Hello!

It’s me again. The last few Dark Void blog posts from Dark Void Associate Producer Shana focused on some of the characters that populate the world of Dark Void. I figured I’d step in and talk a little bit about the environments.
We often have talked about the visual variety that exists in the landscape of the Void. The concept art in this blog should help give you a sense of what we mean. Also, in the future I’m going to show you the actual in-game areas depicted in these concept images, and we can talk about the iterative process of going from the page (or in this case, the page, Photoshop, etc.) to the screen, at least how we do it on Dark Void.

Obviously some context to the images helps, but I’d hate to spoil the story too much. So, I’m going to try to clue you in to what you are looking at without blowing too much of the plot of the game. No doubt, since we both know you’re sharp, you’ll be able to piece together some plot points, just don’t brag about it too much.

We have focused hard on making the Void a dynamic place, where one could go from lush jungle, to alien canyons floating in air, to high-tech super glossy alien architecture, to vertigo inducing heights, etc. We want the art palette to change and evolve with your progress through the narrative, in some ways serving as the visual backdrop for important plot points. So as you move through the game, expect a constantly changing backdrop to the combat carnage you unleash from the skies….

Now to some pics…




 

Early in the game, before entering the Void, Will has to take off from somewhere right. Well, that place is Nassau. Although it generally looks like a paradise (check Google..trust me), Will needs to take off in the middle of storm that is dangerously threatening to become a full fledge hurricane.  If you’ve been following Dark Void, you can guess where Will flies to…if you haven’t…then you really need to Google Nassau… it will all make sense




 
Tough one to explain here, let’s just say that humanity has many factions in the Void, and this particular faction just felt the wrath of the Watchers…thanks to you…kinda….sorta….well….you’ll see……


 
Next to Will’s jetpack, the ark represents Tesla’s crowning achievement, and the biggest hope the people trapped in the void have of ever returning to earth. Here we see it tethered at a dock. Although the base looks rusty and like it has been there  a long time, it’s good to remember that the humans in the void get by on scrap metal and found objects that make their way through into the void , as such, all of the human resistance architecture has a very hodge podge feel to it.


 

Ah the ark in all its glory, presumably setting a course for home...


 

Outside shot of a Watcher detainment facility. 



 
And a look inside, trust me, I’m sure you’ll get very familiar this architecture. We have been shooting for a very clean, shiny, almost medical look to how the Watchers build their habitats.


 
And as you can see, not every element is purely visual, here you can see how we work gameplay into our concept drawings, and eventually into the game..



So that’s a brief look at some of the places you’ll see during your stay in the void. As I said, when I come back, we’ll be looking at the transition from concept, to in-game with some actual screenshots, perhaps, if you guys are into it, and let us know, we can return with a video or two, and really show off more of the world. What do you think?




Thanks, Morgan