LEFT: This scene is a
spot-the-difference
puzzle. You’re looking
for objects with the
wrong reflections.BELOW: More of a
traditional hidden
object scene, asking
you to find hearts,
a swan, a pepper
and so on.MixingiTup
5
Instead of a shopping list, some
scenes ask you to find lots of the same
thinglikecoinsorflowers.Onewaytospice
thatupistoaddatimelimitbutStevenson
adds,“another fun trick is hiding objects
with the same shape to one being collected.”anobjecTlesson
(^3)
“Each artist chooses which objects to
hide in their scenes,” says Stevenson
when I ask about the exact inventory of an
area. “Unless the game design requires a
certain object. For example, like a set of keys
a player may need to unlock a door.“
seTTingThescene
1
The storyline and visual theme are set
by the game designer and lead artist.
The latter creates concept art and
establishes key scenes. Then a hidden
object artist creates scenes in keeping with
those guidelines.
encore
4
Some scenes recur and artists need to
keep them interesting. Techniques
include adding “ghost object” collectibles
which fade in and out of sight, or, in the case
of close-up scenes, pieces of a whole object
like a locket which players need to complete.
findingahiddenobjecT
career
2
Stevensoncametoworkonhidden
objectgamesviaafriend.“after
looking at some of my still life oil paintings, a
friend at Big Fish thought I would be good at
creating hidden object scenes,” he explains.
playingfair
6
Fairness plays a part in positioning the
objects. “We would consider it unfair
to hide a dark object in a shadow or obscure
too much of an item behind something,”
says Stevenson. The ideal reaction is: “Of
course! Why didn’t I see that before!”
Hidden deptHs
David Stevenson, lead artist at casual gaming specialist Big Fish, on
how hidden object game scenarios are composed. By Philippa Warr
RIGHT: You may need
to combine items to
produce some of the
hidden objects. Add a
roll of film to the
camera and press the
button to break the
flash and get a bulb.
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