Crafting the complex creature art of New World: Aeternum

Sojin Hwang: The creature designs can be influenced by a blend of mythical and real animals, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources. Mythical creatures from various cultures provided a rich foundation, allowing us to incorporate fantastical elements and symbolism into our designs. While real animals also played a significant role, providing anatomical accuracy and behaviours that ground the creatures in reality. We studied various species, examining their movement, textures, and ecological adaptations, which helped us create more believable and engaging creatures.

By combining these influences, we aimed to develop designs that feel both imaginative and relatable, enriching the game world with diverse and compelling life. This mix allowed us to come up with creatures that are not only visually striking, but also deeply connected to the themes and narratives of the game.

For Aeternum, we introduced several new creatures, with two notable ones - the Broodmother and Echidna - appearing as bosses in Hive of Gorgons, our first-ever raid. We’re extremely proud of their unique and terrifying designs.

Sojin Hwang: The lore of the game plays a crucial role in shaping a creature's design by providing context, its history, and role in the narrative, and environmental context that influence visual and functional aspects. For instance, a creature's origins, a specific myth or legend might feature design elements that echo cultural symbols or historical motifs, making it feel more integrated into the game world.

Lore could also influence a creature's role within the game world – whether it's a fierce predator, a mystical guardian, or a misunderstood being – affecting its features and animation styles. For example, a creature tied to ancient mythology might have intricate designs that echo cultural motifs, while one rooted in a harsh, survivalist narrative might have rugged, worn characteristics

The process of designing a new creature is both collaborative and iterative, beginning with a brief that outlines the creature's role and characteristics, which serves as a foundation for brainstorming and exploring diverse ideas through initial sketches and mood boards.

Once the design team completes the Creature Design Document (CDD), we hold a detailed meeting to clarify aspects of the design and align on goals. Concept artists then gather reference images to develop a cohesive look for the creature, and after establishing a rough direction, we communicate with the design team for feedback. Once consensus is reached on the final design, we get together again to finalise details, ensuring alignment on the creature’s appearance, behaviours, and technical constraints.

Designing a new creature is a complex and multifaceted effort. It requires not only creativity but also collaboration and attention to detail. We dedicate significant time and effort to ensure that every creature looks unique and fits harmoniously within the game world. Our ultimate goal is to create memorable designs that enhance the player’s experience, making each encounter with a new creature exciting and engaging.

Sojin Hwang: Every creature comes with its own unique technical challenges. We try to anticipate them as much as possible but sometimes issues arise unexpectedly. When it does, we just need to remain open minded and flexible. However, it is important to identify those issues earlier in production such as the concept design phase, as it is easier to iterate on paper than in 3D phase.

When designing unique boss creatures like Echidna, we faced several technical constraints that significantly influenced our approach. For Echidna, we utilised the sulfur dragon rig, which required us to create a design that not only matched its proportions, but also ensured that she stood out as a distinct entity.

Sojin Hwang: To ensure that a new creature feels distinct while fitting seamlessly into the game world, we focus on several key techniques that promote consistency and originality. At the outset of the design process, we emphasize the importance of originality, encouraging the concept team to think outside the box and aim high during the initial exploration phase. This approach allows for a broad range of ideas to be generated, fostering creativity and innovation.

Once we have a variety of concepts, we carefully reference the established art pillars of the game. These pillars serve as guidelines that help maintain a cohesive visual language across all creatures, ensuring that even the most original designs align with the overall aesthetic of the game world.

Sojin Hwang: Creating a new creature design involves several challenges, particularly related to its environment and technical constraints, like which rig it will be on. One significant challenge is ensuring that the creature’s design is appropriate for its environment and its family. For example, we have Angry Earth creatures intended to inhabit a dense jungle that will need adaptations that reflect its surroundings and thick foliage.

At the same time, we don’t want them to get lost or go unnoticed against their environment. This necessitates a deep understanding of both the creature's origin and the ecological context in which it exists.

Sojin Hwang: Collaboration with other teams is essential to the concept design process. We work closely with various departments, including narrative, creature design, animation, and technical art, ensuring that all aspects of a creature’s design align with the overall vision for the game.

This collaboration greatly influences our designs in several ways. For instance, feedback from the AI design team helps us understand how the creature will function within the game, which informs its physical appearance and behaviours. Similarly, insights from the animation team guide us in creating designs that are not only visually striking but also feasible for animation, allowing for smooth and engaging movements.

Technical artists play a crucial role in ensuring that our designs are compatible with performance requirements. Their input helps us balance visual complexity with efficiency, allowing us to create detailed and immersive creatures without compromising game performance.

By fostering open communication and collaboration among teams, we ensure that our designs are cohesive, innovative, and well-integrated into the game world. This collaborative approach ultimately enhances the quality of the creatures we create, making them more compelling and functional within the gameplay experience.

One of my favorite creature designs is the Broodmother, which stands out for its complexity and originality. This creature blends reptilian traits with organic elements, featuring a stubby, snake-like tail that drags along the ground, spreading a caustic, pollen-laden ooze. The upper half resembles a robust, bloated lizard, subtly reminiscent of the classic Medusa.

A key aspect is the large bud-like structure on her back, enhancing her Angry Earth origin. The ooze not only creates gameplay hazards by covering the area but also facilitates the growth of Hercyne Pods, spawning new threats. This design integrates visually striking elements with engaging mechanics, making the Broodmother a memorable and formidable presence in the game.

Sojin Hwang: There are several artists whose work has significantly influenced creature design, and whom I would recommend every aspiring creature designer study.

Carlos Huante and Paul Richards are two of my all-time heroes and old-school creature artists who inspired me when I was starting out in creature design. Their dynamic and stylistic approaches to creature and character design have influenced many artists, highlighting the importance of strong shapes and silhouettes in creating memorable designs. Recently, I discovered two 3D creature concept artists, Sadan Vague and Luke Starkie, who utilise 3D tools to create some of the most dark, twisted, and horrifying yet unique creatures I've ever seen.

Studying the works and techniques of these artists can provide invaluable insights into creature design, from the importance of anatomy to the role of storytelling in visual concepts. Each of these artists has brought a unique perspective to the field, making their work essential for any serious creature concept designer to explore.