Alpha Protocol
  • Alpha Protocol
    Industry: Gaming
    Client: Obsidian Entertainment

    Credits:
    Derick Tsai-Storyboards+Animatics, Graphic User Interface Design+Animation
    Marcus Collins-Storyboards
    Eric Chen-Graphic User Interface
    Ken Collins-Animation+Ediitng

    Alpha Protocol is a richly textured world filled with dynamic action and a cast of colorful characters, each with a distinct personality headlined by the hero, Mike Thorton.  We got to know these characters well as we created the majority of the storyboard animatics for Obsidian Entertainment's espionage RPG.  The excellent script had a wide range of scenes from bullet riddled action to character based dialogue scenes.

    An interesting feature of Alpha Protocol was the branching function, which depending on the attitude the user chooses to adopt would result in a different outcome for that particular scene. We were therefore able to visually explore multiple possibilities for almost every cut scene in the game.  It was a unique experiece to explore all emotional facets of the storytelling experience in such a dimensional matter.

    In addition to the cinematic cutscenes we also created a variety of design and animation concepts for the graphic user interface ranging from a stylish PDA that Mike uses through out the game to a heavy code-based 3D printer he uses to create new weapons. 
  • ANIMATIC SEQUENCE: POMPEII

    In this sequence Mike is presented with an impossible choice by the villain, Marburg. 
    Either save his love interest Madison Parker or save a bus full of innocent people.
  • Intro
  • Option A: Mike saves Madison
  • Option B: Mike saves the bus
  • ANIMATIC SEQUENCE: MIKE & LELAND'S SECRETARY

    In this sequence Mike tries a variety of approaches to get past Leland's secretary.
  • Option A: Mike is aggressive and threatening
  • Option B: Mike is a klutz
  • Option C: Mike is friendly and helpful
  • Mike's expression studies for this sequence
    Art by Chuck Wadey
  • ANIMATIC SEQUENCE: PARKER

    In this sequence Mike interrogates a stressed out and haggard Alan Parker about what he knows, but gets a lot more than he bargained for.
  • Parker Sequence
  • Parker's expression studies for this sequence
  • STORYBOARD SEQUENCE: THE TRAINYARD

    All out mayhem breaks out as Mike, Sie and Albatross all gun for Surkov!
  • STORYBOARD SEQUENCE: MIKE & MINA

    Sample of how a simple conversation between 2 characters is broken down coverage wise.
  • 2 Shot
  • Camera A: Mina
  • Camera B: Mike
  • Mina is an extremely expressive character!  Here are some samples of the different emotional states she can cycle through in a short conversation.
  • GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE DESIGN & ANIMATION

    In addition to the animatics for the cinematic sequences, Magnus Rex also created a series of graphic user interface design and animation concepts.
  • PDA graphic user interface animation concept
  • PDA design concept
  • PDA design concept
  • 3D printer design concept
  • 3D printer design concept
  • 3D printer design concept
  • 3D printer design concept
  • 3D printer design concept
Description
 
Fields
Game Design, Motion Graphics, Storyboarding
Date
2011