The results are in for Round 1 of the first ever HeroMachine Friday Night Fights! Some of the races were razor-thin, with one contest being decided by a single vote. ONE VOTE, PEOPLE! Unlike national politics, your opinion really does matter here!
Congratulations to all those advancing to the next round, and hearty thanks to those brave souls who will not be pushing on. All is not lost for them, though -- see the bottom of the post for their ongoing efforts.
With the first set of head-to-head matchups complete, the victors now move on to their next challenge, as you can see in the Big Board below (winners highlighted in yellow):
And now, on to Round Two! Remember, you can vote once per day, every day up until Thursday night at 11:59, so round up your friends and relatives, tell them to put the turkey down, and VOTE!
Finally, I struggled long and hard to figure out some way to ensure that the hard work and creativity of those who get eliminated are not completely lost, since everyone had to submit all four designs before the contest started. I have decided that each week there will be a "West Coast Avengers" group bracket comprised of all the themed entries for that week for all those who are eliminated from the main tournament. The winner of this consolation bracket each week will also receive their choice of either a portrait or any item they like for inclusion in the HeroMachine 3, so you still have a reason to vote.
From the high quality, you can see why I very much wanted everyone to be able to see these great creations.
Good luck to the eight warriors who continue on, and to one of these great eight designs as well!
Looks great to me.
Wow this is going to be tough…
Alright, time to critique the hell out of this week’s contest!
2-1: I chose Nova because, even though he looks kind of like a homeless Han Solo, he seems to fit the theme more than Griogh Nar, who seems a little more fantasy than sci-fi.
2-2: I chose General Falgar here, just for the fact that he looks like a Warhammer figure, and I used to really enjoy that game.
2-3: I chose Houston, because Rough Night At The Office reminds me of Witchblade, which isn’t really sci-fi.
2-4: This ones shows how my own preferences go against what the contest is about. While I liked Bronze much, much more than Sci-fighter, he just doesn’t even come close to falling into this catagory. So, for the final match-up, I reluctantly picked Sci-fighter.
In the aptly named West Coast Avengers sub-contest, I chose Jack Saturn, because the rest either seemed too fantasyish (Marina 1, Flame Knight), too Darth Vader-y (Galactic Guardian, Captain Death Dealer, Sci-fi), or just not ones that I liked (the last two).
@Gero, isn’t Warhammer a fantasy game.
Sci-Fi is more then just the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers types. It’s a cross between science and fantasy. So IMO all the characters more then fit the category.
Hammerknight: Warhammer 40k is science fiction.
Okay didn’t know that. I’m not a big gamer.
Actually, I think Jack Saturn is the best of the entire bunch! 🙂
I thought he was pretty good too.
Hey Jeff, which voted-out entry was Saturn the sequel to?
HK, there’s no need to hide your hobbies from us. We all know you stay up late every weekend LARP-ing with Isia. There’s no shame in it…. well, not TOO much shame, at least… 😉
shhh DV, you weren’t supposed to tell anyone! lol
Oh yeah, I forgot all about this contest. Ah well, too late now.
If the creator of Jack Saturn wants to identify which character was theirs in round one, that’s up to them. I don’t want to prejudice the vote one way or the other.
1. Nova vs Griogh Nar
Vote ; Nova
Why ; on first glance Griogh Nar’s color scheme caught my attention, but after examining both characters closer, I decided to go with Nova for two reasons, firstly because he has a very classic sci-fi look, he actually looks to be fashioned after Buck Rogers, and second as good a character as Griogh Nar is, certain pieces kinda break his costume
2. General Falgar vs Eron
Vote ; Eron
Why ; a very good match-up, and to be honest this one is just a preference call, I really don’t like the massive robotic armor look.
3. Rough Night vs Houston
Vote ; Houston
Why ; again, not my type of character, but I think he has more going for him than Rough Night.
4. Sci-Fighter vs Bronze
Vote ; Bronze
Why ; I definetly think Bronze is the best of the round. I love the color scheme, although as many said in the last round, the complete black out look, takes away from the overall design. Along with the black-out there are a few things I don’t like about his costume, but the overall design pulls it together in the end
Runner-up FNF
Vote ; Krail Starseed
Why ; I just like the sci-fi mercenary look.
Best Overall ; Bronze
@Gero, actually bronze has a similar type look to the Guyver, which is in fact a sci-fi character.
Someone brought up the problem with genres in a private email to me, and it is tough. There’s so much crossover, especially between sci-fi and fantasy, that it’s hard to say a concept is one and absolutely not the other. You’ve got settings with cybernetic wizards and centauroid space-travellers, you’ve got super-heroes from medieval times, and it’s all sort of mashed together.
Having said that, ultimately your vote comes down not to what best fulfills some global definition of a genre, but what YOU think best fits YOUR idea of the concept.
I think that Friday Night Fights has turned out to be a pretty awesome contest, and that these guys all put in some great efforts. (F for effort on some :P) I was very impressed with Griogh Nar, Houston, & Bronze. Keep up the good work guys!
Out of curiosity, why does no one like my Sci-fighter design….and also for the last round people said they cruggingly chose my hero Comet….I’m just curious for constructive critisim…nothing mean
@Gero and William A. Peterson: Thank you for the good words about my sci-fi guy Jack Saturn. The Mighty Atlas also is one of my guys.
@Aaron, no worries, it is just a contest. The biggest thing to remember is that as long as you like what you did and you enjoy your character and enjoyed making it, that is all that counts. Not everyone has the same views on art. You are the one that needs to be happy with you art.
@Aaron: He’s good, just a little plain. Plus you kind of got shafted by being put up against an exceptionally good entry. If it’s any consolation, I voted for you ^_^
@Hammerknight #4: I was thinking of Warhammer 40k’s Space Marines. Here’s a picture so everyone can see what I meant:
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/GeroTheKeymaster/spacemarine.jpg
Wow, I never played Warhammer 40k or otherwise, but the similarities of the model with my character is just astonding. Truth be told I had a few different Anime series in mind while I was making that character such as Gundam and AD Police.
It makes sense. There are only so many ways people can make a mecha suit…
Really? We’re gonna chose an obscene and basically naked chick with nothing but a handgun and a metal arm over an, at least in my opinion, a pretty bad-A looking mech aerial fighter complete with grenades and other miscellaneous weaponry?
Just by the way, @ Martian Blue, thank you for your vote, but is there anything really about Houston that you don’t like? Or is it just not your type, like you said?
Although Nova was a bit plain for my liking, I do love the Buck Rogers feel to his uniform. Greg Norris looks kind of cool, but his colour scheme was what failed to garner my admiration. I voted Nova.
General Falgar and Eron was the closest match in this round, for me. Both would easily have won against most other entries, in my opinion. Both have excellent design and colour scheme, and an innovative look. I loved them both to the extent that it hurt me to choose one over the other. In the end, I chose the General, because I love the low-tech sci-fi over the glossy hi-tech.
Houston, I felt, had too much going on. The two logos, the grenade belt, the double visors… The colour scheme didn’t link everything together well, either. That said, I do like the built up, bulky and tank-like quality to the armour, for the same reasons I liked General Falgar. I did vote for Rough Night at the Office, because it reminded me of a sci-fi novel that features a noir kind of detective, but mingles in bits of magic and supertech. It was subtle enough for me to addall kind of details in my own mind. The only thing that would have made it better was some kind of background.
Bronze took my vote in the last round. I loved the simple innovation of adding ovals to indicate glare. The concept was simple, the delivery tight and well-balanced. Sci-fighter lost this round for two reasons: the colour scheme doesn’t work well (grey and red are a jarring combination, while black and red are not… you may have ben better off making the grey black, then changing the line colour to silver or a mid-grey), and the pose looks funny (he’s cyber-squatting!).
In the WCA round, I chose Krail Starsomething-or-other. While the colour scheme was off-putting, I felt there was more originality in this entry, and too many Darth Vaders.
Again, for anyone who wants to judge me for my would-have-been entries, you can check them out here: http://forums.ugo.com/showthread.php?p=624414
I like how the people that are losing are getting all bitchy about the entry they’re up against. Mine is moar better cause the competition is naked and OBSCENE!!!1!! LOL it’s just a contest people, not something important like a Presidential election.
Oh wait…
OK Imp, that made me laugh.
I have to agree with you Imp, I had reframed from saying something til now because I hadn’t wanted to start an argument on this blog as myself and MegaGoober have a bit of a rocky history over on the UGO forums. That being said no one likes a sore losser ( not that he has lost at this point as there are still 3 more days worth of voting to go) and this kind of attitude in my opinion is more likely to drive away votes then to gain any additional ones
I think this is probably a good time to restate a couple of things.
First, criticism should be directed at the artwork and not the person.
Second, critiques should be constructive. Don’t just say “This sucks”, say WHY you don’t like it, trying to be specific. Not liking something is a perfectly valid reaction, and it can be valuable to know that, but without some sort of concrete feedback, getting better is very difficult.
Third, it’s inappropriate to lash out at others whose opinions differ from yours. It’s fine to disagree with their take and to offer constructive feedback on exactly why you disagree, but saying things like “Anyone who would like this piece of crap is clearly a mental defective” is out of bounds, unhelpful, and makes you look like a jerk.
Finally, the whole point of opening your artwork up to feedback, especially negative feedback, is the hope that you can learn from the insights of others to make better art in the future. Some feedback you’re going to think is worthless, and it probably is. Other feedback might give you a glimpse into an alternate way of attacking a problem or addressing a shortcoming. That is the best kind, because it helps you grow as an artist.
Now, very few of the people posting in these parts is a professional artist, with the attendant thick skin that goes with it. So keep in mind that the person you’re critiquing is just doing the best they can out of the simple love of doing it. If you write your critiques and comments always with the thought “Is this going to help the artist get better in a constructive way?”, then post it.
Note that complaining that people don’t “Get you” or that anyone who doesn’t like your work is an idiot fails on pretty much every level to be helpful, to yourself or anyone else who might be reading it.
In short, be constructive, be a grown-up, and try to be helpful.
That reminds me of something that happen the other day. I was walking down the street and I happen to see Legatus and Darkvatican heading into an empty building. I decided that I better follow them in to see what they were up to. Amazed at what I seen I quickly ran over to Jeff’s house to tell him. “Jeff.” I said to Jeff.” Legatus and Darkvatican were in the basement of this here building, trying to see who could pee up the side of the wall the highest.” So Jeff replied.
“Really, what did you do Hammerknight, when you seen this?” he asked. I said in a stern voice,”I hit the ceiling.” So Jeff said, “Good job.”
Okay, so does that win me the “Corny joke” award?
@last Jeff post: I think most of us seem to get that pretty much on their own. Looking through the FNF contest for last week, there is no real flaming at all, and only a little in this week’s. Almost all of the critiques have been at least semi-constructive, and have given reasons for the choices made. That being said, I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND DESERVED IT, BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL A BUNCH OF WHINEY LITTLE BABIES WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE EVEN BEEN LET ONTO THE INTERNET IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! D:<
By the way, that’s called a joke (please don’t anyone kill me)
*hides*
**Rounds up the villagers handing out the pitch forks and torches ** We’ll get that Gero fellow!!! ,,,, What!! it was just a joke ? aw man ,, I was so looking forward to the tar and feathering too!!!! ,,, Ok people false alarm back to what you were doing. **Disappointed grumbling follows **
😀
@Kingmonkey: Is it wrong of me to be thankful you were a bit tardy on your entries ? Looking at them on the UGO forums I think I’d have lost which ever round I ended up facing you in!!!! You do good work !!!
@Kaldath, gero would of loved that, being a S&M master, just something I heard. Don’t believe all the rumors you read. (just the ones from me. lol)
@Kaldath: I know, when I realized those and PhoenixTalion’s weren’t going to get included I felt sick, both sets are really stellar.
I’m quite enjoying reading how everyone is evaluating their choices. Interesting insight into what’s important to some and what’s important to others.
For me, I’m looking for who’s telling me the best story. What do I understand about a character through the choice of color, equipment or clothing? Does the design engage me in some way? Do I want to know more, or does it barely register?
That said, my rundown for FNF Round 2:
1. Nova. It’s the little things: the scruff, the graying temples, the simple yet interesting tunic with centered insignia. I especially love the tech on one arm. This guy has a story, and I want to know more about him.
2. This one was tough. One, I’m not much into mech/tech characters. I’ll admit to that bias upfront. Both of these characters are good, but I gave the nod to General Falgar for a good mix of equipment with effective use of color. I particularly liked the blue spikes, and the insignia placement is well done. I felt like this guy could be dropped into the middle of a fight on a lifeless hunk of space rock and start whuppin’ tail right away.
3. Definitely the most interesting pairing of FNF thus far. I pondered this one long and hard. Is a half-naked chick in a fedora “sci-fi” enough? In the end, I decided yes, it was. I had to go for the more interesting story…who is this gal that doesn’t wear pants whilst smoking a pipe, power-tech fist ready to wallop some poor schmoe? I like the vibe I get from her. Houston, while certainly very genre appropriate, is weighed down by too many details that get in the way of telling the guy’s story. Why does he have *two* insignia? What does a guy with a cannon on his arm need with grenades stuffed into his belt? Why does he need two sets of wings? More does not necessarily equal better.
4. Bronze. Both of these entries are entirely genre appropriate, but two things stood out to me: One, I love the space gladiator feel of Bronze. Great gold on yellow color scheme, very simple yet well considered in the details, such as the texture on the back of the gloves. Two, Sci-Fighter struck me as very contradictory. His top half says dangerous space ninja. His bottom half says lumbering mechanized combat robot. Don’t get me wrong, contrast is a very good thing. But I feel like this one goes too far, moving from contrast into non-sequitur.
Looking forward to round 3!
OK, here are my Votes and why:
1) Griogh-Nar – I thought this one had a great colour scheme and a look of warrior-ism. I liked Nova also, but it seems as if Griogh is an alien and I like that.
2) Eron – I really like both characters. A big sense of Science and Fiction (I think that makes sense). But I went for Eron because he looks intimidating, as if he doesn’t need a lot of weaponry. I like that he seems like a warrior and I like the Cyborg feel.
3) Houston – I just really like this one’s design. I think the Rough night one gives a unique sense of Sci-Fi and in my opinion is very creative, but I had to go for Houston.
4) Sci-Fighter – As awesome as Bronze may be, I had to vote for Sci-Fighter. Just the way that Mech parts and Human parts were used won it over for me. It was definitely the trickiest of the bunch.
@MegaGoober (post 22)
Not a problem, I feel, he’s a more solid character than his opponent. For the type of character he is, I think he looks pretty good, I like the way you broke up his costume with the coloring, I’m just not into mecha. I’ve tried a few myself, but, there just to bulky for my liking, so as far as giving much constructive criticism on him I wouldn’t be able too, although some of the advice on here may be good.
I would also like to take this time and say, although I’m not great at using heromachine 3, In spirit of the program, or something like that, I wouldn’t mind trying helping anyone in anyway I can, when I have time, with their questions about designs or whatever, being if they have any, and they think I could answer them.
Well, “John”, For one thing, Houston really only has the one insignia – I tried making the atom one look more like it was part of the mechanics for the suit. And he doesn’t have two wings – they are the same, or at least that’s what I was going for. I agree that his armor can be a bit slow and bulky, but – if you’re fighting a horde of laser and battle-axe wielding space alien-ogres (idfk!!?) would you rather be the guy flippin’ around and gettin’ your limbs hewed off? or this guy?
Another thing – I understand that he has an arm cannon, but that can only get a person so far. Besides, the grenades have different purposes as well, they aren’t just explosive. (Ever played Resident Evil?)
MegaGoober, there’s no need to get defensive. My opinions are just that – my opinions. Don’t take it personally.
And no, I’ve not played Resident Evil. Don’t assume that your audience is in on your references. I’m just telling you how the design as I saw it struck me.
Interesting! The creators of what I thought were the top two entries in round 1, Ramses and Eagle, will go head-to-head for the right to compete in the finals! Exciting stuff!