Voxel Chronicles: Crafting in the Middle Ages.

Ashara Studios had the opportunity to start the production of a voxel art video game in early October 2022 supported by The Sandbox . The game, called Tower of Myths, is an RPG set in the Middle Ages. In this blog, we will analyze the creation process of Tower of Myths, from the definition of the voxel art style to the implementation of medieval elements in the game.

?? Watch the official trailer of Tower of Myths on YouTube.

?? What is voxel art?

Voxel art is a digital art style that creates images by combining small cubes, called voxels. Each voxel can have a different color, allowing for the creation of detailed and realistic images.

?? Differences between pixel art and voxel art

Voxel art can be distinguished from pixel art, another digital art style, by the dimension in which it is created. Pixel art is created in 2D, while voxel art is created in 3D.

In the previous image, we can see an example of the difference between pixel art and voxel art. The image on the left shows Toer of Balar, a character from Tower of Myths, in pixel art style. The image on the right shows the same character in voxel art style.

?? Software for creating 3D models

Ashara Studios used VoxEdit, a software provided by The Sandbox , to create the animated 3D models of Tower of Myths, which we will call assets. VoxEdit is an intuitive tool that allows you to create voxel art models quickly and easily.

Other software that can be used to create voxel art assets include Qubicle, MagicaVoxel, Maya, and Blender.

?? Voxel art with a unique style

To create a unique voxel art style for Tower of Myths, Ashara Studios followed the following steps:

• Reference analysis: The artist team analyzed medieval art references to identify common elements that could be used in the game.
• Definition of a color palette: A color palette was created that would be used throughout the game to create a sense of cohesion.
• Asset standardization: Guidelines were created for the creation of assets, including the level of detail, scale, and proportions.

All this was recorded in the document called Art Book following the course of the same name on the virtual education platform Platzi .

? The Middle Ages in voxel art

To create this medieval voxel art world, Ashara Studios took into account the following elements:

• Color palette: Warm and earthy colors were used to create a sense of warmth and realism.
• Textures: Simple but detailed textures were used to create a sense of depth and realism.
• Shapes: Simple and geometric shapes were used to create a distinctive voxel art style.

?? Conclusions

The creation process for Tower of Myths was a rewarding challenge for Ashara Studios . The artist team managed to create a unique voxel art style that suits the game's medieval aesthetic.

?? Now it's your turn

• How is your creative process for storytelling?

Written by Isnel Ramírez Silva

Edited by Andrea Liliana Ramírez Silva