- The document outlines research conducted for an action role playing game (RPG), including surveys of preferences. Exaggerated art style, knight/archer/mage character classes, and environments across varied terrains were most popular. - Three games - Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, and Skyrim - were researched that use exaggerated style in an RPG genre. Evaluations found this style suits games' dark, unforgiving themes through oversized weapons and monsters. - Images from the games show how exaggeration could inform concept art development, like overly large swords. Reviews state research can aid designing environments and presenting artistic interpretations for the RPG concept.

2. Mind map

3. How did these influence my design?
• My primary research was to interview people in my class and
to find out which design was most suited for my theme and
most of them agreed on the engraved short sword. 13 out of
16.
• I had also played the game Skyrim which relates to medieval
times and to ok a few designs out of there. This had helped
me understand medieval weaponry and how they were
designed.

4. 1) What art style do you think would work well
in an Action Role Playing Game?
Celshaded
Photo Realistic
Exaggerated
Abstract

5. • More than half of the people surveyed chose
exaggerated as the best suited art style. This
allows me when making my concept art to
focus on using this graphical style.
• Exaggeration art style suits this genre of
games very well to make the game more
appealing by making huge swords, unrealistic
characteristics.

6. 2) Which area of a game should have the most
focus when it comes to concept art?
Environment
Characters
Items
Level Designs

7. • Around 47% of people voted that environment
should have the most focus when it comes to
concept art. This gives me a heads up that the
environment should be really detailed.
• Making the environments very detailed gives the
game a very good impression as the player will
be in an environment at any given time.

8. 3) Which 3 character classes do you think would
be most suitable for a Dark Action RPG?
Knight / Archer / Mage
Dragonslayer / Hunter /
Necromancer
Rogue / Gunner / Monk

9. • The first option as the most voted which
means I will work on making those classes in
my concept art. A knight, Archer, Mage
• These are the most common classes in this
genre of games (ARPG – Action Role Playing
Game)

10. 4) What would be the most suitable weapon for
a Knight / Archer / Mage?
Longsword / Crossbow / Staff
Dagger / Longbow / Wand
Shortsword / Throwing Knifes / Magic
Book

11. • The most suitable weapons for the classes
which are Long sword, Crossbow, Staff.
• Most popular weapons in video games across
the rpg genre with the exception of
crossbow/longbow/short bow which are all
equal.

12. 5) What locations are best suited with
an RPG?
Medieval Castles and Fields
Modern Cities
Across All terains ( Deserts, Grasslands,
Sea )

13. • The multi environment and terrain was voted
the best as it offers the most adventure and
exploration. This also offers a diverse world for
the players to explore instead of a constant
setting.

14. 6) What mount would be best suited for the
chosen classes Knight / Archer / Mage?
Horses
Bears
Dragons

15. • Horses were the most popular choice which
lets me focus on making horses in my concept
art instead of any other mount.
• Horses are basic and are usually considered
one of the most trustworthy and realistic
mounts.

16. 7) What style should the enemies be?
Humanoid
Un Humanoid
Undead
Demonic

17. • Undead enemies look like a popular choice so
my monsters / enemies will look zombified,
ghostly, dead. This is a popular choice among
the enemies for most action rpgs

18. 8) What type of armor is most suited
for each Class?
Platebodies / Leather / Robes
Chainbodies / Hard Leather / Hooded
Robes
Mecha Suit / Dragon Leather /
Enchanted Robes

19. • Plate bodies, Leather armour, and robes were
the top voted.
• This relates with the chosen classes the most
and is the most suitable set.
• Plate bodies for the knights for extra
protection. Light leather armour for quick
manoeuvres for the archers who don’t attack
with close range and robes for wizard who
also don’t do close combat but attack from
the distance.

20. Unit 1: Assignment 3
Game Research

21. Objective
• You need to research three games which use a similar art
style and genre to the one you would have made for your
concept art.
• Complete a table of details for the game in question
• Write up an evaluation of the game, focusing on the
graphical style and genre and how they compliment each
other
• Include a collage of images from that game with
annotations as to how these examples are useful for your
own production
• Review how you can use this information to develop your
own work (Concept art and final digitally designed image)

22. Game Research #1
Game title Dark Souls
Publisher Namco Bandai Games
System PS3 XBOX PC MAC
Genre ARPG ( Action Role Playing Game )
Release date August 24th 2012
Graphical Style Exaggeration

23. Game Research: Evaluation #1
• Dark Souls is an Action RPG Game set in an Open World Environment. The game is played in a
3rd person view. The game had gained a high praise due to its difficulty and unforgiving
challenge. The game uses exaggeration for the art style as it suits the theme with the giant
monsters, big swords and uniquely different characters.
• The art style also uses exaggeration to make the game dark and soulful by representing
frightening environments with a few surprises along the way to make the player jump.
• The theme, art style and mechanics of the game go well to make a decent representation of
a undead humanity vs humanity game for a hack n slash monster hunter game

24. The sword is a
representation of
exaggeration as the sword
looks as long as the
character it self

25. Game Research: Review #1
This game would be useful as it can help me
present my environments as I am planning to
make concept art based on this genre of game
using the same are style of exaggeration.

26. Game Research #2
Game title Dark Souls 2
Publisher Namco Bandai Games
System PS3 XBOX360 PC
Genre Action Role Playing Game
Release date March 11, 2014
Graphical Style Exaggeration

27. Game Research: Evaluation #2
• Dark Souls 2 is the sequel to the first game Dark Souls, it is
also a Action RPG Game set in an Open World Environment.
• The game is playable in 3rd person.
• The game uses exaggeration for the art style as it suits the
theme with the giant monsters, big swords and uniquely
different characters.
• The art style of the game is exaggeration. This is displayed
by Big Swords, Unrealistic Characteristics and environments
• The theme, art style and mechanics of the game go well to
make a decent representation of a undead humanity vs
humanity game for a hack n slash monster hunter game

29. Game Research: Review #2
This game presents a form of exaggeration
which could be useful to my concept art as I can
make my own representations.
By relating my concept art to the game I can
alter it to make it more suitable for a rpg

30. Game Research #3
Game title Skyrim
Publisher Bethesda Softworks
System PS3 // XBOX // PC // MAC
Genre RPG
Release date November 11, 2011
Graphical Style Exaggeration

31. Game Research: Evaluation #3
• The graphical style and genre of the game work well
together as these are popular choices for an RPG with
the art style of exaggeration.
• The game uses exaggeration to make the game more
unique by making unrealistic swords, monsters and
enemies, the playable characters to look over the top.
This make the game seem dark and sinister as the
environments are usually in isolated places such as
caves which are dark. This works well as it gives the
audience a deeper representation of the story told
throughout the game.

33. Game Research: Review #3
By using this information I can make detailed
concept art of how certain items, environments
and the characters will look.