IDW #86: Chess Set - Voting

[yoitisi]

IDW #86 Topic: Chess Set

Deadline for voting: Sunday, December 21

No voting for your own entries! I repeat, no voting for your own entries :)

Give critiques and comments, we're all here to learn from each other!

Original thread: IDW #86: Chess Set (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=143514)

539511

[Xezor1324]

Carved from onyx. Queen, Knight, Bishop, and Rook (from right to left).

[Mr--Jack]

Full-scale military vehicles for future chess-warfare.

[arttorney]

Finals.
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540086
540087

[Desmayado]

I'm not sure if i am in time, anyway here is my entry. It would be fine if more time available.(social live issues :P)

Simple pieces with devices reflecting the performance and skills in game.

[Dragonspit]

I was hoping to do more pieces and have a cool background, but got lucky as it was just to get this. I was working on textures and stuff as a lot of my stuff seems flat.

[yoitisi]

A small note on this round:

After seeing the first sketches roll in for this round I was a little concerned that we might end up having a lot of character designs rather than chess designs, but seeing the finals in here I think that isn't the case.

The thing is, although there are a lot of chess sets that have characters for pieces (for example, a Star Wars chess set), this is hardly 'design'. Usually, if figures are used in chess sets they are simplified and stylised to fit the set and to make sure its function is clear wherever it is positioned on the board. And, for the record, it is much harder to simplify and stylise a character to a few basic shapes than it is to put a neatly sculpted figure on a piece -to design, that is. Drawing it is a second :P

[arttorney]

Xezor1324- If I didn't have the information in text for me, The Queen would be your only piece I would be able to identify correctly. They are beautiful, but I just thought the drum guy was a pawn for example.

Mr. Jack- Some identifying features are here, but I wouldn't have been sure which was the bishop and which was the knight if it weren't for the little initials you put on them. Good save.

I realize my rendering is AFU on my entry, but I have taken to heart a couple of chidings from Yoitisi about design. I had attempted to come up with a concept where the pieces have a commonality and I chose the idea that this be a chess set for a bar. Having established a common idea or raison d'etre for the set. I set about giving them identifying shapes while also giving them a common decorative motif. I chose something mighty simple because I only really had a couple of days on this. I hope I am getting it about "design" because I think I really need to concern myself over the drawing part.

Desmayado- I can sort of tell the rook but not necessarily the other ones. These have a cool and simplified shape to them and there is commonality to it. I think the initials or some symbols would help a lot here.

Dragonspit- Yeah. You have some markings and also some shape indicators, such as the boobs on the queen. That's thinking. A couple of these looked like they would fall down. If they are weighted correctly so they are like Weebles (which wobble but don't fall down), this would be a freaky chess set.

[Dragonspit]

In general, I thought the whole round had nicely rendered pieces. After reading Attorneys notes, I had to agree about how if the markings were not on some of these, you wouldnt know what piece they were, mine included. actually when you break them down, I believe that true of all the posts.

Xezor1324. when you added the gold parts, it really set these of as "pieces". I liked how they were rendered, I liked the back ground as well. Could easily be a nice chess set.

Mr Jack... Looks like a game you could almost automate and watch the pieces destroy each other. Again, great renderings. this is a chess game made for the Starsiege folks of the world. I had a hard time not choosing yours, it was a toss up.

Attourney.. I gotta like anything that has to do with a drinking theme. However compared to the rest of the posts, your was a bit under finished I thought. You spent more time on background, or the frame, than the pieces.

Desmayado...got my vote. not only for how well they were designed and rendered, but also like a different game altogether. something new in the game of chess. It was different enough. very nice.

I agree, some could weeble, and probably would fall down. agree, without the marking, would not have known really for sure what they are. I think if i would have been more prudent in the line work designs, I could have done that better.

nice round, was happy to finally be part.

[Nominus Expers]

I would actually purchase a large size chess set using Mr. Jack's pieces and Desmayado's designs as the two opposing sides. I'm enamored with both sets, truly.

[Shydrow]

Mr--Jack - Love the robotic/military style that you used and the details are amazing. Like the gunner on the rook looks like it should be on a real chess piece

Xezor1324 - The fact the eye areas look smooth bothers me the most on your piece. I would have liked it if it was like a statue were the eyes were visible just not completly detialed

Dragonspit -i like the tribal feel and details but just not something i personally like. nice texture though

Desmayado - Again i love the robotic looks of most things but im more of a military with gears and joints everywhere kind of guy. Still like the sci-fi feel though.

arttorney - I don't like yours at all cause it seemed you went to make the boarder the main thing with details. The pieces don't seem finished.

[yoitisi]

Arttorney~ GOD DAMMIT

I think I miss something here? Explain yourself or I'll just go ahead and delete the post. Not really a big fan of rudeness on the forums.

[arttorney]

The_Macedonian- Please at least say whether you are commenting about my drawings or my criticisms. I will need that information before I can make an accurate adjustment of my future conduct.

Thanks to the others for substantive criticisms. I can work with those to improve.

[Dragonspit]

Arttorney~ GOD DAMMIT

Yeah, i didnt get that either. now, me not getting it isnt really a surprise, Im slow that way, but this seems random.

I noted, I got a vote. My first ever. my day is made. time for a nap.

[kischi]

Mr--Jack, voted for you totally naild it! Really cool design would like to sea them in action!

[Mr--Jack]

A poll with more than 4 entries! just. . .

Thanks for the continued support!
Desmayado got my vote, I really like the functional design of the pieces and I'm agreeing with Nominus Expers in that yours'd make a good opposition to mine :D
Dragonspit, just a note; the rendering/texturing's done very nicely on yours, but the fact that the cracks are done in the background colour really makes them look more like slices all the way through the models which dramatically reduces their solidity as single pieces; I like the blue for shadows as opposed to just black so if they were on a more neutral background I think it'd work better.

Cheers to all who entered!

[Pixie Trick]

I'd just like to commend anyone who ended up finishing a set for this IDW. I can't decide between Desmayado and Mr--Jack, so I'm not going to vote.

Crits. He he he.... :D

Xezor1324 - You have done a marvelous job with your rendering. I can definitely imagine this made of onyx and gold. These do look like game pieces, however I would not be able to figure out who was who, except for your queen (because of the crown primarily) Personally, these range a little too far into Chow for me.

Mr--Jack - Your queen's crown is a bit flat on the left. I really like how your pieces still retain their original shape, while still being very mechanical. I would not be able to just see the bishop or the pawn on it's own without the rest of the set, and be able to tell what it was.

arttorney - Watch your perspective. Ellipses are tricky little buggers. Get the cross on the king centred. Little things like that can make a big difference, especially when you have as little rendering as you do (can't hide things :)).

Desmayado- Wonderful, imaginative idea. :D If i just saw these sitting around I would have no idea which was which.

Dragonspit- Being wobbly would definitely make your set amazing. I really like the texture you put on these and the engraved(word?) lines. In terms of which is which, your symbols are the only things that save you.

[Dragonspit]

[QUOTE=Mr--Jack;2049047]
the fact that the cracks are done in the background colour really makes them look more like slices all the way through the models which dramatically reduces their solidity as single pieces; I like the blue for shadows as opposed to just black so if they were on a more neutral background I think it'd work better.
QUOTE]

Agree. I did this on my laptop and every time I do that, I end up with some kind of color issue. so I saw this after i posted from my laptop and got home and looked at the post on my pc. but i was out of time. but I do agree that didint help. one thing I also tend to do is used to much blacks, so I was using the colors to stop myself. doh. its all good learning, I appreciate all the crits laid down.

[Sundance]

Arttorney got my vote because his actually shows an imaginative concept. Last time I checked this was still concept art...not just art.

The other four entrants are very good artisticly, but really don't push the concept of what a chess set "could" be. The pieces on a chess board have always been representatives of military forces...so conceptually stepping away from that rut was a huge step in the right direction for me.

If I was going just on art, not on idea...I probably vote for Desmayado. The technical aspect of at least adding notes to his designs to explain their functionality beyond "cause it looks cool" is also a big plus.

[zimfin]

Great job folks.
Mr--Jack got my vote. Outstanding design in my opinion.

[Chuck,mate.]

Mr. Jack -
I`d buy this Chess set no matter how costly. seriously.
damn... some of the finest bot designs I`ve seen lately. and in the context of a Chess board game - even more spectacular.
great job, buddy.



Patri.