Ikaruga art piece

[twigboy]

Really wasn't sure where to post this... but, I wonder whether anyone can help me. I've been commissioned by an art magazine called Miser & Now to make an artwork for a page in their next issue (unpaid, naturally - and I'm no artist). I want to show the moment of player death in Ikaruga - the very frame where the explosion starts. Not sure which stage - maybe 4-2, with all the complex patterns of fire coming in. Alternative excellent moments would be well received - actually, that's a good topic: best moment of death in a shooter...

Anyway, what I need is a screenshot - a perfect one, pixel for pixel. Is anyone able to do this? I chose Ikaruga simply because I'm familiar with it, so if anyone can make me a screenshot but doesn't have Ikaruga that's probably fine, though it needs to be current gen so the resolution will be high enough for publication. No money, just gratitude and hopefully a copy of the mag (I don't know the guys that run it at all well).

Thanks all.

[VR46]

can't you take a screen grab from one of the very good picture quality replay's on RJPage's site www.ikaruga.co.uk

[Darwock]

it needs to be current gen so the resolution will be high enough for publication.

So this 'commissioned artwork' consists of giving them a direct screen grab? And you don't even want to choose the screen? I thought you were gonna look at it and duplicate it in watercolours or something! How exactly did this art magazine come to get in touch with you?

[rjpageuk]

I have a nice video of the most ludicrously unlucky death ever:

http://www.ikaruga.co.uk/files/rjpageuk/death_by_nothing.avi

In terms of getting perfect screenshots, I have a friend who can do this.. but I would need more information on the exact screenshot you want.

I can easily get you screenshots which are decent quality, but not perfect.

[twigboy]

Ha ha! I'm no artist! In fact I have no idea why I've been asked, i"m just a journalist. Must have been drunk and spouting nonsense to them. The concept (you can stop reading now to avoid pretentious claptrap) demands that it should be a straight screengrab because it has to show the abstract and digital nature of that little drama that's being portrayed. It's all about the win/lose, live/die, on/off nature of the game narrative in shooters. the magazine issue concept is 'occurences' (/claptrap).

Thanks for the advice on rjpageuk's site, david - good point and it's downloading now.

[twigboy]

Thanks rjpageuk - however, just found that the AVIs don't work on my crappy work Mac so will have to wait till tomorrow morning at home when I can review them... However, I suspect the videos on the site will have compression artifacts on them that'll be obvious on the page, so might well need your friend's help. I'll be in touch tomorrow - I really appreciate this.

(the things you think of and then promise when you're drunk...)

[rjpageuk]

I have a capture devide which captures in MPG2 at full resolution but through composite.

I can take screen grabs from this that will be devoid of divx compression artifacts.

Thats is the best I can manage unfortunately.

I will try to post up an example this evening if I get a chance.

[twigboy]

cool - thanks. looking forward to seeing it. by the way, where do you live in Suffolk? I grew up in and just outside Ipswich.

[rjpageuk]

I am living on the outskirts of Ipswich at the moment, and work in Hadleigh!

[twigboy]

ha ha - yeah, my mum and dad still live just outside Bramford. Had a load of friends in Hadleigh. Love going back still. christ this must be boring for everyone else... ikaruga eh? what a game.

[rjpageuk]

THis is as good as I can manage I am afraid:

http://www.ikaruga.co.uk/images/temp/rob1.png

I took one of a death in ch4 as I thought that was what you wanted. Let me know if you want me to take a different shot.

[twigboy]

Thanks for that - location is great. maybe the image is a little too late - i was thinking of it being just as the explosion starts. course this isn't really good board conversation: i'll pm you.