The document discusses research done on three games - Far Cry 3, State of Decay, and Mass Effect 3 - to help inform the design of the author's own zombie survival game. The games demonstrated how using photorealistic graphics can make the environment feel real and intense. This research helped the author decide on design elements for their game like having a photorealistic art style, realistic weapons like shotguns, and focusing concept art on detailed environments. The author created a mind map and mood board to further develop their game ideas around these insights from existing titles.

1. Research results
In this presentation, I will be concluding my research and talk
about how it has helped my planning and ideas.

2. Game title 1 Farcry 3
Publisher Ubisoft
Platforms Microsoft Windows
Xbox 360
PlayStation 3
Genre Action-Adventure, First-person shooter, Open
world
Release date November 30, 2012 (UK)
Graphical style Photorealistic

3. The graphical style for this game brings out the realism of the situation the
protagonist is put in and shows what its like trying to survive in a jungle full of
predators and danger. By doing this creates a better and more real experience for
the gamer and makes them feel like they’re involved with the game and trying to
survive.
This will help with my own designs because it gives me an idea of how lay out the
game to make it feel real to the gamer and show what a survival game should be
like.

4. The art style for this game is
photorealistic and focuses on the
environment it is set in to show
what a baron and dangerous
jungle the character is put in.
This needs to be detailed as the
player will explore the jungle
through the game.
A lot of detail has been
put in to make the
jungle believable and
look like a dangerous
habitat.

5. Game title 2 State of decay
Publisher Microsoft studios
Platforms Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Genre Stealth, Survival Horror
Release date Xbox 360 – June 5th 2013
Microsoft Windows – November 5th 2013
Graphical style Photorealistic

6. This is a survival horror game where players have to loot for food, items and keep
a close eye on their health/stamina etc.
Photorealistic graphics is used in this game to emphasize the realism of this game
as its main theme is survival which creates a more effective experience for the
gamer. Without using photorealistic graphics the game would be perceived as
something different. For example, if it had cel-shaded graphics it would give the
impression that the game should not be taken seriously. If cel-shaded graphics
were used for the game to make it fun and cartoon looking this would be
effective, however in this situation photorealistic graphics is most effective for
the player.
This has helped me decide what style I need for my game and what graphics
would be most effective for my idea.

7. Dark colours give the mood of
the game being dark and
gloomy.
This image shows detailed
graphics of the setting such as
the cracks in the road. This
shows how damaged the
environment is which gives the
sense of the situation and gives a
real experience for the gamer.

8. Game title 3 Mass effect 3
Publisher Electronic Arts, Inc.
Platforms Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U
Genre Science fiction, action role-playing
third person shooter
Release date March 6th 2012
Graphical style Photorealistic

9. The graphical style used for this game is used to help bring the fantasy world
of Mass Effect to life so the experience for the gamer is more real. This also
helps the game because it is an RPG, which involves the player to interact
and create relationships with other characters in the game. This shows how
serious and realistic the game is meant to be and would need the
appropriate graphics to make this effect.
This gave me more of an idea of what kinds of RPG games there are and
whether it is necessary to use in my game. RPG adds to the idea of
everything being real and creating a good experience for the audience and I
think for the genre of game my idea is based on, will work effectively.

10. This shows the players interacting with
other characters in the game which
goes more in depth of the characters in
the game, this is good to make the
gamer feel more apart of the character
and involved. This also makes the
situation more real.
This shows the detail of the
characters created for the game.
Third person shooter is a good way to
show your character in combat. The
graphics used for this game are
photorealistic to make the gun battles
for realistic.

11. Overall, my research has helped me define my game style, what I
need and what is appropriate to make it effective to the specific
gaming audience.

12. How this research helped me
When researching these three games I found that it helped me gather an idea
of what type of game I wanted to create.
Farcry 3 helped me understand what is needed to make the environment of the
players setting detailed and believable which is an important asset to creating a
game. The graphics of this game made this effective.
State of decay gave me a proper understanding of a survival game with zombies
and stands out from other survival games by making the style realistic and on
edge in terms of the player trying to survive in this environment created.
Mass effect 3 is a very influential part of my research because it is a fantasy
world in space however tries to make the game realistic as possible by being
able to interact and create relationships with other characters as well as making
decisions that can determine the story of the game, this realistic sense is
effective by also using photorealistic graphics.
These games made me understand that I would need photorealistic graphics
and detail to create my own idea.

13. Q1: What art style would be best for a
open world zombie survival game?
Cel shaded
Photorealistic
Abstract
Exaggeration
I asked this question to get a better understanding of the
appropriate graphics that should be used for my game idea. I
found that the idea of using photorealistic graphics would be best
for the game. This is good for my work because it shows what
graphics the audience would want to see most. This will make my
concept art sketches more realistic and adapt it more to the
graphic style that would be used.

14. Q2: What weapon should the main character
use in a zombie survival game?
Assualt rifle
Handgun
Shotgun
Sub machine gun
For this question, I thought it was important to understand what
type of weapon the gamer would want to use in the game as it
would play a big role throughout gameplay. I found that the
shotgun is the most voted weapon with the assault rifle just
behind. This shows which particular weapons are wanted and
gives me a chance to decide which is best for this game genre.
This is useful for my work because it gives me better direction
concerning the weapons.

15. Q3: For a zombie survival game,
which setting is best?
A graveyard
A diner
The countryside
A city
I asked this question because it is important to understand what type of setting the
audience would prefer in this game genre as it would play a huge part throughout the
game. I found that a city based game is most voted, this shows me what type of game
the audience is looking for. For example, a zombie survival game based in a city may
conclude to it being a open world map with the ability to explore the landscape. This
gives me a much better direction in terms of concept art because the setting of the
game is more defined and gives many options for different ideas.

16. Q4: Which area of the game should have most focus
when it comes to concept art?
Environment
Characters
Items
Level designs
I asked this question because I think it is important to know which area of the
game needs more detail and should be defined to stand out most in the game. I
found that environment has been voted most, this is useful because it shows
what type of game the audience is looking for. For example, so far I have
gathered that the game should be a open world game with focused and detailed
environments that should use photorealistic graphics. These points can lead to
extensive ideas such making it a RPG game etc. This gives me a sense on what
should be detailed and focused on.

17. Q5: If the game were to be rated 18, what do you
think is the most appropriate graphical imagery?
Dead and clothed
Dead with torn clothes and
minor decay
Dead with open flesh
wounds, decay and torn
clothes
Dead with dismembered
body parts, harsh flesh
wounds and decay, and
torn clothing
I asked this question because I wanted to understand what levels of graphics the
game should be taken to, so I can find the right target audience and not make it too
harsh. However, the most voted answer is the detailed and gory imagery. This
shows me how graphical the audience want the imagery and the game should be
more realistic in a sense of being gritty, gory and violent. This again relates to how
detailed my sketches should be.

18. Q6: Who should the main
protagonist be in this game?
A military man
A scientist
A average worker
A ex-spec ops agent
For this question, I wanted to find out who the appropriate character is for this
type of game. I found that an average worker is most voted which shows that the
gamers want to see a realistic character which also means they want to see a
believable story. This is useful for my work because it shows what story they
want to see. For example, the idea of a average worker shows they want to see
someone who is a average person put in to this situation. This gives me a better
impression of what to use for my concept sketches, being normally dressed,
working class looking.

19. Q7: What would you expect to find
in a open world zombie game?
Survivours
Infected
Wild animals
Abandoned streets
and houses
Now my understanding is better, I asked what the audience would want to see
in a open world game. I found that they of course want to see the infected
(zombies) but also equally want to see others such as animals and survivors.
This gives me a better idea of what should be in a game to improve it and
reach a wider target audience.

20. Q8: What do you think the main
characters role is in the game?
Find a cure
Help stranded
survivours
Survive the infection
that is slowly causing
human extinction
Find the cause and
origins of the infection
I thought this was an important question to ask as it defines the plot of the
game and gives the character purpose as well as a good game to play for the
audience. I found that the best idea would rather be to find a cure or find the
origins of the infection. These are good plot points that will help with my
original game idea.

21. Q9: How do you think the main protagonist will
psychologically handle the events and situation he is in?
Slowly lose his sanity
Get to grips with whats
happened and move on
Becomes more violent
and aggressive
Unable to cope
I asked this question to get a better take on how realistic the game should
be and how the character should be portrayed as the user progresses
through the game. I found that the audience prefer the idea of the
character becoming more violent and losing his sanity which shows the
realism and also hinting at the game being violent. This helps me
understand how to portray the character in the story.

22. Q10: What vehicles do you expect to use in
this particular game?
Car
Motorcycle
Boats
Small planes
Trucks
As the game is a possibly free roaming and open world, I thought it
was important what vehicles the user would like to see. I found
that cars are most voted. This shows me what should be in the
game and what I should concentrate on when designing a vehicle
in my concept arts.

23. Q11: How should the main protagonist be
presented?
In torn rags
In a suit
In a leather jacket with
jeans
In army uniform with a
bulletproof vest
I asked this question to get a better understanding on how the main
protagonist should be presented. I found that a leather jacket and jeans
is best which shows they want him to look cool but average and normal.
The clothing presents the characters personality which is important. This
gives me a better idea of what do use when designing the characters
presentation in my concept art.

24. How this research helped me
This research was helpful because it extended my ideas further and gave me
more direction in how the game should look and be.
The opinions from a large group of people helped determine what was best
for the game idea because its best to understand what the audience want to
play and feel when experiencing a game with a lot of detail.
The answers for my questions helped me develop the ideas of story,
characters, weapons and vehicles etc.
The audience also gave feedback on vital information such as the graphical
imagery that should be shown. The answers also made me aware of what kind
of game it should be.
Overall, I think the questionnaire helped me develop initial ideas.

25. Mind map
Setting
Theme
Game
ideas
The infected
caused by a virus passed by blood or
saliva, causes a need for human flesh
limitless stamina and speed and has an
instant transformation. Appearance:
bloodshot eyes, pale complexion,
protruding veins and make snarling
noises. Throughout the story different
theories of what created the virus arise
creating a confusion of the real
conclusion.
The game will focus on the journey of an
individual survivor of the zombie
apocalypse. I would want the game to
cover these various storytelling points
which are: the nature of survival (survival
of the fittest) and moralities between
humans (turning on each other - murder,
rape, cannibalism) theme of loneliness,
isolation, sanity and emotions.
The game setting will be based
in London and the outskirts of
London such as the countryside
which will make the open world
gameplay very big. I used a real
environment to make the game
realistic and believable, other
than using a fictional game
setting which can take the sense
of realism away.
Item/weapon
Throughout the game the character
will be able to find and use a range of
various weapons in the story. However,
I think it is good to give the character a
signature weapon which is an old
double barrel shotgun because
although it is fun to use when killing
zombies it is also a well known and a
common weapon used in the zombie
horror genre in films and games likes
The Evil Dead franchise. I think using
this will grab the attention of gamers
because it will connote more to the
games genre.Plot
The plot of the story is focused on a
normal everyday person who tries to
survive the zombie outbreak that has
affected the world. The story starts with
the character Jason Blake trying to get
out of London because of the infection
spreading through the city. The
character flees out of London to the
countryside where he grew up hoping to
find his family, only to find a badass
shotgun and a badass car. The character
is now alone and has lost all hope with
an unknown infection killing millions of
people. Roaming the streets and
abandoned roads the survivor hopes to
find civilization.

26. Game
ideas
Mind map
RPG
Open world
The open world gameplay would
allow the player to explore and
discover things around the map such
as finding new weapons and other
missions, this will give the player a
feel of what its like to survive in this
environment from looting
abandoned supermarkets, finding
shelter in houses, meeting other
mysterious survivor's and many
other interactions and obstacles
throughout the game.
Throughout the game the
character will gain more
experience from using
weapons and driving ect,
which will level up the
character and increase his
strengths. Also,
environmental challenges
such as running will increase
the characters stamina.
The character will have an
inventory which will hold all
the items the player is
currently carrying such as:
weapons, food, apparel etc.
Choices made throughout the
game affect what happens
and what path the character
takes. When interacting with
other characters the player
can choose whether to
commit a renegade action or
good action which will
determine what kind of
character you are.
The map would look similar to the
one below which is the Grand Theft
Auto 5 map which contains the city
itself and the outskirts that includes
the countryside.
The player will have a
minimap displayed on
the bottom left corner
of the screen that also
shows health and
stamina.

27. Character
Jason Blake
He will be portrayed as an antihero type
of character, he knows the difference
from right and wrong but is also cold and
heartless and uses this attitude to survive.
These are some similar characters from
film and games of which I would like my
character to be alike: Max Payne, Mad
Max,
27 year old working class
man
Lives in a flat in
London on his own
Has a family living on a farm
where he grew up on the
outskirts of London
Throughout the game the character goes
through emotional changes adapting to the
decaying environment with the new infection
spreading and finds it hard to keep sanity
thinking to be the last person alive. Also
becomes more aggressive and violent.
I used an ordinary person (working class)
in this game to make the gamer think it
could be anyone in this position and to
relate to. It also gives a realistic sense e.g
not using a character who is a veteran
soldier, I think this makes the player relate
easier and become more interested in the
character and story.

28. Mood board
Setting
I chose this picture
from the game Fallout
3 because it underlines
the theme of loneliness
in a rotting
environment.
This image shows all
the infected people on
the streets.
This picture shows
the player out of city
and establishes the
size of the free roam
capability

29. These are some images of the type of environment the game will be set in.

30. How this research helped me
By completing this research I was able to understand what kind
of game I wanted to create.
The mood board abled me to sketch a setting that I think would
go well with the game as it gives a dark and gritty feeling.
My mind map helped me develop influential ideas and go into
detail of characters background and game ideas concerning
open world and RPG.
Overall, this helped me with my final ideas for my concept art.

31. Conclusion
In conclusion, all my research helped me develop and define
my original idea for a zombie game.
Research such as looking at other games, using questionnaires
and designing mind maps and mood boards helped me do
this.