Blobikon

I'm excited to share a solo project that I've been working on: Blobikon, a program that generates animated pixel sprites. Blobikon is a versatile tool that can be used to create characters, monsters, and environments for 2D games, animations, or just for fun. In this post, I'll discuss my experiences building this tool, the programming concepts that were used, and the technical skills that I've gained through this project.

Technical Details

The core of Blobikon is a set of algorithms that generate textures based on user-defined configurations. The program features filtering options such as recoloring, noise generation, symmetry, falloff, outline, normal generation, and cleanup. Using these filtering options, users can produce pixel art with unique patterns, color combinations, and lighting effects.

One of the key features of Blobikon is that it generates a sequence of frames for each sprite. This sequence can be used to create animations with smooth transitions between frames. The program also generates a normal map for each sprite, which can be used to add 3D depth to the artwork.

Blobikon is written in C# and uses Unity as the game engine. The project code utilizes a variety of programming concepts, including object-oriented programming, procedural generation, and graphics programming. The codebase is well-organized, with each filtering option being implemented as a separate class that can be easily modified or extended.

My Experience with Blobikon

Developing Blobikon has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me. The project forced me to think deeply about various programming concepts and to learn new skills in Unity. The most challenging aspect of the project was designing an algorithm that could generate pixel art with interesting and unique patterns. I spent a lot of time experimenting with different noise functions, symmetry options, and color palettes to achieve the desired effect.

Another challenge was implementing the program's UI. I wanted the program to be user-friendly, with intuitive controls that allowed users to easily modify the configurations and preview the results. I also wanted to provide users with a range of options that would allow them to create a wide variety of sprites. To achieve this, I implemented a range of sliders, checkboxes, and dropdown menus that enable users to fine-tune their configurations.

Despite the challenges, I'm proud of what I've accomplished with Blobikon. I believe that it's a versatile and powerful tool that can be used to create stunning pixel art with ease. Through this project, I've gained a deep understanding of object-oriented programming, procedural generation, and graphics programming. I've also learned how to write efficient and modular code, and how to design UIs that are both functional and attractive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Blobikon is a program for generating animated pixel sprites that can be used to create characters, monsters, and environments for 2D games, animations, or just for fun. The program features a range of filtering options that allow users to produce pixel art with unique patterns, color combinations, and lighting effects. Blobikon is written in C# and uses Unity as the game engine. Through this project, I've gained a deep understanding of object-oriented programming, procedural generation, and graphics programming. I'm excited to continue developing Blobikon and to see the amazing art created using this tool.