[This week we have an interview-style chat with our very own visual designer, Mr. Gregorius Maximus!]
Who are you and what do you do at Creatrix Games?
My name is Greg Tice, and I’m the sole artist for Creatrix Games. I guess you could say I wear all the many hats (and helmets?) of the art department, from intern to director. Its my job to make sure Lila has a visually striking and unique style. Its Jason’s job to make sure I don’t take it too far! Worry not–he shall not succeed.
What’s the most recent game that you played?
I’m replaying Planescape Torment for the 100th time. I am determined to go through the game with an evil alignment. I’ve never actually managed it, my bleeding heart always gets the better of me. As for new games, Mario Galaxy is currently in heavy rotation.
What are your favorite art mediums to work with?
Ink, acrylic, charcoal, and anything that I can find in the parking lot, kitchen, or scattered about my desk. This means that some artwork has a vitamin water or coffee scent.
You are responsible for visual design of everything from characters to architecture. Where do you get inspiration for such a diversity of visions?
I have a treasure trove of art history books. You can’t go wrong with the masters. But really inspiration strikes at the oddest times and from the quirkiest things. I do keep a notebook in the bedroom since I often wake up with quite a few interesting ideas that are quick to fade.
What color is your hair lately?
Dr. Pepper can colored at the moment.
As the visual designer of Lila Dreams, you have immense power over the perception of the game to its potential audience. How are you planning to shape the look of the game so it appeals to a broad group without it becoming generic or watered down?
Its a tight rope walk. We bounce all the ideas around and eventually end up at a result that is unique and not too far off the deep end. I believe that if places and things have a foundation in reality you can take them pretty far before you start to lose people. However, the public doesn’t always shy away from the strange and absurd. Just look at the success of Alice in Wonderland and Dr. Seuss!
What’s your favorite flavor of coffee?
Coffee has flavors other than coffee? I’ve been on a Turkish coffee bender lately. Its like pure energy mixed with pond sediment.
What aspects of yourself or your thoughts are you putting into Lila Dreams?
I often think back to my perceptions as a child. How the world looked and what fascinated me. Basically I’d like to instill that sense of wonder of exploring a larger than life and mysterious environment.
In what ways will visuals contribute to the fun of playing Lila Dreams?
Oddly enough I’m not a graphics snob. I still play the old Infocom text adventures every now and then! However, as an artist I am aware of how immersive good art direction can make a game. I’d like players to forget they are playing a 2D MMO and feel as if they have a tiny window onto an imaginary world that they are oddly a part of.
Thanks for your time and thoughts, Greg!
And now, the latest of his Lila Dreams works made public: Experius, the city of administration.
10 comments ↓
Look forward to seeing how the game continues to come along! Thanks for the hard work, Greg.
Hi Creatrix team!
Thanks again for your weekly window into the world that is lila dreams. I am so excited for this game it’s not even funny! Well it is a little funny but that’s not the point ^.^.
I was wondering though, the various images scattered throughout this post, is that more concept art or the visual ramblings of greg’s mind? Either way they are sweet images, especially the heart.
On another note, the team is no longer three anymore. There are at least four of you now, is there anyone else who has joined recently that you haven’t discussed?
Excellent shot of Experius by the way, I am very much looking forward to exploring these worlds. Although I don’t know whether I will be able to get anything done in game as I will be too busy staring at the scenery
Wait, you’re replaying Planescape and love Infocom? Awesome! Sounds to me I’d rather you be the game designer! (No offense to anyone…) But I can hope that if this game makes you happy, it’ll make me happy also.
Oh and check out the “It Is Pitch Dark” video on youtube by MC Frontalot if you’re an Infocom fan…
The art sprinkled through the text is some of Greg’s non-game art. I wanted to show that he does more than just game stuff.
Aw, Greg’s cheating on the game. Shame.
This is one of my favorite posts, I’m glad we got an insight into the art and the artist behind the game. I’ve been so impressed with Greg’s artwork.
The following will probably be ignored again, but hey, I’m thick headed:
I want to blow up an image of the concept art into a poster, becuase it’s just amazing, and I also think it could help me with my art. But there are two things I have to clear first.
One, is this okay with you, Greg?
And two, it’s copywrighted, and Kinko’s won’t allow me to blow it up without consent from you.
So, any help here?
Aushou, we didn’t ignore you!
Greg sent you an email in response to the first time you asked. I guess your spam filter ate it or something? I’ll ask him to send it again.
I want my hair to be “Dr.Pepper-can” colored, too!!
Awesome art, Greg, as always
Given that the only thing cool about this project is the art, why not just do a graphic novel (ideally without text given the writer).
Any reason you spend time to look at the blog and comment on two of the posts if you don’t like the game Ridiculo? You’re just being a dink for the sake of it, something people are supposed to stop doing around what two years of age?
You like the art? Then say so and leave it at that. We don’t need your unstructured and not at all constructive cynicism. In fact Jason had to even comment on this kind of behavior in the first post. I thought at the time that it was unnecessary. I thought “no one is really that unsure of themselves that they need to bash someone else’s hard work and ideas.” Sadly Ridiculo, you manage to prove me wrong.
Go away, we don’t want you here.
On a happier note, greg, your art style is excellent and I am very much looking forward to some more brilliant concept art and of course the aesthetics of the final game.
Awww yeah… Im just posting quick to say hey.
I didn’t get a chance to read this whole post and I want to give it the attention it deserves so “I’ll be back”
Keep up the great work guys, don’t loose the vision…
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