Hello everyone!
I continued to work on Superku and I need your ideas for my main character model.
Please say everything you can think of, no matter what kind/ style it is (comic/kids/real/...). There are only two things the character should fulfill:
not human + fat/clunky, I mean have a look at (the old) Mario, he is almost square and that allows smooth movement IMO (the player won't fall through narrow passages, and ... I can't explain, my English sucks!).

Thank you in advance!

Oh, missed that one.

I love the movement. It's really great.
Waiting to see how it turns out in a "real" level.

A little update:
I developed a simple but effective method to create some of my dungeons and levels, the "ground/platform" in the screenshot took less than 60 seconds to create (in MED).


(click to enlarge)

The levels will be a combination of these "terrains", models and simple block-geometry, the background will be multilayer sidescrolling 2D graphics in in-door levels and 2.0-2.5D in out-door levels. It's not a continuous style but I think it will work out quite nicely.

Early background-system: Video
(Sorry for bad quality, it's really dark, too)

What do you guys think? How many background layers are good/ too many?

I really like that - even though the theme shown in the video seems to be more suitable for a Castlevania or Ghouls ’n Ghosts like game IMO.

Somehow I have the feeling that some lava below the path could create a great atmosphere.

I think that two background layers are perfectly good for this particular level. They give a nice impression of depth while not being too distracting. This may not apply to other types of background, though. I guess that the simpler the layers are the more you can show of them at the same time.

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, lava is on my to-do list. Ok, I will use 2-3 background layers.

When I started to develop the game I considered making a fusion of jump'n'run and RPG but deferred the idea to its possible successor. In January I asked myself why should I develop a game when I'd rather make a different one, so here it is: a side scrolling role-playing jump'n'run.
There will be 5 character classes that play completely different, story and game world's main concept are finished.
I hope to finish it until the end of 2012 and I will try to produce 10h+ playtime so I can sell it and finally make some cash with gamestudio after 9 years so far.

What I've got so far:
A configurable fast-select system for spells and weapons where you link them to 2 attack buttons (like in NES Zelda) and the first spell, a chargeable light/energy sphere that can be thrown in 8 directions. When at full scale, the sphere can be placed in mid-air, smashed by Superku's cape or combined with another full-scale sphere to cause triple damage.


(click to enlarge)

And a VIDEO .

Criticism, comments and ideas are welcome!

the gameplay looks really smooth and quite cool. looks like the movement and gameplay is complete so far.

maybe you should consider polishing the leveldesign and the panels. dunno how far you are with programming, to me that stuff looks about done. get everything in a consistent style and your game will be amazing, if not MADE OF AWESOME AND WIN. (i'd love to see that one with wii controls. the movement reminds me of super mario, which is genious.)

style is extremely important.

Thanks achaziel.
I still have to do most of the RPG coding (inventory and such) but movement is done.
The panels are placeholders but I have no idea of which style they should become.

Another update, this time the lava effect, with and without shader (please leftclick the picture):



And a video: youtube link.

The one with "shader: off" is too red, though. Texture by Dan Silverman.
What do you guys think?

the lava effect is realy awesome... can't remember seeing such a nice particle effect work here for very long time.
Can't give an advice though wich one looks best. I think they all look great, but I'd still go for a dark read with the lava.

regards

Auzec

great job - the shader looks cool and dangerious xD
- the ability to create this white balls is very cool and looks like much time fun and tactic frippery - great =) the animation is awesome, superku turns around, jumping on walls and so on ... wow - keep on! =)

great effect. well done! I'd love to see "eruptions" like that on my sun in my space-game... will have to think about it