Project Info
Genre:
Reference game:
Engine:
Project Length:
Hack and Slash
Diablo 3
Frostheim (via Unreal)
12 weeks (half time)
My Role:
Level Design (level 3)
Game Design
Narrative Design
Writing
The fifth project focuses on preproduction and developing content for a pre-existing property, namely Diablo 3. The group was randomly assigned a viking theme. We tried to work from what assets were already available in the asset bank and ended up with an outdoor enviroment.
I have some experience with writing and the design team we wanted to be narratively ambitious and do enviromental storytelling at a higher level than required and so we worked extensivily with visual metaphor, character development and pacing. I took on a leadership role when it came to story and did most of the writing. We also wanted to present impressive set pieces that conveys the idea of the world.
As a design team we put a lot of care in defining primary shapes to create a unity of form across the entire game. It was important to us to have meshes that could create the kind of game spaces needed for tactical combat. I challenge myself to be a part of the process to learn to be stronger graphically.
The fact that the biggest shapes on the screen remained consistent made it easier to make the different environment seem to belong to the same world.
I took on a leading role in the writing and story development process. I wanted to make sure that the main character had a clear want and need, as well as using mythic structure concepts to make as many elements as possible point in the same direction. The Valkyire and shieldmaiden were interesting character to write for.
