Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
log in to view work in progress. Others use the blogging system, FTP sites, or
simply email work back and forth. There are also services that allow users to
send large files, such as MailBigFile and Dropbox. Dropbox has a drag-and-drop
feature: users can drag files into their dropbox and share access with others who
can pull those files onto their own computer systems as needed.
inspiration and Originality
Many times, I have counseled students to avoid drawing from memory. Artists
or students occasionally draw what they think something should look like (how
they remember it) instead of what it actually looks like. It's also too common for
artists new to concept work to simply create a variation of a character they're
familiar with from another game or similar medium, such as animation or a
comic book.
The point is that in order to create a new type of character, it's important to
reach outside of your current frame of reference and strive for something new
and original. How many times have you sat down to draw, say, a house or a dog,
and had it always be the same type of house or dog?
Designing Original Characters
It's understandable to have a fear of coming up with something new. It's comfort-
able to keep drawing the same things over and over, kind of like doing a loving
portrait of an old friend. But put yourself in the shoes of gamers who will immerse
themselves in the world of the game you're creating and interact with the characters
you're designing. You sit down to play, install a new game, marvel at the splash art,
and are swept away by the intro music and stunning opening cinematics. Then you
become entranced and amazed at some remarkable
new
character you've never seen
before. And the best part is, you get to interact with this character.
Having well-designed characters—their appearance and also how they move,
sound, and interact with other elements of the game—lends itself to making the
game not only playable, but re-playable, and that is one of the components of
successful gameplay.
Where to Find inspiration for Original Designs
Sometimes, though, your task may be to create an orc or elf or dragon or knight—
a type of character that has been used frequently in games. Even in these cases,
don't limit yourself by falling back on doing variations of what others have done.
Where do you go for inspiration if your only source for ideas might be the last
game you played?
The world. No: the universe all around you!
