So what I’m turning in is a pretty complete looking environment. I had to leave out a few things I wanted to do for times sake but I do plan on implementing them in the near future.
I have fraps footage but it was too large to upload to this sight so I’m currently uploading through Youtube and I’ll hopefully have it embeded in my blog by the time class starts.
I missed last week so what I’ve been working on since then (before my computer died) are paintable textures for my terrain in udk, trees in speed tree, and polishing up some textures for my meshes. I am still working on all of these things and expect to have everything textured and in my level by next week. Then I plan on doing some fancy stuff like leaf particle effects and whatnot if I have the time.
Seth Bales
Game Prototyping
Introduction
I believe that one of my strengths as a designer is the ability to create clean and simple designs and still have them be creative, original and nice to look at. To cater to that design strength I’ve decided to work in the Environmental and Texturing field. I’ve decided that my goal for this class is to achieve clean environment (level) with assets with fairly simple geometry, where the complexities lie in the texturing. My personal goal for this project is to develop a visual feast that will enhance my portfolio exponentially. Ideally, I would like to have an entry level position as an Environmental Artist, but I’m realistic and realize that I might have to start off as an asset modeler and I’m completely fine with that if I end up doing what I really want to do in a timely manner.
Target Audience
My target audience is 18 – 30 year old gamers. I picked this age range specifically because in this project I am focusing on making a beautiful game environment and I believe that only gamers in this age range can really appreciate a well designed, immersive and beautiful game space. Anyone interested in historical/ early medieval history would also be interested in this game and especially if they’re of Celtic origin, like myself. I have an intense interest and pride in my history and I imagine that at least some other people feel the same way.
Over-arching Concept
The goal of the player is to be completely immersed in history. There is going to be a small puzzle for the player to be able to progress in the story but the purpose of this game space is to provide a beautiful, visceral experience and to introduce the player to the not commonly known Celtic mythology. I hope to achieve a game space that when played will leave the player with a sense of awe, like that overwhelming feeling of significance and history when you visit some kind of historical tourist attraction. I would like to inspire the curiosity to see more by the end of the level. If the player gets caught up in exploring the different areas in my level out of curiosity, then the flow of the level will be just like I need it to be.
The story is about a man named Bran in what is now known as Dumfries, Scotland, 450 AD. He is the son of the village chief. He and his father share many attributes including honor, quick tempers and offhand tolerance of Celtic Catholicism, which hasn’t been the religion of the Celts for very long but long enough for Bran to not know about any other religion. Anyways, Bran is hunting when he is accosted by a unnaturally massive beast which comes after him with primal ferocity. Bran knows he’s outmatched so he runs off in some random direction. After a while he loses the creature but finds himself in an unfamiliar and ancient part of the forest. Here he finds an ancient run down temple-ish area dedicated to the Celtic gods, Danu, the Dagda, and Cernunnos. And thus Bran is introduced to his own peoples history for the first time.
Art Style
The style that I’m going to go for is Illustrative. I’m going to make it very detailed but I really want it to be a fantastical and kind of ethereal game space. I’m going to keep the color scheme bright. I’m thinking that they style is going to be along the lines of Trine or Dark Cloud 2 just not cell shaded. I want to use bright colors, shafts of light breaking through the trees, particles floating through the air and reflecting that light. I basically want to give the player the sense that they are entering one of the last domains of the ancient gods. I want to give them a sense that they are real and the shrines and their beauty are evidence that the gods are real and still have influence in this ancient part of the forest.
Mesh List
1.Danu statue
2.The Dagda Statue
3.Cernunnos Statue
4.Pictish stone
5.Celtic stone
6.Altar table
8. 3 fruits
11. Wheat
12. Pottery
13. Broadsword (at the foot of the Dagda)
14. Rubble
15. Wicker basket
Character Bio
Basic Information:
The main character’s name is Bran. Bran is an ancient Celtic name that means Strength and Versatility. His name suggests that a pure bloodline that traces to the very first of the Celts. Bran is 27 years old and is the last remaining son to his tribes chieftain. Bran is a fighter. He’s been raised to fight, and has been sculpted in tribal warfare for the past 10 years.
Physical Description:
Bran’s is taller than most of his folk, standing at 6’4’’. He has black, natural grown, shoulder length hair. His eyes are a pale grey. He has good vision and fair skin, like his people. His has an athletic build and was raised to be a fighter and a leader of men. He has neck and chest tattoos indicating his tribe and lineage as well as how many people he has slain. His posture shows that he is a proud person.
Bran’s typical articles of clothing are a dear-skin jerkin over his bare torso, a heavy wool skirt, and a loincloth under. His favorite colors are green and blue. He is very fond and respectful of his family sigil. He dresses for pure functionality and fit very well, not too loose and not too tight.
Weapons/Tools:
At the time of game play, Bran is carrying a Bow, a quiver, and a broadsword on his back. On is waist he is wearing a dagger and he’s also wearing a dagger at his ankle for clutch situations. He also carries some basic survival equipment with him. This includes flint, tinder, whetstones, etc. Bran sometimes wears a leather chord to hold back his hair.
Personality:
Bran is generally happy and content with his life. He likes to relax by drinking and conversing with family and friends who he is very protective of. He enjoys the thrill of the hunt. Upon the death of a friend or family member you can count on there being hell to pay. Bran will exact his bloody vengeance. He gets angry when anyone questions his honor and amused when someone questions his prowess. He loves his tribe and people dearly, fearing for their destruction which drives him to do what he has to do to protect them. He is an honorable person but one of his darkest ambitions is tribal conquest. He would like to see his tribe rise above all others and greatly wishes to be the one to bring about that end. His greatest joys in life are the company of loved ones and the thrill of battle.
Bran’s personal philosophy in life is to live and die with honor. His religion is a type of rudimentary Catholic mixed with a little bit of Celtic mythology, but he doesn’t take it too seriously. He hasn’t latched onto Catholicism like his Celtic brothers, and neither has his father. Bran, and his father before him, live by the sword, and aren’t interested in abstract thought, such as religion. Bran believes that any slight to him should be avenged with appropriate force. He can be a little hot headed at times. He is respectful to others unless the situation deems otherwise and is an overall contemplative and respectful person.
History:
Bran was born in a small village in Dumfries, Scotland in the year 450 A.D. His father is the tribes chieftain and his mother assists in those responsibilities. Bran loved his childhood and the memories of time spent with his two deceased brothers. His education slightly extends beyond the average villager but most of what he learned pertained to inner tribe politics. His greatest influence was his oldest brother and his uncle. Bran was not expecting to be chief of the village until his brothers died and he was forced to grow mentally, very fast. Relationship-wise, Bran hasn’t had many serious encounters at all, but he is quite the lady’s man so he’s been around the village.
Home:
Bran lives in a fairly large, well kept wattle and daub hut. He has nobody living with him but he is in close proximity to his parent’s hut. The interior is very Spartan but solid, with high quality furnishings.
