A Scottish man has gone viral on social media after showcasing his GTA-like video game project based on Paisley.
The video, originally posted by his partner on TikTok, has gathered over 330,000 views on the platform.
Viewers were quick to point out the similarities to the behemoth of the video game world, the Grand Theft Auto series, but Richard Gellatly says that the visual resemblance is the only similarity it shares with his project.
“I know it has the ‘GTA Paisley’ connotations, which are funny to read, but my aim would be to avoid in-game violence or glorifying poverty, which has been done already with more class than I ever could achieve,” explains the 34-year-old graphic designer from Paisley.
BovineInstead, Bovine, Richard’s professional pseudonym, would like to create a game focused on exploration and mystery, one that would hold special significance for people from the Scottish town.
“The pie in the sky idea is to make it a downloadable game with mystery and puzzle elements and a focus on character interaction.
“I’d love to use it for people affected with dementia or people who might just get a buzz from being able to see areas where they grew up, but in a playable or even VR medium.”
While not a game developer himself, Bovine can rely on his rich experience in graphic design, as shown by his work for large music festivals such as TRNSMT and Terminal V on his resume.
Bovine“I’ve done graphic design and 3D art for about 15 years, and with the developments in programs such as Unreal Engine, it allows even people like me to approach the art of game development.”
A Paisley native, Richard grew up near Neilston Road and now lives next to Brodie Park. He wants to make sure his project is as authentic and detailed as possible.
“For something like this, I collect as much reference material as possible, like street-level photos, satellite images, etc., then begin modelling a rough draft with basic cubes and stuff in Blender.
“I’ll start recreating branding or materials specific to the subject, like shop fronts or brick and tile patterns using GIMP and Photoshop,” he explains.
“Then I’ll test out some different lighting styles and usually come back to the very unoriginal urban location at night with rain, which makes anything look interesting.”
While the visuals give off a strong Grand Theft Auto vibe, the main source of inspiration for the project lies elsewhere.
Bovine“The GTA inspiration comes from a distinct memory, which I’m sure a lot of guys around my age will have had in 2001 when GTA III was released, that was ‘I want my home town version of this’.
“There are loads of games with the same third-person camera and urban setting, but I think the average viewer will associate it with Grand Theft Auto because it’s such a popular title, but my main inspiration would be the Broken Sword game series,” adds Richard.
“To me, that is the prime example of a perfect masterpiece in story, art, and music.”
The project, with the working name ‘Crystal Garden’, is currently without a set timeline, as Richard works on it during his spare time.
“The ideal scenario would be to source external funding, which would allow me to get the project completed much quicker and with more ease, but either way I’ll be working on it as much as possible.”
In the meantime, people can follow Bovine’s progress on his social media under @thebovinething or his website, thebovinething.com.
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