How Many Hands is That Horse, Man?
Added 2019-10-02 00:40:19 +0000 UTCDear Insane Children,
Continued evolution on the Bumby as Shopkeeper concept images.
Above you'll see Omri's reworking based on our comments. This is "spider hole" Bumby + Mechanical Hands. In this version we'd hear but not see Bumby. And his hands would handle all the interactions in the shop and with Alice.
Another idea is presented here - Centaur in Oxford Bumby. Much lighter, more whimsical, and inviting.
Of these ideas I said to Omri...
I think either one of these work. But if I had to choose... I would go for the "hands" shop. Why?
Well, the centaur idea is too cute. What I had in mind was some sort of puppet centaur - a mechanical animal type thing - fixed in place at the counter in the shop. It along with the hands would be operated remotely - as would be other machines and items in the shop. This would be a nod to players of AMR who caught the "centaurs in Oxford" line and would not be a spoiler for anyone who had not already played that game.
The hands work. Maybe still need a bit of refinement. I'd like to know what holds them up. Perhaps storm clouds? A little bit of snow always falling from them. Flashes of lightning contained within? Again, this is a nod to AMR players but doesn't spoil anything if you've not yet played the game. If you have played the game... I think it's not a great leap to wonder if Bumby = Toyshop ... and I think this precursor example of him is an interesting and creepy interaction for those in the know.
I'll share these two with the Insane Children and we can measure their reactions.
There you have it. Handyman or horseyman?
Let us know in the comments below!
Paging Dr. Goomby
Anyone else find it funny that while we're discussing the design of Bumby for Asylum... Google has THIS image on their search page. I take it this is their suggestion for what Bumby should look like? Hey, Google, been there, done that.
PS: Typhoon has passed Shanghai and we survived!
From Shanghai with Windblown Hair,
-American
Comments
I think Centaur suits better ink n this since this is supposed to happen before AMR, both ideas look amazing but the mechanical spider Bumby hole is way too spoilers, both for the players and for young Alice. She is not supposed to know the real Bumby intentions and his real nature. Something like the cute centaur would trick you, I would add some creepy objects anyway to hint something.
2020-02-01 15:32:59 +0000 UTCI love the concept of the spider hole and puppet hands. Will this be an art print? Because it should... I would hang it...
2019-11-05 13:13:43 +0000 UTCFloating hands for sure, It has a darker feel to it that I think fits.
missa8u
2019-10-08 21:08:25 +0000 UTCI like the floating puppet hand idea. I think it really sells his character.
2019-10-07 22:20:16 +0000 UTCI like the idea of the mechanical hands. As for what's holding the hands up, the storm clouds is good. But an other idea could be just floating marionette paddles but that are burnt and glowing red. This would symbolize what bumby did in AMR and that he was controlling but failed in the end.
Rick Crow
2019-10-05 18:12:11 +0000 UTCI very much like the mechanical limbs Bumby. It works as he had the whole 'master hand and crazy hand' thing (as Helloween so cleverly put) from AMR going on. Beautiful artwork as usual Omri :)
2019-10-05 12:17:22 +0000 UTCI really like the spider hole and the creepy mechanical hands. Although it does give a nod to Bumby and AMR it allows new players to get creeped out by a real creeper without knowing just how disturbing he really is
2019-10-05 00:32:32 +0000 UTCYeah definitely would stick with the spider hole with him out of sight. I like the idea of it being creepy mechanical doll hands. Glad you guys were safe and only wind swept a bit haha.
2019-10-04 23:39:10 +0000 UTCI think it is the Hands....."Hands Down!" !!!!
2019-10-03 13:00:16 +0000 UTCCentaur looks cute and definitely fits the Asylum's concept. Spidey is more Madness Returns as it's creepier. I do however feel like you should go for Spidey. It feels more... right, if it makes sense.
2019-10-03 12:39:29 +0000 UTCSpider hole bumby!!!
2019-10-03 06:27:35 +0000 UTCI also love the concept of bumby and marionettes. This fits, in my opinion
Sage Nash
2019-10-03 01:03:40 +0000 UTCI love the spider hole bumby and his mechanical hands! He is a bit hard to stomach, I have to agree. Something about this format feels just right for his degree of presence. Itβs spooky, sinister, and yet enigmatic.
Sage Nash
2019-10-03 01:01:40 +0000 UTCMy vote is for handyman!
Richanne Matthews
2019-10-02 23:14:21 +0000 UTCI LOVE the spider-hole Bumby idea! That would be a sick art print too!
Definitely not Adam Driver
2019-10-02 19:46:10 +0000 UTCI really love the spider hole/mechanical hands idea!
2019-10-02 16:51:54 +0000 UTCI believe the Handyman Bumby is better fitting in the aesthetic. The Centaur is interesting, but doesn't sit well with me.
2019-10-02 12:22:32 +0000 UTCI love the hand idea! It's positively giving off creepy vibes and is odd enough to fit the aesthetic well! I do however ponder upon those clouds. Perhaps just having the feeling of not knowing where the strings come from is creepy in itself? Meaning that they simply stretch up into a distant far off darkness. I think this can allow the freedom of imagination to blossom amongst the players? Also, the centaur idea is adorable, I agree! Maybe make it a painting and sneak in somewhere?
2019-10-02 11:26:57 +0000 UTCSUGGESTING or more like an idea....but for me it would make more sense to ACTUALLY see a young\er Bumby as a "normal human" (as normal a doc can be XD) in the shop. In that time Alice didn't know what he was actually doing (and she kinda trusted him no?)...seeing him like a puppet master in this time wouldn't make much sense wouldn't it(or a spider or a centaur)?! And when we buy the last item from him, he could change a bit more into a puppet master (because it would be more like at the end of the game closer to Madness returns)...maybe just a little change into a puppet (his hand\s of course)....I would really love to see the younger version of him to be honest, i know people (Alice nanny and so on) did not like him very much but Alice in her age wouldn't understand why at this point wouldn't she?!
Jessi St.
2019-10-02 10:37:04 +0000 UTCHandyman is an awesome idea but also it is too obviously evil. Alice would probably picture Bumby as a nice and sane person opposed to the chaos inside in her mind, so the light vibes of Oxford centaur would be probably better. On the other hand, Bumby is an untrustworthy adult from Asylum, like nurses and ward attendants, so Alice may have prejudice against him. Maybe centaur and spider can be combined in some way? Like doll-shop has so high-ceilinged interiors it would require mechanical hands to take things from shelfs even for a tall centaur. Either way, maybe just a hint of something wrong is needed so it could easily be mistaken with other strange things of the Wonderland.
2019-10-02 08:32:21 +0000 UTCUhh, definitely still prefer Handyman to Horseyman here. For me, I think I would like it to look a bit more like a shop, than just a black hole. That there's a counter and a sign maybe, kind of like lemonade stand-ish. Or at least, the the nest part contains more than just doll parts, but also some of the objects you can purchase there, cash register and other shop things.
2019-10-02 08:32:06 +0000 UTCI do teally line the idea of the hidden Bumby and his mechanical hands. Its so creepy and mystical, it really fits Alice's state of mind in the time she is in the Asylum. But I would rather like lots of more little mechanical hands instead of those giant hands. Like 10 / 20 / a lot more pairs of hands, all played by the puppet master Bumby. Playing with Alice's mind.
2019-10-02 08:16:23 +0000 UTCI have an idea... I like the spider idea and the mechanical hands but to make it creep (if it works) is to have the spider body out of site but you can still hear it scittering across the walls because he is moving the hands?? I think just hearing the creepy noise can be unsettling because it can cause the player (or Alice) to have some uncertainty about their surroundings . Like keep them on edge..... I just really love the spider idea and mechanical hands idea βΊ
Akihime
2019-10-02 07:27:51 +0000 UTCWhy don't you guys put a painting or image of the centaur inside the store, near Bumby's puppet hands? Or maybe a centaur statue at the entrance with the Oxford symbol? So You could use the two references (the centaur in oxford and the doll maker) and show the players that they are related..
2019-10-02 05:55:45 +0000 UTCI like the mechanical hands and glowing eyes, but I agree with the spider hole seeming a bit too on the nose for evil. What about keeping the hands as is, but having just a voice from above or the glowing eyes and a disembodied voice from above, then the puppet strings for the hands attached to the wooden pieces used to control marionettes (I cannot find the name of them)?
2019-10-02 02:46:49 +0000 UTCI love this direction
2019-10-02 02:21:49 +0000 UTCI love the mechanical puppet hands and the eerie glow of the glasses I think it really adds a nice edge. I think it would add to that edge if the doll makers strings for his puppet hands were made of the ruin (black ooze) from AMR, or possibly a large spool of thread made from the ruin with a needle sticking out of it placed somewhere in the background to insinuate that he sews his dolls with ruin.
2019-10-02 01:54:30 +0000 UTCWhy not use both like keep the Centaur in Oxford Bumby idea but later reveal probably towards the end of the game that the centaur was a puppet along which leads to Alice finding the abandoned Spider hole
2019-10-02 01:05:24 +0000 UTCI looove the handyman Bumby.... It just fits him so well. But i do like the idea of his lower half being a creepy centaur being stuck behind the counter. It could be oozing the black stuff at the bottom for creepy effects. The cloud thing is a cute idea, but i feel like spider webs would fit the idea a bit better. Since logic isnt mostly a problem, they could be coming down from the clouds. But these are just ideas im throwing out. :) -MaddieTheHatter
MaddieTheHatter
2019-10-02 01:02:55 +0000 UTCI'm super in love with the spider hole rework
2019-10-02 01:02:44 +0000 UTCSpider hole and hands.
2019-10-02 00:59:57 +0000 UTCWhile a cool visual, the spider-hole and remote hands seem so obviously evil that even the most newbie of players would instantly go "Alright, so who is the villain?". I would err more on the side of a more human Bumby or the Centaur idea, but keep it in a shop more like the exterior in the prior Patreon post. I think the idea should be "cozy, but slightly unsettling".
2019-10-02 00:54:48 +0000 UTCGlad stick boy and friends survived
2019-10-02 00:52:14 +0000 UTCHi hi, it's been awhile. I've been distancing myself from discussions and such to keep some of the game a surprise. Anyway..... I'm digging doll hand Bumby. Love it actually!! Honestly though even though the idea of cute centaur Bumby irks me... it definitley could work. In the beginning he can be sweet and inviting then as Alice progresses he can start to decay becoming deformed and gross revealing his true nature. I'm glad the family is safe from the typhoon. πβ€
2019-10-02 00:51:57 +0000 UTCI really like the spider hole one! Kind of foreshadow-y and adds to the eeriness and unsettling feeling around him.
2019-10-02 00:48:04 +0000 UTCI like the Centaur, personally.
Wendy Jaa
2019-10-02 00:45:28 +0000 UTC
