DESIGN

Player Character

I've designed the player character to be android in nature, as they will be travelling through different dimensions to meet these different creatures. I used some reference, but a lot used mechanical skeletons, which goes against the aesthetic and mood I'm going for in my game. So, I switched the design to something more simple. I used larger shapes to define the body, created round joints for easy movement, and made a round sphere for the head, complete with rings which can rotate around like those on the ship do, reinforcing that imagery. I've also included a side profile to show the characters "bag", what they'll be using to carry the creatures they collect back to their base. Its a cylindrical container made of glass which can connect to the hook on their back.

Player Moodboard: https://pin.it/63FjjwN

Shrink Gun

I made the design of the shrink gun less intimidating then those I found in reference. I also experimented with two different colour schemes, and have opted for the monochromatic colour scheme, to contrast with the slightly more childish shapes of the gun.

Player Moodboard: https://pin.it/63FjjwN

Player Ship

The player's ship is round in design. I chose this specific shape so that the player's base evokes feelings of comfort and friendliness. Rings can rotate freely around the ship for extra dynamism when travelling through dimensions. There are other various utilities too, such as the lights at the bottom-front of the ship, and the hatches just above them, which house mechanical arms which can be controlled from inside. There are also 4 boosters underneath the ship, which are also able to freely move along the surface to propel the ship in any direction, as well as hatches for mechanical leg-like appendages, which support the ship when it's stationary.

Player Base Interior

This coloured concept highlights the different objects in the ship more clearly. I created a lot of bookshelves along the walls, in line with my reference imagery. Books that are closer to eye and arm level are more used and placed back randomly, as a little extra detail and to create atmosphere. The lighting is also an important detail. It creates warmth in the room, and highlights the different terrariums around the space.

Hub Moodboard: (766) Pinterest

Terrariums

Terraria Moodboard: (766) Pinterest

The player will be able to collect materials to craft different items. One group of such item will be the terrariums, where most of the game will be taking place. There are different kinds of terrarium, and they will have varying effects on the climate of the terrarium, and what creatures can be cared for in them. For example, open terrariums will be less humid, but won't be able to house any aquatic creatures, because of their inability to hold large amounts of water. There will also be different material costs to craft these terrariums. I will be listing some basic requirements here, but these will most likely change during development.

Prism Terrarium

3 Glass
3 Wood

Large Prism Terrarium

5 Glass
5 Wood

Sphere Terrarium

4 Glass

Bottle Terrarium

3 Glass
1 Wood

Bowl Terrarium

8 Glass

Cylinder Terrarium

5 Glass
2 Wood

Tank Terrarium

10 Glass
5 Wood

Material Icons

These are some basic material icons to denote what the player has in their inventory. I created two different water icons just because I wasn't sure what might denote the idea of water in the game better, but I think the bucket will as that is how I've planned the player creating aquatic environments. The glass icon may need more reworking too; it might be more clear in a more finished design.