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The last 16 weeks of
production have certainly been a great learning experience in both the field of
game art and general life. All of the work planned during pre production has
been successfully completed, with additional time to allow for extra creation
of assets. During these project's allot has been learned in the processes used
in the professional industry from pre production to the final post production
of a final game. The software knowledge has certainly improved from these
projects from using 3D Max and Mudbox in the creation of the creatures and
environment.
Spider Evolutions - 8 weeks production
The 3 spider evolutions
where completed with in the 8 week period regardless of a very rough start as a
number of changes where made on the meshes as the animator felt the changes
would improve the design to create an even better look. With the changes
proposed the decision was agreed to fit the animator's request even though the
work load did increase due to reworks on the ploys that already had been baked.
This meant no symmetry modifier was used because the UV coordinates would have
failed a would then require a whole new sculpt. Thankfully the changes where
made after several days of alterations without any problems and the design
certainly benefited from it.
Problems continued
throughout this project due to all evolutions using the same rig, ever time an
evolution was created the mesh had to me aligned and scaled to fit the rig to
ensure the animator wouldn't have any problems. The original design for
evolution 3 was sufficiently altered for both the rig and poly count. The new
design did work very well even with the removed self destruct attack because
time was closing and the time needed learn the method of 2 UV to work in unity
became a nightmare.
With all the models working
for the animator, the spiders continued to develop with sculpting and texturing
until completed. With a few days to spare the creation of a stand to pose the
spiders on was created. The problems incurred during this project only improved
the design and the animator done an excellent job with agreeing and suggesting
alterations. I would certainly work with him again on future projects without a
doubt.
Mayan Sky Temple - 8 weeks production
This project became a
nightmare during the creation of the high poly. With the bricks being
duplicated and placed on the temple elevations the poly count became extremely
high making 3D Max very unstable. Through half baking the elevations the
project continued on course and taught a very useful method that will be
extremely good in the future. With time going prodigiously well the creation of
additional assets such as the plants and tree where created to improve the
design.
This project went extremely
smooth as it did not have so many requirements like the spiders which allowed
instant design changes that had no nock on affect to anyone else other than the
programmer who was happy with the tree as it became transparent when colliding
with the camera. As the project came to an end all of the extra assets where
cut such as additional smaller temples in the foreground with rope bridges
linking them together.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt this final
major project as been extremely successful, with all the original work completed
with extra it certainly showed excellent time management and hard work with
late nights. The results of this projects are better than expected, all the
work is completed to a high standard and works almost completely in the final
product other than a few minor bugs due time constraints that the programmer
had. The programmer without a doubt did a fantastic job. Another person I would
certainly work with in the future.
If undertaken again I would
not change anything as the projects where completed at a high standard without
any major complications that couldn't be fixed from alternative methods. The
other people involved in this project where also extremely talented and offered
feedback and ideas where ever to improve the designs, which lead to a prodigious
product. I have certainly learnt allot over these projects that I will
definitely apply where ever needed in the future. Finally Its safe to say that
I am glad it all came together so well and really appreciate the animator and
programmer for making the design even better. A big thanks to everyone else
involved in the project alone with tutors, family and friends through there
support of the last 16 weeks it means allot !
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