Escape Studios collaborated with four big name 3D Studios to produce a competition. The prize for the Lionhead award was 2 weeks work experience at their company. When I entered I knew very little about working in 3D. There were hundreds of entries, so I was quite pleased when Escape Studios told me I came 5th. The competition was to submit a character design or environment concept, I chose the character design. I also had to design and make in 3D an 'emblematic object' (an object that sums up the entire game). At first I wanted to make the floating island, but realised this would be a huge project. My second idea was the Glider, which I considered, no-one else would be creating as it was my own idea that came from the gameplay.

I figured everyone else entering the competion would be designing concepts for Crusoe, so to be different I chose to design the character of Man Friday. Besides, I imagined Crusoe to be human, so the player would be able to identify with him, so I had a lot more artistic freedom with Friday. These concepts are for the game character. I wanted him to be unusual and alien. Perhaps slightly scary as Crusoe did n't know if Friday was friend or foe at first. On the practical side, he needed to be familar enough (ie. humanoid) to help Crusoe build things and use the same tools. He would probably be the same height as Crusoe so he could use some of the same animations and could use the glider as well. Looking back at it now, I think I was inspired by the Oddworld games.
Click on Images to enlarge:


Island of Despair and Glider

The game takes place on a deserted island floating in a strange fantastical sky. The object of the game, initially, is survival, followed later by trying to escape. The player's character (Crusoe) starts out very inexperienced, unfit and barely able to cope with his environment. His abilities and skills advance throughout the game, depending on what the player spends his time doing. The character starts out as a terrified survivor and transforms slowly into master of his island.

To escape, the player must construct a glider that will transport him, and his manservant Friday, off the island. This will take some time as the player can only construct small 'short ranged' gliders to start with. The player can use these small gliders to reach the smaller islands that are located nearby. These islands contain items or materials that are needed to build bigger gliders, as well as other items or animals that will be of benefit to Crusoe.


Gameplay Storyboards
Part of the brief was to create Storyboards. These show 30 seconds of gameplay from Robinson Crusoe's point of view, as he is the main character. I'll let the storyboards speak for themselves (as they should). I drew them showing the what the player would see on screen.



Storyboard 1


Storyboard 2


Storyboard 3

You can see more of Friday on the 3D page and Animation page.