Project Beginnings

Type of Project
This project is a character design project for videogames with the outcomes of two characters for a 3rd person action and adventure platformer similar to games such as SLY COOPER and Heavenly sword.

Artistic Direction/ Theme

This project is based around Mayan Mythology therefore the characters look is derived from Mayan culture with a cute style to fit in with the audience and type of game.

Intended Audience
The intended audience for this game is players of 7+ with the game featuring cartoon violence .

Narrative

The twins are a mischievous pair who use their special abilities to make their chores easier. They are destined to be great ball players and after finding their fathers equipment they set off to a court to play. The twins play in the court but they wake up the Mayan underworld lords who confront them and challenge them in the Mayan ball game Pok-TaPok. When the twins find them the Lords decide that if the twins lose the ball game they will be sent on a test to retrieve an object from the 7 houses. The player/players will use the twins to work together and defeat the enemies along the way to collecting the 7 objects gaining new abilities along the way in order to defeat the Lords who had once defeated their father and uncle.

Inspiration

Masks as shapes

Masks as shapes

Masks as shapes

Gotta collect em all

Gotta collect em all

Collectibles are a must in most games allowing gamers to get more out of the game by getting collectibles to unlock new content or in some cases for bragging rights by gaining digital trophies in attempt to complete a game 100%. This game will feature collectibles hidden within pots and vases seen on the previous slide. This will be marked with the current house symbol that the player is in for example the Jaguar house will feature the Mayan jaguar symbol. The gold will be used to purchase new attacks and the jade used to upgrade the weapons and armour used by the characters to make them stronger.

Characters

The beginnings of Xbalanque came from the original face design from the mask shapes. The idea behind this character was strength and so he is the larger in build of the twins. In combat he uses brute strength and close combat to defeat enemies.

Xbalanque

Xbalanque

Xbalanque

Xbalanque has the tattoo symbol of a shield to symbolise his strength.

Hunahpu

Hunahpu

Hunahpu is the slender one of the twins and is built for speed and range with his trusty weapon. He is weaker in defence but the enemies have to catch him first which is not an easy task.

Hunahpu

Hunahpu

Hunahpu has the tattoo symbol of the sun linking with his speed of light agility.

Expression Sheets

Concept 1 Outside the Jaguar House

Concept 2 Co-operative attack

Xbalanque swings Hunahpu by the legs at speed forming a tornado which the player controls dealing damage to all enemies surrounding them

Eradicating Genericism

The characters were missing a lot of charm and I had to eradicate the genericism that I had come across with the designs of both characters. Here are the changes made to both characters which made their designs much stronger. I needed to bring out characteristics within the characters that would create a comical conflict between the twins.

Final Design Clumsy Xbalanque

Eradicating Genericism

Final Design Cocky and Impatient Hunahpu

Xbalanque Modelling

Xbalanque Modelling

Hunahpu Modelling

Hunahpu Modelling

Xbalanque Texture and Normal Map

Hunahpu Texture and Normal Map

Xbalanque Textured and Rigged

Hunahpu Textured and Rigged

Xbalanque Clumsy Render

Hunahpu Hands on Hips Render

Character Turnaround still render

Promotional Work

Promotional Work