Ultima 8 / Ultima Online sprite creation process

[rusty_shackleford]

Always fascinated by the technical stuff they did in the 90s to create pre-rendered sprites, does anyone know if either of these games have their art process documented anywhere?

I found the original Ultima 8 player model:
https://archive.org/details/U8_avatar_model

[Maledict]

You can look up Club Penguin model/sprites.They also had a model they used to make sprites.

[Maledict]

May be this video

[asf]

is that darkunderlord

[rusty_shackleford]

did a render of the U8 avatar

[Tweed]

If you ever find out, let me know because I've been trying to discover the actual process for years myself. Fans have OG 3DS models from Privateer as well. Whatever they did, I think the 2d sprites actually look better than the raw 3d models.

If I was going to make an uneducated guess, it's a combination of 3DS and Photoshop.

[Tweed]

did a render of the U8 avatar

I wonder if they handed off the same model to the guys at Bullfrog for the cameo in Dungeon Keeper.

[rusty_shackleford]

If you ever find out, let me know because I've been trying to discover the actual process for years myself. Fans have OG 3DS models from Privateer as well. Whatever they did, I think the 2d sprites actually look better than the raw 3d models.

If I was going to make an uneducated guess, it's a combination of 3DS and Photoshop.

The sprites look touched up, yeah.

[rusty_shackleford]

did a render of the U8 avatar

Quick test with an outline

[Bertram_Tung]

did a render of the U8 avatar

Quick test with an outline

aren't you dead?

[rusty_shackleford]

did a render of the U8 avatar

Quick test with an outline

Silhouette outline, I think the height was 48px (?) so I guess this is closer

I didn't double-check but I'm pretty sure U8 was standard isometric meaning no fancy camera tricks are needed. UO likely needs camera tricks, can't remember what it used.

one thing that would have to be figured out is the lighting tho, lighting is def not right. Don't know what they used for that.

[Tweed]

Kind of have to squint, but here's some of the animated sprites from DK for comparison:

avatar0.gif

avatar1.gif

In hand animation, yes you can torture The Avatar until he joins you. Unfortunately, it softlocks the final level until he dies. Also, he gets really ******* ****** if he misses payday.

avatar12.gif

Anyway, I assume it's the same model, complete with sword.

[N7Kopper]

Kind of have to squint, but here's some of the animated sprites from DK for comparison:





In hand animation, yes you can torture The Avatar until he joins you. Unfortunately, it softlocks the final level until he dies. Also, he gets really ******* ****** if he misses payday.


Anyway, I assume it's the same model, complete with sword.

I thought another Avatar spawned, or am I thinking of KeeperFX?

[Tweed]

Kind of have to squint, but here's some of the animated sprites from DK for comparison:





In hand animation, yes you can torture The Avatar until he joins you. Unfortunately, it softlocks the final level until he dies. Also, he gets really ******* ****** if he misses payday.


Anyway, I assume it's the same model, complete with sword.

I thought another Avatar spawned, or am I thinking of KeeperFX?

Probably KeeperFX, when I did it in OG it made the game hang until I killed him.