Removing the Layers

Now that I’ve got the concept for the map finished, we can take a look at the layers that reveal the different levels of the game. Here’s a shot of the map with all the areas hidden:

Everything is hidden

As we can see here, the Kelp Forest has been revealed and can now be explored:

The Kelp Forest is revealed

The Kelp Forest is revealed

Now the player can barely see a cave entrance behind the kelp. In this next shot, the Ship Graveyard is shown and can be explored as well.

Ship Graveyard

Now, we see the Coral Forest:

Coral Forest

And Finally, the secret cave and it’s chambers are shown and all cave entrances can be accessed.

All is revealed

From here, lighting should be rendered in greyscale  and then maybe a small color key should be created before sending it off to the painters.

This was really a challenge, there were so many areas and so much that had to be seen by the player. One should always be careful when bidding a job, you can really screw yourself.  I would have liked to had more time to clean up the drawing and add shading myself but we were really under the gun and barely made deadline. The Art Director, Andy, is a killer artist and will probably work on this one before sending off to the painters. I think they’re in China, which is rather disappointing. I know lots of artists that could use the work. Myself included!

Rich Powell

I'm an artist/illustrator residing in a small, North Carolina town. I worked for a few years as a conceptual artist and art director in the computer game industry but set off on my own to freelance. I currently do humorous illustration and cartoons for publications such as MAD Magazine and Highlights for Children.

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1 Response

  1. I know that as artists we would keep on going but it looks great anyway! I think it is pathetic that they outsource paint jobs like that. It reminds me when we worked at Sierra and did the same thing for a project. It was a disaster since there was little control and colors had to be adjusted, repainted etc. when they came back. I can’t see how that saves them money, specially in this economy where everyone is struggling to get by (well, not everybody!)

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