Before starting to design and create a 3D environment, I looked into the themes that I could pick from and explored what I liked the most. Before looking into it I was the most drawn to horror and fantasy as I knew the most about them.

I created a mindmap of exploring the different themes on a website called Canva, this is where I started to feel drawn to certain ones more than others and had a couple of rough ideas.

Mindmap link:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFaFtkhlic/7HHNv34Ezi0dK3AaaFrFOQ/view?utm_content=DAFaFtkhlic&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

I have broken them down into each section with reference images of what I feel represented the themes and looked into the definitions and different fictional literature, movies, tv shows, and games from these genres and the potential sub-themes which are below:

Historical

What I like about this theme is that the environments from these pictures are that they are nature-based, I quite like the overgrown plants over something that has been a part of history or looking back at certain timeframes and what the environment looked like at that time. The lighting is natural and uses orange and blue tones to create beautiful shots and create atmosphere.

Horror

Science fiction

Fantasy

What I felt drawn to the most was Sci-fi, I had a few ideas:

Ideas

Sci-fi – Small planet with a base and a garden, the sky is full and has multiple moons and you can see other planets. This design has low lighting and the art style is cel-shaded, inspiration would be Borderlands, Subnautica, and Astroneer.

Horror – Snowy woodland area with a rundown wood cabin, the lights are on inside, there is a muddy path that leads to the cabin with a clean and well taken care of grave in the center. This design has contrasting colours of blue tones and orange low lighting with snow particles floating about and low poly art, gothic style, inspiration would be Astroneer, Resident Evil 7, and Limbo.

Sci-fi – Biodome with a cherry tree inside in a laboratory, glowing light from a biodome, and ahead lights for the atmosphere. The art style is cartoonish and has a warm atmosphere.

The idea I liked the most was the horror landscape as I feel it has simple pieces I can make and the low poly art style will make the process easier I can always add detail to areas that need it like the centerpiece. The next step is to research the theme more and look at references that inspire me and would like to include in the environment.

References

(1976) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Directed by Tobe Hooper.
343 Industries (2012) Halo 4 , Steam. Microsoft Studios. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1064273/Halo_4/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Aonuma, E. (2017) The legend of zelda: Breath of the wild, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild . Available at: https://www.zelda.com/breath-of-the-wild/ (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Bazuzu11 (2018) Sci-fi environment concept , DeviantArt. Bazuzu11. Available at: https://www.deviantart.com/bazuzu11/art/Sci-fi-environment-concept-742103724 (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Bethesda Game Studios (2015) Fallout 4, Steam. Bethesda Softworks. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Bonczyk, D. (2018) The Hunt/ Sci fi environment, artstation. Available at: https://www.artstation.com/damianbonczyk (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
CD PROJEKT RED (2015) The witcher® 3: Wild hunt , Steam. CD PROJEKT RED. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/292030/The_Witcher_3_Wild_Hunt/ (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Climax Studios and Housemarque (2023) Pre-purchase Returnal™ on steam, Steam. PlayStation PC LLC. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649240/Returnal/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Creative Assembly and Feral Interactive (2014) Alien: Isolation, Steam. Sega, Feral Interactive, SEGA of America. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/214490/Alien_Isolation/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Dher, B. (2018) Temple – Fantasy Environment Concept Art (copy), behance. Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/65483807/TEMPLE-Fantasy-Environment-Concept-Art-%28COPY%29 (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Hello Games (2016) No man’s sky , Steam. Hello Games. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/No_Mans_Sky/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023)
Howald, R. (2017) Temple Ruins in the Jungle of Cambodia, unsplash. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/GSCtoEEqntQ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Kurbatov, A. (2018) Lost outside by Antonkurbatov on DeviantArt, DeviantArt. Available at: https://www.deviantart.com/antonkurbatov/art/Lost-Outside-748461317 (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
laspinter (2021) Hatarserto Hulk – Commission by laspinter on DeviantArt, DeviantArt. Available at: https://www.deviantart.com/laspinter/art/Hatarserto-hulk-Commission-884379997 (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Luiz, H.C. (2021) Exploring the cosmic horror of Remedy’s ‘control’, Bloody Disgusting! Available at: https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3649013/editorial-exploring-cosmic-horror-remedys-control/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Monney, N. (2013) Create a science fiction environment with Photoshop, Design & Illustration Envato Tuts+. Available at: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-science-fiction-environment-with-photoshop–psd-20560 (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Naughty Dog (2013) The last of Us, Wikipedia. Naughty Dog. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_of_Us (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
P Studio and Atlus (2016) Persona 5. SEGA EUROPE LTD. Available at: https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4062-CUSA06638_00-PERSONA512345678 (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Rockstar Games (2018) Red Dead Redemption 2, Steam. Rockstar Games. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1174180/Red_Dead_Redemption_2/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Santa Monica Studio (2018) God of war on steam, Steam. PlayStation PC LLC. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593500/God_of_War/ (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Santa Monica Studio (2022) God of war ragnarök, PlayStation. Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Available at: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/god-of-war-ragnarok/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Stjernefod, Gothic horror environment in environments – UE marketplace (2021) Unreal Engine. Available at: https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/gothic-horror-environment (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Sucker Punch Productions (2020) Ghost of tsushima , PlayStation. Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Available at: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/ghost-of-tsushima/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Tarsier Studios (2021) Little nightmares II on steam, Little Nightmares II on Steam. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/860510/Little_Nightmares_II/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Techland (2022) Dying Light 2 stay human on steam, Steam. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/534380/Dying_Light_2_Stay_Human/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Ubisoft Quebec (2015) Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate, Steam. Ubisoft. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/368500/Assassins_Creed_Syndicate/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Ubisoft Quebec (2018) Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey , Steam. Ubisoft. Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/812140/Assassins_Creed_Odyssey/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Valve (2011) Portal 2, Steam. Valve (Steam). Available at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/620/Portal_2/ (Accessed: February 9, 2023).
Zúñiga, D. (no date) Sci-Fi Environment Tutorial, Art Rocket. Available at: https://www.clipstudio.net/how-to-draw/archives/159510 (Accessed: February 9, 2023).