Dinosaur Park: Primeval Zoo – How the 3D dinos are created

When the rough game concept for a new game is set, one of the most exciting phases for us begins: the creation of the graphics. They are the heart of the game – at least for outsiders. While the code remains invisible to the players, they are constantly interacting with the interface as well as with the characters and items that we have designed. In Dinosaur Park: Primeval Zoo, these are of course the dinosaurs.

So it’s time to unveil a little and show you who’s actually behind the beautiful dinos and primeval monsters – but also how much work goes into creating and animating them. Currently, there are mainly three 3D artists working on the dinosaur models at upjers. They are quite busy, but Selina found the time to answer our questions.

What is the biggest challenge in designing the dinos for our game and why?

The conceptualization. Before starting the actual implementation, we look for a meaningful shape and an interesting, harmonious color scheme for each animal. The fact that shape, colors and pattern complement each other is the biggest challenge, but also the most exciting part of the design process.

What was the most fun part of creating the dino models?

The most fun for me – besides the concept at the beginning – are the finishing touches at the end, i.e. the details in the face and the fine-tuning of the colors.

Which is your favorite dino in the game and why?

There are many interesting dinosaurs, so it’s hard to narrow it down to one. Regarding the design point of view, I like the Altirhinus, which was created by my colleague Aljoscha, and regarding the cuteness factor, I like the Bambiraptor.

How long does it take to create and animate a dino like this?

Since I am responsible for the creation and texturing of assets, I can only say something about that. For a complete 3D model without animation I need between 18 and 25 hours, depending on the dino.

More articles about the game development of Dinosaur Park: Primeval Zoo

Developer Diary Editorial

How the dinos learned to walk

3 pro tips for a dinotastic UI

Meet The Artist Monday: NPC concept art