The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years - Ballistic Publishing

Ethan Switch - Monday, 27 December 2004 - Print Version

Investigations are underway as to how this delivery ended up riding the fence as opposed to waiting on the verandah. Who would be in the wrong at such a stand? The delivery driver who chose not to even step out of his van or the resident who at the time was not at home? It's expected that a postal worker shall soon to wreck his wrath of revenge disgruntled style should the news filter down his own ears at this situation that has been bandied about in the communications stream of Australia Post. Private contractor no doubt.

Ballistic Publishing is a company that produce volumes and books that are sufficient enough for a light workout. Heavy is one word that lingers in the air, weighty is another. The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years, even in a soft cover edition, is no different. Pages are big, thick and glossy, the cover sturdy and open with flaps that really as yet don't explain themselves.

Opening the actual leaves of the piece in question makes for an earnest eyeballer as to the sheer mass of content they have obtained through their sources, primarily that being creators Sherry McKenna and Lorne Lanning. In this case, the artwork and designs that have helped to bring about the life and texture of the Oddworld series of video games from Abe's Oddysee to Oddworld Stranger.

Comprehensive and wonderfully put together, this compilation of sketches and designs sinks right into the mythos and history of the Oddworld universe. Presented in logical chapters with the games serving to hold the main, the book is an enjoyable read. The writing holds up on its own to mirror and carrying over the humour and sniping social satire delivered through the medium of Abe and Munch's world.

Not having played any one of the games is no barrier to this massive glossy production. With the breakdowns of character development and iterations made in the construction of the Oddworld universe, it's astounding to discover just how much has been packed into this fictional realm. Straight into the deep end, running with both hands forward, the layers are falling down fast with flashes here and there of what it took to even construct a character type, let alone a whole civilisation. Japan's four fingers edict makes a page and is just among a couple of the things outside the Oddworld that keep things interesting.

Not to say that the game world itself isn't an intriguing prospect. Far from just a standard book replete with endless comments on sketches and how to deal with lighting conditions, the information and background insight in Art of Oddworld runs over the catchment area. Despite having so many illustrations and works already on the pages, there's a sense that they could possibly churn out another tome with just as many pages full of images.

The writing could have easily been perfunctory, resting on the laurels of copious scribbles found littered all over the preliminaries. Thankfully this is not the case and a long read spanning a few hours can be had. A timeline of sorts hugs the bottom margin of the pages. Occasional tidbits blip on the line with a note or mark of events along the particular section. On a whole, the pages flow from one chapter to the next a transition easy from the end of one to the start of the next. That is until it hits the last page. The last line of which is abrupt, jarring and leaves a feeling of having been severed at the knees. Disconnecting from the past three hours combing through the Oddworld lands it may have very well been deliberate.

Oil from the fingertips easily smear the pages, the glossy nature making a nuisance of itself. Turning from the jet black toward a purplish blue laughing back with a sneering coil. That event never really makes sense, the regularity of such making the purchase of fine cotton gloves that closer to a solid smackdown.

For the swanky version of The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years, grab it from Ballistic Publishing. Or for those just looking for the paperback, snatch it from Amazon.

Ethan Switch