[h2]Introduction[/h2]
Hey guys!
My name is Leo, and I started working on Ferocious as a passion project back in 2018. The very first thing I made for this project was the plants, and I had always wanted to make a cool dynamic vegetation system for Unity. This gave me the inspiration to add more immersive elements, and before I knew it, I had a prototype for a game. Things progressed quickly from there – I found a great publisher in tinyBuild and hired a team to help turn this prototype into a full-fledged game. It's my first time leading a project, so it's quite an adventure for me!
In Ferocious, you wake up on the shores of a mysterious island in the Japanese Sea. Your boat got destroyed, leaving you stranded with no idea where you are, where your brother is, or if he’s even still alive. While exploring, you'll notice that something isn't right - not only are there dangerous prehistoric beasts lurking in every corner, a paramilitary tech-company has taken over the island, sealing off any chance of escape.
The game is a single-player campaign, combining story-driven action-adventure and first-person shooter with survival elements. It is not an open world game. Instead, the player progresses from level to level, each representing a different location on the island and offering more exploration.
[h2]How accurate are the dinosaurs in Ferocious compared to real life?[/h2]
The dinosaurs in Ferocious are not replicas of our real-world dinosaurs. The island the player discovers exists in our time, and its inhabitants are fictional descendants of dinosaurs that managed to avoid extinction and evolve over millions of years.
While they're still rooted in our current understanding of dinosaurs, we didn't mind straying away from the typical dinosaurs you see on TV! Our design approach was more like this: Based on what we know about dinosaurs today, how can we make these creatures cool and believable, while giving them a slightly monstrous twist?
[h2]What place do they have in the game’s story?[/h2]
The dinosaurs are a very central part of the story, representing nature and the world the player discovers. It's a big, dangerous yet beautiful world where humans do not belong, and this is reflected in the dinosaurs as well.
[h2]How can the player interact with them?[/h2]
There are many different types of dinosaurs on the island, some friendly and curious, others dangerous and aggressive. Dinosaurs are strong, fast and deadly creatures, so it's best to avoid direct confrontation. However, throughout the game, players will realize that dinosaurs are not just mindless killing machines. They'll learn to interact with even the deadliest predators, discovering that dinosaurs can be a massive aid in surviving this adventure.
[h2]How long does it take to make a dinosaur?[/h2]
First, there's the design process. Which real-world dinosaur do we want to base this creature on? Perhaps a mix of a few different ones? What could have evolved or remained the same?
The duration of this stage is a bit unpredictable because it involves experimenting and figuring out what we like, but usually it does take around 1 or 2 weeks.
After the designs are finalized, the creature artist moves into the modeling phase. This involves creating the high-poly sculpt, followed by the low-poly model, and then texture baking and painting. The duration of this process typically ranges from 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the complexity of the creature.
Once the 3D model is complete, we need to do an important step before we can bring it to life with animation: The rigging. This process can be quite time consuming, typically taking around a week – but a good rig makes the next step much more efficient.
After the rig is finished, the creature artist can start animating: Walking, running, sleeping, attacking, etc.. Depending on the specific requirements, this process can take an additional 1 to 2 weeks.
With the art side complete, it's time for tech! Procedural animation, such as jiggling bones and foot placement, requires careful adjustments and tweaking, and it can take some time to figure out. The creature's AI varies based on its needs, with some being way more complex than others. In general, this process can take a few days up to a month, depending on the creature.
On average, a new creature takes about 1-2 months to complete.
[h2]How did you decide which dinosaurs to include in Ferocious?[/h2]
There are many different factors influencing our choice of dinosaurs, from general popularity to ensuring we have varied looks and incorporating childhood favorites. Given that our dinosaurs aren't scientifically accurate, we aimed to give each creature a recognizable yet unique twist in its design, making them stand out.
[h2]Will players encounter other prehistoric creatures?[/h2]
Not only are there creatures that aren't dinosaurs, but players will also encounter a few more speculative (yet grounded) creatures in the game – particularly in the deep dark caves and waters, where the dinosaurs tend to avoid!
[h2]This is a Robot vs Dino Fest, will Ferocious have both?[/h2]
Oh yes! The main antagonist of the game has brought some serious firepower to deal with the dinosaur threat on the island. From agile flying drones, to heavily armed bipedal mechs, the villains have spared no expense in acquiring the best equipment money can buy. However, players have the opportunity to turn the tables by stealing this equipment and using it against them!
