Concept sketches
by James · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 12/21/2005 (6:48 pm) · 43 replies
Well I've finally start working on my prototype and have started sketching up concepts for it.
The "game" is a simulation of the life and times of our early ancestors during the last Ice Age. I'm still working on a title for it since "Tribes" is already taken ;)
Here's an early sketch for one of the characters:
Concept for the title screen:
I'll be working up a plan shortly and hope to have a basic working prototype with basic assets mid January all being well. I'll be posting more design work as I go and welcome any and all feedback. Costumes are taking the time right now as new information is replacing the traditional rough hide draping the body look.
Cheers!
The "game" is a simulation of the life and times of our early ancestors during the last Ice Age. I'm still working on a title for it since "Tribes" is already taken ;)
Here's an early sketch for one of the characters:
Concept for the title screen:
I'll be working up a plan shortly and hope to have a basic working prototype with basic assets mid January all being well. I'll be posting more design work as I go and welcome any and all feedback. Costumes are taking the time right now as new information is replacing the traditional rough hide draping the body look.
Cheers!
#2
12/22/2005 (1:57 am)
Inspiring. I can't help but think about another "Ice Age"- they got similiar look and feel. Lovely light on female btw. 
#3
12/22/2005 (2:00 am)
Nice sketches, but considering the era you're shooting for, I think they give off a more modern and groomed appearance. The first sketch is more in line than the 2nd. Beard nice and trim, faces don't look weathered...
#4
@ Todd: Your work has definitely been an inspiration point for me! Although I'm developing a First/third Person viewpoint "game" at the moment, I recognized in the beginning the advantages of creating an RTS as well. First things first, focus on one thing at a time and develop the first the First Person game then repurpose the models, etc for an RTS version. The game play will not port of course but the basic concept should. So we're both thinking on the same lines there :)
@ Radoslaw: I love the design of "Ice Age" too. I'm trying to stay away from that look though if I can. That's a bit of the struggle - coming up with a look. The first sketches are just to get the juices flowing but what will emerge over the next few weeks will be the "style" I want. Actually, I'm shooting for two - naturalistic and stylized (like Ice Age... but NOT Ice Age :P ).
@Xorrin: Yeah, I'm not happy with the drawings as they are - they come across too clean. There's work that needs doing there. That should evolve over the next few weeks.
I'm starting work on a "stand-in" model for the moment to replace the blue guy. When I have something, I'll post it.
There's a lot of research I have to do regarding clothing etc. Apparently they were weaving back then! - go figure!
Thanks again for the feedback.
Cheers all!
An edit to just say - "Damn! am I long winded or what!?"
12/22/2005 (5:22 pm)
First of all, thanks for the feedback. It really appreciated :)@ Todd: Your work has definitely been an inspiration point for me! Although I'm developing a First/third Person viewpoint "game" at the moment, I recognized in the beginning the advantages of creating an RTS as well. First things first, focus on one thing at a time and develop the first the First Person game then repurpose the models, etc for an RTS version. The game play will not port of course but the basic concept should. So we're both thinking on the same lines there :)
@ Radoslaw: I love the design of "Ice Age" too. I'm trying to stay away from that look though if I can. That's a bit of the struggle - coming up with a look. The first sketches are just to get the juices flowing but what will emerge over the next few weeks will be the "style" I want. Actually, I'm shooting for two - naturalistic and stylized (like Ice Age... but NOT Ice Age :P ).
@Xorrin: Yeah, I'm not happy with the drawings as they are - they come across too clean. There's work that needs doing there. That should evolve over the next few weeks.
I'm starting work on a "stand-in" model for the moment to replace the blue guy. When I have something, I'll post it.
There's a lot of research I have to do regarding clothing etc. Apparently they were weaving back then! - go figure!
Thanks again for the feedback.
Cheers all!
An edit to just say - "Damn! am I long winded or what!?"
#5
Happy New Year everyone :)
01/02/2006 (7:17 pm)
Here's the beginings of my stand-in model. Still work to do but it's coming along :)Happy New Year everyone :)
#6
I finished polishing the "Winter Wilderness" environment a few days ago and am now polishing the other environments in the pack.
I ported it to the FPS engine from the RTS Starter kit I was designing it for. It looks pretty good, all I could think about was hunting with a spear or bow in the environment and thought about your project.
I will post new shots the first of next week.
01/02/2006 (8:26 pm)
Looking good.I finished polishing the "Winter Wilderness" environment a few days ago and am now polishing the other environments in the pack.
I ported it to the FPS engine from the RTS Starter kit I was designing it for. It looks pretty good, all I could think about was hunting with a spear or bow in the environment and thought about your project.
I will post new shots the first of next week.
#7
I finished polishing the "Winter Wilderness" environment a few days ago and am now polishing the other environments in the pack.
I ported it to the FPS engine from the RTS Starter kit I was designing it for. It looks pretty good, all I could think about was hunting with a spear or bow in the environment and thought about your project.
I will post new shots the first of next week.
01/02/2006 (8:36 pm)
Looking good.I finished polishing the "Winter Wilderness" environment a few days ago and am now polishing the other environments in the pack.
I ported it to the FPS engine from the RTS Starter kit I was designing it for. It looks pretty good, all I could think about was hunting with a spear or bow in the environment and thought about your project.
I will post new shots the first of next week.
#8
01/02/2006 (8:37 pm)
Sorry, no idea how the double post happened, that Internet exploder for you. 
#10
01/03/2006 (1:35 am)
There was a Torque project Neandertal ( http://www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=432 ) with similar idea. It looked rather nice, but I think it's gone under for one reason or another.
#11
@ Todd: I'm going to have to get moving then so I can help you populate your RTS "Spear & Bow" environment :) Can't wait to see more screenshots.
Cheers!
01/03/2006 (4:29 am)
Thanks for the link Nauris, I wouldn't have known about that if you hadn't pointed it out. Very similiar ideas to what I had in mind so I'll take a little inspiration from them :)@ Todd: I'm going to have to get moving then so I can help you populate your RTS "Spear & Bow" environment :) Can't wait to see more screenshots.
Cheers!
#12
Oh yeah, VERY nice work!
01/08/2006 (2:02 pm)
There are a bunch of cool videos about early man. One I would recommend is called the "First Americans". It provides evidence that suggests aboriginal peoples being in South America 50,000 years ago! There is another video I saw, can't remember the name, that talks about how people from Europe may have used the ice along Greenland to travel the North America. They hunted in small boats just off the ice and went all the way accross the Atlantic. Definitely tons of room to make up your own cool story.Oh yeah, VERY nice work!
#13
Everything seems to be working out okay but there are still some issues. The shoulders work but the weighting has to be modified to allow the arms to be raised straight out and higher. The problem is in the arm pit. The top deforms great!
And then there's the "skirt". I hadn't thought to add some control bones to this and tried just assigning them to the thighs and lower back. It works but not in extreme cases so I'm going to try place two pairs of control bones here and see how that works.
Once I sort all that out, I'll move on to texture mapping :)
01/10/2006 (4:12 am)
Well, I finally got my Hunter rigged... almost. I'm really getting a good lesson in weight mapping and bone assignment. Everything seems to be working out okay but there are still some issues. The shoulders work but the weighting has to be modified to allow the arms to be raised straight out and higher. The problem is in the arm pit. The top deforms great!
And then there's the "skirt". I hadn't thought to add some control bones to this and tried just assigning them to the thighs and lower back. It works but not in extreme cases so I'm going to try place two pairs of control bones here and see how that works.
Once I sort all that out, I'll move on to texture mapping :)
#14
01/10/2006 (11:18 am)
Sweet! ...where's the axe?
#16
01/10/2006 (4:52 pm)
That to. 
#17
01/10/2006 (7:07 pm)
Nice. Good luck.
#18
01/10/2006 (7:55 pm)
Yes, Nice :)
#19
Im gonna keep my eye on this.
01/15/2006 (1:10 pm)
Yeh looking good. I like the first concept pic - looks more rugged and looks like he has things on his mind (hunting and being cold i guess).Im gonna keep my eye on this.
Torque 3D Owner Todd Pickens
I was thinking that the Winter environment of the RTS Environment pack I am finishing up would be a good start for the setting.
Check it out here if you like. www.garagegames.com/blogs/44513/8907