Middle-Earth Online Developer Diary
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Tolkien's works are a tricky subject in terms of design, especially for a video game. Needless to say, it's challenging to design in a world that has been established, studied and revered for fifty years and has such a devoted fan base. It's so exciting to re-create Tolkien's world, as well as being able to add new material that is congruent with the lore while introducing never-before-seen creatures from Middle-earth.
I'd like to explain briefly how I design and work on a specific concept, from the original idea to the sometimes revised and final concept. I always begin with a simple, loose sketch establishing the major shapes that are unique to a specific character. I also think about the given character's culture, mentality, demeanor, and physical attributes while I'm sketching. I build my way up from loose sketch to quick color comp, and finally finish by laying in the details and textures.