[mind map]
We started off by creating a mind map of our ideas, looking at each word from the brief and trying to find different ways to interpret them. We had two ideas by the end, a 2D maze game based around someone having a virus, and a 3D racing game set in outer space in this, or another, solar system.
[Mood board of ideas for landscape]
My focus in the team is on the art, and specifically in the environment design side of things. I'll have to decide upon what architecture is on the level and what the level looks like while trying to make sure it stays in the sci-fi theme.
Some good sources of reference would be space games, movies, and art as well as racing games, movies, and art. While making the level look like another world I've also got to take into consideration where the track for the race is as well as any obstacles, buildings and so on.
Specific references would be:
Crash Team Racing
No Mans Sky
Warframe
Destiny
Star wars
Art on art station
Above is an image of the level that is given to work from when making a racing game in unity. The assets are low poly so won't be very detailed. I'll have to take this into consideration when creating environment art. The goal is to make the level look like it's on another planet, making low-poly tress and rocks that look otherworldly will be the best way to make it look out of this world.
This gallery shows a range of art and in game screenshots designed around space and science fiction. These images show the range of fauna, terrain, structures and colours present in sci-fi art. There are a range of worlds present in sci-fi, from desert planets to planets that have fallen and been recalimed by nature.
While i've got to keep the detail very minimal as i take into consideration the low poly style of the game, making my art be limited to a very simplistic style is not a good idea either. Looking back at games and their concepts from the 90s you can see where the difference between concept and models was great, so having a big difference here isn't a problem.
When drawing the concepts, i've got to remember that it is being designed for a racing game and will need open areas to move as well as obstacles to halt your movement. If i have a lush forest piece i have to make sure there is a clear path you race through and if i create a rocky terrain i've got to make sure it's driveable.
Now to come up with some simple ideas that i can then take with me into creating simple sketches:
Rocky terrain with volcanoes
Desert
Lush forest
Flowery terrain
Mountains overtaken by fauna