Interactive Graphics and Media Designer

So far into my idea, I’ve been developing character creation and annotating their roles in the video game, which I’ve written and drawn in my sketchbook. I’ve developed a storyline for the game to follow, which will intergrate with gameplay and combat so overcome obstacles and enemies.

The next step for me is to create more concept art, storyboards and possibly animate how the gameplay/combat aspect of my video game will work and how this will involve the characters. Again, this will be done in my sketchbook, but I’m looking to take these concepts onto computer using my tablet pen.

When I first began thinking of Ideas for the combat aspect of my Alice in Wonderland project, a game sprang to mind called Kameo. The game shares the same sort of Genre and Target Audience to my idea, and I like the fast the gameplay is focused on being able to transform into other Characters to help you defeat certain enemies and overcome certain tasks. I thought it would be interesting to apply this gameplay to my idea, for example Alice could inherit the powers of the White Rabbit, so she would be able to move alot faster or slow down time using the Rabbit’s watch.

When Theena the Elf Queen passes down the ability to become all of the Elemental Warriors and the Wotnot Book to her younger daughter Kameo, Kalus, the first daughter, grows jealous. In an act of revenge, she kidnaps her mother, her two uncles and her aunt, then proceeds to torture them. As part of her revenge scheme, she releases the ancient curse which held the evil troll king Thorn captive by kissing him on the lower lip and unleashes his troll army upon the world. Kameo dashes to their rescue, only to be knocked unconscious and left on The Mystic’s door step. The Mystic informs her that the Elemental Warriors are now Elemental Sprites who have been captured by the Shadow Trolls. She now has to rescue and absorb the Elemental Sprites, save her family and defeat Kalus and Thorn.

Kameo’s main objective during the game is to return the 10 Elemental Warriors back into the Wotnot and gain the ability to become them, which she must do to progress through the game. At the beginning Kameo has the power of 3 Elemental Warriors, but these are lost during the opening battle. When the warriors were released from the Wotnot they reverted to their physical forms where they are called Elemental Sprites, in these forms they are powerless and have been captured by the Shadow Trolls. Kameo collects the warriors from the Shadow Trolls, or from her relatives when she rescues them.

The concept of playing a shapeshifter who collects more and more shapes was first used in the old shadowcaster PC game. Kameo is differs due to her ability to sprout wings, and is one of the few characters who can jump. With her hover ability she is one of the faster characters, and she the only character who can pick up items. You have to upgrade your warriors to unlock their full potential. You do this by collecting Elemental Fruit. Kameo has the ability to turn into:

–Pummel Weed – A plant like monster with limbs that resemble boxing gloves. He fights with jabs and has the ability to go into the ground. He is one of two Earth Elemental Warriors, and the first you collect from a shadow troll. He was one of the three starting warriors. He was the first creature created by Rare, and was inspired from a member’s love of Boxing.

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–Snare – Another plant elemental warrior. Snare has powerful jaws and has the ability to bite, swallow, or spit out enemies, as well as spit toxic bile. He is of the earth element. Yeros was holding him.

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–Rubble – A creature who looks like a pile of rocks, and has the ability to launch himself in focus shots or in explosion blasts. He is the second Stone Elemental Warrior, and the second warrior you rescue from the shadow troll. He also has the ability to have other rocks follow him. He was concepted as joke when a member told them to create a rock monster out of a pile of bricks.

I’ve been recently playing around with a piece of software my university lecturer linked  to us called Endorphin, 3D industry’s first dynamic motion synthesis software. I’ve been practicing tutorials of how to use this software and so far its looking pretty good and I could probably demonstrate a part of my Alice in Wonderland video game idea using Endorphin.

At the heart of endorphin are its Adaptive Behaviors which, unlike animation data, are completely interactive. With Adaptive Behaviors, 3D characters essentially animate themselves. Move two rugby players close to each other and one will automatically tackle the other one, realistically trying to grab hold of his legs and bringing him down .

Or not. It really is up to you. endorphin Motion Synthesis software allows animators to direct scenes in real-time in a way they have never been able to do before. You can change parameters or change behaviors and see the results instantly on the screen in front of you. When you’re done, export animation data in one of the many formats, ready for use in your game or VFX shot.

How Endorphin was used to create the Pepsi Advert ‘Glueboy’.

-Tablet surface has a pleasant texture that feels like writing on paper.
-No batteries required.
-Hot swappable USB connection with detachable USB cable for portability.
-Sleek and elegant looking, all the way down to the packaging.
-Compatible with Windows and Macintosh.

To help with my process project I have splashed a bit of cash on a new tablet pen to help me with re-drawing all my sketches and concept art onto my computer. This will also be a great tool for me to animate with.