Jatta Pake

Big improvement over the last ones

The Pool Ball doesn't seem to be blended at all & probably gets away with it because of the different neutral colors. The Bowling Ball looks HEAPS better. I wouldn't worry about the style too much, your a different graphic artist & it stands to reason that you will have a slightly different style (like Doublebrain said). It definitely fits in with the other PZ sprites & I would say it is a happy medium between the 2 examples you gave above. Nice work

Something like these then. I do believe I did well on the shading, gimp is handy for that although the bases for the knight and rook look slightly too big compared to the others.

I'm not sure the bowling ball would benefit from dithering at this point.... dithering is more used to hide subtle differences in gradients that cant be blended. for example, if you use the gradient tool in photoshop & you end up with light banding between tones you can add noise to help "blend" it.
If you are going to block in your shading as you have with the bowling ball, learn to love the smudge tool.... start off at about 75% strength & work your way down until the gradient appears as smooth as you desire then (if necessary) dither afterwards for smoother shading.
The other way to do it would be to draw the circle with your neutral color then use your brush tool at about 5% opacity with the dark extreme of your neutral color (or black if you wish) & add your shading in layers (runs, not photoshop layers).
You could also "block" with more subtle variations in color but it wont give as smooth a result as the first two techniques 

You might want to look into a technique called dithering. Depending on how much space you have on an object it might help to blend colours.
Stuff like your bowling ball sprite might benefit from it
Also, try to rework the edges of round object, especially the bowling ball.
Some other stuff might benefit from "implied lines", too.
There are great tutorials in the internet that you can and should make use of.
One of the oldest but bestestest I know (which was way back in the day when I had a two-day love-affair with pixel art and then dropped it like it was a hot potato) is this one:
http://www.yarrninja.com/pixeltutorial/
It covers a lot (a metric fuckton) but some chapters will definitely help you improve.
There are a lot of guidelines that will appear logical to you and are easy to grasp and internalise.

A full chess board doesn't seem to work very well with this style, maybe try making each piece and the chess board separate?

I hate to burst your bubble, but you evidently do not know a THING about modern warfare.  Taking stats out of perspective makes your arguement like a table with one leg, foolish and useless.
 
The US military has been using a technique called Supressive Fire and Cover Fire since WWII.  The technique basically denies an enemy the ability to poke his head up and take a shot a you, least he risk taking a round for his trouble.  Bullets are EASY to come by, soliders are not.  Even wounding a solider takes three men out of action (the wounded one, a medic and someone else now has to carry the wounded ones load).  US Soliders are trained to shoot center mass BUT they are also taught how to shoot, move and communicate as a unit (fire team, squad, platoon....).  Some times this method means you send a ton of rounds downrange just to keep the enemy on his heals or with his head down.  If the enemy can't shoot you, chance are they wont be able to kill you.  Conversely, we can leap frog up to his position (one soldier taking cover, then using cover fire to allow a buddy to run forward to cover, rinse, later, repeat) and the kill them using the best tool for the job (indirect fire, grenades or simply a shot to center mass).
 
Zombies don't care and they don't shoot back.  They win by the shere mass of numbers and the "head shot" requirement to put one down.

As I'm originally from Kansas and lived for a short time on a farm, I'll add my 2 cents.  My grandfather raised cattle, and he explained to me how cattle were killed in the slaughterhouse.  I have no idea if this is even remotely accurate in today's terms or if grandpa was just full of it.
 
Supposedly, cattle are led down a chute that ends with a device for killing the animal.  In the olden days, ranchers would use a gun and bullet to kill the animal with a shot to the head.  As this is expensive and dangerous, a different tool was devised.  Rather than fire a bullet, the device fired a metal rod into the steer's brain.  The rod could be retracted to reload it and fired again.
 
I assume this was powered by pneumatics and air pressure at one point, but modern versions would probably be electrical.  Again, I have no idea if this is remotely accurate.  But I'm headed to a slaughterhouse in the event of the zombie apocalypse.  Humans have industrialized killing things on a mass scale, and those tools seem like they could be useful against the undead scourge.  Especially things that need to be made dead with a shot to the brain.

I will try to persuade you.  Arguments for More (Useless?) Stuff:
 
1. The vast majority of the items in PZ have a use so there is no choices required when looting.  Grab everything and run.  More "clutter" requires making choices when looting.
 
2.  Clutter already exists in game.  How many forks, spoons, vests, and skirts can a world have?  And let's not forget Lipstick, Combs and Wallets.  Those items are clutter for clutter's sake.
 
3.  More clutter (if moderated and limited) provides more variety.  It keeps the game interesting.  You get more, "Hey, never seen that before!" moments.
 
4.  It increases the learning curve.  Yes, it would make the game harder as players must determine if something is important or not as they find things.  Right now, players can remember "Ignore spoons".  Easy.  But what about a "Dog Leash"?  Is that useful?
 
5.  Communicates a subtle message about our humanity.  I found a "Globe"?  Do I need that to survive a zombie apocalypse?  Probably not.  But is there inherent value in the things that aren't survival related?  Maybe a globe reminds the character of a lost world.
 
6.  Makes looting take longer.  This creates tension. Rather than cleaning a house out in five minutes, players will stop and ponder the potential importance of a "TV Remote Control".  This gives zombies more time to get to the player's succulent and deliberating brains.
 
7.  Creates more work to the Wiki guy.  
 
8.  More items create more of an RPG feel for the game.  When a character loots a store, it would be fun to see piles of useless money scattered about to remind my character of a lost world.  "All this free money and no one cares anymore."
 
When I first started playing, I was initially panicked when I was confronted with looting the contents of my starting house.  "Oh my God!  I need it all!"  But I couldn't carry it all.  Part of the zombie apocalypse is the reduction of humanity to its basic survival skills.  We are surrounded by stuff, literally drowning in a sea of clutter in our modern lives, but the zombie apocalypse shows the pointlessness of it all.  You can't have it all and survive long in PZ.  You have to make choices.
 
How'd I do?

What's the end of the world without some creature comforts to remind us of our decadent past?
 
I think the whole "collectible" game within a game has potential.  Not only do you strive to build the most bad ass fortress safe house, but you collect a lot of cool stuff too.
 
"The road to West Point was long and dangerous, but it was the only way to get that Rare Coin hidden in the back of Spiffos."

I will try to persuade you.  Arguments for More (Useless?) Stuff:
 
1. The vast majority of the items in PZ have a use so there is no choices required when looting.  Grab everything and run.  More "clutter" requires making choices when looting.
 
2.  Clutter already exists in game.  How many forks, spoons, vests, and skirts can a world have?  And let's not forget Lipstick, Combs and Wallets.  Those items are clutter for clutter's sake.
 
3.  More clutter (if moderated and limited) provides more variety.  It keeps the game interesting.  You get more, "Hey, never seen that before!" moments.
 
4.  It increases the learning curve.  Yes, it would make the game harder as players must determine if something is important or not as they find things.  Right now, players can remember "Ignore spoons".  Easy.  But what about a "Dog Leash"?  Is that useful?
 
5.  Communicates a subtle message about our humanity.  I found a "Globe"?  Do I need that to survive a zombie apocalypse?  Probably not.  But is there inherent value in the things that aren't survival related?  Maybe a globe reminds the character of a lost world.
 
6.  Makes looting take longer.  This creates tension. Rather than cleaning a house out in five minutes, players will stop and ponder the potential importance of a "TV Remote Control".  This gives zombies more time to get to the player's succulent and deliberating brains.
 
7.  Creates more work to the Wiki guy.  
 
8.  More items create more of an RPG feel for the game.  When a character loots a store, it would be fun to see piles of useless money scattered about to remind my character of a lost world.  "All this free money and no one cares anymore."
 
When I first started playing, I was initially panicked when I was confronted with looting the contents of my starting house.  "Oh my God!  I need it all!"  But I couldn't carry it all.  Part of the zombie apocalypse is the reduction of humanity to its basic survival skills.  We are surrounded by stuff, literally drowning in a sea of clutter in our modern lives, but the zombie apocalypse shows the pointlessness of it all.  You can't have it all and survive long in PZ.  You have to make choices.
 
How'd I do?

I found the Cube yesterday for the first time and I was really excited.  I know there isn't a use for it now but it got me thinking...
 
1. Part of the fun and challenge of Project Zomboid is sifting through loot.  Sometimes you have to make interesting decisions on what to take and what to leave behind.  I suspect the Cube, Playing Cards, and Yoyo will eventually have Boredom reducing properties but I enjoy finding them anyways even if they don't have a purpose.  
 
2. It adds humanity to the game and reminds the player that regular people used to live there.
 
My list of "More (Useless?) Stuff" that would I think would be cool to see in game:
 
* Chess
* Board game
* Cologne/Perfume
* Soap
* Compact Mirror
* Boots
* Magnifying Glass
* Whistle
* Fishing rod
* Ant Farm
* Toy Robot
* Camera
* Skateboard
* Tuxedo
* Evening Gown
* Vacuum Cleaner
* Feather Duster
* Oil Paints and Canvas
* Kite
* Shampoo
* Paper Money
* Brown Paper Bag
* Lip Balm
* Credit Cards
* Pliers
* Cordless Drill
* Light Bulbs
* Soccer Ball
* Basket Ball
* Blender
* Toaster
* File Folder
* Thumb Tacks
* Car Keys
* Framed Photo
* Cardboard Box
* Oil Can
* Pair of Skis
* Boxing Gloves
* Porcelain Knick Knacks
* Potted Plant
* Garden Gnome
* Can of Tennis Balls
* Tennis Racquet
* Pair of Slippers
* Iron
* Ironing Board
* Cowboy Hat
* Lifejacket
* Paddle
* Rat Poison
* Bug Spray
* Stapler
* Kazoo
* Harmonica
* Birthday Candles
* Flowers in Vase
* Globe
* Pair of Glasses
* Bicycle Pump
* Laundry Basket
* Dog Leash
* Cat Litter Box
* Stamp Collection
* Rare Coin
* Antique Lamp
* Baseball Cards
* Crocheted Pillow "Grandma Loves Me"
* Flute
* Bean Bag
* Chopsticks
* Mouthwash
* Chewing Gum
* Cigar
* Bowling Ball
* Roller Skate
* Hockey Stick
* Jump Rope
* Kaleidoscope
* Clown Nose
* Rubber Chicken
* Umbrella
* Piece of Pipe
* Ship-in-a-Bottle
* Length of Chain
* Video Collection
* TV Remote Control
* Baseball Glove
* Salt and Pepper Shakers
* Belt Buckle
* Fly Swatter
* Box of Crayons

I will try to persuade you.  Arguments for More (Useless?) Stuff:
 
1. The vast majority of the items in PZ have a use so there is no choices required when looting.  Grab everything and run.  More "clutter" requires making choices when looting.
 
2.  Clutter already exists in game.  How many forks, spoons, vests, and skirts can a world have?  And let's not forget Lipstick, Combs and Wallets.  Those items are clutter for clutter's sake.
 
3.  More clutter (if moderated and limited) provides more variety.  It keeps the game interesting.  You get more, "Hey, never seen that before!" moments.
 
4.  It increases the learning curve.  Yes, it would make the game harder as players must determine if something is important or not as they find things.  Right now, players can remember "Ignore spoons".  Easy.  But what about a "Dog Leash"?  Is that useful?
 
5.  Communicates a subtle message about our humanity.  I found a "Globe"?  Do I need that to survive a zombie apocalypse?  Probably not.  But is there inherent value in the things that aren't survival related?  Maybe a globe reminds the character of a lost world.
 
6.  Makes looting take longer.  This creates tension. Rather than cleaning a house out in five minutes, players will stop and ponder the potential importance of a "TV Remote Control".  This gives zombies more time to get to the player's succulent and deliberating brains.
 
7.  Creates more work to the Wiki guy.  
 
8.  More items create more of an RPG feel for the game.  When a character loots a store, it would be fun to see piles of useless money scattered about to remind my character of a lost world.  "All this free money and no one cares anymore."
 
When I first started playing, I was initially panicked when I was confronted with looting the contents of my starting house.  "Oh my God!  I need it all!"  But I couldn't carry it all.  Part of the zombie apocalypse is the reduction of humanity to its basic survival skills.  We are surrounded by stuff, literally drowning in a sea of clutter in our modern lives, but the zombie apocalypse shows the pointlessness of it all.  You can't have it all and survive long in PZ.  You have to make choices.
 
How'd I do?

What's the end of the world without some creature comforts to remind us of our decadent past?
 
I think the whole "collectible" game within a game has potential.  Not only do you strive to build the most bad ass fortress safe house, but you collect a lot of cool stuff too.
 
"The road to West Point was long and dangerous, but it was the only way to get that Rare Coin hidden in the back of Spiffos."

I found the Cube yesterday for the first time and I was really excited.  I know there isn't a use for it now but it got me thinking...
 
1. Part of the fun and challenge of Project Zomboid is sifting through loot.  Sometimes you have to make interesting decisions on what to take and what to leave behind.  I suspect the Cube, Playing Cards, and Yoyo will eventually have Boredom reducing properties but I enjoy finding them anyways even if they don't have a purpose.  
 
2. It adds humanity to the game and reminds the player that regular people used to live there.
 
My list of "More (Useless?) Stuff" that would I think would be cool to see in game:
 
* Chess
* Board game
* Cologne/Perfume
* Soap
* Compact Mirror
* Boots
* Magnifying Glass
* Whistle
* Fishing rod
* Ant Farm
* Toy Robot
* Camera
* Skateboard
* Tuxedo
* Evening Gown
* Vacuum Cleaner
* Feather Duster
* Oil Paints and Canvas
* Kite
* Shampoo
* Paper Money
* Brown Paper Bag
* Lip Balm
* Credit Cards
* Pliers
* Cordless Drill
* Light Bulbs
* Soccer Ball
* Basket Ball
* Blender
* Toaster
* File Folder
* Thumb Tacks
* Car Keys
* Framed Photo
* Cardboard Box
* Oil Can
* Pair of Skis
* Boxing Gloves
* Porcelain Knick Knacks
* Potted Plant
* Garden Gnome
* Can of Tennis Balls
* Tennis Racquet
* Pair of Slippers
* Iron
* Ironing Board
* Cowboy Hat
* Lifejacket
* Paddle
* Rat Poison
* Bug Spray
* Stapler
* Kazoo
* Harmonica
* Birthday Candles
* Flowers in Vase
* Globe
* Pair of Glasses
* Bicycle Pump
* Laundry Basket
* Dog Leash
* Cat Litter Box
* Stamp Collection
* Rare Coin
* Antique Lamp
* Baseball Cards
* Crocheted Pillow "Grandma Loves Me"
* Flute
* Bean Bag
* Chopsticks
* Mouthwash
* Chewing Gum
* Cigar
* Bowling Ball
* Roller Skate
* Hockey Stick
* Jump Rope
* Kaleidoscope
* Clown Nose
* Rubber Chicken
* Umbrella
* Piece of Pipe
* Ship-in-a-Bottle
* Length of Chain
* Video Collection
* TV Remote Control
* Baseball Glove
* Salt and Pepper Shakers
* Belt Buckle
* Fly Swatter
* Box of Crayons

Thats a great idea, its true it does give a more life to the game

Oh, snap!  That is a list of stuff Jatta.  I want to kill a Zed with a Rubber Chicken.  Now THAT would be a feat!! 

I found the Cube yesterday for the first time and I was really excited.  I know there isn't a use for it now but it got me thinking...
 
1. Part of the fun and challenge of Project Zomboid is sifting through loot.  Sometimes you have to make interesting decisions on what to take and what to leave behind.  I suspect the Cube, Playing Cards, and Yoyo will eventually have Boredom reducing properties but I enjoy finding them anyways even if they don't have a purpose.  
 
2. It adds humanity to the game and reminds the player that regular people used to live there.
 
My list of "More (Useless?) Stuff" that would I think would be cool to see in game:
 
* Chess
* Board game
* Cologne/Perfume
* Soap
* Compact Mirror
* Boots
* Magnifying Glass
* Whistle
* Fishing rod
* Ant Farm
* Toy Robot
* Camera
* Skateboard
* Tuxedo
* Evening Gown
* Vacuum Cleaner
* Feather Duster
* Oil Paints and Canvas
* Kite
* Shampoo
* Paper Money
* Brown Paper Bag
* Lip Balm
* Credit Cards
* Pliers
* Cordless Drill
* Light Bulbs
* Soccer Ball
* Basket Ball
* Blender
* Toaster
* File Folder
* Thumb Tacks
* Car Keys
* Framed Photo
* Cardboard Box
* Oil Can
* Pair of Skis
* Boxing Gloves
* Porcelain Knick Knacks
* Potted Plant
* Garden Gnome
* Can of Tennis Balls
* Tennis Racquet
* Pair of Slippers
* Iron
* Ironing Board
* Cowboy Hat
* Lifejacket
* Paddle
* Rat Poison
* Bug Spray
* Stapler
* Kazoo
* Harmonica
* Birthday Candles
* Flowers in Vase
* Globe
* Pair of Glasses
* Bicycle Pump
* Laundry Basket
* Dog Leash
* Cat Litter Box
* Stamp Collection
* Rare Coin
* Antique Lamp
* Baseball Cards
* Crocheted Pillow "Grandma Loves Me"
* Flute
* Bean Bag
* Chopsticks
* Mouthwash
* Chewing Gum
* Cigar
* Bowling Ball
* Roller Skate
* Hockey Stick
* Jump Rope
* Kaleidoscope
* Clown Nose
* Rubber Chicken
* Umbrella
* Piece of Pipe
* Ship-in-a-Bottle
* Length of Chain
* Video Collection
* TV Remote Control
* Baseball Glove
* Salt and Pepper Shakers
* Belt Buckle
* Fly Swatter
* Box of Crayons

I found the Cube yesterday for the first time and I was really excited.  I know there isn't a use for it now but it got me thinking...
 
1. Part of the fun and challenge of Project Zomboid is sifting through loot.  Sometimes you have to make interesting decisions on what to take and what to leave behind.  I suspect the Cube, Playing Cards, and Yoyo will eventually have Boredom reducing properties but I enjoy finding them anyways even if they don't have a purpose.  
 
2. It adds humanity to the game and reminds the player that regular people used to live there.
 
My list of "More (Useless?) Stuff" that would I think would be cool to see in game:
 
* Chess
* Board game
* Cologne/Perfume
* Soap
* Compact Mirror
* Boots
* Magnifying Glass
* Whistle
* Fishing rod
* Ant Farm
* Toy Robot
* Camera
* Skateboard
* Tuxedo
* Evening Gown
* Vacuum Cleaner
* Feather Duster
* Oil Paints and Canvas
* Kite
* Shampoo
* Paper Money
* Brown Paper Bag
* Lip Balm
* Credit Cards
* Pliers
* Cordless Drill
* Light Bulbs
* Soccer Ball
* Basket Ball
* Blender
* Toaster
* File Folder
* Thumb Tacks
* Car Keys
* Framed Photo
* Cardboard Box
* Oil Can
* Pair of Skis
* Boxing Gloves
* Porcelain Knick Knacks
* Potted Plant
* Garden Gnome
* Can of Tennis Balls
* Tennis Racquet
* Pair of Slippers
* Iron
* Ironing Board
* Cowboy Hat
* Lifejacket
* Paddle
* Rat Poison
* Bug Spray
* Stapler
* Kazoo
* Harmonica
* Birthday Candles
* Flowers in Vase
* Globe
* Pair of Glasses
* Bicycle Pump
* Laundry Basket
* Dog Leash
* Cat Litter Box
* Stamp Collection
* Rare Coin
* Antique Lamp
* Baseball Cards
* Crocheted Pillow "Grandma Loves Me"
* Flute
* Bean Bag
* Chopsticks
* Mouthwash
* Chewing Gum
* Cigar
* Bowling Ball
* Roller Skate
* Hockey Stick
* Jump Rope
* Kaleidoscope
* Clown Nose
* Rubber Chicken
* Umbrella
* Piece of Pipe
* Ship-in-a-Bottle
* Length of Chain
* Video Collection
* TV Remote Control
* Baseball Glove
* Salt and Pepper Shakers
* Belt Buckle
* Fly Swatter
* Box of Crayons

Eat chocolate.  It cures the blues.

Sorry fellas.
 
9/12/13 = September 12th, 2013, to Americans.  In defense of our idiotic logic, we read 9/12/13 like we would say it out loud, "September(9) 12th(12), 2013(13)".  Americans generally don't say, "9th of December, 2013" when we say a date.  It's almost always month, day, year.
 
Please be patient with us.  I assume more Americans will show up around here now that PZ is on Steam so I was just making a silly joke.  There is Logic (metric system) and American Logic (inches, feet, yards).
 
Lastly there is Jatta Pake logic that wants all dates in 20131209 format because it sorts better in a column.  Its my CDO (like OCD but alphabetized like it should be).

Sorry fellas.
 
9/12/13 = September 12th, 2013, to Americans.  In defense of our idiotic logic, we read 9/12/13 like we would say it out loud, "September(9) 12th(12), 2013(13)".  Americans generally don't say, "9th of December, 2013" when we say a date.  It's almost always month, day, year.
 
Please be patient with us.  I assume more Americans will show up around here now that PZ is on Steam so I was just making a silly joke.  There is Logic (metric system) and American Logic (inches, feet, yards).
 
Lastly there is Jatta Pake logic that wants all dates in 20131209 format because it sorts better in a column.  Its my CDO (like OCD but alphabetized like it should be).

He's dead, Jim.  -Bones