Design Document

What the project is about?

The project that I shall be carrying out is probably one of the most important aspects of visual entertainment media, Concept Art. In this project I will be a designing and creating concept for characters, vehicles, scenery assets and area art based a small game idea. The majority of the concept art produces in this project will be of my own design however some illustrations will be based of existing designs for vehicles, weapons, cloths and gear. The research I will need for this project will be a collection of works that have been produced by official and unofficial artists but a side form concept art research I will also be required to do some research into some real life sources such as fire arms of various kinds like hand guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles etc. And other things like vehicles and uniforms for the game idea.

Why create this project?

  I have chosen to do this project for a couple of reasons one of them being is because I feel that since my drawing skills are my strongest skills that I have I’ll be able to perform well in this chosen area. I enjoy being creative and coming up with my own ideas and designs for characters and such. I have also chosen this subject so that in doing the research and studying the different styles that are used in concept art I could then improve my own style in general. Another reason why I chosen this subject is to develop a greater understanding of the role a concept artist has with in a creative team.

I enjoy viewing different designs, illustrations and digital paintings form a game or movie showing the progression of a character, creature or vehicle design all the way to its finalized concept and from there producing promotional art featuring that character or creature witch is usually on the cover of the DVD or game case.  But it would be something interesting for me to see in my own work the progression of a concept idea weather it’s a character or a vehicle design.

Back ground for the game idea.

The idea takes place on earth in the year 2013, in the early months of the New Year extraterrestrials descended down to earth in a very loud and vivid manna make there appearance strong to the whole world. For three days the E.T’s ship remained still in the skies above Washington D.C during that time the government planed and prepared to fly up to the E.T’s ship and try to establish communication with them. On the forth day the go ahead was given by the president and the operation to welcome the E.T’s to earth began. The whole earth was silent and in suspense as they watched the air force fly up to the ship and begin the operation. For ten minutes the operation seemed like it was going well but what seemed like a clear night sky full of hope and anticipation quickly became a bloody slaughter the E.T’s began what they intended to do, to conquer earth. A long month of war went by and the remaining humans are taken refuge in underground bases there they binded there time and researched all they could about the E.T’s that where revealed to be know as the Galidus. During this time of hiding and planning a small team of people where being selected to become part of a special operations unit called the Zelta team. The unite does not attack the Galidus directly such an act is suicide and would endanger the remaining human survivors. The Zelta unite targets operations the Galidus sets up on the ground in order to weaken them, The members of the Zelta team have strong personal motives towards the Galidus. With such strong emotions driving them the members of the Zelta team are prepared to do what ever it takes to bring them down.

Where does it take place?

The main stage where this idea takes place is set on earth and most of the fighting is fought on what’s left of Washington DC some of the fighting will take place in the humans underground base as well as the Galius mother ship.

Who are the main characters?

There are five main characters in this game idea. Three of the characters are military solders one of them is a scientist with medical skills and the last one is the command of the unite who use to be an air force pilot.

Who are the aliens?

The Galidus is an legion of different Alien races all banded together to conquer worlds and expand their empire. There are five known spices in the Galidus empire, Angles power full psychic beings, Tilntex incredibly intelligent, Xiron masters of underwater combat, Lurrun generals of the Galidus, Demonica the masters and warriors of the Galidus.

Who are the Zelta team members?

There are five members in the Zelta team thoughts members are:

The Commander.

Name: Dante Cole
Age: 47
Height: 6’3
Eyes: Green
Hair: White
Birthplace: Los Angeles
Clothing: Black Officers suit, white shirt, black tie, chest of medals.

Background.

 Dante Cole use to be a pilot for US army air force, it was around that time that first contact was made with the extraterrestrials know as the Galydus.  Dante was one of the participating pilots involved in trying to welcome the visiting Aliens to earth but what seemed to be a smooth flowing operation quickly turned into battle royal. Dante was one of three survivors out of fifty pilots that took part in the welcoming operation. A long month of fighting agents the Galydus went by it was through these continuing battles that Dante grew a understanding of the enemy and how they operate it was because of this experience Dante was then reassigned to commanding officer of the forming Zelta team.

Team Leader.

Name: David Jackson
Age: 34
Height: 6’5
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Birthplace: New York
Clothing: Suburban Camo top and pants, Marine Gear.

Background.

David Jackson has been serving the US Marines as a team leader for the majority of his career. When first contact was being made with the Galydus, David was in charge of the ground security at the time. When the fighting in the air started David ordered the ground support to get into positions but before they could move, the entire area was lit up with plasma fire. Despite being badly injured David managed to survive the attack. David lost his brother during the attack and swore that he would have revenge on the Galydus with that motive David demanded to joined the Zelta team and wait for his opportunity to strike back at the Galydus.

Weapons Specialist.

Name: Issic Hal
Age: 33
Height: 6’9
Eyes: Green
Hair: Bald
Birthplace: New York
Clothing: Suburban camo top and pants, Marine Gear.

Background.

 Issic Hal has been working for the US Marines as a weapons specialist for many years he first started out as a standard marine soldier but during this time he studied weapons technology. After the few years spent studieng firearms he was promoted to weapons specialist and was in charge of weapons deployment and field testing as well as arranging firearms training for new recruits. During his career Issic has gained a reputation for his deep understanding of the anatomy of hundreds of firearms it is because of his great understanding of weapons that has earned him a role in the zelta team, supplying the team with the most effective weapons for the job.

Medic/Scientist

Name: Clair Hamilton
Age: 26
Height: 5’9
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Birthplace: London, England
Clothing: Black shirt and pants, black heels, white coat

Background.

Clair Hamilton is an expert in human anatomy and scientific research. Recently Clair has been studying the anatomy of captured and dead Aliens that was recovered after battles and has been researching their anatomies for the past month. Though she has developed an understanding of some of their strengths and weaknesses she is still studying the aliens. How ever her research into the Galidus aliens has been watched by the members of the Zelta team and have recruited her as part of the team.

The New Guy.

Name: John Guatey
Age: 24
Height: 6’7
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Birthplace: New York
Clothing: Standard Marie gear.

Background.

John Guatey was a new recruit in the marines around the time of the operation to welcome the Galidus however he did not take part in the first battle, at the time he was part of the evacuation operation. During the following month while on patrol John had a close encounter with one of the escapee Galidus subjects he chased the running alien into one of the hanger bays after a brief but fairly haring fight John managed to kill the alien. Although the fact that he terminated one of the test subject did not go so well with his commanding officer the fact that he prevented the alien from escaping the base earned him a place in the zelta team, Although he is young and still has a lot to learn John shows promise and determination to do what it takes to protect what we have left signs of a great solider.

The Zelta Base.

The Zelta base or Caverns DC, is a large structure mostly composing of tunnels
that lead into large ware house like rooms. The structure of the base reaches down approximately 560 metres underground and is one quarter of the size of Washington DC. There are just over 40 million people present at the base this includes civilians and workers, the base holds 50 hangers with elevators that taken aircraft and ground vehicles to the surface for deployment. There are four main key levels to the Caverns DC:

. Command (communications, satellite and surveillance.)
. Medical and Research (witch expands form the main lab into separate laboratory’s and hospitals.)
. Prep and Deployment (Hangers 1 to 50, weapon maintains and assembly.)
. Reactor level.

Around these four key areas there are living quarters, workshops, investigation stations and maintenance tunnels. The base was first constructed in 1997 at that time it was a small structure and was used mostly as a large storage ware house, in the year 2008 the base was redesigned and rebuilt into and official point of operations where training and deployment of no-piloted air craft and and ground vehicles took place. By the year 2012 the facility became a fully functional military base and was then designated Caverns DC it was only recently while the Galidus was invading that the base earned its code name Zelta it is here where the Zelta team was assembled.

Tools of the Zelta trade.

The Cavens DC all use currently existing technology and weapons such as satiate feed and m4 carbines, The Zelta team use the same technology as every one else how ever when the research team come up with reversed engineered alien technology weather it’s a weapon or a device or vehicles the Zelta team will take what ever has been created and test it in combat it is dangers work because since what ever has been handed to them has been reversed engineered and has only gone though basic testing it is always labled with extreme caution. However when the device or weapon has been used in combat and came back intact and functioning properly the weapon or device is then ladled as Neo (new) hard wear and is then only accessible by the zelta team. But if the device is lost in combat the team member who was issued with it has to file a report on what happened with the device weather it was destroyed, had a malfunction, became unstable and was to dangers to use. If the device or weapon came back in one peace and was reported to have problems such as jamming, Shaking, over heating then thoughts problems are document for the research team to iron out or to looking and the tested device is then label un stable and disassembled or destroyed. So in short the Zelta team us currently existing technology and reversed engineered alien technology.

The Aliens

THE GALIDUS

Name Of Race: Angles (Shining Gray’s)
Planet Of Origin: Orgilen
Height: 10’3
Wight: 650 pounds
Skin Colour: White
Eyes: Black
Dominant Features: Long arms with four fingers on each hand, Long legs with four toes on each foot, small round head with big black eyes no mouth and no nostrils, there body emits a bright glow giving them an Angle like appearance, they poses powerful mental powers witch enable them to communicate telepathically and control objects using telekinesis.

Background.

The Angles form the Planet Orgilen, and are know as peacekeepers they are usually leaders and teachers in their religious groups. However these Angles have very little interests in other species and tend to keep to them self however their planet is nearing its end and the Angles need a new planet. The Galydus has promised them that if the Angles helped them conquer the planet earth they will give them the rights to terror form earth into there new home with the exception that the Galydus can use the planet as a port for trading with other species, The Angles agreed and joined with the Galydus.

THE GALYDUS

Name Of Race: Tilntex (Til-n-tex) (Little Grays)
Planet Of Origin: Medzon
Height: 3’4
Wight: 45 pounds
Skin Colour: Gray
Eyes: Blue
Dominant Features: Large round heads with large blue glass like eyes, a skin tight black flight suite, similar telepathic powers as the Angles, Very high levels of agility.

Background.

The Tilntex are the Neighbouring species to the Angle race with similar ability’s of telepathic communication but not as powerful as the Angles. But were they lack in power the make up with intelligence, Out of all the species that make up the Galydus the Tilntex are the most technologically advanced and provide there allays with ships, battle suites, genetic enhancements and weaponry. The Tilntex have been aliened with the Galydus for many years but there interested does not lye with in conquering planets there interests are gathering as much other world technology and knowledge as possible and combining it with there own.

THE GALYDUS

Name Of Race: Xiron (Z-I-ron) (Sharks)
Planet Of Origin: Alten
Height: 8’5
Wight: 223 pounds
Skin Colour: Light green with dark spots
Eyes: Light Yellow
Dominant Features: Slime oval heads with large glowing eyes, lizard like skin with webbing in-between their toes and fingers, Slow moving on land but extremely fast in water, Have the ability to bend light around there body’s.

Background.

The Xiron races are amphibian like creatures whose world is completely engulfed under water. Xirons are a superstitious species and hold many believe one of there most popular believes is regular sacrifices to their gods of light sight. They believe in doing this there gods will provided them with sights of future events one of these events showed there alliance with the Galyuds and there up rising to power. The Xiron race does have there own technology like underwater city’s, suits that allow them to swim at the speed of light how ever there technology have not ventured into space travel but they have ventured into universal communication so they are able to make contact with other neighbouring planets. When the Galydus came to their world asking for an alliance agents the humans in exchange they would reward them with power the Xiron with out hesitation excepted in believes of there resent visions.

THE GALYDUS

Name Of Race: Lurrun (Lure-run)
Planet Of Origin: Qtwan
Height: 9’1
Wight: 210pounds
Skin Colour: Pail peach
Eyes: Silver
Dominant Features: Slim long heads with large sliver eyes, two small arms coming out of the stomachs, their skulls hold two brains.

Background.

The Lurrun are considered to be the second smartest species in existents compared to the Tilntex. Most of the Lurrun technology has been created by the Tilntex by the specification of the Lurrun though they have the intellect for designing and figuring out advanced machines, weapons and other technology’s the Lurrun tend to take the roles of generals in armies or leaders in there governments.  Unlike the Tilntex who have no interested in conquering other world the Lurrun do have those interests. It is because of there deep greed for for power and authority and will do anything to gain more power wither its though politics, war or conquering other worlds. When the Galidus came to their world the Lurrun wear threatened not by there percents but by there status in power how ever the Galidus have offered the lurrun a similar status with the exception that they would except the Galidus a supreme in power. At first the Lurrun rejected the offer and threatened the Galidus with war but such a threat would only lead the lurrun to demise as the Galidus demonstrated in a brief battle with the lurrun. A few days after the battle the lurrun reconsidered the Galidus offer and joined with them for the conquest agent’s earth.

THE GALYDUS

Name Of Race: Demonica
Planet Of Origin: Unilix (U-nil-ix) (Hell)
Height: 11’1
Wight: 510 pounds
Skin Colour: Black
Eyes: Blood Red
Dominant Features: Large crown heads, Skull like faces, thin bone less arms, three long legs with hooves, dread locks, very strong and very quick, have telepathic powers.

Background.

The Demonicas are a hellish like race of Aliens a savage bloodthirsty race whose only goal is to conquer planets and expand their empire. Recently they have set their sites set on the plant earth for their next conquest and expansion of their empire but earth has a material that the Demoniacs are afraid of but at the same time desire. Nuclear power its destructive and after math effects are some thing in only a war thirsty races eyes would consider beautiful its this power the Demonicans want but are scared to handle that’s why they have decided to create a legion of different races that all are willing to help conquer earth for one reason or another, The name of this Legion is Galidus a Demonican term that means gods of war. With this legion the Demonicans will eventually gain the humans world and their nuclear power for there own gains and eventually use it to conquer the other races that they have aligned with.

What do I intend to create for this project?

In my project I intend to create a range of different concept art work all based on my plot idea. These concept illustrations will future detailed character concepts of the four members of the Zelta team and like wise for the five species for the alien characters. I will also produce detailed weapon and technology designs such as the standard issue weapons that the humans have and the reversed engineered weapons so I’ll combining the to different technology’s together to create unique looking weapons and devices. Alien and Human vehicles will also be detailedly illustrated again I may combine the two together to create unique looking vehicles not so much the alien vehicles because it doesn’t seem like they would benefit form the human designs. I will also be creating some area concepts for both the alien ship and the human base, if time permits me I shall try to create some action shots of the zelta and Aliens in versus action shots. 

How I intend to produce my work

For starters I will acquirer some image research on concept illustrations by official game complain employees and unofficial work form other artist’s portfolios. From there I shall produce some sketch work on some character concepts to help get an Idea of what I shall be working on with a few other sketch concepts but for the beginning it will mostly be research. When it comes to the main part of the project I’ll start of with some brief sketch works of vehicle, weapon and technology, character, assets and area sketches very quick and scribblely at this point I shall then select some of the sketches that applies to me the most from there I shall start adding more details to them not great amounts of detail but enough to form the illustration. I shall then take the finished sketch works into digital format and clean them up in a art program or two, it is here I shall then start experimenting a bit into colour combinations to determine witch will suite the illustration at that point a shall then begin to create some painted works later on I’ll add the real detailed futures with toning and shadowing on to the concepts. Maybe if I have time I shall create some action shots like I mentioned previously, When it comes to handing in the work I shall see about having the works printed out in high quality either as posters or in some kind of book depending on the amount of images I have produced at that time I will also upload these Images to a gallery site such as Deviant Art or on a personal blog site.

Intellectual property rights

The majority of the work I’ll be producing in this project will be of my own planning and design there may be elements in the project that have been used before in a film or game and some real life items like the fire arms and military gear witch I may have to include copyright to, but most of the property right will be for the fire arms for example the M4A1 combine assault rifle is a copyrighted design to the company Colt. The program I’ll be using the majority of the time, Adobe Photoshop cs3 witch is a copyrighted product of Adobe inc. The other programs I may be using in this project coral painter and Auto desk sketchbook are copyrighted products of Coral Corporation and Auto desk. The hard ware I’ll be using to produce the digital painting with will be a Wacom graphics tablet witch is a copyrighted product to the Wacom Company.

Audience and Market

The content of this project I’ll be working on will be targeted mostly at creative game companies like Sony entertainment, splash damage, I.D software, Capcom and so on. I chose the game industry as my main target audience because at some point I would like to present my portfolio of work to companies like the ones mentioned not just in hopes of a placement but also in hopes of getting a professional opinion about the work that’s in the portfolio and perhaps offer surjection’s as to what kind of work some companies are looking for around that time. I could also target the film industry as an audience as well, as they to use concept artists to help develop their ideas. But I feel that the film industry being larger then the game industry will be more difficult to contact due to the roles being very specific and out side surjection’s and requests for an audients with them tend to be rejected.

Development techniques

The style of the artwork I’ll be creating will be not so much realistic but not so much as cartoony either e.g Anime- manga style. The style will have an exaggerated feel to it in terms of facial expressions and poses. Creative techniques will be very sketch at first and then worked over to form a somewhat detailed illustration that will later be touched up and digitally painted to produce detailed finished pieces. The programs I’ll be using as I mentioned before will be Adobe Photoshop, Coral Painter and Auto Desks sketchbook although I feel that I may not have the time to learn how to use two new programs so in all likely hood I may narrow the programs down to Adobe Photoshop and Auto Desks Sketchbook. Producing the final works I would like to present them as either a set of posters A3, A1 size or have the finished works developed into some sort of book but I would probably have them printed as posters for hand in as well as a digital copy of the work.

The Schedule
Week1:
Week one will be spent producing a series of designs and sketches as well as some further research if needed.
Week2:
Week two will be creating more detailed Illustrations form the sketch work.
Week3:
Week three will be taking the illustrations and finalizing them into concept drawings
Week4:
Week four will be taking the illustrations into either Photoshop or sketchbook and then cleaned up ready for colour work.
Week5:
Week five will be experimenting with various colour schemes for the illustrations.
Week6:
Week six will be choosing and applying block colour work to the illustrations.
Week7:
Week seven will be adding tonal work and shading to detail the illustrations.
Week8:
Week eight will be finalizing the illustrations.
Week9:
Week nine I’ll produce some sketch and painted action shot images.
Week10:
Week ten will be printing of the finished works out as A3 or A1 high quality posters and then prepared for hand in.