Deep Dive: Rat Gun Game (RGG)

ABOUT

Become a gun-wielding rat who emerges from the sewers to take on the rodent mobsters of New York City! Experience the intense story of a nameless sewer rat traversing through levels with an arsenal of guns your side! 

RGG is a 2D shooter-based platform game with both humor and drama as it lets players navigate sewer levels using guns or close-combat moves like scratches and kicks, blending classic platforming with fast-paced action.

MY CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Developed concept art to establish the game’s visual tone and style

  • Designed and produced 2D assets for environmental and interactive objects

  • Created final in-game visuals for props and world elements

  • Illustrated artwork for cutscenes to support narrative moments

  • Collaborated with team members to align visual design with gameplay

PROJECT OVERVEIW

  • Development Period: March 2022 - June 2022

  • Project Type: 2D Platformer Game

  • Roles: Concept Artist & 2D Artist

  • Tools/Programs: Procreate, Photoshop, Unity

  • Team Size: 9

PROCESS/DEVELOPMENT

  • Focused on creating designs that reflected the game’s setting and theme

  • Developed initial concepts for environments and props based on the game’s theme

  • Refined early sketches into finalized 2D assets for environments and props

  • Iterated on asset designs based on team feedback to better align with the overall visual style

  • Ensured visual consistency between environments, props, UI, and cutscenes

  • Evaluated how assets functioned within the game and made adjustments to maintain visual cohesion

Early Stages

Production & Assets

Final Product

EARLY STAGES

  • Tasked with designing the game’s main menu, objects, cutscene frames, and background.

  • Followed the team’s “homemade look” theme, made appropriate for our first collaborative project.

  • Developed three main concept ideas, exploring how the menu visuals could reflect the game’s content, including “dirty underground sewer” environments set by the team.

  • Produced initial design sketches (top three) to test composition, style, and thematic consistency.

  • Iterated on ideas based on feedback to create a functional and visually coherent interface.

MID STAGE/ASSETS

  • Developed finalized 2D assets for environmental objects, props, and interactive elements.

  • Iterated on designs based on team feedback to balance aesthetics with gameplay functionality.

  • Created visual assets for cutscenes and in-game elements, reinforcing the game’s style and player experience.

  • Collaborated with members to ensure assets were ready for integration into the game engine.

FINAL PRODUCT

  • This project was my first collaborative game development experience, where I learned to balance creative freedom with team collaboration. I was able to gain hands-on experience, turning my concept art into polished in-game assets and learned the importance of iterative design and visual consistency. The experience shaped my approach to future projects, emphasizing planning, feedback, and cohesive visual storytelling.

  • From this project, I learned about color, style, and theme cohesion which are skills that proved challenging to maintain across multiple assets. This experience also motivated me to improve my communication skills when collaborating with new team members and inspired me to further develop my artistic abilities.

  • Working on this project was an exciting introduction to game development, providing a hands-on opportunity to explore visual storytelling and collaborative creation. The experience reinforced my interest in developing compelling narratives through art and animation, and it inspired me to continue refining my skills in future projects.

  • Final in-game screenshots showcasing the completed 2D assets. These visuals reflect the team’s aesthetic while demonstrating cohesive environments, props, and narrative elements developed throughout the project.

REFLECTION