Rivermark was one of the very first maps we worked on when Production kicked off in 2024 on this iteration of Highguard. Its biome was one that was worked on as far back as very early pre-production in 2023 in a Art Beautiful Corner, before I even joined. Once I joined, I was tasked with taking over the biome style established in the Beautiful Corner, refining it heavily, creating/refining all the foliage in the biome and bringing it across the finish line in the real gameplay map of Rivermark.
It was a real fun map to work on with the larger macro storytelling elements we had with the big wall and the effects of the nearby Geothermal Plant affecting the surrounding environment. It was also pleasure going back and forth with Level Design and creating great framing of the amazing POIs that Paul, Kristen, Steve and Derek worked on. Working on the set extension/vista for the map was particularly fun as well and a good example of something I took on that normally would be something we have a dedicated Vista Artist for, given our small art team size.
I owned the open-world landscape outside of the main POIs: landscape creation (sculpting, materials (new and re-used), painting), foliage creation (grass/bushes/trees + tree destruction), props, vista, 1st pass lighting, etc.
Our environments were a colossal team effort by a relatively small team by AAA standards (we shipped with 7 Environment Artists with no environment outsourcing!). There was a lot new we had to built, but we also had to be efficient and smartly re-use the asset bank that we built up across maps.
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Art Director / Lighting:
Robert Taube
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Lead Environment Artist:
https://www.artstation.com/jzartist
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Environment Artists:
https://www.artstation.com/jobyek
https://www.artstation.com/paultran
https://www.artstation.com/jakevirginia
https://www.artstation.com/artkristen
https://www.artstation.com/shong1123
https://www.artstation.com/dbentley3d
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Environment Concept Artists:
https://www.artstation.com/gabe-11 (Lead)
https://www.artstation.com/nicholasschumaker
https://www.artstation.com/gabberwocky
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Level Designer:
Dave Osei
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FX Artist:
https://www.artstation.com/mreberg (Director)
https://www.artstation.com/ryanbartonvfx
Christopher Shepherd
