(This comment appeared on a separate thread. It was moved here to minimize exposure and promote relevance.)
Overall, VERY impressive work on the diplomatic shots! My compliments to the design team. However, I must confess that I find some of them to be -- well, they could stand some modification. Of course, I know that these images are not likely to be the final, but I do have some thoughts on each which I would like to share.
A.) The Arcean: Very Big Guy here! I get a sense of the race's physical presence for certain. Also, the facial appendages being longer and clearly separated from the creature's cheek and jawline is a nice touch -- they remind me of a spider's pedipalps, and add a somewhat arachnid look to an otherwise primate-like race. One off note, however -- the model's eyes strike me as a bit piggish, and too close together. Having seen the race selection screen and remembering the portrait from GC1, I would argue that wider eyes would lend a more grim, forbidding look to the model (think of the granite face from GC1 with its heavy brow and broad features -- that's a warrior, my young Terran!)
B.) The Drath: Whoa. Not at all like the race select portrait. The first depiction showed a clearly reptilian-looking figure with a feral, jutting face atop a trunk-like neck, complete with subtle scales on its tawny hide (a fitting look for the "reptilian" race that was originally the dominant lifeform on the Altarian homeworld.) The diplomacy shot looks... well, cartoonish by comparison. With its baby blue irises (with white sclera, no less) and exaggerated, pouty humanoid facial features (Those JOWLS!), it almost looks like it's upset about the loss of its bushy white beard, pointy red hat, and position on my lawn. Now if the first idea is to be ditched and this droopy, baggy look embraced, I would at least suggest making the eyes less human-looking. I think luminous yellow would really help eliminate the laughability of its expression (remember the puffy, slack faced Druuge from Star Control 2? Those saggy old man faces with eyes that glowed red like the furnaces that burned the crew of their "Mauler" warships to fuel their weapons? *shiver*)
C.) The Iconian: Nice. Very nice. Somewhat more pebbly-skinned than I'd anticipated, and a bit drier, but still very eerie. One minor suggestion, though -- with the creature's eyes being situated so far to the sides of its head, a front-on shot would be of little use to it. Binocular vision would be impossible with so little of its eyes showing. Perhaps a more sideways expression (like a bird?) or a little more eye showing toward the anterior of its "face?" Other than that, wow.
D.) The Korx: Now THOSE are nostrils! This shot is one of my favorites, because it showcases the utter lack of a mouth in an otherwise humanoid face. Do these guys talk through their noses, I hope? And do they have eyes? Currently the facial features seem more like a crude waxen representation of the humanoid standard, and looks very disturbing!
E.) The Human: Ah, what a wonderful expression of slick self-confidence. This face combines the best (or worst) expressions of the politician, the big-time business exec, and the televangelist. I love it. Nice collar brooch too!
F.) The Thalan: Superb! Utterly flawless! The thing that really makes this shot sing for me is how HUMAN its eyes look (despite the red coloration.) I am so thrilled to see a departure from the predictable compound eye that has dominated every other depiction of an insectile race in other games since my earliest memories. Having eyes like that in such an alien. inhuman frame is wonderfully jarring and creepy (I'd hang this as a picture in my study if I could!)
G.) The Torian: A wonderful evolution of the concept. It looks alot less like E.T. now. I particularly like the facial folds above the mouth, and how they extend around the creature's head like gills. The smile is so cute, and yet somehow alarming too -- as though it could unhinge that round little jaw and display teeth that would shame a shark, and go back to that placid little smile in the same breath.
H.) The Yor: Nice to see some things don't change. I always liked the look of these guys in the first game, and I'm pleased to see they're almost exactly as I remember them. The eyes are more menacing though, and I love the use of shadow on the model.
Well, I know I've said alot, but I think that quality work deserves quality discussion. I'm eager to see how things progress! Thanks for your time, and keep up the amazing work! (I would, however, love to see more ship models posted, preferably an example of each archetype!)
Best,
KIY
