The Flame in the Flood

Snight

Hi Polycount!

Some of my good friends and ex-Irrational Games co-workers have formed a new studio and are seeking funding for their new game - The Flame in the Flood. I have to say I'm super excited for this, the art style is incredible and it looks like a ton of fun. Check it out and support them if you can!

Link to their Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/molassesflood/the-flame-in-the-flood

diregoldfish

Wow that game looks really pretty! It's a shame the animation is so terrible...

Thanks for posting this Snight.

Chimp

Dunno what you're talking about, i think its perfectly fine - Particularly like the little touches like coming off the boat

Nice work

Steve Schulze

That looks far too lovely not to back.

The animation looks like it could use another pass, but this is a Kickstarter video we're looking at. They've got plenty of time to touch it all up.

diregoldfish

Thanks you two

Jackablade - if you have any specific animation feedback I'd genuinely LOVE to hear it. I'm a tech artist/rigger and I know my animations aren't top notch. Plus we're only 6 people so I have no way of getting animation critique from other artists. This is almost entirely in-game footage of the characters (it's not a throw-away BS trailer) so please let me know what to polish up. It would be a huge help!

shotgun

Diregoldfish - try finding the 'apex' points in each sequence in terms of speed, so you'll get a more natural, mixed pacing to your movements. It will also help emphasize the important gestures / expressive moments, usually by adding a slight pause / slowing things down there, and then speeding back up.

Sunn

I think this looks great! The only complaint I "may" have is the soundtrack just isn't doing it for me. I don't feel like it fits, and it comes across a little cheesey. But I don't want to shit on anyones hard work here, this looks super interesting and I love it!

blankslatejoe

Goodluck to you guys, the game looks great so far! :-)

unit187

I got to agree, animation needs some more love. It's hard to state certain reason why it doesn't work, though. I would suggest reading / watching the DVD of "animator's survival kit". It will definitely improve your understanding of the craft.

Steve Schulze

I'm not an animator so I probably can't give you an kind of critique that'll be particularly useful. I think the animation is perfectly serviceable as it is, just a little on the stiff side. Shotgun's suggestions would probably help alleviate this.

I could show it to one of our animators and see if she's got any pointers if you'd like.

lotet

Looks awesome, really beatuful. Checked out the kickstarter too, loved the music really hope this gets backed.

Deathstick

Looking lovely so far!

The whole boat/river path setup should provide an interesting dynamic to set itself apart from the current flood of survival games. (pun intended )

Neox

loving it, such a nice fresh style

aesir

I saw this earlier and love love love it! Feels almost like Psychonauts.

I think the animation works in much the same way that Family Guy's pose to pose animation works for it. You don't always need super expressive bouncy animation.

diregoldfish

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll start harassing local animators I guess. there's no excuse for not getting critique tbh, that's on me.

In general comments about the music have been very polarized. I'm not surprised there's already one person that dislikes it and one that loves it in this thread. However, I think Chuck's music perfectly hits the vibe we're going for. I was thrilled we managed to get him!

Steve Schulze

Congrats on passing your goal, guys.

I'll throw my support behind the music too.

starogre

Congrats on the fast goal! This art style is super sexy. I too think the animation could use another pass but it's not hopeless or anything. Takes a lot of time to do once all the rest of the art is in as well. I'd say maybe make the animation more snappy or stylized/exaggerated to fit the angular forms of the characters. But man, those colors and lighting schemes. Love that third screenshot/scene's style. I think it doesn't need more bounce, but more weight to the movements.

Two Listen

Damn, that looks good. I'm no fan of country so the music wasn't doing it for me on a personal level, but it seems like it's a perfect fit for the game.

I didn't notice anything weird about the animations watching the video, looked solid to me. Not exactly Assassin's Creed, but not meant to be, either.

Grats on hitting the goal.

Clark Coots

looking amazing, congrats on the Kickstarter funding. I'm really impressed the game is looking so great assuming this was all started after Irrationals doors closed roughly 8 months ago.

PogoP

The animation is a bit rough but it has a kinda James and the Giant Peach feel to it which is quite cool!

SHEPEIRO

looks great, really curious about the how the boat works with the currents etc, for some reason it really reminds me of isometric vehicle sections from the 16bit era, like the jet bike riding section in eathworm jim or something...not sure why

haiddasalami

Loved the music with the artstyle of the game. Not a bit country person but think it fits.

Add3r

I really like the animation actually. Its a stylized game, with stylized animation that definitely fits the chunky, rawness of the overall art. The music fits the bill perfectly, though also not a fan of country, I think it does the game the justice it deserves. This will be a day 1 for me.