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CrossRoads |
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Fortified Hamlet |
Since I am on my summer holiday; whilst those that started my course in september are doing their final projects, I thought it best to do my own self initiated summer project. My goal is to add to my portfolio of work, prepare for my own final project which ill undertake next year, as well as giving a more structured approach to my own study. The above are the first 2 designs for levels in the game.
Here is the brief I have set myself:
The Brief
You have been tasked with designing a
level and its contents in an action RPG game. You will also be
expected to model some of your designs.
Action RPG. Ala Fable, Kingdoms of
Amalur, Batman Arkham franchise, God of War, Torchlight, Diablo etc
Or create in sub genres, such as an MMOARPG such as Guild Wars 2,
WoW, Rift, Tera etc.
This can be a game based on pre
existing franchise as listed above, or it can be one of your own
design. (I decided to go with my own design so I potentially have my own I.P to develop upon)
Aim:
Concept art section:
Design 3 sections of your chosen
game level. In Kingoms of Amalur for instance this could be the
opening area to a dungeon, its mid section, and the final boss area.
See the concept art for Torchlight 2 and Kingdoms of Amular. If
designing for an mmo this could be 3 unique points of interest within
a particular section of a zone example a village, a watering hole,
and an enemy encampment. Might be worth planning your overhead layout
for your designs first.
Design the players character the
character should look like they fit within the world of the game. If
choosing a game with a clear protagonist such as Batman. Then you
should create a unique character that can be played within the
context of that world.
Design a grunt npc – npcs that
you fight on a regular basis, not usually very strong individually.
Almost always found in groups, for example the bandits in Fable.
Perhaps split these in to 3 designs, a character that fights at
range, one in melee, another who is a nuisance npc (throws bombs,
hinders the player character etc)
Design a squad leader npc – a
special unit, still a unit that appears regularly but is much more
powerful individually than the grunts. Usually these types of enemy
npcs come mixed with the grunt npcs. So create a visual link between
the two groups is advised. An example would be the baton carrying
grunts or the dual weapon wielding grunts in Batman Arkham asylum.
Design a mini- boss or Special type
of creature, example the Titans in Batman Arkham Asylum, the
special powered creatures in Torchlight. These could be unique mobs
or lieutenants of the boss etc
Design a Boss. Remember that
usually the boss is a reflection of the level design and the previous
npcs are usually the minions of the boss or have some relation to it.
Doesn’t have to be friendly to the previous characters, for example
maybe its a experiment gone wrong or a creature the previous
characters were trying to secure for their own purposes. Moreover
this could be a rare unique boss that appears randomly in the level,
however again it should look like it belongs there.
All characters or creatures must
have model sheets which include front, back, and side views.
Create a prop/modular asset sheet.
Props or assets would be things like weapon racks, barrels, piles of
rubble, buildings, walls, vases, books, shelves, treasure chests,
coins,etc basically the things you would use to populate the level.
Usually these can be unique designs for that particular level or
modular. Think of each one as having a specific purpose either to
enhance the visuals of the level, or to have an effect on game play.
Example see the prop sheets for Torchlight 2, or have a look at
dungeon prop sheets.
Design 3 weapons this could be a
low level, mid range level, and a high level weapon. Or it could be 3
unique weapons that have specific functions example the boomerang,
sticky bomb paste, etc in Batman. Alternatively design 1 main weapon,
and 3 unique attachments or upgrades for that weapon.
Design 3 armour sets or costumes for
your main character. Like the
weapon this could be a low level, mid level, and high level set. It
could be also be 3 variations of the same armour such as in WoW where
you get different tiers of the same armour depending on the
difficulty of the dungeon.
Alternatively
design 3 unique items that create a set to be collect. Such as the
special sets that give you bonuses in Torchlight.
Create Icons for your
weapons/armour/utility items. Basically
anything you have to select in game to be used/picked up etc. Create
a sheet with all of the icons on.
Create a splash screen/main menu
background for the game, ie the
contents page for the game that has new game, multiplayer, options
etc on.
3D section:
All 3D work to be
based on previous concept art.
Model:
1 Character,
either main character, grunts, boss, etc.
3 weapons or utility items
3 props or modular pieces such
as a building, vase, treasure chest, book shelf etc
Aim to texture all
of your models.
Create all models
to a UDK reference size
Either render all
items in UDK or create a render in Maya using mental ray.
Summary:
Concept art section:
Design 3 sections
of your chosen game level.
Design the players
character
Design a grunt npc
Design a squad
leader npc
Design a mini-
boss or Special type of creature
Design a Boss.
Create a
prop/modular asset sheet
Design 3 weapons
Design 3 armour
sets or costumes for your main character.
Create Icons for
your weapons/armour/utility items
3D section:
1 Character
3 weapons or
utility items
3 props or modular
pieces