Bita Labs

Is that snow leopard-ish kakineko going to be the white variation? Me gusta. I also like how different the colors of the two in the first image are- in the two latest kaki redraws, teh V1 and V2 looked nearly identical besides their eye color which always annoyed me. xD; The wide range of subtle markings caught me off guard though. As a species, shouldn’t they still all share similar markings? Just because they’re cats and it’s a fantasy world doesn’t mean the single species has to have all of earth’s big cats’ markings. Not saying it doesn’t look cool, but I’m not sure what sense it would make. Unless you were just experimenting with different markings? : o If that’s the case, I quite like plain or one with subtle changes on the arm markings (such as the brown one’s). Not so keen on the tiger-like one; it seems like overkill with the addition of makeup. Speaking of which… Not quite sure how I feel about that yet; I’ll have to let it digest. My first impression is dislike just because of personal preference, but at the same time I like the idea of a cat-like starbit using makeup because some big cats look as if they wear natural eyeliner.

I don’t like the loch in such clothes-y clothes. But I guess maybe he’s from the city or something? I’d hope that the ones that live in the swamp are… Not so dapper looking. xD The kakineko looks better, but that’s because it doesn’t have one shred of quadness, imo- it’s totally anthro looking (except small). But I guess you noted that that was sort of intended. That seems to defeat the purpose of all the starbits being in the same style, but. *shrug* owo I am happy that they’re bipedal like they used to be though; the sbp1 images right before the crash are still my favorite of all the kaki revamps, even if the art is old. <3

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I absolutely adore that little bird thing. I love raptors to DEATH and it's so freaking cute! 8D). But there is one thing… There is no way in heck that is the apasuion. Now, I'd be leaping if that was going to be a new starbit because I cannot stress how much I love the idea (and how you draw them specifically), but despite that, I would be upset if it replaced the apasuion. Well, if you named it something else and just nixed the apasuion completely… I'd be sad to see the apa go… But I seriously cannot see calling THIS an apasuion. Because why keep the name at all if it's so totally different? I love the apasuion and it's stupid wing-ears. Its proportions made no sense for flying, but that could be fixed in a redraw that still kept most of its original features. I'm not even super partial towards gryphons, but… :'c

Also, I've been thinking about the idea of starbits integrating into a less totally quad style and realized it will not really work with all of the species- the apasuion, fool, ziegen, and perhaps the kawa. Hooves do not make good hands, unless you transform them into paws with hoof-like tips, which would look really screwy imo. Like, why even have hooves at all then? So I was thinking, perhaps these few starbits can be a bit of an exception- one that might even make them more interesting. : o Perhaps, with their lack of hand-like appendages, they rely on the more kakineko-like starbits to craft things for them. In exchange, they can provide things specific things that only their species offer. Not sure about fools or kawas, but ziegens could supply wool. And apasuions, being so massive, could provide transportation. Since apas are known for long-distance flight, I'd see them as being a kind of people that travel almost constantly, never really settling. … Maybe I should be posting this on the other thread, since it's development-related… xD;

Anyway, I want to reiterate my preference with the apasuion because I think it's a pretty big deal: either delete it completely and replace it with that bird, or keep it with minimal changes (such as the necessary wing-size change). *eager for other peoples' opinions as well* : o

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/Pookaz/Starbitspets/oldpets/kawa_new.gif
Also, kawa. If it was like this version, how would those… claws(?) work? Are they claws, hooves, or something inbetween? Assuming you're going to do something similar to this.

• This reply was modified 133 days ago by  Pooka. Reason: removed stupid smilies asfjndw
• This reply was modified 133 days ago by  Pooka. Reason: kawa

First, to address some of Pooka’s concerns…

Overall I’d like to have more variations for each species, and the Kakineko markings sort of reflect that. Kakineko traditionally live in western Bita, but there are a few different terrains there. I figured that maybe depending on where the Kakineko came from it could have different variations? There are three main areas that Kakineko live, the mountains, the crags, and the dry plains. I figure that the grey/lighter spotted variations could come from the mountains, the more orange variations from the plains, and an intermediate in the crags. I was mostly just having fun with these sketches so I’m not sure if the variations I drew will actually ever exist. However, I was trying to go for a creature that was more adapted to its habitat.

As for the Loch, I don’t think that those would be their traditional clothes. This guy’s probably from the city. For traditional Loch clothing I would think it would be pretty minimal considering they hang out in swamp water all the time. Probably just some thing made of seaweed or something. Lochs are nice in that they are already kind of an intermediate between anthro and quad. I imagine them moving kind of like a monkey so they can easily switch from a more wild creature to a city creature. I really don’t think we need to change them at all, actually.

The Apasuion…well, I never was particularly fond of its design. I’d probably like to switch it out with something similar to my sketch, BUT I know that would make some people really upset so I’m kind of in a pickle. Then again, I think the change would definitely be for the better. I’m still working on it though…nothing is final yet. I’ll probably do a ton more sketches before deciding on what to do with the Apa.

As for the hoofed Starbits, I think your idea is probably good, Pooka. I feel like they should retain their hooves but maybe help out in other ways. They can probably pick up stuff with their mouths too…so it’s not like they’re totally helpless, but I can’t really imagine a Ziegen trying to sew stuff. XD; It’s not like individual Starbit species live in isolation from one another so there could be co-dependence between cultures.

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Finally, I just want to note that Starbits will probably not all end up being the same amount of anthro…just as in many video games there are varying races. For instance, in Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword the Kikwi are very animal-like, the Gorons are intermediate, and the Hylians are well…human. The Kakineko are probably going to be the most human of the Starbits since they kind of seem like they should be. I’d imagine that the Ziegens, Fools, Ghostlings, Verdepines, Koumori, and Orvo will probably stay pretty much the same. I think variety can be good though. For example, some Pokemon are more human-like and some are more animal-like but it seems to work pretty well.

Hearing your feedback is really helpful by the way…I’ll post some more sketches up soon. Until then, keep the comments coming!

Glad you like the ponchos. ;D

To answer your question, yes. Each Starbit species will probably have clothes tailored to their particular body type, and not all species will be able to wear the same clothes. I’d also like to make the clothes wearable…it would be a lot of work but we could build up each Starbit’s wardrobe slowly. Perhaps we could have a featured species each week and make three outfits for it. If we did that we’d have plenty of clothes in no time. We may have to hire a couple of dedicated Starbit fashion designers, but I think it could be fun. Then again, this may make decorating your pets too important, but I feel like if the other aspects of the game are awesome enough then this would just be a fun diversion from raising your Starbit. Also clothes don’t have to be that expensive in the first place, or maybe they could be more like stat boosts. We’ll have to work on that.

I don’t have much else to say, except that I really really like where you are going with this, chizu. You have some really great ideas and I would love to see them in the site.

As for the appa, I agree it’s a tough situation… Personally, I like your version much better, but that’s because I never liked the way the appa was drawn in the first place. But I know many users, as Pooka stated including herself, do like the appa, so changing it would be bad also… I’m thinking, what if your version of the appa was a sub-species that happened to evolve differently due to living in a completely different environment from the regular appa? A contributing factor could be that the original appa lives in an environment that provides for them (which would explain not having “hands” and their wings being so small due to perhaps little use), while the other “sub-species” was completely on it’s own and lived under far harsher conditions, so it had to become more self sufficient, which caused it to evolve that way. Like, it lives in a completely different part of Bita, or something, however it came to be there. Just an idea I’m throwing out there.

As for actually seeing clothes on pets… I’m kind of not to sure about that. The reason I say that is because I’ve seen other petsites do it, like Neopets, and it really in my opinion ruined the pets and a huge part of the site itself for me. Not only would also be a LOT of work, but you wouldn’t just be drawing the clothes on the pets, but then after that having to draw them all over again to match the pose of the special colored pets (such as a soulless or essence). If that were the case I would be worried it would become like Neopets where all the special colors are in the exact same pose as the regular pet, and to me that would be really depressing because one thing I value in a petsite is creative and unique art. One thing I love about special colored pets are their unique poses also. However, if you are able to find a way to have clothes on pets that you think will work, I am pretty neutral on the subject. Really though, the final decision is yours of course.

(I will say though, I really adore the outfits you designed in the concept art)

I’d say as far as the Apa goes, the leap is pretty great between the old and this current concept design. I can see a lot of appeal in it but I don’t see Apa really…
The reason why I, personally, found them a favorite and would be sad to see them go is that they are as far as I can tell the only default ‘stocky’ pet. It’s the only one I can see that has the potential for a naturally muscular build. I never saw an apasuion as a flying starbit so the flying thing always confused me. Apas look like equines to me, perhaps stubbylegged so like a mule or a stockhorse or a pony even. Because of the way they were drawn I saw them with a lot of pectoral muscle and could see them pulling things very easily like how rottweilers used to be meatcart pullers back before railways were common.
With the feathers, all the wings are utterly superflous I agree. But what if they were not an adaptation for flying but rather attracting mates or intimidating enemies (think of frill flaring). The feathered body itself could work more like a mallard or penguin, being primarily to wick water away from the body. It may be that apasuion fjord rivers and spend a lot of time in areas with lakes or other bodies of water perhaps even the coastline?
I don’t know just some random ideas from how I always saw it 9 < 6

Kip, Kip. This jeff is for you <3 because I love that idea. I always had it so stuck in my head that apas were long distance fliers (an idea that I like), that I never even considered the possibility of them suiting the art by being terrestrial. The idea of them having penguin-like feathers is also an ossim idea because they’re supposed to originate in Carott Bay. :0 I love random vestigial limbs as well, especially wings. Though, the idea of them being used for attracting mates would be perfect, seeing that a lot of birds have VERY silly displays for attracting mates such as the peacock and bird of paradise (bird of paradise is a MUST youtube search if you’ve never seen them before XD). Apasuions’ little wing ears would be extremely tame compared to the birds listed above, actually.

Also, now I can’t get the idea of silly apa flirting out of my mind- “Oh bby, I’m so hot I have to cool myself off by flapping all these little wings *flapflapflap* BD”

SILLY FLIRTING APA ALERT: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/Pookaz/apa_is_2hot.png

SILLY FLIRTING TRAGOPAN ALERT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l79rgG9bDk&feature=related

Edit: My internet died for a bit there, so I didn’t notice you had posted again, Kip. FIGURES I DREW THE PURPLE ONE. xD Because it’s the hottest, manliest apa there is. Obviously. |8< (I love your BUFF apa 8D)

• This reply was modified 130 days ago by  Pooka.
• This reply was modified 130 days ago by  Pooka. Reason: because it deleted my whole post >:C

I have an idea about the equippable clothes thing, though I’m not sure how you guys would like it since it’s still somewhat limited by redraws, but it might be a little easier.

What if there was a smaller, simplified icon-like image of the pet that is specifically a base for clothes, and then also the actual pet image itself? The pet images could maintain the different poses for soulless, normal, so on so forth, but the base could just change clothing/markings. It would just indicate what the pet was wearing at the time in a more interesting way than item boxes, and it might appeal a bit to people who like dressing up pets while still keeping it a bit more open for redraws so long as the base keeps the same body shape.

I hope I’m making sense here xD;