Game Production: Feature 1
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This semester we are creating games based on the concepts created last year. Choosing between the concepts of the other groups, we decided on one called Green Warden, a tower-defense game set in a forest. The first asset I started working on was the players character. This character is a spirit of the forest who is trying to save the ”Life Tree” (the heart of the forest and her home) from human loggers and foresters. She does this both by attacking the enemies herself and by planting trees that come alive and attack the enemies. The setting for this game is a Nordic forest, with characters influenced by Nordic mythology. The spirit or “Warden” is influenced by the Swedish mythological creature “Skogsrået”, a female embodiment of the forest who lures men deep into her realm, using her beauty, to devour them. With this already established creature in mind, I started to look for references. One depiction I really like is this:
By John Bauer. I started out doing a concept sketch, trying to incorporate the different elements of my idea. After the initial sketch I worked on finding the right angle for the character in the game engine. When I was satisfied with the angle and had the proportions right I did a first draft of the characters sprite (actual in-game image). First with lineart and then adding colour and shading . This was the initial sketch and design:
Since the character is in a situation in our game where she can not use her charm to lure the attackers, I wanted her to be in a rage, a battle mode. I gave her horns to make the silhouette a little more sharp, giving her a more aggressive look, and glowing green eyes to show her inner power bursting out. She is partially covered in vines and leaves to show that she is one with the forest. She also sports a slender tail, making it very clear she is not human. This is the result which I am much more happy with:
Now I am working on drawing the sprite from different angles, adding side and back views.  |
