Ekko? More like Red-ko!

rtbf24957229·May 14, 2015·31 votes·33,453 views

Cmon, don't tell me I was the only one.

In honor of the new champ and Jen Zee, the amazing artist behind Supergiants' games, but specifically Transistor, here's Ekko in Red's pose.

I take no credit for the pose, definitely Jen Zee's doing, but I did draw this taking inspiration identical to the picture posted below. Tried to mimic her legendary style, but to little avail.

http://i.imgur.com/NoqLBpx.jpg

reference + inspiration: http://imgur.com/cACUtGW.jpg

UPDATE: did a background that I'm pretty satisfied with. Again, I try not to spend hours on fan art because it's not a valid portfolio piece (in my head).

plug time: tripplejaz.deviantart.com facebook.com/tripplejaz.

28 Comments

RiotBioluminescenceMay 14, 201510 votes

That's really well done! You might get more attention for it over in the Community Creations board where fan art usually goes, though :)

When I first saw the concept pieces, I too got a really strong Transisitor vibe from our boy Ekko, and I have nothing but respect for the beauty and style of that amazing game. Do you think you'll be adding a background to your image, or did you achieve what you set out to, with the piece?

rtbf24957229May 14, 20151 votes

Oh I'll be moving it over there then! :)

Definitely feels like a background would complete it; the grunge wallpaper-esque background was just to "get it over with." It was like 2 in the morning for me. I can revisit this piece. Have any suggestions? The background in the Transistor one is far more effort than I like to do for fan pieces because I can't use fan pieces as portfolio pieces.

RiotBioluminescenceMay 14, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Definitely feels like a background would complete it; the grunge wallpaper-esque background was just to "get it over with." It was like 2 in the morning for me. I can revisit this piece. Have any suggestions? The background in the Transistor one is far more effort than I like to do for fan pieces because I can't use fan pieces as portfolio pieces.

I totally get the need to sleep, if you were up to 2am!

I'm not sure what to suggest with regards a background - the black seems a bit harsh (even though you've got some subtle texture there). I like the glowing streaks, but they give the impression of movement - that the pose doesn't support. Maybe something that the sword and gear can cast that glow onto? I dunno :)

rtbf24957229May 14, 20151 votes

How's the update? :)

BlGANlMETlDDlESMay 14, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Oh I'll be moving it over there then! :)

Definitely feels like a background would complete it; the grunge wallpaper-esque background was just to "get it over with." It was like 2 in the morning for me. I can revisit this piece. Have any suggestions? The background in the Transistor one is far more effort than I like to do for fan pieces because I can't use fan pieces as portfolio pieces.

Couldn't you draw the memorial he was defending in the cinematic behind him?

rtbf24957229May 15, 20151 votes

I thought about doing the memorial, but there's not enough space in the room (given the visual context of the reveal video) without it feeling out of place/claustrophobic as the viewer. So I went with a different view from the same room, including the horrendous zaunite.

TransgressorMay 14, 20154 votes

It's not like I wanted to play Transistor's OST again or anything, baka.

ZeralyosMay 14, 20151 votes

{quoted}

It's not like I wanted to play Transistor's OST again or anything, baka.

It's on Spotify, you know.

TransgressorMay 14, 20151 votes

Implying I have Spotify

On a serious note there's always Youtube playlists for both Bastion's OST and Transistor's :P

A Superb VillainMay 14, 20153 votes

Sick art, and nice reference.

samthehamm147May 14, 20153 votes

OMG I LOVE THE REFERENCE. ahem I need to control myself a notch. But seriously, I love the fact that peeps still appreciate the games like Transistor and Bastion. Besides that, this just makes me want Ekko even more.

Tesla EffectMay 14, 20152 votes

A Transistor styled game with Ekko would be quite something.

A Superb VillainMay 14, 20152 votes

It's called Bastion.

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/bastion/images/3/3c/The_Kid.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110729210206

DG AshabelMay 14, 20153 votes

Aside of both being post-apocalyptic dystopias, they're completely different games.

Transistor-styled would actually be much more fitting for Ekko due to the Turn() mechanic.

A Superb VillainMay 14, 20151 votes

Cloudbank isn't what I would call a dystopia, at least not a traditional one. I would not call them completely different games either; Bastion and Transistor do have some similarities, which is a given, as both were made by the same group. Aesthetics is the greatest distinction between them though. I was only citing Bastion for

DG AshabelMay 14, 20156 votes

Cloudbank is definitely a dystopia, given that it's a self-proclaimed democratic utopia that houses a perpetually unhappy society whose minority and creative minds are consistently choked down by the voting system. A broken utopia that hurts its own people is the very definition of a dystopia.

Caelondia, on the other hand, is a communist dystopia. Yes, Rucks paints it as a wonderful place, but keep in mind that Rucks also created the superweapon that shattered the world and killed an entire continent worth of people. He's not the finest judge of anything.

As for gameplay, yeah, they're both played from top-down. Bastion is best compared to Zelda in terms of gameplay flow though, while Transistor is basically Devil May Cry where you execute combos by pausing the game into a tactical overlay and inputting commands instead of mashing button combinations. I feel the latter would be more fitting for Ekko because Red's entire thing is that she uses Turn() to speed up her own time and fast-forwards herself through the motions while the world largely cannot keep up.

Admittance: I own physical collector's editions of both games. I may be moderately obsessed with Supergiants' work. >_>

A Superb VillainMay 14, 20151 votes

I cannot fault you for taking such a heavy interest in them, as both games are very good at delivering an enjoyable gameplay experience and fascinating setting to explore, not to mention a rather poignant narrative. I haven't played either, though dearly wish to, as my current funds are uncomfortably tight. However, I have watched walkthroughs from beginning to end, adore Transistor's setting - I love Art Deco - and the soundtracks are some of the most interesting piece I have ever heard.

I agree Ekko's time-based thematic would be more suitable to the tactical engagements of Transistor, in addition to the science fiction elements that borders on magic. Though with the nature of Cloudbank, magic could be more appropriately called programming and executing functions. Not to mention both Red and Ekko have a large, dull-edged blade with a cyan coloration.

Bastion fits in with Ekko's overall aesthetic, that being a dark-skinned character with light hair in a scavenged get-up. Really, that is the only reason I suggested Bastion over Transistor, though Transistor fits more closely from a gameplay perspective.

Also, Tesla Effect said style, not an exact replica, so I took some liberties with his comment.

Tesla EffectMay 14, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Superb Villain,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=E6IEaHM6,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2015-05-14T13:42:47.737+0000)

It's called Bastion.

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/bastion/images/3/3c/The_Kid.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110729210206

Same damn creators and type of gameplay. But Transistor appeals to me more cause of its art-deco style.

SirsirMay 14, 20152 votes

That should be a skin. Piltover Ekko or something

MegaCandyhawkMay 15, 20152 votes

Made this because i was bored, not saying it's perfect (I've never tried this sort of thing before). ;)

rtbf24957229May 16, 20151 votes

diggit. das dope dude. Might want to blue the Transistor ref too tho! Or unblur my ugly thing :P

PhoenixSlayer13May 14, 20151 votes

Damn, nice work. How long did this take you to draw, out of curiosity?

rtbf24957229May 14, 20151 votes

I wanna say about 3 and a half. Just ploughed through the whole thing in one sitting.

JesterSummonerMay 14, 20151 votes

Oh hey I bought Transistor a while back......Not sure why I havn't played it yet

samthehamm147May 14, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Oh hey I bought Transistor a while back......Not sure why I havn't played it yet

please play it..... please , you won't regret it.

iainB85May 14, 20151 votes

I posted the exact same thing under the comments for the champion reveal. It's got 100+ upvotes, so you are not the only one who saw this connection.

Nice picture.

MegaCandyhawkMay 15, 20151 votes

These are my new wallpaper forever. <3 On a side note very disappointed in myself for not picking up on the Transistor styles on Ekko seeing as Transistor is one of my top 3 games of all time.