Human Technology

From the relief concept I did yesterday I am considering where I should be looking for the human concepts for the project. While the Trooper concepts did give me a starting point, despite jumping the gun. It also made me realize that I could do a lot more to push the concept further and into something more unique. Upon looking at the Trooper concept I can too easily cite too many other media sources, and the overall aesthetic feels too familiar, however the huge air filters on the back and the helmet variety and bulkiness is something I do want to keep, because it keeps in touch with the narrative I'm building. The planet being totally hostile to the colonist merits the use of plated and sealed exosuits as well as huge personal air filtration systems to counter act the toxic air and spores.

What I have thought would be an interesting direction to take things in and staying in the confines of my research period would be to actually look at insect carapaces and incorporate that into the colony aesthetic, I think this would tie into the overall biological theme of the project and hint more towards the Gaia Principle, with the adaption and self regulation applying to both the Planet and Colonists.

The colonist troopers naturally possessing the mentioned armor, it would make sense to incorporate some of the naturally occurring exoskeleton systems from Beatles and various insects through a mood board and a degree of personal research in the coming week.

Trooper Concpet

Not meaning to skip ahead the research process as well as the time table I have set out. But wanted to do something creative for a change of pace and also experiment with a concept art method, where to save time with iterations or examples of ingame aesthetic differences, some artists will simply have a base and create variable armor, items and weapons in separate layers allowing for a mix and match approach on delivering concept art. This is just a practice in that method. Which I have found useful, and will continue on with concepts in the coming weeks.

Learning Agreement: Final

Proposal: What do you intend to do?

For BA6 I will be focusing on concept art in developing a science fiction setting for a game involving human colonists attempting to settle a hostile planet. The planet itself itself is of research, resource and strategic value to the Colonists in part of large background story involving a interstellar war.

Through this project I am exploring the concept of planet as a life form. Which links into the Gaia Principle by James Lovelock. Although I'm using this as a foundation for my work, I am interested in how I can convey an alien planet to an audience as a interdependent and self regulating entity. Bringing the Human faction into the fold directed on a similar purpose, being the colonisation of the planet. Presenting the adaptation of both the Colonists and Planets to one another. Exploring the distinct effects on both sides through the art.

To illustrate this I will be conceptualising environments from the planet as well vehicle design to represent the Colonist presence and often merging these ideas to create a consistent feel between the two elements. I will be using mainly Adobe Photoshop for most on the conceptual pieces but also Autodesk Maya to create a matt projection environmental piece. And use constant research to use as sources of inspiration and point of reference for developing work.

Assessment Work:

• Silhouettes (Minimum of 100), iterations leading to the development of Final Concepts (Minimum of 5)
• Thumbnails of environments that can be developed into full concepts (Minimum of two) including a matt projection piece.
• A strong body of supporting research relevant to the theme and personal intrpetation of which to be posted on blog: http://cfnuagadba6.blogspot.co.uk/

Human Tech Research

Looking at various millitary hardware for refernce on texture and construction to help flesh out later concepts.

Learning Agreement Proposal

Just uploading it here so I can work on it (editing before hand in) as well keep on here for quick reference.

What? For BA6 I exercising my interest in creating a fictional planet for a video game based on a faction of humanity in the far future attempting to colonize/settle upon a hostile planet for its resource and strategic value in a interstellar war. Which is taking place in the background of the narrative. The planet exists as a incarnation of the Gaia Theory or Principle, which means it is a self-regulating organism, that is adapting to the human presence. The goal of the player in the game is to survive as long as possible while fending off  the planet which is attempting to assimilate the colonists into itself.

Why? The reason I have taken this theme is to explore the Gaia Theory in a games environment and to make the statement of the Gaia theory in an informative as well as entertaining medium. Promoting that nature or for that matter our planet is capable of similar actions (albeit not as extreme) and that despite recent ecological debate and tension on global climate issues that the planet would and will continue on without a human presence through this simulation.

How? I am going to be developing concept art, illustrating the environment of the ingame planet and narrative environments (battlescenes etc)  as well concepts for the Colonists technology (primarily vehicle design). I am aiming to create a look for both sides that is consistent in that while there will be obvious aesthetic differences both elements create a gestalt in visual design

Planet Research Moodboard

Just pure visual research on exotic plants for shape and texture reference when starting concepts, will do some light analysis on distinct species that I think are specifically suiting to my established theme.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/apr/28/scienceofclimatechange.biodiversity

Guardian Article on Gaia Theory

Gaia Theory

Through today's Group teaching session, although it was mainly a overview of our respective project idea and with large degree on how we're are going to fit our learning agreement to the project.

I've been giving a lot of thought towards how to write my learning agreement. The main idea which would be the game itself is a Survival game wherein in the far future a human faction is attempting colonize a hostile planet. The planet itself has no animal life but is in fact dominated by plants who impede the human aggressively, from releasing miasma's of hallucinogenic spores, cacti that explode like a nail bomb, and even advanced plant organisms that can moves while impaling humans upon tendrils just to start with. The purpose of the game is simply how long the player can survive against this onslaught. The plants also grow incredibly fast and quickly overrun an outpost in minutes if not pushed back in time. I will detailing this great on another post however.

The main issue regarding this basis for my project (Concept Art: Environment and Vehicle Design) Is that I don't want to lean onto the ecological argument of "man vs nature". While I cannot deny that the element is present. I want the game at an academic level to be an exploration into Gaia Theory headed by James Lovelock in late 1960 and early 1970's. The concept being that the Planet is a single organism. In effect its own entity and is self regulating. What I personally appreciate about this theory is that it challenges the argument on that due to Climate Change and Industrialization. That we as a species are destroying the planet. Which is something I've never agreed on personally. I believe that yes we are in effect destroying it for ourselves but nature would continue on. Come human extinction or exodus. This is a large reason I have a passion for Science Fiction. Especially when humanity is forced to choose in an ultimatum to settle other worlds due to our climate whether this is social (Over population, national exile, exploration) or to the afore mentioned point of that simply Earth can no longer sustain us ecologically.

Back to the idea of Gaia theory in relation to the project however. The basis for this planet in the game it is being its own organism the plants that grow on it are not exactly defenses in the analogy of them acting as white blood cells and human's are persistent virus but simply the planet as an organism seeks to overall absorb all foreign materials into itself to continue to propagate (disadvantage of this is that the humans will die). I did have the humerous idea that the planet once did support other forms of life but they have been long existent due the plants. The point I'm trying to bring across in laymans terms is "Is the planet doesn't give a shit." its not trying to existentially enlighten the "invaders" nor it trying to actively defend itself from them. It just is. That which cannot stand against it are simply absorbed. The colonists with appropriate defenses could establish a settlement planetside and live their contently, the planet wouldn't suffer from this what so ever in fact it'd adapt round it, the planet would likely tap into the colony one way or another and continue to utilize it.

Presentation

Environmental piece I did as a personal piece during the last project, which actually fits into the concepts I'm planning to develop.

Test Environmental concept of a mining complex.

Ideas I've been playing around to build my project around, been focuses around a narrative setting and doing concepts and illustrations to support as potential game setting. By the 17th I need a finalised idea/ narrative setting to use for my BA6 along side brief of which the idea can live up as well as be achievable to myself.

Request Concepts