Great Big Kentucky Adventure
Don't just visit Kentucky – play it! Experience the state's top landmarks in a whole new way with an iconic video game.
A Tourism Campaign You Can Play
Kentucky Tourism and Coomer created the Great Big Kentucky Adventure to turn twelve of the state’s destinations into a playable 16-bit side-scrolling game. Each level was based on a real place, from Dinosaur World in Cave City to the Forest Giants in Shepherdsville, so the challenge was making every stop feel recognizably its own rather than relying on generic caves, forests, towns, and other game-world stand-ins. Experience the adventure on screen, then go experience the real thing in Kentucky.
I had to figure out how to give twelve different levels their own identity within the project’s timeline and budget. I focused the most detailed custom pixel art on the parts players interacted with most — the playable characters, enemies, projectiles, damage effects, and other game elements. For the larger environments, I art directed an AI-assisted process and then retouched, rebuilt, and finished the scenes in Photoshop. That approach let me create twelve specific locations instead of recycling a handful of generic backgrounds. Holding a single visual language across all twelve was the harder half of the job.
CLIENT
Kentucky Tourism
AGENCY
Coomer
STUDIO
Weirdo Works
YEAR
2024
ROLE
Art direction, character design, illustration, animation
Justin Gammon
DEVELOPMENT
Denys Chebotaiev
MARKETING DESIGN
Bennie Wells
RESULTS
12 Kentucky landmarks built as playable levels
Custom pixel art, animation, and illustrated environments
AWARDS
National Addy Gold Consumer Website
National Addy Silver Animation/Motion Graphics
Gold — Digital, 2025 Traverse Awards (KTIA)
Great Big Kentucky Adventure | Pixel Art and Gameplay Showcase
Turn Your Family Vacation into a Gaming Getaway!
Retro Gaming Reinvented
Coomer and Kentucky Tourism have teamed up with an incredible idea that turns screen time on its head! Instead of just letting kids zone out on their devices, why not engage them with a game featuring captivating levels that are fun, intriguing, and visually appealing? The game aims to entice kids and their parents to visit these same places in real life. Once this exciting concept was developed, Coomer enlisted Weirdo Works for their branding and art direction expertise. We designed character models, custom pixel art, and animations for child heroes, villains, and collectibles across 12 levels. In addition to the graphics, Weirdo Works also helped select the music and sound effects to enhance the gaming experience. Embracing a 16-bit retro style, the art direction is a nod to the past that parents would love, while resonating with the pixelated charm of Minecraft, a favorite among kids.
Kentucky Counties Collaborate for an Epic Adventure
Beyond Screen Time!
As travel and tourism pick up steam in a post-Covid world, it’s crucial for destinations to stand out in the crowded market. That’s why Kentucky tourism organizations are getting creative with their marketing. Twelve counties are collaborating on “Great Big Kentucky Adventure,” a 12-level video game. This game is super easy for parents to pull up on a mobile device during a road trip, giving kids a fun sneak peek of their destination and building excitement and familiarity before they even arrive.
Great Big Kentucky Adventure | Mobile Game
Great Big Kentucky Adventure | Forest Giants Attraction-to-Illustration
The Art of Blending AI and Game Design
Pixelated Postcards
One of the main challenges in developing “Great Big Kentucky Adventure” was striking the right balance between accurately depicting each Kentucky tourist destination and simplifying or stylizing it to make it visually distinct, appealing, and fun. Creating 12 unique levels from scratch within a limited time and budget pushed Weirdo Works to get creative by integrating AI-generated imagery. These AI-created elements were then retouched and remixed to bring the vision of each level to life. Collaborating closely with each county to ensure their satisfaction with the depictions was integral to the process, resulting in a fun and visually captivating version of Kentucky for all to enjoy.
Tiny But Mighty Pixel Art Heroes
The main playable characters in “Great Big Kentucky Adventure” consist of a diverse cast of 10 children, representing various races and genders to ensure every kid can find a hero they relate to. Among these human characters, there are a couple of standout special kids. One is a playful pancake kid, a fun nod to Hopkinsville, KY – the batter capital of the world, and another is an adventurous alien boy who’s not just from out of town—he’s from another planet entirely and is excited to explore Kentucky’s tourist attractions.
Additionally, each character was custom-illustrated and animated pixel-by-pixel. While most characters are generic kids, one notable star is Zaza, a young Kentucky influencer. Zaza is accurately depicted in the game wearing her leather jacket, trucker cap, and shiny boots and featured prominently in promotional imagery, online ads, and as a selectable character in the game’s roster.
The Battle Against Boredom Begins in Kentucky
Monsters of Monotony
Every good hero needs a compelling villain, and “Great Big Kentucky Adventure” delivers with four unique monsters symbolizing boredom. These villains, with their oafish, overweight looks, slug-like appearances, and jittery, hyperactive motions, embody the fight against monotony. Players are tasked with squashing these creatures of boredom to bring excitement and fun while exploring Kentucky’s tourist attractions. It’s your mission to squash boredom and make the most of your adventure in “Great Big Kentucky Adventure.”
Great Big Kentucky Adventure | Postcard Billboards and Promo Stickers
Kentucky Tourism Gets Playful
Beyond the Screen
Kentucky Tourism and Coomer took “Great Big Kentucky Adventure” into the real world with oversized postcard photo selfie spots that replicate the game’s opening screen. These eye-catching installations were placed in public parks across Indianapolis, St. Louis, Nashville, and other regional cities, inviting people to engage with the game. The game’s graphics and character artwork were also featured on promotional stickers, tourism rack cards, and social media posts to entice users into embarking on this virtual adventure, ultimately leading them to explore Kentucky’s attractions in real life. Additionally, Weirdo Works created a series of animated GIF stickers using in-game artwork for integration into Instagram, TikTok, and other social channels, maximizing the game’s reach and engagement.