This is the original concept for the shot that I created based on a camera block-out by our layout department. I'm glad it resonated, and we kept the final cinematic shot pretty close!
Some exploratory concepts early on for how the blast radius was going to affect the environment. Art direction wanted the feeling that the ground is already weakened by a network of tunnels and ground shifts, and the blast causes it all to collapse.
Final in-game screen shot from the cinematic.
Concept published in Gears 5 "Art of" book
Gears 5 Story Trailer - Kait Unleashed
Awesome Cinematic meshing and FX really brought so much immediacy to these shots.
I crafted the background elements using a variety of techniques. I wanted to learn some Houdini so I took the opportunity to learn how to shatter a piece of Terrain. I'd like to thank our Campaign VFX lead Mandy Moreland for her time and demonstrations as I worked through this process.
After I had the terrain I scattered buildlings and debris modeled in Maya on top and then painted over individual elements to bring more detail and add variation.
The very distant terrain is straight up Matte Painted.
Art Direction - Aryan Hanbeck:
https://www.artstation.com/mediumrare
Cinematic Meshing - Zachariah Scott
https://www.artstation.com/zachariahscott
Cinematic Director - Greg Mitchell
Cinematic Lighting Lead - Anne Hall
