ME1: Expansive digital illusions.
THE CITADEL: PART 2 OF 2 TECHNICAL BREAKDOWNS.
THE WARDS.
The citadel wards is a particularly fascinating location, because its breathtaking scenery is so well done it can fool you into thinking it was made using more 3D focused techniques.
That entire cityscape is simply a totally flat forced perspective matte painting. Travelling outside of the location reveals the external level geometry, but travelling further beyond this as we saw with the presidium reveals the clever illusion.
Outside this massive architectural framework and level space is a gigantic 360 matte painting that surrounds pretty much the entire location.
Getting up close and personal with this painting reveals the pixels, breaking of the forced perspective illusion and subtle glow textured animation elements that travel between the buildings. Depth within this scene is simulated by having transparency points to sell the illusion of those flying cars going behind the buildings or overlaying them.
All this clever trickery effectively sells the enormous scope of the citadel space station in all its scifi glory. Amazing work here by Bioware!
Finally I want to reveal to you all the docking bay set, it used the same cityscape backdrop but the level space itself is still rather fascinating and expansive! here you go.
I really hope these citadel tech breakdowns were interesting/inspiring to you all! :D
