Helium - Concept Document (Week 7 )
HELIUM| CONCEPT, ENVIRONMENT, AND CHARACTER
Helium in total is an adventure RPG that concentrates heavily on the environments and plot vehind the game. Mechanics are very much needed for a game that depends heavily on these characterisitics but all the same it takes a creative approach to a classic hero plot line. With creative environments and enhanced abilities not seen commonly by others it stands out from other varying games of similar genre.
The story to Helium revolves around a kingdom that is high in the clouds and with citizens ruled under two monarchs. The citizens here freely accept that they are the only one’s in existence (other than their stormy neighbors) and go about peacefully until suddenly their kingdom is starting to descend downwards. A secret comes out from the rulers that they have been holding wars with other kingdoms below and that not even them knows who or why their world is collapsing. Our hero with his specie’s gifts and powers takes the challenge of calling out the two rulers and going on a journey by himself to figure out the mysteries and stop their world from destruction.
http://conceptartworld.com/
All of these websites helped be find the images and further explore the ideas for Helium. ConceptArtWorld was one of the largest help due to the push caused by seeing all other forms of concept art and the directions the artist choose for each featured peace. While keeping this sence of direction in mind I furthered my search and applied them into architectures and cultures found in photos. Whether it be clouds to countries, seeing the mass of art and colors inspired the worlds Helium focuses in on.
Inspiration Game Sites with Culture Website:
http://www.littlebigplanet.com/en/
http://www.insomniacgames.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/worldcultures/
The two websites above feature games that inspiration came from. Little Big Planet gave the ideal of having an explosive but fun environment adventure game while Insomniac Games featured the bright and colorful worlds their games take place.
The last website was more text so that I may research the cultures being taken thoroughly.
In total these images represent the first world of Helium and the attributes that contribute to it. The story takes place high in the clouds where nothing beneath can be seen while adopting to the Indian culture along with its architecture.
1. http://diamondtk.tumblr.com/
The first image was the first Ive seen that inspired a lot of what Helium is in it’s location and even the direction the game was going when it came to levels. The palace placed in India seemed a perfect architecture for a kingdom of clouds with the round shapes and ornate designs.
2. http://bethanysworld.com/
The second was a further exploration of the first in the architecture and design. After looking further into buildings of the same design I began to take into effect the ornate carvings embedded in the structures. Eventually this further inspired the designs of the characters, giving me room to further think that the symbols may help push the look of the levels entirely.
3. http://simplyinhale.tumblr.com/
Although more abstract then an actual photo of a hot air balloon it describes the feel for the level further. For a kingdom high in the clouds I had to think closely on what the modes of transportation would be for the people and how it can tie into the game. It would serve as a boost to the player if anything because of how large and confusing the level can be. The designs printed on the shapes helped further the idea of what they can look like.
4. http://rlysrsbsns.tumblr.com/
The photo becomes very fitting to my idea of how a kingdom set in clouds would look like. Originally my plan was to have a large island with buildings plastered ontop. When coming across this photo I realized that I have to take in effect the shape of said island and how to fit everything according to it. However it gives a good visual on what it looks like.
5. http://bethanysworld.com/
The last is, again, a visual of where the island and the world would reside in. It would be on top of the clouds rather than beneath. The clouds in this photo further pushed my want for a visual that the clouds are “too thick” to really look down or through; giving the characters excuse to play ignorant to the plots of the king and queen who kept it secret.
All images seen for the first character are done by me personally via Wacom tablet and paint program. This includes all ideas for the Hero as seen above.
1. The first is the character’s scarf or rather what is seen in all of the first level’s citizens. This item is an important object to the species and just how the “cloud people” can transform into different forms as does their garments. In game it helps center power in battle and allowing the hero to fly or glide across buildings farther than if he didn’t have it at all. In design it’s to add a prominent feature to the white and blue lines.
2. The second is the hero’s final design with a splash of his attitude drawn in. The character has no eyes but is still very expressive to make up for it. His character design in total is a small figure with stub like legs due to the fact that he doesn’t neccesaruily need full use of them when he can glide. The sword strapped to the back plays an important role as does his scarf.
3. The last is a small reference of what he can do. It shows what type of creature he is along with the features that come with it, including transforming. This was an early attempt at the character before finalizing it at the end.
Other Characters (Second choice)
All characters above are again drawn by me with a Wacom pen and a paint program. Each represents a typical citizen and enemy of the worlds the hero is going to visit and explore. With each of the characters there’s a small bit of influence from other cultures and to further add to the “physics” of the game they all take a shape depending on how high they are in levels. The Stormy kingdom’s citizens look similar to the hero’s shape because they’re neighbors. Below would be the Ice kingdom where they share similar color and form. Lastly is the Flame kingdom where they have a slighter but still humanoid form that takes shape to their environment on mountain steppes. They all share the pattern of being a different element from previous.
1. Kingdom of Ice citizen. They relevate by being the third creature the hero sees on his way down to other kingdoms. From the elevation the kingdom is fourth from the Stormy kingdom and adapts a similar form to the other two, but only that they are solid rather than a cloud-like form. Their clothing and world takes after Russian culture. Just like their cold and harsh environment they share similar personalities and prove to be a worse foe in resenting the hero and his specie.
2. Stormy Kingdom citizen. They are the second world from elevation. The relevance comes from the fact that both the Cloudy and the Stormy people are “cousins” in specie form although taller they share similar attributes. Like their cousins they can float but because of their taller form they can’t go as far. Their form is to further describe how similarities change according to what level they are.
3. Flame Kingdom citizen, and the third world to be visited. It follows the pattern of all three with the relevance to elevation where they adapt to being high ontop mountain peaks. Instead of gliding they use long legs to dance or leap between ledges without difficulty. They share the Stormy Kingdom’s slight form and even round shape.
