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Platformer Game Design
Cloak & Powder
Cloak & Powder is a platform game created as part of a concept art gaming course at the Shenkar College. It is set in a fantasy world devastated by monsters falling from the sky like meteors. The protagonist is an elf whose magical cloak protects him from the harsh environment. He derives magical powders from rare plants found inside the game world, which enable him to survive, fight the monsters and help others.
Challenges
The main challenges in this work was:
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To convert the brief I was given into a visual experience
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To convey the interactive spirit of the game through a single screen
Visual Research
The visual research I conducted focused mainly on forms and textures. I drew inspiration from the color, structure and design of flowers, crystals and monsters from different sources.
Work Process
First, I sketched the protagonist by hand in different positions - standing, walking and in action. The visual language was based on a soft color palette and on simple forms combined with unique elements such as a hoodie or a tattoo. Next, I enhanced the design using Photoshop and a graphical board. I also started developing the game environment and the different elements - monsters, flowers and crystals - by hand-drawing and then coloring in Photoshop. I then made sure to streamline the design language and game mechanics and make sure that all of the elements were synchronized with them. I finally added more emphasis on the gaming element using animation done in After Effects and the use of background music.
Game Mechanics
Flowers
The game contains three types of flowers that grant special abilities to the player: telekinesis, protection, and healing. The player must pick the flowers and grind them into powder in order to use their features. The flowers are differentiated using color and design.
Enemies
After sketching out a few different designs and battle mechanics for the monsters, I decided to use the one that is most representative of the monsters’ role within the game. It is large, scary-looking, with an alien-like, horned appearance, resembling sharp rocks. The player must also avoid contact with red meteor-like crystals.
Environment
at a certain point, the environment starts to come apart, and the player can jump between the rocks floating through space. He can also climb tree roots, and use the telekinesis power in order to levitate rocks and use them as a weapon.
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