Biome Final Screenshot

Hello all! I worked away at this evocative biome for a couple of weeks. My setting was a Florida marsh, and I intended for the scene to come off as serene, inviting, calming.

I feel that the skybox ties a lot of this image together. The foliage textures were hand painted, the skybox and tiling textures are photos/photobashing.

If you're interested in seeing more of my process, please visit my process book.

Here to follow are some contact sheets:

Character Design Sketches: Silhouettes and Scribbles

Here are some rough designs! These sketches are based on random scribbles and silhouettes. My personal favorites are the cat, the boy in the bottom left, and the girl in the bottom right. I'd say my biggest personal challenge was trying to find a sense of anatomy in an abstract blob. The final line art/black and white render of some of these drawings will be completed very soon. I'm excited to see them in a finished form.

Hero Prop/Mechanic Ideas

Here are some ideas I brainstormed for a hero prop and some potential uses.

1.  You wake up every night in your dreams, but without light or any way to guide you on. For months you've been trapped in these dark nightmares, and dreaming is starting to feel all too real. So you've created this companion in your mind. She lights the way, gives you a growing path. She needs rest too, though. When you need to stash her away and hide yourself, she'll fit into your pocket while you wait for the end of her quiet slumber.

2. The cat tore up the curtains again, so it's time for the big guns. Break out your super mega water gun, cats hate that stuff! With just a few snap on attachments you'll be ready to take on that kitten anytime.

3.  Sleeping Dart Blaster Backpack. Controls with bicycle-like handlebars that come up and over the head. Buttons on handles fire darts. Reloads similarly to a belt-fed machine gun, pulling from an open box-like backpack. This character prefers non-lethal methods to move through their environment. This is a goofier, wonkier looking prop.

4. Bush Trimming Wrist Attachments. As a gardening robot you've always been expected to be top notch service, but you're not sure how you're going to fare against this odd new infestation. These plants are growing like wildfire, and the bushes are starting to overtake the kitchen. Use your brand new shearing attachment to combat these wild weeds.

5. Personal Hot Air Balloon. Set up is contained within (fireproof) backpack. Balloon inflation begins inside the backpack. As the balloon inflates, the contraption emerges and sails the user away. Sandbags NOT included.

6. Party planning time! The Deco-Bazooka fires today's hottest, glitteriest fashions in the decoration world at your walls! Decorate for any holiday, mood, or illness. This is the tech for you if you're tired of boring consistent decoration.

7. Simple cloaking device expands outward from your hat, and down to encompass your body. Special light reflecting technology allows smart guys to make you invisible when some protons engage in mingling activities within your light reflective nano-carbon-bro gear.

8. Alchemist's Botany Belt. Create your own concoctions to be used within your greenhouse and add them to your ever-growing collection on your belt. Easy access means you'll be able to deal with any mangy old plant that's trying to get away from you. Literally. Results may vary.

9. Better Underwater Travel. This compact machine contains an engine and propellers that will guide a player through any underwater mishap. Easily navigate through tunnels, strange formations, and evade predators. Main drawback is the inability to travel long distances. Meant for quick action, not long term travel.

10. This magnifying glass, a large piece of equipment you must carry on your back, translates all the texts in the universe to your native language. Through using this translation tool and your wits, you can navigate terrifying and confusing puzzles that want only one thing: your death!

Summer Portrait

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do a portrait for The Memory Project. This is Ahmed!

Progress w/ Reference. Numerous bad sketches till this one took!

The final version that got sent. I hope I did him some justice! 

Racing Game Trailer

Here's a trailer for my racing game I made this semester!

Arkanoid Inspired Game Research

My teammate and I are choosing to make an "Arkanoid" inspired game, an arcade brick breaker from 1986. We'll be making 2 levels of the game, the first level and a second, more difficult level. Aesthetically we're looking at games like "Candy Crush Saga"

but with cute pastel influences.

The following goes over our Game Features List, prioritized:

Player Locomotion- Players must be able to use their arrow keys in order to move a paddle horizontally in the playable area. This will allow them to bounce balls off of the paddle to aim towards bricks. 

Level Hazards- Bricks are the key hazard in the game. There will be 3 types in each level: 1 hit bricks, 2 hit bricks, and 3 hit bricks. This will allow for strategic placement of both types of brick to challenge the player. 

Falling power ups will also serve as a hazard. While most will give the player positive temporary bonuses, some will shrink the player's paddle size and other's might steal a ball from the player.

Player Health and Respawn System- The player's number of lives will be determined by how many balls they have available to deploy. Should the player not catch a ball with their paddle, they will lose that ball and another will respawn on their paddle waiting to be shot. If the player reaches 0 balls they will lose the game. 

HUD- The HUD will simply display the number of balls a player has at any given time, what level they are on, and how many points they've received for breaking bricks. 

Wall Collision- The paddle will collide with a wall on both the right and left sides of the stationary screen. The ball will be able to bounce off of the top, left, and right walls, but will fall through the floor at the bottom. 

Game Camera- The game camera is stationary and does not move for the duration of the game. 

The general take on this game will be light hearted, cute, and fun. And sparkly.

Really sparkly.

You think I'm kidding?

Attract Trailer Research

To use as reference for my own racing game's trailer, I looked at the Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed launch trailer. It features predominantly in-game shots but is sprinkled with some solid cheesy acting.

What I like most about this trailer is how well they featured a lot of the cool aspects in the game like changing vehicles and crazy stunts. Their cuts are also interesting in the way they continue and build off the motion of the previous shot. Also, shots with long duration are well-balanced with fast, quickly cut shots.