FRONT-END WORK PROCESS

From the beginning, Neil Young, Executive Producer of the game, wanted to create a three-dimensional space where the player would see the entire game represented at one glance. The front-end team, including myself, thought it would be an exciting idea to replace the two-dimensional, horizontal flow chart of The Two Towers game with a three-dimensional, vertical representation of the levels. For me, it was imperative that we try to integrate the Gondorian tree, the symbol of Minas Tirith, into this space. The result became a room called THE TOWER OF PROPHECY(production art).

In this room, the whole story of The Return of The King is represented in a fresco (fresco reference).The fresco portrays a string of faded images which get restored once each level is won (texture research).These faded images were placed along three strings of roots connected to the White Tree of Gondor (level tree). Each root string represents the paths of Gandalf, Aragorn and Gimli, as well as the paths of the Hobbits.

The idea is that the further the player progresses in the game, the more s/he "heals" the tree, unlocking the seven stars upon the tree and saving Middle Earth.

2003 ©NEW LINE/ELECTRONIC ARTS

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HRISTIAN SCHEURER