RETRO Black and White RPG Games

[ejronin]

I can think of so many usages of ALL images being black and white. When growing up, we actually had a black and white tv. Colored images are nice, but there are so many things you can do with black and white. You can do dark gloomy forest encounters, dismal dungeons, are go all retro styling.

In Image Resources, we almost have the entire RPG Maker MV RTP images converted to Retro B&W. The only sets not done yet are animations and titles.

What do you think about the different genres that this could fit into? Psycho-Thrillers, Dead and Dying, Old School, etc.

It does not have to be entire games either. This style may also be used only for dark locations. There is even one possibility that the entire game is in black and white, until the final quest is fulfilled...and then everything becomes colored.

I think noir is in, but in limited context. It evokes more of a gumshoe type RPG, but speaking in terms of classi steam-punk or fantasy I think the B/W might detract from some of the feel. Now, I've seen titles use sepia for flashbacks (Wild Arms comes to mind), which might be either the source of my predisposition or a better application for desaturated colors.

Now, if you're thinking in terms of using B/W to style classic horror, I guess it wold depend on the contrast in images - low key, high key, etc.

I'd definitely give it a look and I am interested in seeing output with such files in use.
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We've talked a lot about using b&w but we're forgetting something that is very stylized and yet preserves the color information which would be lost in pure b&w. Sepia tones, which can have any varying colors even though most people immediattly think dark brown-reddish.

However, Sepia tones can have varying levels and colors that help compliment the scenery, especially more orange than brown based give nice style especially to a western setting or a dessert. Sepia tones of green in forrest and blue for watery scenes help establish the moods for these scenes and make them look different from just having regular color palette.

I can't say that's entirely accurate. Sepia is specifically a reddish brown that appears as the result of chemicals used on photo processing for archival purposes (or was). At the end, a true "sepia tone" is only monochromatic and wont have blue or green or yellow in it. If it doesn't its duotone or more likely Cyanotype, not Sepia.

Color is a very powerful tool when utilized right, same is lack of color. However, taking away color is honestly done wrong 99% of the time. For good effect, I'd recommend watching the movie "Sin City" and adapting that stylization with your b&w with increased constrast and black&white level curves.

Where people tend to go wrong isn't in contrast - not at first. It's typically in the hue and saturation of color prior to conversion and that is where the contrast goes south. You can have oversaturated color and convert to B/W - no amount of curve adjustment will help you because your base layer is jacked up.

Sin City was great if you want an example of high contrast b/w with over saturated colors with an understanding of source material. I loved how it was pulled off in the same sense that I loved how Beetlejuice was pulled off with the use abstract shapes and lines but vibrant colors amid dark scenes and palletes - it had sort of an upbeat morbidity that is distinctly Tim Burton (Guillermo does this sometimes too). I believe a better example of noir style with extremely selective color exposure is "Schindler's List." The B/W presentation represented life without light - the holocaust, the red coat (to me) was a representation of the blodd of innocents (blood, coat - innocence, young girl). All of it was perfectly used to give a direct purpose and lasting impression, so I do agree color and lackthereof can be extremely well done and used effectively.