Well, today I decided to finally do some more work ^_^ I'm trying to finish up all my RPGs at the moment so I can play Persona 4 is peace come Christmas. I want that game SO BAD.
Anyways, did some more visual research today and got myself some nice skin textures. I'm planning to do a small collage using all my textures to create something artistic but necessary. I've got 32 textures, but they're a bit small - maybe I'll need some more.
Wish me luck!
Sunday 30 November 2008
Saturday 22 November 2008
Just some pretty snake pictures
Thought I'd post some visual research I've been up to. People assume it's easy to get images off Google Image Search or something, but in reality you really have to look. You also have to source it and all that crap. This is some of the snake work I've been up to.
Green Anaconda, the heaviest snake in the world (some argue the overall biggest) next to the Reticulated Python. It lives in the Amazon and swamps/jungles of South America and so needs adequate camoflage (although it has few natural predators). Again something I need to look at when designing my None Walker - she'll be swamp/tropics based so maybe I'll go for a similar look? I also want to give her some head crests of some kind.
Anyone remember Anaconda? I remember watching that.....and laughing at it. Still, the animatronic snake in question did win quite an award and I do remember it being a little scary (stalking them through the Amazon and eating them). I found a few storyboarding pieces and the one above shows the final scene in the film (Jon Voight uses Jennifer Lopez and that guy (?) for bait to lure the anaconda). It's a huge creature but obviously not that big in real life.
This is a really good picture of a real anaconda as you can clearly see its distinctive marking s and the snout with the eyes clearly on the top of the head. The fact that snakes can climb almost anywhere still amazes me, having no limbs and all. This something I want the player to be able to do in Abeo... - climb over branches, under tree trunks, just generally slink about like snakes do. Being anaconda-based, you'll obviously be able to swim underwater as well.
Green Anaconda, the heaviest snake in the world (some argue the overall biggest) next to the Reticulated Python. It lives in the Amazon and swamps/jungles of South America and so needs adequate camoflage (although it has few natural predators). Again something I need to look at when designing my None Walker - she'll be swamp/tropics based so maybe I'll go for a similar look? I also want to give her some head crests of some kind.
Anyone remember Anaconda? I remember watching that.....and laughing at it. Still, the animatronic snake in question did win quite an award and I do remember it being a little scary (stalking them through the Amazon and eating them). I found a few storyboarding pieces and the one above shows the final scene in the film (Jon Voight uses Jennifer Lopez and that guy (?) for bait to lure the anaconda). It's a huge creature but obviously not that big in real life.
This is a really good picture of a real anaconda as you can clearly see its distinctive marking s and the snout with the eyes clearly on the top of the head. The fact that snakes can climb almost anywhere still amazes me, having no limbs and all. This something I want the player to be able to do in Abeo... - climb over branches, under tree trunks, just generally slink about like snakes do. Being anaconda-based, you'll obviously be able to swim underwater as well.Deep Sea Beasties
I've been doing a lot of research on deep sea organisms over the past few days via researching science articles (new species are being discovered all the time), images and watching the great David Attenborough documentaries Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Life in Cold Blood. They're so beautiful and I cried at Life in Cold Blood.
Through this research, various creatures from the deep have piqued my interest - I'm thinking of going for an eel/cephalopod type creature.
I feel so weird typing this with gloves and jumper on whilst it snows outside T_T
This is the Vampire Squid - a deep sea cephalopod. I couldn't find out why it was called the "Vampire" squid exactly but I guess it has something to do with the spiny cerri on the underside of it's tentacles. When threatened, the squid turns its tentacle "cloak" inside out and becomes a spiny mass (this is called the "pineapple").
This is a really cool defensive manouveur and certainly one I'd like to incorporate into my designs. Imagine being able to turn yourself inside out in-game *_*
This beauty is the Gulper Eel - it says it all on the tin really. The mouth can swallow other creatures the same size if not bigger than the eel itself and the stomach can expand to 10 times its original size. The eel has no teeth unlike the deep sea angler but doesn't need any if it can just swallow its prey whole (and alive...eew).
This is the Abyssal Cusk Eel - this picture doesn't do this beautiful creature any justice, so click the video below to see just how wonderfully it moves.
The way it moves is another thing I'd like to incorporate. I just like the way it is pure white and moves so gracefully - somewhat angelic. This element of grace is something lacking in lots of deep sea creatures (fab creatures, but not exactly pretty, are they?) which is what attracted me to this eel. As Animus - in her water guise - is still female I'd like to design something feminine.
This - from what I can find - is a Chimaera pup (there is a Chimaera in the above video) that was washed up during a recent tsunami in the east. Notice how it's body looked bruised and darkened (it's obviously dead, but would have died in this sort of pressure if it had survived being washed up. I feel sorry for it). There seem to be quite a few shark-looking creatures in the twilight zone and beyond (some measuring 8m long!) - if my creature is to survive the dark zones of the ocean, she will need to either be the top predator or be well equipped to deal with other predators. Deep sea creatures are constantly on the look for either a) food or b) mates and the player won't want to end up as option a.
Through this research, various creatures from the deep have piqued my interest - I'm thinking of going for an eel/cephalopod type creature.
I feel so weird typing this with gloves and jumper on whilst it snows outside T_T
This is the Vampire Squid - a deep sea cephalopod. I couldn't find out why it was called the "Vampire" squid exactly but I guess it has something to do with the spiny cerri on the underside of it's tentacles. When threatened, the squid turns its tentacle "cloak" inside out and becomes a spiny mass (this is called the "pineapple").
This is a really cool defensive manouveur and certainly one I'd like to incorporate into my designs. Imagine being able to turn yourself inside out in-game *_*
This beauty is the Gulper Eel - it says it all on the tin really. The mouth can swallow other creatures the same size if not bigger than the eel itself and the stomach can expand to 10 times its original size. The eel has no teeth unlike the deep sea angler but doesn't need any if it can just swallow its prey whole (and alive...eew).
This is the Abyssal Cusk Eel - this picture doesn't do this beautiful creature any justice, so click the video below to see just how wonderfully it moves.
The way it moves is another thing I'd like to incorporate. I just like the way it is pure white and moves so gracefully - somewhat angelic. This element of grace is something lacking in lots of deep sea creatures (fab creatures, but not exactly pretty, are they?) which is what attracted me to this eel. As Animus - in her water guise - is still female I'd like to design something feminine.
This - from what I can find - is a Chimaera pup (there is a Chimaera in the above video) that was washed up during a recent tsunami in the east. Notice how it's body looked bruised and darkened (it's obviously dead, but would have died in this sort of pressure if it had survived being washed up. I feel sorry for it). There seem to be quite a few shark-looking creatures in the twilight zone and beyond (some measuring 8m long!) - if my creature is to survive the dark zones of the ocean, she will need to either be the top predator or be well equipped to deal with other predators. Deep sea creatures are constantly on the look for either a) food or b) mates and the player won't want to end up as option a.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
What the hell just happened?
I have no idea what just happened but those last two posts below? Swap them around and THAT'S how they're meant to be read.
As in read "Story concept and game..." THEN "Some sketches and thoughts".
Stoopid intarwebs T_T
As in read "Story concept and game..." THEN "Some sketches and thoughts".
Stoopid intarwebs T_T
Story and Concept of game - Abeo Animus ut Animus
Right, I finally came up with my game concept properly a few days ago. Here's an extract from my Game Treatment that illustrates my idea:
...the overarching story concerns the character Animus – a character that the player never sees in human form, but who has the ability to transform into a multitude of different creatures (the creatures the player are able to play as). She is part of a dying race called the Obtineo and must traverse the world’s harsh environments to discover why her race is rapidly dwindling and why various settlements are going dark. In her various guises, Animus will be able to talk and interact with other characters/objects and the player will be privy to her inner thoughts. This will hopefully create an emotional bond from player to Animus and make the player want to see the conclusion to Animus’ story.
Yeah I like Latin ^^ I was pretty pleased with the game title which basically translates as "I go from one to another" which I thought fitted the character's morphing ability quite well (wow, morphing.....anybody remember Animorphs?). I decided on a female character as - being a female myself - it would be easier to make her creature forms (hmm I need a good Latin word better than "creature forms") more feminine. I had the idea of creating a sort of emblem on her skin or face (tatoos or make-up for example) that stay when she transforms so that you always know that YOU (the player) are still controlling the same character. Think of it as like an imprint or symbol you'll get used to and feel familar with.
...the overarching story concerns the character Animus – a character that the player never sees in human form, but who has the ability to transform into a multitude of different creatures (the creatures the player are able to play as). She is part of a dying race called the Obtineo and must traverse the world’s harsh environments to discover why her race is rapidly dwindling and why various settlements are going dark. In her various guises, Animus will be able to talk and interact with other characters/objects and the player will be privy to her inner thoughts. This will hopefully create an emotional bond from player to Animus and make the player want to see the conclusion to Animus’ story.
Yeah I like Latin ^^ I was pretty pleased with the game title which basically translates as "I go from one to another" which I thought fitted the character's morphing ability quite well (wow, morphing.....anybody remember Animorphs?). I decided on a female character as - being a female myself - it would be easier to make her creature forms (hmm I need a good Latin word better than "creature forms") more feminine. I had the idea of creating a sort of emblem on her skin or face (tatoos or make-up for example) that stay when she transforms so that you always know that YOU (the player) are still controlling the same character. Think of it as like an imprint or symbol you'll get used to and feel familar with.
Some sketches and thoughts
I've been more organising my research than actually DOING research over the past few days >.< It's hard organising drawings to scan in, drawings to brush up in PS, which to colour (if any) and then rough skecthes that show your development and all that. Then you have to put them all in corresponding folders....bleh. Anyways, I decided to give my two current creatures - Jersey Devil/horse/dragon thing and snake/naga/goddess thing - names. With added picture goodness!
This is my Jersey Devil-based creature. I decided to give her the WIP title "Forest Walker" as her natural habitat will be the deep forest. This comes from the fact that the JD lives in the Pine Barrens, a pretty dense, creepy forest in in New Jersey (hence the name), USA and the old Pagan legends of unicorns running around in forests etc. I'm want to make her very horse-like (long face, hooves, difficult-to-draw legs T_T) but give her qualities that raise her above being a horse creature. For example, I'm thinking of making her bipedal (but also able to run swiftly on all fours) and that her front two "feet" will have hooves that snap back and reveal very human-like hands. As this is still the research phase, I'm still not thinking very seriously about her design but it's good to start somewhere.
This is my snake creature which I have dubbed "None Walker" (hey I thought it was clever). Her habitat includes the dense, thick pungent swamps and rainforests of the world. Her serpent-body allows her to weaves in and out of huge tree roots, under rivers and streams and basically areas creatures with legs can't go. Notice the thick black markings around the eye and face - I'm starting to think about the tatoos or markings I mentioned earlier. For some reason I started drawing Egyptian-ish symbols (such as the Scarab's wings) on Animus' poor confused face.
I'm still researching my deep-sea creature. Watched the Blue Planet the other day (I love David Attenborough) one concerning "The Deep". There's some crazy stuff at the bottom of the sea, like lakes.
Yes, there are lakes at the bottom of the Abyssal Plain. Look it up.
This is my Jersey Devil-based creature. I decided to give her the WIP title "Forest Walker" as her natural habitat will be the deep forest. This comes from the fact that the JD lives in the Pine Barrens, a pretty dense, creepy forest in in New Jersey (hence the name), USA and the old Pagan legends of unicorns running around in forests etc. I'm want to make her very horse-like (long face, hooves, difficult-to-draw legs T_T) but give her qualities that raise her above being a horse creature. For example, I'm thinking of making her bipedal (but also able to run swiftly on all fours) and that her front two "feet" will have hooves that snap back and reveal very human-like hands. As this is still the research phase, I'm still not thinking very seriously about her design but it's good to start somewhere.
This is my snake creature which I have dubbed "None Walker" (hey I thought it was clever). Her habitat includes the dense, thick pungent swamps and rainforests of the world. Her serpent-body allows her to weaves in and out of huge tree roots, under rivers and streams and basically areas creatures with legs can't go. Notice the thick black markings around the eye and face - I'm starting to think about the tatoos or markings I mentioned earlier. For some reason I started drawing Egyptian-ish symbols (such as the Scarab's wings) on Animus' poor confused face.I'm still researching my deep-sea creature. Watched the Blue Planet the other day (I love David Attenborough) one concerning "The Deep". There's some crazy stuff at the bottom of the sea, like lakes.
Yes, there are lakes at the bottom of the Abyssal Plain. Look it up.
Monday 10 November 2008
Level 70 Aerodactyl in yo' face YEA!!!
Yeah, I'm pretty proud of my Aerodactyl ^^ I named her Ayla ( a cookie to anyone who get's the reference).
Which leads me nicely into my Thunderbird research - some more digging around shows that some people think aforementioned bird is actually some sort of Pterosaur. Not actually "flying dinosaurs" as people incorrectly see them, but a completely different species. The only recorded creatures that had a wingspan of 20ft and beyond are the pterosaurs from 65 million years ago - could some have survived? But the scale of these things blows me away - they're truly awe inspiring. Check out Hatzegopteryx.
I mean, what the hell? That's mental. I'm wondering whether to make my Flyer (WIP title) that big or not. Concerning stealth, I suppose it could just fly higher in the sky to avoid detection or have Chameleon skin. Interesting how the artist has chosen to depict it as furry/feathery rather than the traditional scaled skin.
Researching the Colossal Squid and other krakens
Found an article recently stating that the eye diameter of the colossal squid's eyes "are as big as dinner plates" - 40cm on a live specimen.
As one of my three creatures is definitely going to be a squid/deep sea creature of some sort, this is pretty important - the stereotype of deep sea creatures is that they don't need eyes in a near-pitch black environment, but this is obviously wrong. As such my creatures gonna need massive eyeballs.
Interestingly, a lot of the websites I've read say that squid as a species are very aggressive and wrestle with Sperm whales. This is what might have given rise to the Kraken legend as colossal/giant squid are more likely to have surfaced in eyeshot of humans rather than an octopus or anything else. I really don't know about them attacking ships though.
As one of my three creatures is definitely going to be a squid/deep sea creature of some sort, this is pretty important - the stereotype of deep sea creatures is that they don't need eyes in a near-pitch black environment, but this is obviously wrong. As such my creatures gonna need massive eyeballs.
Interestingly, a lot of the websites I've read say that squid as a species are very aggressive and wrestle with Sperm whales. This is what might have given rise to the Kraken legend as colossal/giant squid are more likely to have surfaced in eyeshot of humans rather than an octopus or anything else. I really don't know about them attacking ships though.
Thursday 6 November 2008
Did some PS work.
Spontaneously did some Photoshop work today, which is unusual because I usually avoid it like the plague. Came out better than I thought as I was using a new brush (a really jagged one) and I think it's really helped with the texture. I decided to work into a Jersey Devil idea I posted here earlier.
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