The unmistakably English art of Dishonored

At a recent preview event for Dishonored, Sebastien Mitton, the game's art director, and Viktor Antonov, visual design director for ZeniMax Media, explained how this strange world came into being.

Alan Tsang

April 26, 2012 2:15 PM

One of Dishonored's biggest selling points is its unique take on the steampunk aesthetic. At a recent preview event for the game, Sebastien Mitton, the game's art director, and Viktor Antonov, visual design director for ZeniMax Media, explained how this strange world came into being. Dunwall, the city which players explore in the game, has been heavily influenced by London. (The city itself is set in the Isles, a clear reference to England.) Although inspired by an iconic real-world city, Arkane Studios wanted to create a place never seen before on any medium.

London inspired the fictional city of Dunwall

"London was chosen as an inspiration because it is perceived as mysterious to Americans and other Europeans," Antonov told us. However, anyone who's played Half-Life 2 will likely draw similarities between Dunwall and City 17. Across the game's various locales, the team wanted to convey a sense of oppression as the main emotion players experienced. A banner proudly proclaims: "The Boldest Measures Are The Safest." The environment is static--with no change in seasons, nor day or night. Different checkpoints and gates within the game separate the Rat Plague's victims from the corrupt but elite members of Dunwall's high society.

High society in Dishonored

Pulp magazine illustrations served as yet another source of inspiration for the art team, with characters given unique proportions. Many facial expressions in the concept art were captured from photographs of real people, such as the scowl on the guard in the illustration with the Lord Regent and his entourage, to make them unmistakably "English" characters.

Characters are meant to look unmistakably English

Of course, Dishonored can't be considered steampunk without unique technology. Powered by whale oil, a "mysterious and volatile source of power," players will ultimately have access to an assortment of exotic contraptions and weapons--necessary tools on their quest for revenge.

Gadgets are powered by 'mysterious' whale oil

Dishonored will be available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 later this year. For more on the game, read our preview. To see the complete collection of concept art, browse our gallery.

Alan Tsang

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April 26, 2012 2:15 PM

Alan Tsang posted a new article, The unmistakably English art of Dishonored.

At a recent preview event for Dishonored, Sebastien Mitton, the game's art director, and Viktor Antonov, visual design director for ZeniMax Media, explained how this strange world came into being.
- SinisterInfant
  
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  April 26, 2012 2:28 PM
  
  I'm going to imply from whale oil, that at some point I will throw a techno-harpoon into some kind of spectral whale in order to harvest its precious techno-ambergris or ghost whale vomit. Awesome.
  - AndrewYoon
    
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    April 26, 2012 2:33 PM
    
    And I hope it takes advantage of Kinect support.
- BornAcorn
  
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  April 26, 2012 3:05 PM
  
  If it doesn't have Boris Johnson as an enemy I will be disappointed.
  - Xulu
    
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    April 26, 2012 5:25 PM
    
    And Jeremy Clarkson needs massacring.
- RuskiSnajper
  
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  April 26, 2012 6:30 PM
  
  Looks like something for mythbusters to test - exploding bullet.