Update #1 – Concept Art

Update #1 – Concept Art

Whoa, so exciting! Our very first project update. We already have some cool things to show! I want to share with you how we've been bringing this project to life, which for now, we're calling "Project Hope."

It all started with Ricardo Velásquez, CEO of Alternova, who went through a period of depression without even realizing it. Far from his family, overloaded with work, and stuck in the dark German winter, he experienced one of the hardest times of his life. It wasn’t until he sought professional help that he received an unexpected diagnosis:

"You are clearly depressed."

Ricardo, convinced that he was just suffering from burnout, took months to understand his condition. The lack of information and awareness delayed his diagnosis, which led him to reflect: How could he help others recognize and manage their symptoms? That’s how the idea for this game was born, blending his passion for games with his personal experience to provide valuable information in a fun and accessible way.

Today, Ricardo is doing better than ever and is dedicating a significant part of his resources to developing this project.

Hi, I’m Susana Velásquez! I'm his wife and the game's creative director. Along with my team—UX designer Federico Naranjo and developers Sebastián Neuto and Alejandro Endo—we're making this dream a reality.

What’s the game about? It’s a 2D Metroidvania with platforming, adventure, and a captivating story about personal growth. To ensure the narrative is well-crafted, we’re working with Scott Gray, an Emmy and WGA award-winning writer known for his work on Rugrats, Curious George, and Lazy Town, among others. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with him before, and his ability to create three-dimensional characters with a touch of humor is incredible.

Scott wrote the premise, introduction, and a description of the first level, including creatures and bosses. From there, we began shaping the ideas visually.

The Story: Max, overwhelmed by a rough day, seeks guidance from the legendary Lumen Crystal, home to the benevolent spirit Luminos. When she reads her journal, she unintentionally releases negative emotions that shatter the crystal and plunge her town into darkness. Now, she must embark on a journey to restore it and rediscover herself.

Concept Art: The first step was designing our protagonist. Max is 15 years old and struggling with the sadness of her best friend moving away. She lives in a town inspired by 1800s Switzerland, featuring rustic houses and no modern technology. For her outfit, I considered the clothing of the time but gave it a more adventurous twist. I also explored different hairstyles and her tools: a staff and a lantern. After several options, the most popular choice was option 5. 

Next, we explored variations in clothing, poses, and silhouette—key elements to ensure Max is recognizable on screen. We combined option 3 with the vest from option 1 and tested different poses to make sure the design worked for the game.

Color and Accessories: To define her color palette, I tried various options and we leaned toward option 2, featuring blue and gray tones that reflect her emotional state. However, we wanted to contrast this with a bright color representing her inner strength.

Before exploring colors, we also analyzed different designs for her staff, which will help her light the way and attack. The final choice was option 4, as its simple geometry complements Max’s rounded design.

First Level Exploration: With Max finalized, I focused on designing the first level, which begins when she falls into a cenote and starts collecting crystal fragments and journal pages. I sketched out different game scenes, from the introduction and tutorial to combat and mechanics.

Thanks to this exploration, I decided to go with a stylized aesthetic featuring exaggerated shapes, flat colors, and well-defined values. This will help us be more efficient in the art department, considering there’s currently only one artist on the team.

And that wraps up our first update! I hope you liked it! Let me know if anything caught your attention or if you have any feedback. See you in the next update!