Holy Snap!

 Jonny Quest Production Drawings.  Be still my beating heart.  

http://www.classicjq.com/art/production/JQSketches.aspx

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin fan art

 Seeing fan art of a game you worked on is always an incredible gift.

Okay, that last one was by our Art Director at the time, Cory Allemeier, created for marketing purposes, but still really cool. 

Fear Effect (PS1) | Sean Seanson. Love this guy.

The Game Awards 2023

 Here's the full list of winners from The Game Awards 2023:

Game of the Year: Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

Best Game Direction: Alan Wake II (Remedy Entertainment)

Best Narrative: Alan Wake II (Remedy Entertainment)

Best Art Direction: Alan Wake II (Remedy Entertainment)

Best Score and Music: Final Fantasy XVI (Masayoshi Soken)

Best Audio Design: Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks)

Best Performance: Baldur's Gate 3 (Neil Newbon)

Innovation in Accessibility: Forza Motorsport (Turn 10)

Games for Impact: Tchia (Awaceb)

Best Ongoing: Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red)

Best Community Support: Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

Best Independent Game: Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)

Best Debut Indie Game: Cocoon (Geometric Interactive)

Best Mobile Game: Honkai: Star Rail (HoYoverse)

Best AR / VR: Resident Evil Village VR Mode (Capcom)

Best Action Game: Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (FromSoftware)

Best Action / Adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD)

Best RPG: Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

Best Fighting: Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

Best Family: Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD)

Best Sim / Strategy: Pikmin 4 (Nintendo EPD)

Best Sports / Racing: Forza Motorsport (Turn 10)

Best Multiplayer: Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

Best Adaptation: The Last of Us (PlayStation Productions/HBO)

Most Anticipated Game: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)

Content Creator of the Year: IronMouse

Best Esports Game: Valorant (Riot Games)

Best Esports Athlete: Lee 'Faker' Sang-Hyeok

Best Esports Team: JD Gaming

Best Esports Coach: Christine "Potter" Chi

Best Esports Event: 2023 League of Legends World Championship

Original Fear Effect Facial Animation Concepts for the PSOne game

 Back in the late '90s, Kronos Digital Entertainment took on an exciting challenge with the game Fear Effect for the Playstation One. Among other things, we had our sights set on something unique —animating the faces of video game characters during cut scenes, a move that wasn't very common at the time for PSOne games. 

I came across some exploratory sketches I had done to pitch the idea of animated faces and find each character's personality performance.  This lead to the game eventually utilizing digitally hand painted, hand keyed, texture swapping to match the dialogue in the scene, along with deformation around the mouth when it opened.  

Final facial textures were created by Joan Igawa.

Hana Tsu Vachel's name was Petra (as well as Mara) in the early stages of development (1998)

https://feareffect.fandom.com/wiki/Hana_Tsu-Vachel?so=search#Fear_Effect

Royce Glas.  https://feareffect.fandom.com/wiki/Royce_Glas?so=search#Fear_Effect

Jin's pre-production name was "Gino".    Hana's shady employer.  https://feareffect.fandom.com/wiki/Jin

Triad Boss  https://feareffect.fandom.com/wiki/Triad_Boss

AI Film making apps. Trying to keep up.

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 9: Island of Chult. Finale

 

Our protagonists found themselves transported to the enigmatic island of Chult, where they were greeted by Imbok, a frog-like humanoid serving as the Agency's designated contact. 

Imbok promptly assumed the role of their guide, leading the party through the perilous terrain to the ominous tombs of the Demi Lich, Acerebak. Their primary objective was to collect the elusive dust of the Demi Lich and safely return it to the agency. This supernatural substance held the key to expelling Acerebak for good, and if circumstances allowed, eliminating the formidable adversary altogether was considered an even more favorable outcome.

Into the tomb the party ventured, encountering an ancient room adorned with a central sarcophagus and peculiar tiles on the floor. A deceased warrior lying on one of the tiles hinted at a trap, urging the group to unravel the puzzle. Yvon the Tiefling Bard took flight, reaching the sarcophagus and deciphered a code that unveiled the safe path through the perilous tiles.

With the trap averted, the party opened the crypt, only to be confronted by four skeletal warriors. 

Swiftly overcoming this bony opposition, they revealed an ancient staircase leading 

deeper into the tomb.

Descending further, the heroes came upon a congregation of undead Dwarfs within a library cloaked in a sickly green fog. Dispatching them effortlessly, the party utilized potent magical fire spells.

 

Progressing into the next room, they stumbled upon a vast chamber with molten lava, and atop a stone balcony overlooking them stood Acererak, the ominous figure they sought.

Aided by Midjourney

Lunch in Manhattan (my first animated short film)

 

Wow.  Look what I stumbled upon on Archive.org! It's my first go at creating a traditional animated short, using the equipment available at the Capital Children's Museum Animation Lab in Washington DC a long time ago.  The internet truly does preserve everything, forever.

Music by Steve Murphy

https://archive.org/details/V012_Warnock_LunchInManhattan

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 8: Shadowfell part 2

In a realm where the mysterious Planescape Beacons held the power to transport brave souls to otherworldly destinations, our intrepid heroes, Drogan Stonefist, Torsten and Skra-aa found themselves drawn to the enigmatic Shadowfell. Their mission was as mysterious as the shadowy realm itself: locate the Grey Husk Tree, the guardian of a vital Planescape Beacon. Alas, the tree's location remained shrouded in secrecy. Unfazed by the darkness that surrounded them, they were to seek the guidance of Professor Bonklewinks, a distinguished master of contraptions and arcane lore.

Upon their arrival at the Professor's infamous Constructor Lab, they were greeted by a scene of utter chaos. The lab was a maze of mechanical mayhem, its security systems turned against them. Oscar the Golum, a peculiar but friendly construct, extended a warm welcome, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted when quaddrones, mechanical assailants, assaulted the lab. 

After the intense skirmish, Romeo, an animated rug outside the professor's lab, was caught in a perplexing misinterpretation. He genuinely believed that his wild movements were harming the heroes, when in reality, they were providing unexpected comfort and assistance.

After deftly navigating a labyrinth of traps within the perilous laboratory, they managed to locate the unconscious Professor Bonklewinks. Swift thinking and a life-giving potion brought him back from the brink, and in gratitude, he bestowed upon them his loyal construct, Delta, a prized asset in their pursuit of the Grey Husk Tree.

As the Silver Alliance waited patiently nearby, Drogan, Torsten, and Skra-aa, joined by their steadfast companion Delta, made their way toward the imposing Grey Husk Tree. The construct began its relentless task of cutting into the colossal husk, to unveil a concealed portal within. 

As Delta chipped away at the giant tree, a horde of Husk Zombies emerged, staunch defenders of their ancient guardian. It was a harrowing battle, but with Delta's might and their unwavering resolve, they overcame the onslaught. The Husk Tree fell, reveiling the portal.  One by one, they entered, leaving the eerie shadowy realm of the Shadowfell behind.

Upon a sudden teleportation, the group finds themselves in the dimly lit interior of a cavern. Before them stretches a cavernous expanse, adorned with a large, mysterious pool of inky water that glistens in the faint light. Their attention is immediately drawn to a lifeless Tabaxi, a figure known to them as "Knocks Over Glass." They remember him vividly from their earlier encounter, but now he lies as a lifeless husk beside the pool. In an eerie and unexpected turn of events, Knocks Over Glass communicates with them telepathically, his voice resonating within their minds.

"You have come! I didn't think you'd make it this far. I'm sorry if my appearance is unfamiliar to you. I must admit, I didn't think much of you when I first laid eyes at the Tree of Remembrance. But you found me there, and I found you. I can guide you to where you need to be, just as I've tried to guide you for so many rotations. And here you are!

The Planescape Beacon is here, but I'm afraid it's too late. You must go and find the Dark God himself. Find a way to push him, find a way to relocate him to a place where he cannot be found.

You search for Xangolieth the Wakener. I will open a portal to the Astral Beyond.  I used to be one of his servants, but I broke free from his domination. I'm considered a traitor by him."

Alarm! His loyalists are near. Guard yourselves. Be cautious with this one; it knows too much!"

A one eyed creature with blood soaked tentacles rises up from the murky water and speaks to our heroes.

"Ahhhh.  I am the Nightmare of Xanathar himself, freed from the shackles of Waterdeep.  Now I can pursue the machinations of my new master.  Zacholiouthoun wishes to wake the sleeping.  He wishes to wake us all from this horrible place.  This terrible existance of pain.  Let me show you how to awaken."

Drogan and Torsten, alongside their ally Skra-aa, confronted the formidable giant Abolith in a battle of breathtaking intensity. Sinuous tentacles from the beast ensnared both Torsten and Drogan, but their unyielding resolve drove them to break free, allowing them to resume their relentless assault on the monstrous creature.

In the midst of the chaos, Skra-aa demonstrated unparalleled finesse, wielding her razor-sharp daggers to deliver a flurry of calculated strikes against the Abolith. Ultimately, it was Skra-aa's decisive blow that sealed the fate of the creature, marking the culmination of their hard-fought victory.

Left to Right:  

Drogan Stonefist the Dwarf Barbarian; Torsten the Dwarf Fighter; Skra-aa the Kenku Wizard

In Front: Corpse of  Xanathar Nightmare

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 7: Shadowfell

     Our valiant heroes pressed on with unwavering determination, embarking on their mission to journey into the enigmatic realm of The Shadowfell. This dark and mysterious land was the eerie dwelling place of a peculiar breed of undead known as shadows. Their quest was twofold: to seek out Lady Shar, the enigmatic guardian of The Shadowfell, and to put an end to the relentless pursuit of the mysterious necromancer encased within a menacing mechanical suit.

Their journey was aided by the power of an Archon Tracker, teleporting themselves into a dark cave teeming with bats and their highly flammable guano. 

Skillfully evading this combustible threat, they stumbled upon a colossal black curtain, which, as it turned out, concealed a teleportation device to either the other side of their current dimension or into an entirely different one, contingent upon the activation of a concealed switch. 

With resolve in their hearts, they ventured to the other side, only to be confronted by ancient vampires, desperate to thwart their advance. 

As tension mounted, the nefarious necromancer made a grand entrance within his towering mechanical suit, seeking to eliminate our heroes. 

However, their astute observation of the suit's vulnerability to electricity led to its swift disposal, leaving them poised to continue their quest undeterred.

Aided by Midjourney 

Houdini 20 Keynote

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 6: The race against Lauchian

 

Kalrul, Gronk, Praxis, Falkin, Zander, and Drogan embarked on a perilous quest, tasked by the Silver Alliance to secure the elusive Fire and Air Elemental Nodes, the final two nodes that the treacherous Lauchian had yet to pilfer. The fate of their world hung in the balance, for if Lauchian obtained these nodes, his power would become uncontrollable. 

Their journey began in the ethereal realm of the Air Elemental Plane, where they were ambushed by a relentless pack of howling Air Elementals. It was a grueling battle, but the heroes fought valiantly. 

Zander summoned flames from his fingertips, vanquishing one of the elementals in a brilliant blaze. Gronk displayed her formidable prowess, taking down two more with her mighty axe. 

To their dismay, they discovered the Air Node had already been snatched away, leaving them only a cryptic clue in the form of a coin from the city of Candlekeep and a mocking message that hinted at Lauchian's whereabouts.

The trail led them to the Fire Elemental Plane, where they confronted Lauchian just in time to thwart his malevolent plans. In a blazing showdown, their combined strength defeated him, securing the Fire Node and safeguarding their world from destruction.

Aided by Midjourney

Harry S. Truman. The Unanticipated President

“Truman made a statement that stunned those reporters, for even these seasoned Washington journalists had never heard a politician speak with such frankness. “I don’t know if any of you fellows ever had a load of hay or a bull fall on you. Last night the whole weight of the moon and stars fell on me.” He paused. “If newspapermen ever pray, pray for me.”

― A.J. Baime, The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World

Aided by Midjourney

Scenes we'd like to see: Mobile FDR

What if FDR wasn't stricken with polio. 

Aided by Midjourney

Scenes we'd like to see: Laughing Lincoln

 It occurred to me there is no happy photographs of Abraham Lincoln.  This is my remedy for that.  LOL Lincoln.  That's better

Midjourney

Different Ages of Napoleon Bonaparte

 

15 years

22 years

51 years

Aided by Mid Journey

WHAT IF? Ben Solo and Chewbacca

 

In an alternate Star Wars tale, Ben Solo could choose redemption over the dark side, embarking on a galaxy-wide adventure with his uncle and loyal friend, Chewbacca.

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 5: Another Dimensional leap

 

The newly acquired hell car vibrated with arcane energy as Praxis, Drogan, and Diajin activated its teleportation spell. In an instant, the world around them blurred and shifted, and they found themselves in a dimension unlike any they had ever seen. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, and they stood amidst ancient ruins that exuded an eerie aura.

Their attention was drawn to a Dwarf female Cleric named Erica, who lay wounded and terrified amidst the chaos. Strange mechanized crab-like workers scurried around her, posing a threat to her safety. Without hesitation, the adventurers rushed to her aid, quickly grabbing her and pulling her to safety in a nearby room.

Their moment of respite was short-lived as a massive spider emerged from the shadows, its fangs dripping with venomous intent. Drogan's fury ignited, and he charged at the spider, his great axe cutting through the air. Praxis, ever the tactician, cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter on the spider, temporarily diverting its attention from its prey.

Diajin moved with swift precision, his short sword dancing through the air, finding gaps in the spider's armor to exploit. The combined efforts of the three adventurers left the spider weak and disoriented. With a powerful strike, Drogan delivered the final blow, felling the arachnid.

Among the spider's webbing, the heroes discovered a trove of valuable items—a collection of platinum rings, a potion of invisibility, and a magical great axe. Their excitement at the newfound treasures was short-lived as they continued their exploration.

In the next room, they encountered a mechanical cobra, its cold eyes fixated on them with malicious intent. Diajin, always resourceful, unleashed his Burning Hands spell, engulfing the construct in flames and quickly dismantling it.

As they progressed deeper into the ruins, they stumbled upon a massive statue of the nefarious necromancer they had been pursuing. Before they could fully comprehend the sight before them, Drogan was ambushed by a mechanical preying mantis.

Reacting swiftly, Drogan attempted to push the statue onto the attacking construct, only to realize it was a mere illusion. Before they could recover from the surprise, a gigantic construct burst through the wall. From inside, standing amidst the destruction was the very necromancer they sought—a malevolent grin etched on his face.

The ensuing battle was fierce, with the heroes giving their all to confront this formidable foe. However, the necromancer was cunning and powerful, and the tide of the fight seemed to be turning against them. In a last-ditch effort, the necromancer invoked a powerful spell, causing reality to ripple and shift.

With a mocking laugh, he plane-shifted away, leaving the heroes battered but alive. The dust settled, and they took a moment to catch their breath, knowing that their journey was far from over. The necromancer may have escaped for now, but they were determined to follow his trail wherever it led.

Aided by Midjourney

Prototyping Live Music Posters

 

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 4: The Abyss

 

Our five adventurers found themselves yanked through the Astral Plane, hurtling into the blistering and sulphurous landscape of "The Abyss." The sudden jolt left them disoriented and vulnerable, surrounded by six towering demons. Goristro, the first to step forward with a prepared speech, stumbled over his words, creating an awkward moment. However, Balor, the mightiest demon among them, intervened and demanded the adventurers bow before Tiamat, the all-powerful ruler of the Abyss. The adventurers, perplexed and defiant, pleaded with Balor, nicknamed Barry, to understand their predicament. They insisted there had been a mistake, and they needed to return to the material plane urgently to halt the enigmatic machine responsible for their forced journey to the Abyss.

The adventurers followed Barry through the twisted and treacherous landscapes of the Abyss.  They arrived at a hellish saloon, its walls adorned with grotesque trophies and the air thick with sulfurous fumes. The group settled around a scarred, table of writhing souls as Barry ordered a round of infernal spirits for everyone. The conversation veered from one bizarre topic to another, from the nature of souls in the Abyss, the best techniques for tormenting lost souls, to Barry's violin adroitness.

Amidst the fiery ambiance, Barry's interest piqued when Diajin mentioned his deal with "The Fiend." With a toothy grin, Barry revealed that he knew of this powerful entity and acknowledged its reputation in the Abyss. He agreed to guide the adventurers to meet "The Fiend," but first, they needed to retrieve a mechanized "Hell Car." Barry explained that the Hell Car was the key to traversing the Abyss quickly and safely, ensuring their escape from this wretched plane. With newfound hope and a tinge of excitement, the adventurers embarked on their next quest, eager to find answers and make their way back home, by stealing the hell car.

Aided by Midjourney

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 3: The Arena

 Our heroes stepped through a portal into a new world and found themselves in a city on the edge of an active volcano. Smoke filled the air, and people were screaming in terror. As they made their way towards the city, they encountered a bridge over a boiling, smouldering river.

As our heroes stepped onto the bridge, they were met with the sight of four undead soldiers blocking their path. These skeletal soldiers looked to be reanimated corpses, their eyes glowing a sinister red. The heroes knew they had to act quickly if they wanted to make it across the bridge and into the city beyond.

Praxis, with a flick of his wrist, unleashed the spell Asha's Hidious Laughter. The spell caused the first undead soldier to collapse into hysterical laughter, unable to move or defend itself. Diajen saw this as the perfect opportunity and, with a swift strike, sliced through the ribcage of the second undead soldier, sending bone fragments flying in all directions.

Trenton, not one to be left out of the action, saw the laughing undead soldier and took advantage of its state. With a wave of his hand, he used his powers to coax the soldier towards the edge of the bridge. The undead soldier, still laughing uncontrollably, walked right into Trenton's trap and tumbled over the edge, disappearing into the boiling, smouldering river below.

Drogan, the last of our heroes, was faced with the final undead soldier. With a mighty swing of his axe, he cleaved the soldier in half at the waist. The two halves fell to the ground with a sickening thud, the red glow in the soldier's eyes fading into darkness. 

As the dust settled and the sounds of battle subsided, our heroes knew that they had successfully navigated their first challenge in this strange new realm. They looked at each other, silently acknowledging their success, before continuing on their journey into the city beyond.

They made their way towards the arena, where they encountered a minotaur fighting a gladiator, completely unaware of the chaos happening around them. Magical energy seemed to be funneling down below the arena, so the heroes went underground to investigate.

As they approached a large set of double doors, Drogan leaned in to listen. But before he could hear anything, the doors opened, and they were confronted with a mechanized crystal whirling with what looked like another planar verse inside it. The crystal was protected by four large golems, and the heroes knew they had to act fast.

While Diajen, Drogan and Trenton fought to distract the golems, Praxis attempted to rewrite the sigils on the crystal to shut it down. But instead of stopping the crystal, the inside of the device swallowed up Praxis, and one by one, the heroes were pulled into the swirling vortex.

Aided by Bing AI  and Midjourney

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 2: The Fey Forest

Deep within the Fey Forest, our six adventurers pressed forward through the dense foliage. They had been hired as mercinaries to investigate the strange occurrences that had been happening in the woods as of late. As they trekked further into the forest, they began to hear eerie whispers in the wind, and the trees around them seemed to be alive with movement.

Suddenly, the adventurers were ambushed by several undead Blights, led by a giant Blight leader. The Blights moved with an unnatural, jerky motion, and their eyes glowed with a sickly purle light. The group sprang into action, each using their unique skills to take down the undead creatures.

Praxis the Tiefling wizard quickly incapacitated the Blight leader with Asha’s Hideous Laughter spell while Diajen, the Fire Genasi warlock, summoned a Hellish Rebuke that engulfed the Blights and set them ablaze. Trenton, the Human rogue, dodged and weaved through the trees, picking off the Blights with his crossbow while Gamma-46a3, the Autognome artificer, used his mechanical prowess to spray bolts at the Blights. Falkin, the Half-Orc barbarian, charged headfirst into the fray, his great axe finding purpose.

Drogan Stonefist, the Mountain Dwarf barbarian, grabbed one of the undead Blights off the back of Trenton, his muscles bulging as he lifted the creature over his head. He then proceeded to behead the Blight, but not before taking a significant amount of damage.

The battle was fierce, and the undead blights spewed ichor as they were eviscerated, only to reanimate after they had supposedly died. However, the adventurers were determined to rid the forest of this evil and finally succeeded.

As they caught their breath and tended to their wounds, a curious humanoid creature appeared on a structure in the forest, which seemed to be the center of the necrotic power that drove the undead Blights. The creature whispered, "You are too late," and disappeared.

The adventurers were puzzled by this, but their curiosity got the best of them. As they inspected the spot where the humanoid creature vanished, a portal to another world appeared, and without hesitation, they stepped inside, eager to continue their adventure.

My new character, Drogan Stonefist.  Mountain Dwarf Barbarian 

Entering the Fey Forest

Undead Blight Encounter

 Drogan Stonefist beheads an Undead Blight with a hand axe

The mysterious cloaked figure and the source of the nectrotic power

Our heroes fearlessly step through the portal that appears to another dimension

Aided by Mid Journey