some design/concept research

Here is a mix of art style ideas and 80's clothing research!

The majority of the images ar from the British and American version of Life On Mars which is a tv cop drama set in the 80's.  Not only is it a great show but it is accurate in almost every way and is a great point of reference for visuals and game content.  We can also see both british and American fashion styles as the two shows would have adapted to their own country.

<- here is a police uniform from the 80s

Here are some art styles that i think could work! i thought about keeping with the graphic quality of Portopia, and since comics were big in the 80's that style could work too.  One of my favorite artists who was famous in the 80's is Frank Frazetta and i think that his art style would be visually very interesting in the game. 

Here are some influences and points on the concepts of the characters:

The facial influences for the American character is Zachary Quinto.  He has a chizzled face with defined features, especially his ears.

The American also wears a rolex watch, a Vintage Mens Rolex Submariner 5513 Stainless Automatic Watch from the late 1970's which was given to him as a gift.

The British characters facial influences were that of a minor actor called James Bland.  I love his jaw line and facial structure, very different from the British character.

Here are some facials that i looked at that i rejected or took parts of to potentially use in the final design.  The reason why i rejected these was because i felt that maybe their features weren't strong enough.  I really wanted the main characters to stand out and be almost heroic looking, like Starsky and Hutch, but not be too "pretty" looking or too rough; they need to maintain a level of "coolness" and attractiveness to the audience..  They are meant to look rough, tough and a a charmer.

Links to all images:

http://www.cynical-c.com/archives2/bloggraphics/miamivice_2.JPG

http://popdose.com/wp-content/uploads/lifeonmars-uk.jpg

http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/high_gravity/Life_On_Mars_ABC.jpg

http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/entertainment/113785_1063_pre.jpg

http://citypolice.tripod.com/fig.71.JPG

http://buffycomics.hellmouthcentral.com/harley/images/news/bermejo_harley.jpg

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090517181910/afrosamurai/images/5/55/Afro_samurai.jpg

http://www.oocities.org/thecyberkat/X-Men2006withoutdeadpool.jpg

http://www.ghostofaflea.com/archives/Frank_Frazetta_From_Dusk_Til_Dawn_1996.jpg

http://cdn1.sciencefiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/GLJohn-259x300.jpg

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Vintage-Mens-Rolex-Submariner-5513-Stainless-Automatic-Watch-Late-1970s-/00/s/OTYwWDEyODA=/$T2eC16ZHJIYE9qUcOuT9BQib-Ue,N!~~60_57.JPG

http://theblackmancan.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/James-B.-306-web.jpg

http://multithousandaires.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/James-Bland.jpg

http://bajan.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/black-man-angry.jpg

http://ionenewsone.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/steve_harvey.jpg

http://myblacktravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Black-Man-In-Suit.jpg

http://beautyandtheblackwoman.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/black-male-model.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_01/powellL0411_468x825.jpg

http://img.izismile.com/img/img3/20100426/640/this_man_was_640_01.jpg

http://www.faceresearch.org/uploads/base/white_male

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll0gq1sJT51qhgmxh.jpg