(Be warned, it's an image heavy thread) This was part of what you'd call a "top secret" project for PU (and for some time part of it for CHE), but we've been sitting on them for the most part of two years already and I don't want to just have them in the limbo anymore. So here they are (now in glorious non-watermarked version), I hope they spice the things up a little and starts new discussions. Mr. Nakai is quite a fun character and a great person to talk with. There's a lot of exciting stuff in these. NB was in charge of the translation of the chat log and the notes that came with these. He can expand on what I say here.
As part of Flagship, Mr. Nakai was in charge of the initial conceptual art for most of the creatures and characters for both bio0 (and some locations here) and BIO CV. Although his role in CV was pretty much from start to finish, he worked in bio0 until development was shifted to the NGC where Yoshihiro Ohno (Creature Artist), Shinsuke Komaki (Character Artist) -working in Migthy No. 9 at the moment, did most of the final designs- and Shinkiro (Character Artist) -recently hired from SNK's bankruptcy, did some final concepts for the extra costumes and characters, but was mainly in charge of the Conceptual Work for the CG cutscenes- took over his duties.
1997 Nov - This was neither for bio0 nor BIO CV. It's the only sketch he can remember he did for Kamiya's bio in the boat scenario.
1998 Jul -
First ever sketch of Billy.
First ever sketch for Rebecca, formerly known as Annie. Nakai wanted to give a different focus to the game by shifting from a trained task force and instead using civilians. Both rejected.
1998 Aug -
He likes/liked to joke around with little details in his proposals.
Rejected boss idea.
I asked him if Marcus was based on Peter Cushing. He remembered him from his role as Wilhuff Tarkin, but said he didn't used him as a base.
Some of his sketches were used as a base by Shinsuke Komaki to come up with a final version of the characters.
This is the second proposal for Billy Coen.
1998 Sep -
Yes, Edward loved to dance.
Third and almost final look of Billy Coen.
Punch The Monkey was called Wesker Monster because it was an enemy released by Wesker instead of Young Marcus -whom, by the way, didn't exist in the N64 version-.
1998 Oct -
D.A.L.I. -> "DNA Arrangement Lack of Intelligence". The name appears to have been reused for a while for the Plague Crawler, but the creatures have no relation whatsoever.
Creature idea. It's a mole. Rejected.
1998 Nov -
The red colour was used almost until the release of the game. There are some beta images from the NGC version with it red and with eyes. It was near the dev cicle that it was blinded and turn into green colour.
He wanted to toy with the idea of giant creatures. He thought, 'why not a chicken'. It was rejected.
1998 Dec -
He was named Eliminator much later...
Notes on how Mimicry Marcus is put together.
1999 Jan -
Old zombie is lab zombie.
More notes on how Mimicry Marcus is put together.
Versions of Rebecca with an without the beret were proposed for the N64. Once the development shifted to the NGC they reevaluated the decision and went for no-beret.
1999 Feb -
The greyhound was proposed as a more fitting dog for the Formation Center. Sadly rejected.
1999 Mar -
The Octopus Spider was rejected as a Boss.
But the Scorpion was approved.
Tomorrow the BIO CV artworks.
As part of Flagship, Mr. Nakai was in charge of the initial conceptual art for most of the creatures and characters for both bio0 (and some locations here) and BIO CV. Although his role in CV was pretty much from start to finish, he worked in bio0 until development was shifted to the NGC where Yoshihiro Ohno (Creature Artist), Shinsuke Komaki (Character Artist) -working in Migthy No. 9 at the moment, did most of the final designs- and Shinkiro (Character Artist) -recently hired from SNK's bankruptcy, did some final concepts for the extra costumes and characters, but was mainly in charge of the Conceptual Work for the CG cutscenes- took over his duties.
1997 Nov - This was neither for bio0 nor BIO CV. It's the only sketch he can remember he did for Kamiya's bio in the boat scenario.
1998 Jul -
First ever sketch of Billy.
First ever sketch for Rebecca, formerly known as Annie. Nakai wanted to give a different focus to the game by shifting from a trained task force and instead using civilians. Both rejected.
1998 Aug -
He likes/liked to joke around with little details in his proposals.
Rejected boss idea.
I asked him if Marcus was based on Peter Cushing. He remembered him from his role as Wilhuff Tarkin, but said he didn't used him as a base.
Some of his sketches were used as a base by Shinsuke Komaki to come up with a final version of the characters.
This is the second proposal for Billy Coen.
1998 Sep -
Yes, Edward loved to dance.
Third and almost final look of Billy Coen.
Punch The Monkey was called Wesker Monster because it was an enemy released by Wesker instead of Young Marcus -whom, by the way, didn't exist in the N64 version-.
1998 Oct -
D.A.L.I. -> "DNA Arrangement Lack of Intelligence". The name appears to have been reused for a while for the Plague Crawler, but the creatures have no relation whatsoever.
Creature idea. It's a mole. Rejected.
1998 Nov -
The red colour was used almost until the release of the game. There are some beta images from the NGC version with it red and with eyes. It was near the dev cicle that it was blinded and turn into green colour.
He wanted to toy with the idea of giant creatures. He thought, 'why not a chicken'. It was rejected.
1998 Dec -
He was named Eliminator much later...
Notes on how Mimicry Marcus is put together.
1999 Jan -
Old zombie is lab zombie.
More notes on how Mimicry Marcus is put together.
Versions of Rebecca with an without the beret were proposed for the N64. Once the development shifted to the NGC they reevaluated the decision and went for no-beret.
1999 Feb -
The greyhound was proposed as a more fitting dog for the Formation Center. Sadly rejected.
1999 Mar -
The Octopus Spider was rejected as a Boss.
But the Scorpion was approved.
Tomorrow the BIO CV artworks.
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