Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Custom Avatar Contest Disscusion Thread

why would you even say that you think I don't have a chance at winning, or my avy isn't good because its a pic from google
Magma
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OK. That came out really wrong. My first post came out wrong to. What I meant was the that the people I mentioned have some of the best hand drawn avatars. I didn't mean that yours is bad or anything like that. I am the king of posts that don't come out the way I mean them to come out.
 
Prime said:
Correct me if I am wrong, but you didn't even draw the Darth Pika in your avatar. Whats the difference between you using someone else's art and someone else using a pokemon card's art?
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I had it drawn for me. Even then its way more custom then some of the various scans that some people just took over the net, or using a card scan. The bottom line is, if you just use a scan off the net, why even bother with a custom avatar? As I see it, they for the most part are little better then the generic avatars, as anyone can get/use them. My avatar is one of a kind. Your not going to see others with it, and it shows who I am. I put considerably more work into it then the people who just googled pokemon art, and that makes it even more special.

Maybe for the contest we could have 2 categories? 1 for people who just got it off the net, and one for the people who customized it for themselves?

BTW, I have no objection to using images form the net. Since this is a CUSTOM avatar contest, I really feel that those who went to the trouble to do their own avatars should get the better shot at winning.

I also consider an image that you took, then changed around until it really suited who you are, custom.
 
I honestly think that any that aren't truly custom won't win, unless they're really really good.

Edit: By the way, Prime's looks awsome.
 
IMO the whole "hand drawn" avatars thing is really overrated. If you can get an image from a card etc and make it look good, is that really inferior to someones sub-par drawing of a pokemon character? Now I'm not trying to put down everyone who does their own avatar, as some show artistic talent and are well made (mew* and jran are both examples of this), but it's not like you can't touch up a card scan and make it look nice.

http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mewtwoavasw9.png

http://img366.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dialgavaau2.png

http://img366.imageshack.us/my.php?image=voltavamt2.png

http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mavataryz5.png

etc.
 
DarthPika said:
I had it drawn for me. Even then its way more custom then some of the various scans that some people just took over the net, or using a card scan. The bottom line is, if you just use a scan off the net, why even bother with a custom avatar? As I see it, they for the most part are little better then the generic avatars, as anyone can get/use them. My avatar is one of a kind. Your not going to see others with it, and it shows who I am. I put considerably more work into it then the people who just googled pokemon art, and that makes it even more special.
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It doesn't matter if you 'had it drawn' for you. You still didn't draw it yourself. There is no difference between you taking someone else's art and making an avatar and someone else taking a japanese artist's pokemon art and making an avatar. I don't understand why you think there is a difference. What did you do with your avatar that is special? Add animation? Sure, animation can be nicer than no animation, but it doesn't mean it's totally different.

You know what vibe I am getting from your comments? I'm getting the feeling you see some avatars that are really nice, but are just card images and you don't want to lose to them when the actual poll shows up, so you want to make it known that there is a big difference between regular card art avatars and 'custom' avatars like yours in hopes that your avatar won't have to compete with the other avatars.

Maybe that thought isn't totally incorrect since the last avatar contest was won by someone who just used art online (I believe), but even so, the avatar contest is supposed to be a fun thing, and in the end, it's whatever looks best, regardless of how it was made. I've been a designer for many years, and it can be very irritating to see artists online use stupid techniques to accomplish really nice results and then see them get all this praise for it. But that is just life for you, and something you have to put up with it or stop doing graphics all together.

DarthPika said:
BTW, I have no objection to using images form the net. Since this is a CUSTOM avatar contest, I really feel that those who went to the trouble to do their own avatars should get the better shot at winning.
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Again, this is just a fun contest. There isn't even much on the line, just some dice or RPS cards. Why make a big fuss over such a small event?

Honestly, if someone's net art avatar looks better than the one a person put time into making, then the person deserved not to win.
 
I think that the custom avatar "Hand drawn VS. Scan" should stop. I respect those members who were creative/clever enough to put the effort into creating their avatar in a computer program or drawing it by hand, but some of us can't do that for many possible reasons:

1.) Not Being Skilled With Computers
Some members (as myself) are somewhat ignorant about computers. It took me an hour to resize a picture from its original size to 100X100 pixels. I didn't even know what a pixel was before someone told me! Sad, I know.

2.) Not Having the Time
We all have other things to do in our lives. I am a busy person, and I'm only 14! Some people have jobs or other things going on every day. They may have wanted to create an avatar, but just didn't have the time to make their own.

3.) Prefering a Card Scan
Some people may have a favorite pokemon or card, as many of us do, and like the card scan more than what they could make themselves. Some cards, Charizard *, Dragonite d, and many others) are just flat out cool looking. I was tempted to use the picture of one of those cards as my own avatar.

So here are some reasons (among others) that people may not have created their own avatar. I'm sorry if this post sounds dumb or accusing, but I would just like to get out there that not everyone wants or could create a "custom" avatar. I found the picture of my Charizard avatar on the internet when I searched for charizard images because it is my favorite pokemon. I did what I could to enhance the image to be original, though it wasn't much (tint, crop, color the background, install programs to resize, etc.), and I am proud to have my avatar though it isn't perfect and won't win a contest, it represents me and what my username should be: Charzano.

EDIT: BTW, Prime, Thumbs up on your avatar it should win IMO.

EDIT #2: Check out this avatar: http://pokegym.net/forums/member.php?u=9968
 
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We originally were negotiating to set up some shop threads where AV creators could make customs available to people, but I didn't have time to get that set this time.

The following AV have been removed because they didn't meet the guidelines; many of these people received an email Sat PM. In the event any member feels they have a strong case that they actually MET the guidelines (as opposed to requesting an exception), they can make that case in TC Hideout:

Skeith - writing that isn't screen name.
Magic_Umbreon - no pix of people!
DarkJake - not recognizable as PKMN art.
patthemanvan - writing that isn't screen name.
Weedler - writing that isn't screen name.
JUAN MORALES - not recognizable as PKMN art.
cloud9 - not recognizable as PKMN art.
Articjedi - not a PKMN.
drugenalmighty - not a PKMN.
Cardzmaster2004 - writing not screen name & not PKMN art.
mudkipmaster - writing that isn't screen name.
TeamPwnyJF - team name, not the exact screen name.
Regis_Neo - not recognizable as PKMN art.
Bashi - watermark.
lolganium - smoking.
ShadowTogetic - not a PKMN character.
PokeMontoya - people in pic, writing on scarf.
yoyofsho16 - person in pic.
ICMN -- non Pokemon pic.
bonslypwns - writing in pic that is not screen name.
 
Post made in hideout, =]

I'm just not feeling it with these avatars. Jran's by far looks the best, but his choice of character is questionable since Silver hasn't done much and as far as rivals go his impact on the pokemon world was fairly insignificant (perhaps more than the RS season's, but that isn't saying much)
 
Well I am a large fan and reader of the Pokemon Special and I found that he has played a large part in the storyline being one of nine pokedex holders and during the G/S/C Gen about 80% of the plot had somthing to do with him or green/blue, since they where kidnapped as kids and you even read about that in the 1 gen of the managa.
Fact is the Video Game and Managa are close to each other more than the TCG and the show.
(The manga would have made a killer anime!)


Bulbasnore
That would be a great adea to do next time to set up shop.
I know I would be one to jump at that.
Plus no offense, but last avatar day had some better avatars, not saying there are not any great avatars that where uploaded this time around.
 
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You have to understand the majority of the community doesn't read Pokemon manga, be it due to interest, availability, or the fact that an obsession to that degree seems dangerous, you can't expect people to recognize characters that are relevant in the manga but not so in the cards/games.
 
I knew that from the start, but I know alot of people have played the 2nd Gen of Pokemon might have at least knew somewhat of who he was...
I took a risk and it backfired on me to a point.
I mean alot of people expected me to do something EEVEE since I am known for that at my League, but even if it is my fav Pokemon I wanted something to stand out.
I can only wonder what I might have got if I scaled these down and used these as avatars.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/Jran_Sakarra/1847bd96164ef7b49de3a8557111abd3.jpg
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/Jran_Sakarra/5dec69e69b6222ae4c925386e5be9d60.jpg
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/Jran_Sakarra/7ad5fc9c8a8026225bc7f70cfca2b227.jpg



Would it have been better if I did a GIF avatar or the caramelldansen Lucario?
LOL
 
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Jran, I really love Pokemon Special as well. :D

These images can be strunk as long as the results are good enough and seeable :)
 
bulbasnore said:
We originally were negotiating to set up some shop threads where AV creators could make customs available to people, but I didn't have time to get that set this time.
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I've actually been wanting to talk to you about something like that. If you have AIM or MSN could you please contact me that way? I can always talk to you by PM, but its much easier by IM.
 
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