Game Concept
"Dellerwood" unfolds as an enthralling VR horror mystery game, taking you on a thrilling journey through the enigmatic world of Sidney Crawford, a self-styled supernatural investigator whose keen senses often lead her to snoop around her neighbors. This captivating narrative was brought to life as a collaborative effort, where I, Daniel Navarro, had the unique opportunity to serve as the lead character artist and animator.
In this team venture, I worked alongside dedicated professionals such as our esteemed lead environment artist, Miranda Rice, and our proficient lead programmer, Riley Sitzman. My role, however, extended beyond the realms of character designing and animation. I was deeply involved in shaping the overall visual style and tone of the game, adding layers of depth to the virtual world.
Game Trailer
As the Lead Character Artist and Animator, I was entrusted with the task of breathing life into the game's characters, creating not just models, but entire personalities and histories. Characters were not merely tools for storytelling, but they were the story themselves. They were built to engage with the player emotionally, immersing them even deeper into the enigmatic world of Dellerwood.
Meet the Characters
-
Jack Hirst
Antagonist
-
Sidney
Player Character
-
Calvin
Son of Family
-
Mother
Calvin’s Mom
-
Father
Calvin’s Dad
My responsibility extended beyond the mere creation of characters; I was also tasked with animating these characters, adding a further layer of complexity to the role. Animating the characters meant defining their movements, gestures, and expressions - in essence, I was choreographing their dance within the game's world. Each blink, every shiver, every twitch was meticulously designed to contribute to the rich, uncanny atmosphere of the game.
My efforts were directed not just towards aesthetics but also function; ensuring the models were optimized for VR was a critical part of my role. I had to ensure that my characters could be translated seamlessly into VR without losing any of their depth or complexity. The meticulous balance of creativity and technical expertise was a constant, invigorating challenge throughout the project.
The Dellerwood project was a joint endeavor, and I was fortunate to work with incredibly talented individuals. My contributions were complemented by the brilliant work of Riley Sitzman, our exceptional lead programmer, whose work made the game mechanics smooth and immersive. Miranda Rice, our equally talented lead environment artist, breathed life into the game's settings, crafting locales that were both hauntingly beautiful and eerily familiar. And finally, I took the helm as the lead character/animator designer, ensuring our characters were not just visually appealing, but also served the game's narrative and mechanics effectively.
