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Finding Inspiration

F

inding inspiration for D_ROGUE has taken me down all sorts of rabbit holes...and I promise it isn't just me procrastinating creating art by discovering art! 

Over the years, I've collected inspiration and ideas for the game art project from all kinds of sources. From real world concepts, to hundreds of different types of media; there is an endless supply that gets me thinking. 

With all this inspiration around me, it got me asking a few questions. What really is inspiration in the first place? Am I just plagiarising other art? Do I need it to motivate me all the time? Is it aiding or hindering the project?

Inspiration really is a state of mind.

You can't force it but rather ride the journey of what feels right when it presents itself. A fusion of elements come together and spark a curiosity that pushes a thought from ordinary into extraordinary.

One of my favourite quotes by Sandy Meisner is “You are only interesting to the extent that you're interested”.

I have always been a curious person and been fascinated by the world around me. After figuring out the core foundations like the mystery setting (see here) I've found many moments of discovery and potential possibilities to propel the game in what I believe to be unique concepts.

A great result of all this inspiration in my artwork are the smaller assets I've worked on, such as the Panasonic TR-003. A fascinating TV radio cassette player practically lost to time. When I stumbled across it, it just so happened to be from the 70s, the same decade my game is set in. My genuine inquisitiveness and learning these discoveries aligned and became the perfect blend of inspiration.

Out of the three main genres of D_ROGUE, I found an abundance of horror inspiration. In fact, I was in numerous flow states writing down all the haunting themes that could enhance the survival and mystery story elements. It has actually been a challenge to narrow down all the concepts into what could be included!

Some might say, isn't inspiration just an excuse to steal someone's original ideas?

A huge influence in my story development have come from films and TV. The psychological weight of isolation in The Shining. The pure fear of the unknown in Jaws. The colossal power of mother nature in Deadliest Catch. The claustrophobic dread in The Abyss. These have all been massive inspirations in developing the game. 

I wholeheartedly believe that if you find enough inspiration, be it from reality or fiction or anywhere, (so long as it isn't blatantly identical to the source and you're bring someting distintly new to the concept) becomes an intense fuel that can spark a transformation from something simple; elevating it into art that can truly move you. Inspiration can turn an ordinary gameplay mechanic into a totally unique experience for a player.

At the end of the day, inspiration is translation. It's the feelings we experience. Be it from film, TV, music, or simply witnessing the weird moments in our personal lives, we're all remixing lived experiences one way or another; filtered through our own unique perspectives.


Thanks for reading :)

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