Game Environments
In the end of 2024 into 2025, I collaborated with the incredibly talented video game developer Jack Moore to create levels for his game "The Best Laid Plans." The game focuses on two characters who proceed through each environment cooperatively solving puzzles and fighting enemies.
Below are some of the environments and pieces we created during our time together. This was an incredible growth experience and a genuine pleasure to be a part of!
How We worked
Our process followed some simple steps. I sketched each environment either on paper or digitally with notes and clarifying questions while referencing a grid layout of each room/level. We would then move into a more finalized state with pen and ink. Further adjustments and tweaks were then completed digitally before creating assets for each level.
Complexity and variation
The levels we worked on included interactive elements, required cutting out specific layers, and spanned multiple styles as the players traversed different enviornments.
Some of these really challenged me in terms of adding texture. I was so used to clean... ish. Lines.
This section for example had platforms that expanded and contracted from the right side wall that players would have to time movements on.
Some of these pieces really pushed the verticality of the space. It could be difficult to juggle where and when to cut out and stack layers. But after a few illustrations, the process became second nature.
I had the opportunity to work on some really impressive and interesting scenes!
Interactive objects, Characters and Animations
In a few instances, rooms required a little more specificity. Like interactive doors, structures, and items. I typically drew these separate from the background piece and would make edits in Photoshop to ensure consistency. In addition, while an animator was included in the development process, I did offer up a few simple ones myself
Additionally, I assisted in the concept and creation of the characters! This was probably the part most out of my comfort zone at the time, trying my best to do pen and ink variants of all the angles the player characters needed to be. Ultimately, balancing with Photoshop came in handy here again.
Conditional states
Some environments had more complex states involved. Usually a before and after during an interaction taking place.
Additional Selections
Selections of the environments I collaborated on during this process.
I'm certainly biased. But this one being the first drawing we trial-ran will always stick with me.
