Hi Spacers! It’s the weekend, and things tend to slow down a little, but the energy here at ITU is as high as ever! After the jam-packed spotlights from the past few days, we’re taking a moment to reflect, recharge, and share some behind-the-scenes glimpses with you!
The Results Are In: Welcome, Davids!
The competition was intense! While the Shadowmen intrigued many with their mysterious allure, they couldn’t gather enough votes to claim the top spot. In the end, it came down to a fierce clash between the Torched and the Davids. Despite the fiery passion of the Torched’s supporters, it’s the Davids who triumphed with the most votes and will officially join the game!
We’re happy to officially welcome the Davids to Enormity - but what really excited us were the creative strategies you shared for how you’d take them down. Here are a few of your ideas:
- "How do you defeat what’s smarter than you? Find out what their creator intended for them, then shatter their inflated sense of ego and self-importance by reminding them of that and their failure to achieve anything." - Shayira
- "David is more than just another enemy. If they consider themselves demigods, then after being defeated in a battle of minds or strength, they should acknowledge the superiority of humanity and perhaps even assist in the fight against another enemy." - Szymon
- "I'll just bring a hammer and chisel. Easy!" - Coffeespoonman
- "To deal with an intelligent Android might be challenging, but nothing is invincible. Throw them a Fluoroantimonic acid bomb, or maybe a Plasma Raygun." - LAVA
- "Hubris should be their downfall. Bait them into ambushes or exploit their vulnerability to electrical attacks." - Joshua
Thank you for sharing these!
Behind the Scenes: Prototyping
Prototyping is where ideas begin to take form and where the heart of game development lies. It’s an exciting and sometimes chaotic process, where creativity meets functionality, and every detail is scrutinized to ensure it meets the high standards we set for Enormity and all our games.
From Sketch to First Draft
The process starts with brainstorming and rough sketches, often accompanied by placeholder materials. Early designs for every component might be drawn on paper or mocked up digitally. At this stage, the goal is to get a tangible sense of how the design looks and functions without worrying too much about aesthetics.
Functional Playtesting
Testing is the cornerstone of prototyping. We use placeholder components to simulate gameplay and assess mechanics. Playtesting helps us identify what works, what doesn’t, and what needs adjustment.
From concept to sculpt
Once the initial prototypes are refined, the process shifts to turning those ideas into detailed concept art. This is where our talented in-house and external 2D artists shine. With their inspiration in place, they craft the concept art that serves as the foundation for the 3D sculpting process - a step we also showcased for you last Sunday!
Our skilled 3D artists take these concept pieces and bring them to life in three dimensions. Sometimes, additional sketches or clarifications are needed if certain elements are unclear. Depending on the complexity of the model or their previous experience with similar forms, the 3D artists may also rely on anatomical or technical references to ensure accuracy.
To give you a closer look, we’ve included photos of our prototypes, printed in-house using resin, though keep in mind these aren’t the final versions. These prototypes are just test pieces that offer a sneak peek at the miniatures you’ll soon hold in your hands!
Once the initial 3D sculpt is ready, the feedback process begins. This involves multiple stages, starting with rough sketches, which progress into detailed sculpts and eventually become the final piece.
Interestingly, the final 3D sculpt often differs slightly from the original concept art. Many sculptors bring their own creative ideas to the table, and these subtle differences reflect the unique styles and perspectives of the artists involved.
PS. Did you know that our prototype miniatures are printed using resin made from beans? That’s right - not only is it eco-friendly, but it also smells much less, which means we can comfortably print them in a dedicated space right here in our office. But just to be clear, we don’t recommend eating it… don’t ask us how we know that.
Closing Transmission
And that’s all for today, Spacers! As always, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm - it’s what keeps The Shepherd moving forward. We hope you’ve enjoyed this weekend’s lighter update, and don’t worry, we’re gearing up for something truly exciting tomorrow.
Until then, see you in the comments and on The Shepherd!
