CPS2 In Depth Study in Progress + random test stuff.

[Rolento]

http://irwt.smeenet.org/sprite-cps2.html

Currently writing up a study based around the art style used within Capcom's older arcade titles that made use of the CPS2 hardware. While I've still more to write about, I have come across an interesting pattern present in the in game palettes of these titles and jotted down some pointers to keep in mind when trying to emulate the style.

I'm also putting these findings to the test by creating some scratch work that follows the general rules found to see how well you can make something blend in. With that thought in mind, I actually took a character design that WildTengu pointed me out to who knows how long ago and made it as using the various things I learned, along with a version of her on a diet for my own amusement. Hah!



As for the general conclusions I've come to, here's a Coles notes version which are not quite as obvious as the usual things like there being a 16 color limit:
- Color usage in these games are far from random. RGB values of all colors are multiples of 16 as long as they are not zero.
- Speaking of zero values, Capcom shys away against using pure black entries. Rather than 0,0,0, they usually use 16,16,16 or 8,8,8.
- Light source is around a 45 degree angle above and in front. Light source favors things which are closer to the viewer, with items further away getting less brightness.
- Linework is key with many of the lines drawn in the original sketches being present in the final frames, although these lines are broken up between 2 shades usually to prevent one very long sequence of pixels using the same color.
- Unless you are E. Honda or a cameo, no fat people in the Capcom universe at this time. Rufus doesn't count, as he has only appeared in 3D titles.
- Speaking of Honda's sizable gut, it appears to defy usual rules as it is kept mostly in shadows even in frames where it should be exposed clearly to the light source. Curious exception?
- Blackheart's sprites are also a complete exception to the usual rules mostly to better emulate his appearance in the comics. Curiously enough, the purplish back lit shading will appear again to some extent within the CPS3 era...

[AudioVisual]

Nice work, it's a very interesting read. And about this (from the Proportion Breakdown section):

"I came across a set of scanned pages from an unknown art book that contained lineart to sprite comparisons from SFZ and DS games."

Both the Adon and Guy scans are from the Street Fighter Alpha 2 Official Strategy Guide, released by Versus Books. 

[steamboy]

Great read, rolento! I can't believe how all the palettes are multiples of 16... That would explain why my sprites are lacking that cps2 color theme. A very interesting article and I look forward to seeing your cps2 sprites as well as a cps3 study( my favourite style)

[Rolento]

Take 1 on this revised stance and look. Scratch work with the exception of the feet; the build up to this sprite to be used in the review will be using his p2 Z-ISM palette as this p1 version actually has one color reuse within the gi top. Mostly used this palette just for the sake of showing him in his standard colors.

[Thedge]

Great read, indeed.

[Rolento]

Still working on things in the background, but  after studying up on some line art, I've come up with a general template for Capcom's female body build. Even counting cases where the person has some extra body fat or muscle, it doesn't really deviate much from here:

Spoiler (click to show)

Put into spoiler due to nudity; nothing beyond what Capcom artists themselves include within their work. Will be working on a male equivalent, and likely sketching up some examples of how Capcom deviates from these general norms on occasion. (By deviations, I refer to things such as how Capcom modifies the body for their archtypes of wrestlers, older fighters, and the rare fat person they include in games.)

[Jesuszilla]

Yep, that looks right. For guys I don't think it will be so easy since there's no "one" template for them, but I want to say I remember seeing Balrog/Vega (claw) as the base body type.

Of course, Boxer, Dictator, Pyron and to an extent Honda and Zangief have similar base. Wolverine's is also more in alignment with those proportions... so that may be the base.

[felineki]

From what I've seen investigating Vampire Savior, The CPS2's palette definitions devote one nibble (0-F, or 0-15) to each channel, so you are right about it being in multiples of 16 when converted to the modern standard of one byte per channel.

[Rolento]

Felineki: That would explain a bit.


Alternate take on a rubbery person that Diepod designed. Think I made her a little on the short side, but the pose I went with might be throwing me off. Also, I may need to make an animated taunt out of this based off some of the stuff sketched over at Diepod's DA page.

Spoiler (click to show)

Currently drawing up a number of Capcom's female cast over the template and finding that I have to change surprisingly little to make it fit. Spoilered for the same reasons as the last one. It's basically just some scale work and adjusting the bust for the most part.

[Diepod]

Hahah  I like that one.

You gotta do the on at the bottom right!!!

[Rolento]

The Spider-Bubble has been borrowed.

[Diepod]

Thank you. 

[Rolento]

Okay, seriously last frame for the night.

[Diepod]

Damn.

[Cybaster]

New MUGEN standard :3

[Cyanide]

You'd better define how high the hands have to be then.

[Keku]

Hullo there~

[Balthazar]

You'd better define how high the hands have to be then.

There  Goku's hands are between 52 and 68 pixels high from his feet position, so i guess anything between 50 and 70 pixels high will suffice

[Iced]

Taller characters need to be leaning down for this, shorter characters leaning up. Its based of one of the genesis butoden systems.
Im actually curious of seeing taller and shorter characters with this.

[Rolento]

Shwa: The lines on the head look a little busy still, but it appears you got the light source for that frame figured out.
Balthazar: Noted. Might want to throw that into the GokuZ2 topic if you haven't already. Hah.