Blog: "Birth of a Monster. Part 2"

[Thomas]

Second and final part of the monster creation article.

http://frictionalgames.blogspot.com/2011...art-2.html

[Frontcannon]

Was it clear from the start you wanted to have two different monsters (as the Brute is the enhanced version of the Grunt so to speak)? Or were more planned but didn't make it into the final game due to budget cuts etc?

[hollowleviathan]

The rim lighting is quite an excellent touch, I think I experienced it without noticing, which is probably the desired effect.

[Thomas]

The question does not have really clear answer because it depends at which time of development you mean.

The brunt and brute were the only two enemy "types" (meaning that it was pretty much "normal guy" and "big guy" concepts) that always were 100% in the design. Then there was a few other suggestions on stuff like flying enemies, swimming enemies, etc. But as the project change direction a lot of times, many of these become a bit unfitting.

I do think that the latest monster we had in mind, but did not make, was a monster that attacked you with sanity bursts. The concept name was the magician or something similarly cheese and the idea was that an even the shortest encounter would be very bad for the sanity. It was not much more fleshed out then that, and I cannot recall us having any real dicussions of look story, or whatnot other than the basic mechanics. Still, would have been fun to see how the creature would have turned out. Some other time perhaps?

[Sexbad]

I could imagine an incredible chase scene with a creature like that. Not entirely sure how it would work or not become incredibly frustrating, but it would be neat.

[eiahmon]

I just love reading stuff like this. XD

If the brute and the grunt were the ones that were always 100% in the design, does that mean the idea for the water lurker came in later on? If so, I'm curious about how it came about, and what made you guys decide to add a third monster. I'm also curious if the water lurker's form was ever drawn up or if it was intended to be invisible from the get go..

[mattwestwick]

Hmm Scarecrow out of Batman does some bad things to your mind.

Although the sanity effects were horrifying enough without letting some wizard mess you up even more.

[Valkirius]

Wich 3D software Olof Strand used to make the brunt?

[Thomas]

3D Studio Max and Z brush I think.

[Leu Radu]

This information on the whole design, from concept to modeling to finished product is really inspiring. It's really nice to understand how this work of art was conceived and created. Thank you for being so open to us, Frictional Games!