Update log
Full GladiEATers update
The complete published notes, normalized for clean reading and source attribution.
Extracted changes
- Store
- Gameplay
Who is Diane?
For many, food is a means to connect with our loved ones and express our creativity. A backward understanding of what is to Diane (14-Kitchelin star winner), the opportunity for the highest expression of precision and skill. Here’s how we served up Diane’s visuals.
Why is Diane?
As chefs, we knew (and maybe were taught by) some very mean people that were simply the best at what they do. Diane is *insert generic angry chef tv personality*.
What is Diane?
We started knowing we wanted three things from Diane’s visual design:
An imposing character shilouette.
Her onion creatures and Hellenic heritage to be represented.
A knife; nothing is more precious to some chefs – than their knife.
Unlike our other Combat Chefs, our initial posing sketch had a strong bias towards Diane being tall. Our only major consideration in this study was whether she should hold her onion, like a Shakespearean actor, or wield it on the edge of her knife.
Power Costuming
While Diane balancing an onion at the end of her blade was poignant (or should I say *point-ignant*) it didn’t seem like a serious chef action. Instead, having her distinct chef knife Algae, named after the Greek spirits of suffering, sheathed on her leg was a great way to impose some authority while adding detail to the leg region. Additionally, Diane started with some heels. However, going back to our design principles of Diane, a serious, hard-working chef, would probably not wear heels in the kitchen.
The other part of Diane’s key costuming was her buttoned up chef jacket, long chef trousers and necktie. These imposed that “oh no, the executive chef just walked in, and I haven’t peeled the onions from this morning's delivery yet 0 _ 0” feeling.
Oni-on
The Onion GladiEATers have some iconic *cry on your enemy powers* inspired by onions' ability to make some people cry their eyes out (me included). Diane was embracing that by being the type of chef that makes you cry for making a mediocre broth. However, her design needed to be pushed to more onion heights. We did this through colour: Diane’s long hair was inspired by an onion’s root, turning it onion skin orange. Additionally, we braided Diane's hair to further that tangled root image. We then added an aqua-blue eye shadow, blue eyes and clear blue lenses, all to invoke the image of Onion GladiEATers ’ crying eyes.
Below is an excerpt from our developing comic book, showing a younger Diane growing that braid to the impressive length it is now. Look at her, sharpening knives and peeling onions on the streets of Thessaloniki, Greece – a real go-getter. Finally, the Onion GladiEATers have a unique eye of Horus inspiration that we then had tattooed along Diane’s sleeve. Pro tip: In real life, you can tell a young chef’s power level by how many tattoos they have.
Hellenic Je ne ses quois.
To tie up the magnificence of Diane is a lining of powerful gold, on her: belt buckle, ornate knife sheath, glasses and Hellenic inspired crown and earring jewellery. We also incorporated the Greek Key on her chef jacket, a traditional continuous line motif. The geometric lines add to her precise and structured cooking style.
Pixel art precision
When converting Diane into her pixel art persona, we
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