ARTé: Formal Analysis of Art (unofficial name) – LIVE Lab Formal Analysis of Art Video Game – Game Designer – 2019 in progress

In 2019, I worked on Arté’s latest installment: Formal Analysis of Art (unofficial name). The game is a Metroidvania with puzzles and educational combat that teaches the basic elements of art. While I cannot share the most recent designs for the game, I can share older designs.

Having been the longest-serving team member, I have been a part of every step in the game development process. Specifically I had developed the following:

• Initial Game Concept Ideation
  • Researched the market on art-related games and evaluating mechanics.
  • Developed the art analysis puzzle, letting players develop theories and pointing out supporting evidence from historical paintings.

• Level Layouts
  • Designed the overall level structure and connections, including teleporters.
  • Created the light elemental island and created the digital prototype in Unreal.
  • Modified the color elemental island to include a section on color theory.

world overview concept art by a teammate

• Combination/Chinese Lock Educational Content and UI
  • Connected components of an image to lock combinations for the player to modify the image. This helps them learn the applications of art vocabulary words.
  • Current UI Mockups are currently in use.

• Character Concept and Abilities
  • Pulled character, weapon, and ability references.
  • Wrote a style guide for the main character’s personality traits and behaviors.

pulling character references to pass on to concept team for the main character’s visual direction

FAoA Main Character Design PDF, Click to View

• Designed initial enemy movement and attacks that are related to teaching the player about elements of art.
  • Paper prototyped the initial designs with the player’s attack/movement.
  • Designed scale enemies that start large and split into smaller scale enemies when hit.
  • Designed line enemies that move on an implied curved line and charge at the player in an actual straight line (vocab word) to attack.

created in conjunction with a teammate

And of course, I continually update documentation, pitching new designs to leads, receiving critique, and staying in constant communication with my teammates through the development process.

The game is currently in development, but once it is published and available for purchase, I will link it here.