What came first: the gameplay, or the art? Epic Games, creators of the Gears of War trilogy, helps answer that question in a new video for their upcoming Minecraft-esque shooter game, Fortnite.
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In the new video, art director Pete Ellis goes through creative process of game design. Fortnite is a less-than-realistic game with bright colors and cartoony graphics, but it was not always that way. The game originally started out as a dark and gritty horror title, which lead to the art design team to create some truly chilling creations (like zombies with their skulls pulled through their mouths).
However, as development continued, I am sure the game designers realized that every other game out there is a dark and gritty zombie survival title, so they decided to soften it somewhat. This prompted the new and, in my opinion, much improved aesthetic to the game. This is a team building game you can play with your friends, try and have some fun. They kept the aforementioned skull-face zombies, called Husks, but gave them a funnier, more appealing design similar to the types of walking dead you find in Plants vs Zombies.
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So in that regard, gameplay influenced art. Yet it also runs the other way, too. The game makers wanted a zombie that had a ranged attack, but not with a gun. The artists returned a zombie who throws baseballs and bones, and thus a new enemy was born. The same thing with the big fat Husk who carries around a propane tank and explodes.
Sure, silly zombies are getting away from the basic concept of a zombie, but I have found that in addition to blowing them up, the best way to diminish your fear is to turn that fear into something colorful and fun.
And then you blow them up.
Fortnite is currently in an invite-only Alpha until December 19. Watch the Husk video below.
