Hero Asset – Analysis

This task saw us choose a hero asset of our choice, analyse it and attempt to decipher the backstory surrounding the item.

THE HERO ASSET

The asset that I chose is “Hologram Table” by Chase Long, an Environment Artist at Rocksteady Studios who posted the piece four years ago onto ArtStation, which can be seen below.

The piece visibly belongs in a futuristic, sci-fi environment from the use of a harsh, white metallic material in coordination with the glow of the hologram, which stereotypically within this genre is often coloured blue, orange or white. To further support this point, the five images below all feature the use of a similar white metallic surface and a coloured glow, gathered from searching the terms “Sci-fi” and “Futuristic” into Google Images.

The Hologram Table also features exposed wires running below the table itself, supported on a metallic framework that gives the piece a mechanical, robotic feeling to it, which ties into the genre of sci-fi and futuristic. The piece also frequently uses hexagonal and rectangular shapes, seen in the shape of the table, the floor and presumably in the supports of the table, assuming that the shape continues below the floor and also into the table structure itself, despite only two sides being visible in the images.

Rectangular shapes often have connotations to strength and rigidity, whilst hexagonal shapes often are linked to being a part of a machine and gears; This adds to the mechanical robotic theme whilst also giving it an aspect of strength, almost as if the item is of incredible importance and cannot break.

BACKSTORY

I feel as though this piece would belong within a war room of a battleship or a spaceship in the future. When looking closely at the asset, the hologram in the middle appears to be a map of the terrain, which led me to imagine that it would likely be used by someone who has a high rank, such as a commander within an army or a director of an organisation.

Additionally, I thought the person using the Hologram table could be planning an attack on an enemy or monitoring air traffic in their vicinity and defending an area, as upon closer inspection of the front view of the table, helicopters are visible in the hologram. The combination of helicopters with a 3D topography map gives the impression that this asset is used predominantly in a battle scenario, overseeing troops and monitoring the field rather than being a tool used for civilian life, adding to the justification of a potential attack or potentially defending an area.

Referenced Material:

Barber, N. (2021) Sitting in a tin can: why sci-fi films are finally telling astronaut life like it is. the Guardian. Available online: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/14/sci-fi-space-travel-stowaway-netflix [Accessed 10 Feb. 2022].

ErikGames (2020) MEDICAL LABORATORY MODULAR FUTURISTIC SCI FI in Props – UE Marketplace. Unreal Engine. Available online: https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/modular-futuristic-sci-fi-medical-laboratory?sessionInvalidated=true [Accessed 10 Feb. 2022].

Long, C. (2018) ArtStation – Hologram Table. ArtStation. Available online: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/nRBAK.

Lupsha, J. (2020) Metal Monolith Similar to Sci-Fi Movie Pillar Appears, Disappears in Utah. The Great Courses Daily. Available online: https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/metal-monolith-similar-to-sci-fi-movie-pillar-appears-disappears-in-utah/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2022].

Philips, S. (2018) Low Poly Modular Sci Fi Room. ArtStation. Available online: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YymbP.

Triplebrick (2020) Sci-Fi Facility Sector 43 | 3D Sci-Fi | Unity Asset Store. assetstore.unity.com. Available online: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/sci-fi/sci-fi-facility-sector-43-175132.