fun in what you're making so if beds make you happy...

(for the record they make me happy in various ways unrelated to Dink...)

(for the record they make me happy in various ways unrelated to Dink...)

So what you are saying is that you don't play Dink while doing that?

Thanks guys. Yeah, Kyle, I think I'm going to focus on a new monster now, now when I have shadows up and working.. Just need an idea for the design

Naked women.

And of course, the stuff guys do with them.

How about some sort of grasshopper? Might be hard to do though.

Perhaps bird that could be put to fly in the sky, and other little bugs on the ground and stuff. I always felt Dink's world was somehow "boringly quiet".

Yes Godley. For example if the woman was a paraplegic and her father/ carer had to shower and dress her. That would involve naked woman and things a man would do to her.