Alakazam!
Alakazam is a fast-paced, spell-slinging game for two where players throw magic blasts, summon creatures and drain their opponent’s strength all in an attempt to be the last wizard standing. After seeing the work I did for a personal game of mine Spellblasters, Chronicle Books enlisted me to produce all the artwork for this project that was as fun to work on as it is to play.
Alakazam is available for purchase on the Chronicle Books website.
Cover Design
Working with the talented Ryan Hayes at Chronicle Books, I began the project by providing rough layouts for Alakazam’s box art. At this point my main focus was not on creating exceptional art, but on ensuring the imagery would be clear and work well alongside the other design elements. By using only three tones (black, white and grey) we could could get a sense of whether or not a concept would work before any hard labour was put into polishing a direction.
While this is a bit simplistic, here are the three major steps used to create the cover artwork. First we landed on a refined, final drawing. Second, we nailed down the primary colours and linework. Lastly, textured brushes were used to bring the shapes and linework to life. After creating the cover, we now had a process we could use for all the artwork that was to come.
Creature Designs
In addition to the various spells you can hurl at your opponent, players in Alakazam have the ability to summon one of six creatures to beat down their foe. Here is a line-up of the final creatures summonable in Alakazam.
Product Shots
Here is the final product! I’m honoured to have worked with so many great people on this project and to have the privilege of nerding out over games and fantasy—two lifelong obsessions of mine. I hope you enjoyed viewing this project!