Sullen Lands
A side-scrolling platformer game project from when I had extra creative energy to burn in the evenings. This project was shelved when I moved into full-time creative work (see: Published Tabletop Works).
Much of this work was based on concepts, and inspiration driven forward, by Nathaniel V. Davis. As is the case with great collaboration, it’s challenging to dissect where one person’s ideas ended and the other’s began. In any case, I created the actual assets and artwork that is featured on this page.
-Sam
Gameplay Demo
After 46 builds, Sullen Lands was a functioning physics-enabled platform zone. I got the head flame animation to a place I really liked, and the player-character animations worked pretty well.
Sketches, Experiments, and World-Building
Logo splash screen.
3D logo experiment
A more fleshed-out 3D logo experiment
UV maps and textures for 3D logo
Colored sketch of Gruki.
Style sketch of Gruki.
An experimental 3D rotoscoped Gruki.
Biome sketch: jungle
Enemy concept: Skull Worm
Super Burnt Beyond Recognition Man
NPC concept: Var Vet
Enemy concept: Floppy Feets
Irma
Enemy concept: Grass Guy
Enemy concept: mole
Pylon designs: Blue
Pylon designs: Green
Pylon designs: red
Biome sketch: jungle
Biome sketch: jungle
Biome sketch: Tech Town
Biome sketch: oilfield.
Biome sketch: rocks
Hazard sketch: Snapper Tubes
Style sketch: clouds
Enemy concept: Buzz Fuster
Enemy concept: bird
Enemy concept: Centiteeth
Cell Animation
“Gruki”
The player character.
8-frame Walking, Jogging, Running, and Flipping (Jumping) cycles
4-frame idle, jump, float, and falling cycles. These were horizontally flipped, and allowed for unique animation cycles for flying through the air in all eight cardinal and intercardinal directions.
“Pik-Pok”
An NPC/enemy.
Walk cycle keyframe test. I didn’t get around to tweening this one, but I enjoyed the concept.
Parallax Scrolling Background
Layers of scenery designed to show depth.
Tile Graphics
Tiles and environment graphics built for the first biome.
