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redman
09/04/2008 11:32 PM (UTC)
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His pants look dirty o.o
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Vomit
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About Me

09/05/2008 12:54 AM (UTC)
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Has he been crying? It looks like he smeared his eye-liner all over.

Maybe he's trying to rock the corpse-paint, in a less subtle attempt then... say... The Crow.

I'm happy with the design. The dirty potato-sack pants don't bother me... when added to context it almost seems as though he's just come back from a fierce battle and he's really agitated and pissed off right now.

I'm not digging the camel toes though...
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ThePredator151
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About Me
The Ultimate Mortal Kombat Experience
- Lead Graphic Designer - Mortal Kombat Online -


:G-play

:Story

:F-Design

:Cutout

:Get Sig

:Raiden

:Fans [1] [2]

:#LegendaryArts

09/05/2008 05:34 AM (UTC)
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There it is!

First thanks again MKTeam. If they did actually happen to see me posting about Raiden a little while ago, it's absolutely wonderful that they would consider a fans thoughts about something that actually ends up in the games.

SO then, let's go over "mah hi rez":

1. One Dimensional Attributes:

- the lining under his hat seems "glazed" over with a layer or two, which makes it look like it's flat. Ahehm, I still have one of those hats from when I was in 8th grade....it is not a flat surface like that. Depends on the braiding I guess, but mine is quite bumpy (lol! - don't ask why) . Also, while I'm here, I understand why though. There's a layer or so per "the glow" of his eyes that counter the effect of depth in some parts....but otherwise, it still seems pretty "not rough" like it actually is. And to add to that, I don't expect "actuality"...I just expected better.

- Collar is fine, but his raised arm is done so that it looks one dimensional. There is some feathering, or smudging going on is some spots, but for the vast majority, it appears quite flat.

- The smudging or whatever, on his underarm doesn't work well. Makes it look painted, instead of defined by the muscles a real person would have there. I also think that the blurring there, blends his garment with his actual skin, which also doesn't work well. Messes up the texture that is otherwise established elsewhere on the render. The fact that there is lighting to consider doesn't really make a difference in this instance, because there is always a separation from skin that supersedes the light that is shinning on a person. Cloth doesn't become apart of you, it is moreso defined more, by the fact that there is light shed on that area.

- In the chest area, the blue vest garment also seems one dimensional. I can see that there are definitely "real physics" being considered, it just didn't work out well for how that pose would make that kind of cloth, fall off a body. There's a couple spots where the white/gold vest garment also seem one dimensional in the same way.

- Triceps area of his down arm, is one dimensional, and lacks overall definition.

-Overall outline of the remainder of the render, and within the area of the render on his lower-half is also one dimensional. Waist area, legs, shoes...all seem one dimensional.

::Thing is, it looks to be a lack of definition, and real-time lighting effects on the character model in order to get a better 3D render, and a more realistic render overall. So, although I went through, and pointed all these one dimensional spots on this render, on this aspect, this render is about equal with the Liu Kang render. It's to where I definitely like the render, but at the same time, I can also definitely see the parts that are one dimensional.

I'd again like to point at SC4, Tekken 6, and VF5's rendering techniques, and or whatever programs that they are manipulating to get their end results. BEAT what theirs looks like right now, and consider what they're gonna do next time to beat them there too. Right now they're killing you guys on the High Resolution 3D rendering because of this one problem.

Last thing here...I understand enough to know not to go crazy, over-the-top critical about the one dimensional stuff. Cuz to tell the truth, I know some things are just gonna be that way sometimes. But again, I shouldn't be able to see the render laden with the one dimensional mistake.

/One dimensional stuff

2. Texturing:

- As I've mentioned on previous renders, Skin texturing is just not there. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good render. But things like the aforementioned smudging, and cloth//skin blending is a sign of an old technique//old mistake coming right out front.

- Face and hat looks cool actually, and the actual texturing on the hat is pretty much on point, but in the instance of the hat, there should be a little better definition, and less...."masking over" with the black overtones and shadows. I can understand that, from a design under the hat that is that small, some blending of that repetitive design will occur. So that's not my beef... But it is that the compensation for that design seems to be.."masks, and shadows too much". See what I mean?

- I'm loving the mask/hood underneath the hat though. The wrap around his head looks almost perfect for this render to me. The only "problem" with it, is that there is blurring or smudging going on too much. I make that mistake making signatures for people sometimes. But I'm amateur. tongue
Definition about the head and face please...the lightnings light is about the only thing that should've taken away from that definition iMo.

- I like that different textures were used on all the cloth and different metals. Though in some places, it seems as if a "texture layer" was overlaid, and then manipulated a little, in order to merely seem different. I don't have a problem with this...I just noticed something, and thought I should mention it.

- That rope needs help seeming more realistic. Shouldn't look like it was cut out....should be more defined than that, and should have lots of frayed elements about the ending of the rope where it's tied off at. Buckle is just about perfect. Needs better definition. Like, not "brighter" or anything like that, but, it needs more "crisp" - or "where each line is drawn" on that element of the outfit. Looks like there's a little bit of a blurr on the bottom half of the buckle, but lighting and shading look good on that thing.

Really, I'm just glad it's not gargantuan like Liu Kang or Scorpions.

- I'm on the fence about the texture on the pants. On one hand, it looks like a rubber design you'd find on a pair of sneakers. On the other hand, it's apparent enough to peek my curiosity about how it will look in game.
I think it feels forced, and at the same time, I think it looks like it's supposed to be stitching.

- Boots and lower leg dressings? Looks cool, but again needs more definition.

::Texturing makes the whole thing suffer a couple points, and it adds to the definition problem of the render itself. So, it's still not close to photo-realism. Looks more like a defined, really complex cartoon.

/texturing stuff

3. Design:

- Light Raiden. YES! Way to dodge a bullet.

- Hat? YES! Thank you for using the older hat. I'm not sure the newer one looks like that, or would fit. Be interesting to see if they blended the two together somehow. And in which case, I expect a much more toned down version of the MKDA one. None of the huge bulbs that were there, and certainly not that "samurai symbol" that was on the front of the MKDA-A one.

I'mma be honest though, I hope they just used the old on and maybe made it a little bigger.

- Hood under the hat situation = resolved. I've already said I liked that alot.

- I saw the collar early on, but thought I'd better wait for the High Res to get here to comment on it....and yea, it works. Otherwise, it looks like this design would have to be different. It feels like improvisation a little bit....but it works, so I'm not opposed to it at all. Just hope there's no animation that brings any aggressive attention towards it in game. Aheh...potential Raiden, with a touch of "the artist formally known as Prince". lol -- ew. Seriously, ew.

- Little bit of Thor in the cape latching's and the metal vest. Not bad, but I don't really think it helps anything besides the likeness to the MKDA-A renders. So...I'm cool with it. Gives him at least a little touch of regal.

- I like the "belt situation" with Raiden. It's different, and it's not overbearing. Makes it cool in my book, cuz you don't really ever see that kind of thing as a belt...well, at least I don't. I also like the rope being there instead of whatever else that could have been there. I'm happy with it overall.

- I actually really like the shin&shoe selection. One of the only things I liked about Raiden in MK4 was the padding and the way his shoes looked in that game. So, cool.

:: Overall I love the design. Looks like a good mix between MK1, MK2, MK4, & MKDA.
Overall I Love the Pose. 'Bout time we got another real power pose outta Raiden. These last few all kinda depict him as this gentle-but godly-god.
See, when Carlos was Raiden, he growled, snarled, and above all, Raiden was one of the main characters making alot of noise while doing his moves. Then when Pesina took pictures and all that as Raiden, that carried over. But when we come to MK4 and on, all of that stopped? Give it back..please.

I like that Raiden looks kinda pissed off in this image because it's true to the character. I like that he looks a little bit older too.

Something still pretty iffy is the skin though. I think it looks fine in the render, but I hope that translates really well in game.

/design stuff

Other Little Stuff

Cutout is not the best. When portions of the outline are pixel-ated...
Also, blurring and smudging can help sometimes, it just didn't this time, I don't think. The background would have to be closer to the color of the render where the blurring or blending happened. Mainly on the outside of his raised arm, I can tell.



==========

Mmmm...The design wins again with this render. The graphics just aren't really up to par with the competitors which hurts the picture a good amount enough to notice. Too much smudging, too much blurring, too many one dimensional attributes, and I haven't seen them do much of this in the past.

Definition vs Design.....tough one, but I hope it happens like it has for the other characters so far, and the design and definition come together much better in-game. We'll see.

Rating: 8 - 8.5/10

Beat SC4 and T6 for 10/10, MKTeam.
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queve
09/14/2008 07:29 PM (UTC)
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Rayden!!! Yay!!!! (yeah, I know its spelled with an "i")

I think he looks awesome and I love the pose. It reminds me so much of MK1 for some reason.

But yes, his costume is very very similar to the ones we've seen from him before. It mainly looks like a combination of MKDA and MKSM. Too bad, I would had liked him to feel more fresh and new. But his overall design is great and well done.

Rayden is going to rock.
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