Forum: Bryce


Subject: Snake: WIP

Melansian_Mentat opened this issue on Apr 04, 2004 ยท 14 posts


Melansian_Mentat posted Sun, 04 April 2004 at 9:10 AM

My latest art piece. Essentially, the idea behind it is that the snake represents modern technology... or perhaps better: technology over the years. It was inspired by a calculator game, and the big metal slab is gonna end up being a screen (with a lot more pixels, too, but I didn't want to slow down the comp just to make up a conceptual image) The "snake" runs around eating the "dots" which give you points (eventually, part of the screen will show the score), but also make the snake longer. Eventually, you do something really stupid like try to get another dot and run into yourself, in which case, the game is over. I'm portraying technology as being exactly that. It keeps trying to improve and extend itself, but it's bound to crash at some point. Likely when it's reaching for some new improvement. What I'm looking at now is backgrounds, but since I've got about 12 test images, I won't post them all. I'll just post the two that I like best. This one's supposed to simulate the fuzz produced by a TV when it decides it's bored of doing what it's supposed to do. I guess that could by symbolic of the fact that whether technology destroys itself or not, half the time it just drives you nuts anyway! :)

Melansian_Mentat posted Sun, 04 April 2004 at 9:12 AM

Yes, this is the Urban Dwelling preset, but all things considered, I'm sending this off to an examiner who probably hasn't ever looked at Bryce in detail (their loss). So it doesn't really matter, and I personally like the kind of chip-like look of it. Ok, guys. Take it apart! :)

bigbadelf posted Sun, 04 April 2004 at 2:00 PM

I like your idea, the philosophy behind it and where you're planning to go with it. I have a vague memory of the game you're referring to. While i was checking out your images i had the idea of rendering a view of the calculator in someone's grasp with a blurred background photo of some everyday scene, like part of a kitchen or something, or maybe a bank of techie panels with lots of blinking lights and digital readouts, etc., to emphasize the technology part. Or, hey, check this out, you could have God holding the calculator, as though our technological progress is just a game that God is playing and that he's eventually going to lose, with us bearing the brunt of the repercussions. Whatever you decide to do, i'm looking forward to seeing it progress (or at least where it will progress to). Your pixel materials look pretty and make me feel calm... simple... contained... clear... logical.


TheBryster posted Sun, 04 April 2004 at 6:45 PM Forum Moderator

I had this game on my mobile phone........

Available on Amazon for the Kindle E-Reader

All the Woes of a World by Jonathan Icknield aka The Bryster


And in my final hours - I would cling rather to the tattooed hand of kindness - than the unblemished hand of hate...


Melansian_Mentat posted Sun, 04 April 2004 at 10:27 PM

@bigbadelf: Some good ideas, man, but unfortunately rather unrealistic. I just don't have the kind of skill to do such scenes. And the God one.... not sure I agree with that. Doesn't fit in with what I know of God. And besides, I just finished a rather complicated (for me) and difficult piece, so I was trying for a more simplistic one that I could finish more quickly. Any other ideas? Anyone?


brodiss posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 8:01 AM

hey great images for a really cool idea. :) scary thing is i remember the game - even played it :/ i like the chip-looking background. a suggestion - do you think having a few dots on the display would help enforce your idea? also maybe have a simple little four way control pad? the image posted is just to give you an idea of what i mean.

wildman2 posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 9:46 AM

centepede?

"Reinstall Windows" is NOT a troubleshooting step.


bigbadelf posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 9:51 AM

@MM - No problem. I don't mean to step on anyone's religious toes. I don't believe that about God, either, but for me it works as a metaphor/joke/message. YMMV of course.


Melansian_Mentat posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 10:25 AM

@brodiss: Interesting thought.... I might just do that. What do you mean by dots? The darker squares depicted above are the "snake" if that's what you mean. @bigbadelf: shrugs I just didn't know exactly what you believed. YMMV? @wildman2: Err.... nooooo. Snake. shrugs again I like snakes better. We used to have some as pets. They're really cool. Especially as pranks...... evil grin


wildman2 posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 10:41 AM

yup had a rat snake when a kid hehehe.mom did not like at all hehehe

"Reinstall Windows" is NOT a troubleshooting step.


Melansian_Mentat posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 10:53 AM

Neither did mine. She liked our fox though. And chameleons.... well, she tolerated them.


bigbadelf posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 11:12 AM

YMMV = your mileage may vary. And if you want to talk about what i believe, we can make some time to do that, but i didn't think this was the appropriate place. This is about your image.


Melansian_Mentat posted Mon, 05 April 2004 at 11:26 AM

Tis true, though I would be interested in your views.


brodiss posted Tue, 06 April 2004 at 8:28 AM

@ melansian - sorry i did not explain myself clearly enough - by dots, i meant the dots that the snake swallows to grow. i think i'm going to have to do a refresher course on my explaining skills - they suck chronically