Thought I would upload some of the concept art work and early workings I created at the very start of the project. The development and design of the game changed drastically when production started, changing environments and becoming a very different kind of experience in tone and atmosphere.

Initially the game was set in a prison cell and players would experience new environments via the dream world sections when sleeping (which became the Casino level in the final build). Lots of my early artwork and ideas take place in a prison cell and this was the main inspiration for the “chain door” in the apartment which went on to define the loose narrative I had for the game.

Much of my early “dream” concepts revolved around the themes of prison and crime, hence why the courtroom was a significant environment in the initial prototype and items like the judges gavel would have become one of the players main puzzle items.

The initial prototype focused on a prison escape where the player would tunnel at night and sleep during the day. During these sleeping intervals the dream levels would begin, revealing backstory to the protagonists potential crime and ultimate judgement.

The final version opted for a more vague narrative and plot although much of the influences from the original went on to define the core themes in the final build.

Here is a link to my initial pre-vis tests I used to work out tone and rough gameplay concepts before starting production.

Pre Vis 1#: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB2lMI4vsnQ&list=PL5rRj5TKT_PpkEp7Ysvz_YhJ6rIrXrqu3&index=1

Pre Vis 2#: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzYHFGwYECw&list=PL5rRj5TKT_PpkEp7Ysvz_YhJ6rIrXrqu3&index=2

Thanks for reading,

• JwP