Black Myth: Dragons’ Gate
Escape Studios ⋆ MA Character & Creature Creation ⋆ Module 4 Group Project
A group project completed over the course of twelve weeks at Escape Studios. We were tasked with designing a DLC for Black Myth: Wukong, creating a DLC storyline, proposed game mechanics, plus two characters and creatures. Roles were designated as below:
We used Miro to gather research materials and plan our pipeline.
Narrative & Gameplay Proposal
I was responsible for leading research into the base game and its inspirations in order to propose a DLC narrative. Responsibilities also included a Producer role, ensuring we were in communication with the Environment Artist and that character assets were consistent across both teams.
Designing the Characters
My colleague and I designed one character & creature each. As Producer I oversaw all design concepts, created character bios, and ensured that shape and colour language was in line with our aims and communicated well. The Shamaness (WuShan) and the Dragon Tortoise (XianWu) were my designs.
Research ⋆ Colour Analysis ⋆ Style Guides
WuShan Concept & Asset Creation
Unreal Engine Renders
XianWu Concept & Asset Creation
Despite not having feasible time to rig and animate the models, we delivered the brief to realise two character and creature models, fully textured, into a games engine. Optimisation was paramount and we ensured all models were at a suitable threshold to perform at 60fps.
This was also educational in terms of Marvelous Designer pipeline implementation, transferring assets between MD, ZBrush, Substance Painter and Unreal Engine.
I hand-painted textures in Substance Painter for WuShan and Xianwu, preferring this method over procedural texturing in this instance to improve on my skills, alongside implementation of shared smart materials for a more efficient workflow.
Lighting and renders were completed by the Environment Artist.
Our art bible for the project can be downloaded below.