Designing a Digital Character and Illustrated Environment for a Video Game

In my diploma thesis, I examine several visual elements that are important in video game production. I focus in detail on creating the main character, designing background concepts, animating running and jumping movements, and producing an illustrated cover for the video game.

Problem

In my diploma thesis, I examine several visual elements that are important in video game production.

Solution and Method

I focus in detail on creating the main character, designing background concepts, animating running and jumping movements, and producing an illustrated cover for the video game. In the first chapter, I concentrate on the history of video games, namely their development from simple black-and-white squares and lines on the screen to today's graphical masterpieces that feature expansive worlds full of interesting events and stories. I briefly present the types of two-dimensional games we know today and the manner in which they are made.

In the second chapter, I undertake research into the influence of colours and shapes on people's well-being. Here I connect to the umbrella theme Art, Design and Well-being. Through the research, I aim to prove whether colours and shapes can truly influence people's well-being.

At the end of the chapter, I conduct research in which I question participants about visual excerpts from games and summarise their responses. In the third chapter, I undertake the creation of a character for a video game, where by consistently following the theory of character design I attempt to arrive at a final solution. I cite the theoretical aspects of which elements contribute to a well-designed character and world design.

I describe the importance of desk research as an aid for designing the entire video game and what role the character's personality and nature play in its design. I design the character so that it has a positive influence on people at one time and a negative influence at another. I briefly add the importance of props for the game.

In the fourth chapter, I explore what a concept sketch is and its significance in video game production, what role it plays and why it is an essential element of production. Here I design backgrounds for levels in the game that relate to the umbrella theme and the influence of colours on human well-being. In the fifth chapter, I create animation and cite the theoretical aspects of animation.

I describe its role in creating games and what animated characters for video games are called. In the sixth and final chapter, I undertake research into how illustration can visually convey the idea of a game's content. I then apply the theory practically in drawing an illustration for the cover on a video game box.