THE COLONY - Great survival story RPG game initial visual design exploration

In the colony survival RPG game, players must endure toxic conditions in a world infected by an unknown virus. Those afflicted by this virus transform into toxic zombies, while the remaining survivors must eke out an existence with minimal resources. Since the game primarily targets the casual gaming category, we've embraced a stylized look over realism in character and environment proportions.

design philosophy revolves around a chunky and bold aesthetic, deliberately avoiding excessive details to reduce noise issues, particularly at smaller scales. The current environment may appear noisy due to the rough sketches, but it will be simplified during the polishing stage, adhering to the "LESS IS MORE" principle. Notably, characters, icons, weapons, tokens, and resources will vary in size, with a strong emphasis on readability, especially on lower-end devices.

visual approach predominantly relies on hand-painted artwork with minimal texture usage to eliminate unnecessary noise. Color plays a pivotal role in conveying emotions within the game's visual language, incorporating vibrant and playful colors while steering clear of blood, grotesque zombie imagery, and gory shades.

While the overall theme of survival may sound serious, our aim is to infuse a sense of fun and adventure into the game, allowing players to connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level.

To ensure a broader appeal, we avoid including any overtly religious symbols or features in character design, striving for a more universal appearance. Exploring diverse races in avatar creation aligns with the game's storyline and design document, where building a distinctive intellectual property (IP) takes precedence.

Weapons are primarily designed for sedative takedowns rather than traditional bullet-based combat, eliminating excessive bloodshed and gore.

We embrace the integration of local and regional architectural styles and vehicles into the gamified setting. For example, consider the use of a gondola boat equipped with a tripod gun and solar communication machine, complete with a toxic indicator. This approach enriches the game world with immersive elements that resonate with players.