Video game

Don’t Look Down

Hunter Tortorella

Farmington, CT

Advisor: Kenneth Thompson

Artist Bio

Hunter Tortorella is a game designer and 2D/3D artist from Farmington, Connecticut. Concentrating on Game Design with a focus on 3D modeling, they specialize in creating stylized, narrative-driven worlds that merge visual storytelling with interactive mechanics. Hunter began their artistic journey through drawing and traditional concept art before expanding into digital media. Studying in the Digital Media & Design program at the University of Connecticut allowed them to develop skills in Blender, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, 3D-Coat, and Unity. They are especially passionate about stylized modeling and NPR hand-painted textures—a style they consider more timeless than hyperrealism, which evolves rapidly alongside rendering technology.

Their senior project, Don’t Look Down, reflects these interests through its expressive art direction, hand-made NPR environments, and stamina-based climbing systems. The project showcases Hunter’s ability to blend interesting gameplay with a cohesive, visual style, highlighting their strengths as both a technical designer and an artist.

Artist Statement

My senior project, Don’t Look Down, is an interactive climbing survival game that combines physically demanding mechanics with stylized 3D worldbuilding. As both a game designer and 3D artist, I created this project to challenge players mechanically while showcasing my strengths in environmental storytelling, modeling, and texturing.

Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape consumed by rising radioactive fog, the game forces players to ascend vast mountain ranges to survive. The vertical journey draws inspiration from spiritual themes found in Alaskan Native traditions, where high elevations can represent clarity, perspective, and revelation. As someone with Alaskan Native family roots and a personal passion for rock climbing, Don’t Look Down merges cultural symbolism with lived physical experience.

Artistically, the project embraces stylization over realism. Through hand-painted textures and Unity’s Universal Render Pipeline, I focus on expressive color, atmosphere, and mood rather than photorealistic detail. This approach allows me to craft emotionally resonant environments while highlighting my background in both 3D and 2D art.