americanmcgee
patreon
Closing Scene Illustrations
🕑 Added 2022-06-28 00:51:55 +0000 UTCDear Insane Children,
Without revealing too much of the actual story (spoilers), I thought to share some of the illustrations by Omri from the ending scenes of the game. Here's the art request outline for this section:
45.2) Alice locates Angela / Narrative Closing Scenes - Page 165-166 (v2.1)
Art Briefing and Output:
(Render at least 2x Images)
Render the closing scenes of Alice's journey in Asylum.
Image 1: Level design scene of Alice searching for Angela in Radcliffe's Mansion.
Image 2: Closing Scene of Alice interacting with Angela. Render scene as described in the narrative. Include the Rabbit and the focus on the bond between Alice and Angela.
Optional: This brief is open to catch as many interactions with Alice and the characters mentioned in the story here as possible. Anything that adds emotional weight and conclusion to the story is welcome.
One interesting thing you might notice about the image above is that Omri decided (for some unknown reason) to include a picture of Lewis Carroll. And so I had to write a note to him and said, "Please, don't do that."
Not sure how many of you are aware of this... but I've always worked to avoid any mention of Carroll in the games. I started out doing this simply because I felt his inclusion didn't help Alice's narrative. What sort of relationship would we want him to have with the Alice in our games? And does it even make sense that he'd be there?
One could frame the question in this way: Was Carroll in his own books with the fictional Alice who traveled to Wonderland? I don't recall that he was. So if our Alice (Game Alice) is the one that travels to Wonderland... then she's a derivative of the character from the books. And we could say she was created by - but never actually met - Carroll. That's my logic anyway.
Later, I began to distance Game Alice from Carroll because there was just too much controversy around him. And I have no idea what to believe. And given the nature of the controversy, it seems it would make Game Alice's story even more complicated.
Perhaps there's an angle there? If we knew, with complete certainty, that Carroll engaged in some sort of inappropriate relationship with (real) Alice, then the games could be viewed as some sort of reflection of that situation. But... we've never gone there. And I don't really see the point in it now. So...
I asked Omri to remove that portrait of Carroll.
And, yes, I know there's a similar portrait of him in the original "Alice" game but I never wanted that in there. And one of the developers snuck it in without my approval. Meh.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
Shanghai Update: Still too shaky out there for us to feel comfortable with Martin coming over for a Live Stream. But we do talk about it often and are doing our best to make one happen soon.
From Shanghai with Love,
-American
Comments
AniFae Kusanagi
I agree that the portrait should definitely not be there. I remember seeing a BBC documentary called "The secret world of Lewis Carroll" (Which is also on YouTube ) with alot surrounding the controversys of the man, but with alot being conjecture, i am the same in that - i simply do not know, so its just the safe option to just avoid having Carroll appear anywhere in the game. There was also controversy surrounding the author of Peter Pan too, but as stated the author and the literary works exist as there own separate entitys, and people can just use a public domain setting, as a building block to tell your own story and become its own thing without having to associate with Lewis Carroll the man. If there was any truth to the accusations, then perhaps there is some form of subconscious justice in your story for the real Liddel's, even if not acknowledged (as it would endorse the accusations i guess) . The art is fantastic though, really cannot be faulted!! Perhaps the portrait could be replaced withe Liddel family photo that Alice had commissioned into a painting?
And did the lockdown in China slow down the development of the design Bible
Love the scene with Angela and Alice but I like to know what is Angela's role in the game I know it's a spoiler but some of us like to know even I like to know
I love that portrait of Carroll, but I can understand why references to him should be excluded.
Greyson Kehm
Considering what you hear about Carroll, it's probably best to distance him from the game and your Alice. Omri's art is as amazing as ever.
Sarah McKeegan
The art is wonderful as always! As for Lewis being in the portrait I think it’s too much! If you were to slip him in I don’t think a big picture of him is great. Especially if he is who some ppl think.. why would she have a picture of him? If you’re going to put him in I’d say maybe a wanted poster on the table or something much smaller. As for changing the picture I’d say have it be two wonderland creatures maybe from the original playing chess… or someone playing chess..
Anna Lepper
I like how you've strived to make AMA's Alice just that, yours. I know you avoid consuming other Alice media to help that. I don't think Lewis needs to be included in the game.
I'm also in agreeance of keeping Lewis Carroll, at least the person, out of the story since it's the original intent for the past games and not really necessary for what this game is trying to tell. On a slightly different note, if I remember correctly, Lewis was in the book but not as himself, per say. He was represented as the Dodo bird due to his name actually being Dodgson, and he was known to stutter his name at times, sounding like dodo. Some of the caucus race characters represented others in the IRL Alice's life without being overt and realized by the Alice in the book itself. The Lory representing Lorina and the Eaglet representing Edith, the sisters of Alice. Even the Duck representing Reverent Duckworth who was there when Lewis told the story the first time verbally to Alice and the girls. This isn't needed in this game, but it's interesting to note ^^
Karma Chameleon
Love the art! I agree the portrait should be changed. I think a clock or something that ties in with the story would be a better choice though, agreed.
I believe that the original intent of not referencing Lewis Carroll at all should be maintained. Firstly, it muddies the distinction between American McGee’s Alice and Lewis Carroll’s Alice. Secondly, it creates a logical nightmare of how this story and this Alice works (did Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass happen prior to AMA’s events? Did in-game Alice’s friend make up those stories? Etc, etc). Thirdly, given that Lewis Carroll has been dead for nearly 125 years it seems mean-spirited to drag his name through the mud over unconfirmed allegations that, at least to my research, seem more like a retroactive attempt by modern deconstructionists to tear down parts of literary history. Lastly, all other points aside, to paint him as a predator in this Alice’s young life would shake the foundations of the story to the point that it would need massive rewrites to cope with the revelations. Better to stay away from Lewis Carroll, the man, and just play with the works of Lewis Carroll, the author, through your own lens.
Rosuav
TBH I like having the odd references to Lewis Carroll (or, using his other name, Dodgson - "pathetic sailor" in Madness Returns) in the games. But this house isn't the place for it. Maybe that portrait could be moved to a better place, like the finale?
Mads
Given Carroll's history with the real Alice (and quite a few other children) I think the Alice in the game would probably fight Caroll. Smart to keep Carroll out of it.
