Android Lemmings remake: Please vote for your favorite character!

[Johannes]

Hello everyone,

some of you may remember me from a few years back, when I was working on a Pocket PC remake of the original DOS Lemmings. Well, times change, and so do the platforms, but not our compassion for those helpless little critters. As a result, I am currently working on an Android remake of the game, seeing as the Market is decidedly lacking in such things...

Unlike Pocket Lemmings, where I required the user to provide the assets from the original game, in the Android remake I want to provide completely new assets so that I can release a stand-alone game (don't worry, if you have the original assets, support for those will be provided as well). Thus I am in the process of hiring an artist to help create the new graphics by hosting a small competition - asking each artist to create a walking animation for an appropriate character.

Now I am looking for your feedback as to which of the submitted characters represents the most worthy Lemmings substitute. So, without more ado, which of the following would be most likely to win your affection?

Oh, and please comment on your decision too http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/thumbsup.gif" alt=":thumbsup:" title="Thumbs Up" class="smiley" />

Android
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/android.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

Blob
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/blob.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

Mushroom
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/mushroom.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

Runner
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/runner.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

Skeleton
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/skeleton.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

Slime
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~zeppenfe/files/lemmings/slime.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

[ccexplore]

Wow, there's been quite a bit of Lemmings revival efforts around here lately! http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/thumbsup.gif" alt=":thumbsup:" title="Thumbs Up" class="smiley" /> Must be summer! http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/winktounge.gif" alt=";P" title="Wink-Tongue" class="smiley" />

Anyway, love the choices of graphics.  I voted for the robot but most of the choices are interesting and fun to me.  It might even be cool to keep 2-3 choices for the game and allow the user to pick which one they want to use, providing the increase workload on the art side is acceptable.

However, I think you guys haven't quite thought this through.  Remember that lemmings don't just walk, they also need to do things like bashing, mining, building, etc.  You need to make sure that your graphics choices are compatible with all the actions a lemming can do.  For example, without arms, how do you propose bashing will look like for the Slime?

[Johannes]

Yeah, I agree, letting the user choose which character to use would be awesome. Unfortunately I don't have the resources to afford completing all of the sprite sets (I'll need new tilesets too after all).

As to the anatomical ability to perform various skills, I am definitely aware of this, and actually would prefer a character that performs the same skills in somewhat different ways. I could well imagine B(l)ob for example getting hungry and taking big bites out of the terrain in front of it, without needing arms to bash. Admittedly some of the characters are less feasible, but then again I need some way to decide :p

Thanks for the feedback! Anyone else?
Johannes

[finlay]

I don't really like the jumping mushroom; I think it'd be difficult to time actions based on pixels, whereas you would be able to do this with another character that walked, like the android or even the blob. I'm not sure I'm particularly fond of any of them at this point... I think the android is probably the best, but I don't like the colour or the proportions. The skeleton's head is far too big and the runner's arm is too big, and this is a bit distracting. I also quite like the blob, but again I think he's a bit too big to be a substitute for a lemming. But he might work.

The slime is too small, and along with the skeleton it seems to be floating in mid air a bit when it's going up the slope because its bottom is flat.

[Mr. K]

I like the runner because it reminds me of a Lemming without actually being one.  The Android is also good but the animation is too stiff (looks a lot like the original prototype Lemming animations)

[namida]

First choice would be the Android, but the Skeleton is pretty good too, and I could live with the runner. No thanks to the others.

[Johannes]

Android it is - so I guess that means it's time for all of you who didn't vote to tell me what a poor choice that is http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/tongue.gif" alt=":P" title="Tongue" class="smiley" />

Nothing's going to change it anymore though, as the sprites are done. Time to start working on new tileset graphics!

[RubiX]

nice, yea I like android and skeleton pretty much evenly.   http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/thumbsup.gif" alt=":thumbsup:" title="Thumbs Up" class="smiley" />

[Minim]

Mushroom for sure. They're hopping mad! http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/laugh.gif" alt=":D" title="Laugh" class="smiley" />

[Clam]

I voted on this a while ago, but never posted. I picked the android, mostly because it just seems so appropriate for an Android game. I quite like the blob too, it's cute http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/laugh.gif" alt=":D" title="Laugh" class="smiley" />

[DoubleU]

Humph, I never got to vote. http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/sad.gif" alt=":(" title="Sad" class="smiley" />

[DoubleU]

[...] without arms, how do you propose bashing will look like for the Slime?

That's easy, the slime temporarily grows to basher size.  Builder slimes ingest, then spit out, bricks.  Etc.

[namida]

Nom. Nom. Nom.

[namida]

So, just wondering, you still working on this?

[Prob Lem]

So, just wondering, you still working on this?

Seconded. I saw this thread a while ago, but was a little too shy to ask this myself. http://www.lemmingsforums.com/Smileys/lemmings/tongue.gif" alt=":P" title="Tongue" class="smiley" />

Incidentally, though I never got to vote, I'd just like to say that I particularly like the Android and Runner sprites, myself, with the Blob ones being a close third.