Art/Creative Direction - Project HZ
Overview
- Game: Online Multiplayer Action RPG
- Visuals: Top-down Isometric 3D
- Genre: Fantasy (Medieval x Ethereal Hybrid), Hero Ensemble
- Team Size: Medium (+10 art/creative team members)
- Work Arrangement: Fully Remote (Multiple time zones)
Quick Notes
- Contributed to the creation and strategic direction of new a intellectual property (cancelled)
- Helped develop a new anime fantasy action aesthetic
- Established and managed an art team
- Recruited talent in areas such as art, narrative, and audio
- Led and supervised a team of over 10 artists spanning four time zones
- Communicated art-related tasks to a remote team located in regions including North America, Europe, South Korea, etc
- Provided consultation and input on creative direction
I provided creative leadership for the overall art/creative direction, world-building, and personnel recruitment beyond the art department, which included areas such as narrative development, game design, music, and user interface art, as well as managing outsourcing efforts.
Project HZ utilized the Godot 3.4 engine and progressed up to the closed pre-alpha stage.
Although the project was ultimately discontinued, I am immensely proud and appreciative of the accomplishments achieved by the team in under two years, despite the challenging and evolving circumstances and specifications.
Closed Pre-Alpha
Assembled in Godot 3.4
- Music composed by Interleave Creative
- Art direction by Mackenzi Ko
- Principal concept art by Dong-ho Kang
- Environment art direction by Max Feuerriegel
- Game design direction by Alijah Blue Ladd
- Animation direction by Hun Chung
- Principal technical art by Kevin YuanZhi Chen
- In-game VFX by Ilaria Cislaghi
Pre-alpha gameplay screenshots (WIP visuals)
Key Art Illustrations by Tim Löchner
Characters
Heroes
Starting roster character key art
Character Concept & Artwork by Dong-ho Kang
Starting roster in-game character mockup concept art with further roster ideas.
Main Character Concepts & Artwork by Dong-ho Kang
Additional Character Concepts & Artwork by Seung-yoon Lee
Selene
Selene's design underwent a revision during production, which was intended to be implemented after the completion of the closed pre-alpha phase.
Animation Direction by Hun Chung
Cyrille
Finn
Cassia
Rowan
Emilia
Character models (for closed pre-alpha) from left to right: Finn, Selene, Cyrille, Cassia
- Finn by Titania G Han
- Selene & Cyrille by Hunter Mortenson
- Cassia by Jung A Yang
Refined character models intended for deployment following the alpha phase, featuring an updated design for Selene.
New Selene 3D Character Art, Revision/Supervision for Existing Characters by Eui-jong Kim
Antagonists
Seyer
Seyer Concepts & Artwork by Seung-yoon Lee
The Chaos Rulers
Chaos Rulers Concept & Artworks by Dong-ho Kang
Environments & World-building
World Map Concept Exploration by Florian Moncomble
All Environment Art Direction & Supervision by Max Feuerriegel
The Floating Islands
Flora & Architecture Exploration for The Floating Islands
Sombersong Woods
Flora & Architecture Exploration for Sombersong Woods
Chaos Manifestation
Fauna & Enemies
Local Fauna, The Floating Islands
Hostile Entities, The Floating Islands
Chaos Cultists
Chaos Cultists were the 'Stormtroopers (Star Wars)' or 'Foot Soldiers (TMNT)' of Project HZ's universe.
They would appear in all biome zones, and would often show up as random encounters to thwart the heroes.
VFX
VFX Concept & Pre-viz Artwork by Ivan Boyko
User Interface
UI Design & Artwork by Jennifer Duong
Contributors
Illustrations
- Tim Löchner, Illustrator (Contract)
Character Concept Art
- Dong-ho Kang, Principal Concept Artist
- Seung-yoon Lee, Senior Concept Artist
Character Modeling
- Eui-jong Kim, Lead 3D Modeler
- Hunter Mortenson, 3D Modeler (Contract)
- Titania G Han, 3D Modeler (Contract)
- Jung A Yang, 3D Modeler (Contract)
Animation
- Hun Chung, Animation Director
- Alexander Grace, 3D Character Animator (Contract)
- Alireza Sedghi, 3D Character Animator (Contract)
Environments
- Max Feuerriegel, Environment Art Director & Lead Artist
- Florian Moncomble, Environment Concept & In-game Artist
- M.Phuong Nguyen, Senior 3D Environment Modeler
- Ariel Adasme Gomez, 3D Environment Modeler
VFX
-
Ivan Boyko, VFX Concept & Pre-vis Artist
- Additional Project HZ works by Ivan
- Ilaria Cislaghi, In-game VFX Artist
Technical Art
- Kevin YuanZhi Chen, Principal Technical Artist
- Arthur Na, Senior Technical Artist
- Theresa Kikuchi, Technical Artist
UI/UX
- Jennifer Duong, UI Art
- Jaymart Yabo, Additional UI Art
Narrative
- José Fernando Gracia, Narrative & Technical Game Designer
Audio
- Interleave Creative
- Ben Lipkin, Sound Designer
- Milo Poniewozik, Composer
Outsourcing Partners
- Bit Egg Inc
- Thunder Cloud Studio
- Moti Animation Studio
Recommendations
Members of Project HZ have graciously taken the time to leave me their words of recommendation.
