Post by Rob on Feb 26, 2014 3:07:00 GMT
The Ethos behind set avatars, and a very set style
Zombies, Run! Is based on the popular android and iPhone fitness app ZOMBIES, RUN! by Six to Start, an audio interactive story which is revealed as you run or walk. To honor this in a forum meant that it felt wrong, and even like it didn't fit to use real life faceclaims, as if they were too perfect for their surrounding world, which is meant to be one of survival in harsh situations, where perfection isn't a thing.
Originally I planned to drop avatars totally, however again that didn't feel 'right'. It felt like something was wrong and like the profile was suddenly too text based. It wasn't until I went onto digitally painted images, chosen mainly from Drakonis, that I found the style I was looking for.
Guidelines for creating your own avatar styles
For those who are wishing to utilise their own avatars the following style guide is something that should be of use -
1 - Characters should not seem immediately perfect, they should fit the world they're living in. While people may be lean, wiry and athletic its highly unlikely they're going to have flawless model 6-packs etc
2 - The over all feel of the image should be a digital painting, without going overly comic
3 - It would take more photoshop work then just some grungey effects and filters added over the top and actual effort
For those who are finding the avatar choice too restrictive, but do not wish to create their own avatar from scratch
1 - Skintone colour of the existing avatar stock can be changed as long as it is a white 'base' (While I know this could seem racist this is also in reflection of the fact that the majority of the avatars are white, and not by choice. All character types are welcome, its just the avatar resources are limited)
2 - The avatars themselves are designed to be used as building blocks, and this is your foundation. It is acceptable, and preferred that you use them as such, and build on your own features on top
Zombies, Run! Is based on the popular android and iPhone fitness app ZOMBIES, RUN! by Six to Start, an audio interactive story which is revealed as you run or walk. To honor this in a forum meant that it felt wrong, and even like it didn't fit to use real life faceclaims, as if they were too perfect for their surrounding world, which is meant to be one of survival in harsh situations, where perfection isn't a thing.
Originally I planned to drop avatars totally, however again that didn't feel 'right'. It felt like something was wrong and like the profile was suddenly too text based. It wasn't until I went onto digitally painted images, chosen mainly from Drakonis, that I found the style I was looking for.
Guidelines for creating your own avatar styles
For those who are wishing to utilise their own avatars the following style guide is something that should be of use -
1 - Characters should not seem immediately perfect, they should fit the world they're living in. While people may be lean, wiry and athletic its highly unlikely they're going to have flawless model 6-packs etc
2 - The over all feel of the image should be a digital painting, without going overly comic
3 - It would take more photoshop work then just some grungey effects and filters added over the top and actual effort
For those who are finding the avatar choice too restrictive, but do not wish to create their own avatar from scratch
1 - Skintone colour of the existing avatar stock can be changed as long as it is a white 'base' (While I know this could seem racist this is also in reflection of the fact that the majority of the avatars are white, and not by choice. All character types are welcome, its just the avatar resources are limited)
2 - The avatars themselves are designed to be used as building blocks, and this is your foundation. It is acceptable, and preferred that you use them as such, and build on your own features on top
