WindFall is a visual development project I created during my studies at DigiPen Singapore. WindFall is meant to be envisioned as a 3D action-adventure videogame, similar to A Short Hike and Spyro, but set in an avian world.
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I have always been a huge bird enthusiast and have wanted to try my hand at emulating the rendering style of Nicholas Kole, one of my favourite artists, for the birds. For the environment though, I experimented with a slightly more painterly style for the birdhouse tree village artwork, as well as a line art style for the side view concept of the birdbath due to time constraints at the time (with approval from my professor). These environments are to be playable levels, with the birdhouse tree village illustrated in the intended gameplay perspective, taking inspiration from A Short Hike.
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Below is the story and gameplay premise:
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On an island populated by anthropomorphic birds known as the Avians, life goes smoothly in the trees. The flighted Avians live in birdhouses in the middle part of the trees, while the treetops are dominated by birds of royalty. Meanwhile, life at the bottom is dominated by flightless birds like penguins, ostriches and kiwis. There is no way for the flightless Avians to travel upwards due to the lack of infrastructure like stairs or elevators. And there is no need, anyway - life is comfortable for all.
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One day, Caleb the Cardinal is out on his usual daily flights, when he accidentally hurts his wing while flying in some narrow spaces. He falls down to the bottom, where he is told by a flightless Avian wiseman that a tsunami is predicted to hit in 3 days and that news needs to get upwards to the King to send help to evacuate for the flightless Avians to be saved.
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With a bandaged wing, Caleb must make his way upwards with limited flight capabilities - a triple jump, or double jump and glide.