Ken Lau's Futureworks Tumblr

[williamroylance-fw-blog]

XB3992 Honours project - William Roylance

My Honours project is to create the interior for a ship similar in design and purpose to the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars. I will be creating an interior that eludes to the ship being a home to a crew of a ship that has “seen better days”. I want the player to view the ship as a “junker”.

I have been taking inspiration for the ships interior design from multiple medias, notably science fiction films from the 1970s to the late 1980s (with additions of recent Star Wars films).

The Millenium Falcon contains many architectural features that I desire for my project. A well-designed feature in ships, designed in star wars and Alien,  that are going to be referenced for my project are corridors.

Corridors

Ron Cobbs developed conceptual sketches for the corridors aboard the Nostromo in The 1979 film Alien. 

Which was later brought to life by Set designer Roger Christian.

I want to incorporate the dark weathered look of these corridors into my design to show how the ship is a cheap, aged and battle-worn ship.  These corridors are designed for a purpose and not for an aesthetic look which aligns with my vision for my project. Features of the design that work well are the protruding appliances/workings of the ship such as consoles, piping, wiring, vents, hazard lights, ladders, gas canisters etc. This shows a working environment for the crew where they need quick access to maintenance tools for when the ship inevitably needs repairs.  

The curvature of the Millenium Falcons corridors strongly appeals to me as its design connects multiple rooms and levels within a compact environment, unlike the Nostromos long linear corridors. 

[kenlaufutureworks]

This is a great start for your visual reference. I would like you to create sheets where you put your visual reference and highlight and annotate on top of the sheets exactly the things that you think have merit. 

It would also be useful to create little sketches based upon your visual reference and don’t forget to reference your images.

[lashayyakingfutureworks-blog]

XB3001 - Professional game practice: Game idea and role

Introduction

For this module I will be in a team of 3 and we will be creating a game/level as a team and each of us have our own roles that we will each create content as and contribute the completed content into the finished project.

In the process of working towards the finished project - multiple prototypes will be created as mechanics and assets are implemented.

Game idea

A third person puzzle game and visual experience: A monk is on a journey of transcendence to reach a higher level of spirituality and peace within himself. 

The aim is to rebuild a temple through puzzles in the game; the setting will be in a dream-like world of floating islands in the sky.

Role

My role for this group project is a character artist and secondary prop artist, all team members will contribute as game designers in thinking of mechanics, story and visuals.

I will be creating the main playable character which will be the monk; this will be done in 3D software such as ZBrush and Autodesk Maya, unwrapping in either Maya or UV layout and lastly texturing in Adobe Photoshop and Substance painter. I will document my progress and design of the character via blogs and screenshots.

I will also be creating statues for the temple which will be inspired by various images from the inside of temples and the statues that can be found inside them. Additionally, if any help is needed with creating assets for the level; this will also be a part of my contribution.

[kenlaufutureworks]

Hi Lashayya - your Blog link doesn’t appear to contain any of your Honours XB3992 work yet. Do you have a separate Blog?

[charlottetaylorxb3992]

Art and Game Inspiration

I have considered time and scope when figuring out the art style I could be leaning towards, I have a lot of stylised models with bold colours or minimal textures so I would like to expand on my skills in Substance Painter and build on the complexity of the models I will be modelling.

Assets such as stools and seating that will be used over and over can be simple and less detailed than props like a revolver or a jukebox. I think having a mixture of realistic and stylised would allow me to balance the modelling and texturing time better as well as not scoping down the amount of props I will be creating.

Life is Strange has a very unique art style, colours and texturing can vary from simple to very detailed, as do the models themselves.

For example, the hair and the general characters are very simple which contrasts the more complex models like a rusty car, along with the detailed texturing that adds depth and detail which the characters don’t have. I like this contrast as it stands out from games which stick to one art style like Overwatch or Journey.

  http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/walkthroughs/14838-Life-Is-Strange-Episode-Five-Optional-Photos-Guide

http://life-is-strange.wikia.com/wiki/American_Rust_Junkyard

Props and environment assets are very detailed and textured very well so for scenes like the junkyard the overall look is rough and has a lot of depth and a variation of things going on which adds to the cluttered look of the junkyard, a similar effect is seen in the bedroom scenes which I really like because it gives the scenes a more lived in look due to the amount of assets but if you look closely a lot of the assets are the same thing but with different textures like the posters and the papers on the floor can be the same small plane with an image for a poster on one asset and a image with writing on for the papers.

http://4playernetwork.com/blog/2015/10/why-you-should-totally-play-life-is-strange/

[kenlaufutureworks]

Good that you have identified a bold art style. It would be useful for you to create some simple props that would work in your level in this style to make sure that it fits. 

Are you going to model the speakeasy based on a layout of one that you have found?

[callumreyesfutureworksyear3]

This is the first mood board I have done regarding research into the themes that I wish to take inspiration from. I wanted to source images from a variety media; movies, art, etc. I tried to get images featuring different aspects of environments, locals and colour choice.

Image Breakdown

One key thing I like to do when I generate mood boards is to breakdown the images and identify what components stand out to me. This helps me to better understand key aspects of a visual style and why it appeals to me.

Image:

1. I highlighted a few things in this image that drew my attention and appealed to me. One part was the headphones hanging from the ceiling above the seats. What I liked about this was that the image is taken from Alien: Covenant within a spaceship. Why is this significant to me? Its because although this version of humanity has progressed to the point of space travel and extremely advanced AI, there are still remnants of technology that we are used to seeing today. This plays into the appeal I have with retro-futurism. 

Another thing I highlighted was the Hula doll on the control station. Although this doesn’t have anything to do with the visual style, it is the simple addition of character that makes the scene more life-like and makes the scene more believable in a subtle way. This type of thing is something I will be adding to my scene for certain. 

The next things I highlighted were more to do with the structure of the scene. I really liked the mechanical and industrial appearance of the scene with the inclusion of hydraulics and/or suspensions systems. The materials featured also cement this industrial theme. 

The final things I highlighted in this image was the touch-pad located by the door and also the control panel. What I liked about the touch-pad near the door is that it is a blend of technology with the industrial structure, an interesting visual motif. The reason why I highlighted the control panel was in one part because of the interesting use of lighting but mostly it was because of the use of dials and buttons. For me this is another example of a type of retro-futuristic design, although this version of humanity can travel far into space they are still using technology we use today, it is an indication of how it is easy for designers to become accustomed to technology we use today and not question or imagine whether we will still be using this technology in a century from now. This is not to say it a bad design, on the contrary I find this type of design very interesting.

2. This image was smaller with less features but a couple aspects did stand out to me. The main component of the image that caught my attention was the use of buttons, dials and small LED digital displays. I have already mentioned why I find this visual choice interesting and it remains true here. The digital displays are appealing to me as they are reminiscent of digital alarm clocks from decades past. Due to my liking of retro-futurism and the way designers have blended old technology with civilisations, civilisations that are many years more advanced than us in certain aspects, these small displays catch my eye. Additionally I like the variety of switches the artist used in the control panel. Although I have no idea what the individual buttons and switches do, I can tell from their appearance that they control multiple different functions.

This image also highlighted to me how much I liked the lighting of the control module in the first image.

3. The third image is much more busier than the previous image I looked at and there is a selection of things I found interesting. The first thing that really caught my eye was the bus section. I find the artists use of the classic British red bus with the track system really interesting and eye-catching. It is,again, because of the mix of old technology within a somewhat futuristic scene I believe. The fact that this running theme that keeps drawing my attention is telling me that I should put big consideration into how I can incorporate this style in my scene. 

Along with this I also highlighted other parts that I liked. One part was the use of pipes along the side of the building. Although this isn’t something mind blowing I just liked the way it broke up the building and it communicated to me a thought that the area was somewhere a bit run down or not as potentially high-end as other parts of this fictional city. On a similar note to the Hula doll in the first image the pipes add a bit of character to the scene not in the same way as the Hula doll but with a similar effect.

In the image as a whole I like the architectural design of the buildings and their features and the locations of said features. Also the inclusion of the phone/power lines makes the scene more believable and communicates subconsciously that this environment is alive. 

4. Although this image doesnt neccessarily depict a futuristic setting there were a few features that caught my attention. The main part of the image that I found visually intriguing was the set of displays stacked asymetrically on top of one another. Although the design of the displays isnt really what im looking for, it doesn’t match my intended visual theme, I do like the way they are positioned. For me the way the displays are arranged adds a lot of character to the scene and makes my mind wonder as to the backstory of the scene. This specific part of the image is going to stick with me I feel, especially when designing and thinking of composition within my environment.

I also highlighted the windows in the image as I thought the small pieces of glass arranged in a formation akin to bricks was an interesting concept.

5. I found the whole of this image interesting in terms of its arrangement and visual style. However the visual style is not something I want to mimic. I can appreciate how each component of the scene looks like it belongs there, nothing in this image looks out of place. Although I don’t want to emulate this visual style I do however want the assets in my scene to match the overall theme and not look out of place, just like the components of this assets.

I highlighted two specific parts of the image that I would say drew my eye first. I highlighted the bed as I think it is an interesting design and a design that matches the scenes theme well. The second part I highlighted because I liked the layout of the components on the face of the object. Although by no means jaw dropping or of much significance, I did find myself inspired when thinking of ideas regarding radios and computers in a retro-futuristic style.

6. I included this image because I love the visual style and appearance of this digital bilboard. The limitations of the technology generating it add a lot of character and aesthetic that I really enjoy.

7. This image I found interesting as it depicted a scene within a car with a futuristic setting. The main things within the image that caught my attention were the displays. I particularly like the design of the upper orange display, its position and contents are well thought out. 

Additionally with this scene, I found the mix of digital displays at the front of the car and what looks like a taxi charge meter a nice contrast. This makes me imagine that this society has advanced technology but the basic functions and requirements of specific actions, like being charged a taxi fare, require the old but effective technologies we are used to in real life. 

8. This image featured a variety of things that I found quite interesting and inspiring. Firstly I find the design of the displays to be well done and thought out. The display aren’t so technologically advanced that they look too far-fetched but they do look realistically advanced when judging by our current technological predictions, whilst also maintaining an interesting visual design. You can have an educated guess as to how the displays work thanks to the way they are designed by the artist, something I also want to keep in mind when designing and creating my assets.

I also highlighted the wires coming from the highest display. I did this because it made the scene look a bit more functional and that this scene is actually a real place and all the various components in the scene all work and have functions. These little details make the scene feel more realistic.

The first part of the image that stood out to me was the floor. I like the way the viewer is able to see below the floor in some areas, revealing hints as to how the the scenes structure works. The lighting was nice and it simply looks visually interesting to me.

9. I like the overall scene in this image, there is a lot of detail and character present. The main things that stood out to me however were the neon signs. Although the scene is dark and grimey, the neon signs don’t look out of place. Neon/ emmisive lights are definitely something I will be including in my environment, just not in the same way that they are used in this image. 

10. What drew to this image was the colour scheme mainly. The colour palette selection is something very similar to the palette I intend on using. The bright pink and blues is a classic colour combination of synthwave inspired designs and definitely something that works well together in this visual theme.

[kenlaufutureworks]

It’s great that you are doing detailed analysis of all of your visual reference. It would be fine to actually make annotations on the images directly - and in fact, it’s a little easier to read. But I would like you to go beyond the very simple descriptions of what you like. 

Why do you like something in particular? Has the artist done something innovative in his/her portrayal or a particular object? How would you have done it differently? Could you improve upon it?

Also don’t forget to reference the artists.

[betsyjones-xb3992]

Research - Colour Theory

When creating something it is important to consider the colours used as it can be another way to set the mood, tell a story or convey emotion. The term for this is colour theory. Its the consideration of how colours work with one another and how to utilise the levels of saturation and value to create a well balanced image. 

Recently I have had a better look into colour theory out of interest as it is one thing to use colours and go with what looks good but having a better understanding for it can further benefit the appearance of my designs and even help inspire some more ideas and uses for colour. The way I use colour is something to consider greatly when forming the artistic style of my scene.

Different colours can convey different feelings. People connect certain colours or shades to certain emotions. For example whites are seen as  sterile, sophisticated and efficient but this can also be seen negatively as in elitism. It is dependent on what the artists behind it are trying to convey with it especially when combined with narrative. 

I have looked at some videos on youtube about colour theory and through the book “Color and Light – A guide for the realist painter James Gurney” as well as a few videos on youtube. In the book he discusses and shows some examples of the uses of colour and light as well how to use a colour wheel and a gamut to generate and pick out a pallet. A lot of it is in reference to painting or drawing but a lot of the lessons learnt can be transferred into other artistic projects. 

Here are some of the images from Gurneys book with examples of gamut mapping.

In his book Gurney writes “Going on a color diet can keep your color schemes lean and strong. A limited palette (also called a restricted palette) is a small selection of pigments, often resulting in a painting with a more unified or harmonious effect.”

Those types of gamut maps above can be a great way to generate an interesting palette. Saturation is how intense a colour is while value is how dark to light the colour is; good use of colour is dependent on utilising saturation and value. For example a bad image could have a lot of extremely saturated colours, so much so it is painful to look as it is too bright or has too much going on within it.

James Gurney also talks about this in his book “Grays or neutrals are the opposite of intense colors. We sometimes associate grays with blandness or dullness, but they are actually an artist’s best friend. More paintings fail because of too much intense color rather than too much gray.”

I have had a look at a few different images and picked out some good examples of colour usage that use various types of colour selections. 

An image by madspartan013

https://madspartan013.deviantart.com/art/Grabbin-Lunch-534551658

This market scene uses a lot of colours within it - a quardratic colour scheme using 4 points of the colour wheel at different percentages. In a video I watched on colour theory it suggests to use one or two colours predominantly and never 25% of each.  The varying colours gives off a vibe of packed market filled with all sorts of shoppers, vendors and goods. The predominant use of yellow and brown in the scene not only makes it appear like sunny day it allows for the use of all the other colours to enter the scene and find a balance. 

An image by beavotron

https://beavotron.deviantart.com/art/Peggys-rocks-432044081

This image is very minimal in its use of colour. A good example of “colour diet” as it is predominantly in shades of blue and red. The burnt red tone and pale frosty blue works well together they are somewhat contrasting but both give a cold presence fitting the scene. 

An image by dchan 

https://www.deviantart.com/art/Resort-Station-671762026

This piece has gradiation in it which is when the image gradually goes from one colour to the next smoothly. The top is blue and the bottom is green with the colours merging between. It also helps that the colours throughout this scene are analogous which means they colours that are alongside one another on the colour wheel. In James Gurneys book he talks about analogous colours stating “They are automatically related and harmonious.”

An Image by Creature Box

https://creaturebox.deviantart.com/art/Ratchet-and-Clank-Full-Frontal-Assault-340548907

This image at first appears to be made of two contrasting colours. After a closer look it appears to be a quadratic colour scheme, the contrasting red and green are predominant but there is also the use of blue and yellow. The use of light in this image is well done. It bridges the colours causing a gradient. In the top section it bridges the saturated red to the green through yellow light and in the lower half the low value creates a shadowy fore ground that balances out the greens, blues and reds. 

Summary

All the images I have shown above are ones that I find appealing. They have different colour palettes and techniques but still great uses of colour, lighting and composition. Ones that I have found most interesting are those on “colour diets” that stick to a limited palette, another thing i like is the use of saturation and value to draw in the viewers gaze and make things pop. I personally may want to go for a limited/minimal colour palette for my scene. I am going to be making a street that would belong to a utopian like city and so the lack of colour could suggest their dominance over nature and it few colours could vary in contrast to be striking and bold. As of yet I am still a little uncertain on whether go with something analogous or contrasting. 

I have done a small bit of experimentation and practise with colour with a few quick paintings. Below is a selection of some experimentation I have done with different colour palettes. One being a comparison between the lighting of two different days and the other being some sketches/painting using different gamut techniques seen in Gurney’s book and the youtube video I will link by Blender Tutorials. 

Above are two photos I have taken on two different days to compare and consider how the lighting and colours effect the overall image. The one on the left is of a cloudy day and the one on the right is from a sunny day. In the cloudy image it appears cold, especially with the blue and grey tint that the lack of light is causing, and does appear somewhat flatter. The image on the right has the sun coming in from an angle highlighting certain colours and causing different sections to pop. The image does appear brighter and more refreshing because of this. 

Sources 

The video on colour theory that I found really useful by Blender Guru.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj1FK8n7WgY&t=887s

Color and Light – A guide for the realist painter James Gurney

The psychology of people and connections to colour

http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours

[kenlaufutureworks]

Some great work shown here. Have you tried downloading any colour palette apps on your smartphone to analyse images or photographs to further reinforce the ideas that you have been reading about - like the limited colour palette - “colour diet” one.

[owenmcdonnellfutureworkshon-blog]

Week 2 - Preproduction Research

Over the past week I have been conducting research into both the subject detail (ant hierarchies within a colony, species of ant, etc.) and the subsequent systems I shall be using in the game. I have also started work on the conceptualization art of the ants design (though I still have to decide the games colour scheme, and as such left the concepts uncolored). On top of this I have been working on prototypes in Unreal to see if my ideas are viable.

Keep reading

[kenlaufutureworks]

It’s great that you have been doing thorough testing to see if your idea for your Honours Project is achievable. I look forward to catching up with you tomorrow to discuss what direction you will be taking, in light of the performance issues you have identified.

[maksymgrantfutureworks-blog]

Game Project XB 2001

The game started from the idea of Decay. This key word was chosen as I wanted to create a horror type experience. This type of game was chosen because I haven’t really experienced making or designing a horror game and I wanted to try something new. This meant experimenting with more things like light and atmospherically building tension  using the available tools at my disposal.

The game is meant to be played more as an exploration and puzzle game with the player being expected to use their initiative in order to solve problems and discover new secrets. The game has a lot of hidden and trap doors dotted around the level. With them being available to the player from the outset. The game plays on a higher point of it being a experimental adventure with the player being given the opportunity to go though it in whichever order they want. This means they could in theory find the key to a chest straight away but not finding the chest till the end. In contrast this means that the player will be expected to simply discover things as they go, meaning that they can rush though one area quickly to simply come across another shortly after if they wish to explore that area more thoroughly. The game is meant to be more of a test for creating suspense rather than an all out idea for a fully fleshed out game.

The Overall production of the game was pretty good and had lots of cool jump scare elements in it. The game was a lot less fleshed out than possibly other projects but this is mostly because it was meant to scare the player and not necessarily be completely feature filled.The strengths of the game lay within its jump scare elements, as these had some interesting and unique scripting.

The layout of the level was nice and linear which was useful as it meant that trans-versing it was easy. The linear game play meant that the player would not be able to avoid the jump scare regardless of which paths they choose.

Unfortunately the level had to be redone again because of an error with regard to the level its self. This put a major dent into the time management that I tried to plan accordingly. This meant that certain features that I had made were rushed and weren’t completed to the quality that I was trying to achieve. In contrast if I would do this again then I would make more of an effort to organize my time more effectively.This would include a emphasis on making sure that I leave a day spare just in case something was to go horribly wrong.

I did have a couple of things that did go well however, for instance the modular assets that I made were of a good quality and worked effectively to make the game theme stand out. The Dirty and decaying atmosphere were all used effectively within a horror theme. The horror elements seemingly appeared to work and therefore showed that I could relate to the theme I intended for. The blueprint elements were also quite effective and seemed to work within the contexts that they were being used. For example the blueprints for things like the jump scares that fly towards the player all seem to do as they were intended to. Blueprints were a good opportunity for me to learn about how to blueprint effectively and how to use them in a effective format. The Blueprints were able to do things like produce elements of random generation, for the player to experience. This was particularly done using the random integer in range code that takes a random value for something between 2 values. These values are then randomly chosen as a set amount of times that the trigger will activate to the player.

To summarize the game its self was ultimately pretty reasonable but did not go exactly according to plan. The elements like the level map its self was unfortunately rushed as well as some of the features within it. The game had lots of good elements but could have been more improved, overall the game was a useful learning process that gave me a much better idea of how certain blueprints worked and how some of them can be used more effectively in different areas.

[kenlaufutureworks]

Maksym, your Tumblr link you sent me comes straight to your Y2 work. Would you create a side tumblr for either all of your Y3 work or just your Honours please. Ta.

[aaroncostello-fwxb992-blog]

XB3992 Week 2- Environment and Architectural Research Start

Santa Maria Church Philippines-

Link to source-

http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/santa_maria_novella-cloist.html

Citation-

The Museums of Florence. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2017, from http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/santa_maria_novella-cloist.html

The Catacombs of Paris-

This image presents a sample of a wall within the Catacombs of Paris. The sign in the image can be translated to: “Bones of the Cemetery of the Innocents. Deposited in April. 1787”. Little details like this really add a sense of spookiness and a more realistic realisation of the amount of presence in the walls of the tunnels. I would like to use similar details to produce a similar level of substance in my environment. Perhaps not using signs, but even through other means such as engravings or markings.

This is an image of, what appears at first glance, to be a shrine or within the catacombs. The style looks quite medieval, with dark frames around the pillars, and large, stone brickwork. The placing of the skeletons has been used to create strong foundations for the walls, but it also creates a very nice pattern. It almost looks like a commemoration to the bodies of those used in its making.

Link to source-

http://ssmeder.com/susans-tales/category/alone%20in%20the%20catacombs%20of%20paris     (Paris catacombs blog/ article- ‘Susan’s Tales’)

Citation of above two images of catacombs-

Smeder, S. (2015, January 20). Retrieved September 20, 2017, from http://ssmeder.com/susans-tales/category/alone%20in%20the%20catacombs%20of%20paris

In this image, there is a cross within an alcove of catacombs in Paris. The cross in this image looks a lot simpler than the very defining pillars and walls in the tombs. This gives this scene quite a contrast and makes the cross stand out instantly. The catacombs have been maintained of course, but it is still quite interesting to see there is plenty of lighting here. When producing the environment’s lighting, perhaps various gaps in the structure/ foundations could be included to add additional lighting in a similar manner shown above. Again, in this image, a defining pattern can be seen looking at the skeletal arrangement placed in the inner walls. The placement of the skulls, especially in this scene, appears to be intentionally and carefully placed.

Link to source of the original image- www.flickr.com/photos/jkroll/5565931160/

Link to source of website the image is from- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/paris-catacombs-180950160/

Citation-

Kroll, John. “Paris Catacombs (5 of 17).” Flickr, Yahoo!, 27 Mar. 2011, www.flickr.com/photos/jkroll/5565931160/

[kenlaufutureworks]

Have you found any examples of the visual style that you are aiming for? Are you creating a photo realistic environment? If so, have you had a go at creating any tests of skull wall? Would be interesting to sculpt it in Zbrush and get it into engine and lit.

[simranwhithamfutureworks-blog]

XB3992 Honours Project: Character Arm Creation & Rigging

With my honours project Sensory being a first-person interactive level based around a character one of the aspects I am aiming to create a character that feels more like an actual organic game character for the player than a looking glass into the game world.

To do this I have expanded further on the character modelling of the protagonist character adding baseline clothing for the arms and began the animation/rigging process for the arms themselves.

For the clothing to stay within the theme of the opening environment of Sensory being set within a low poly apocalyptic street I have created a jumper sleeve and a pair fingerless gloves as these are common attire seen within post-apocalyptic themed games and visual media due to the practicality the clothing provides within such an environment.

Such attire can be seen on character meshes within games such as Metro Last Light, The Last of Us and Television shows and comics such as The Walking Dead.

After creating such clothing for the character I began the process of applying skeleton bones and creating a basic character reference that once finished will serve as the bone structure for a complete set of character arms and legs.

My overall design goal for the arms and legs is to animate a natural arm swing that replicates that of an organic human being when casual walking and a set of legs that move in accordance to that of an actual set of human leg movements when casually walking through an environment.

Image References:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi93oWMps3WAhUEuBoKHQerDtIQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F183099541073090284%2F&psig=AOvVaw0SGscXxS0ADFMKkdE08wpP&ust=1506873089795191

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjqluegps3WAhUB2RoKHUR6Ba4QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2Ftag%2Fmetro-2033-last-light%2F&psig=AOvVaw2oekdZuhaTJeupAONL9ZVq&ust=1506872944911293

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjvr_2kps3WAhXM1hoKHbfJA7EQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobygames.com%2Fgame%2Fwindows%2Fmetro-last-light%2Fscreenshots%2FgameShotId%2C619781%2F&psig=AOvVaw2oekdZuhaTJeupAONL9ZVq&ust=1506872944911293

[kenlaufutureworks]

Some nice tests here! Have you run your rig by any of our Y3 animation students or even the animation tutor Paul Claessens? He’s pretty handy with Maya.

[williamwoodfutureworkshonours]

I Began Development of working with materials for the laser particle effect, instead of using what I learnt in the second year to create lightning I went an alternate method which is a lot cleaner for the material to work with. In the particle system editor I have access to a noise variable which allowed for the change of the material in the form of scattered beams, which also allowed me to create multiple types of beams which could be used in the game as potential obstacles. The red would be something to signify a harmful obstruction, which can later be adjusted to include a burning effect onto the surface it hits. whilst the yellow lightning can be used for a replacement towards the doors. This is beneficial towards animations being reduced. Additionally parameters can be set up to control the speed of motion, speed of travel size and colour allowing myself to create particle instances to work upon. 

[kenlaufutureworks]

Lasers are looking good. Great that you are doing early tests!! 

Have you come up with a cohesive narrative behind the whole testing facility that meshes well with the mechanics?

[konnorfrenchhonourproject-blog]

XB3992 Honors Project

27/09/17 Wednesday 

In today’s lecture I am going to look into assets that are found within an armory and start to get an idea of what kind of assets I need to create in order to make my armory look like an armory. I had an idea in which I would model either a military grade knife or a Bowie knife and model a table and have the knife stuck in the table. Within an armory I know there will be crates in which the weapons are inside, so I was thinking of making some crates in which would be open and some in which will be closed.

For the next couple of days I will be sketching out some ideas of my armory in which I will start to get a vision and design of my armory diorama.

[kenlaufutureworks]

Let’s see some visual reference posted on your Tumblr. 

[matthejenkinsonhonoursblog-blog]

The Ui looks simple yet it gets its message across clearly of what everything does and even though the level has simple models the layout of the level look very interesting.

The picture show of its models very well it is easy to distinguish what object are safe and which ones are dangerous whilst still being able to keep the same tone.  

The art style is simple all of the models look interesting I also like the idea of having a certain layout for areas where u can climb that you can see in the background of the picture I also think the layout of the environment looks interesting.  

I like the layout of the levels to me this is the best part of the picture as it offers multiple routes that the player could take. 

I like how the art style is simple and the models are low poly but it still looks good and matches the tome of the game whilst looking unique. All of the models look great and easy to distinguish, since my game is going to involve squirrels I like the idea of building houses into a tree. 

I liked the way that the characters interact with the environment also the way that the player uses the environment to their advantage as it help them get to different areas within the level. I also like using the collectibles to guide to the player to different areas of the level. 

The aspect about this picture that I enjoy the side sidescroller elements even though the game is in 3D. 

I enjoy the platforming elements from this picture, it would be a good way to start a level to get the player use to how the character moves. I also like User Interface it is simple and easy to understand. I also like how the collectibles are represented they look exactly like they do in the U.I. 

I have chosen this picture for the parachute alone. I like the idea of having the player being able to glide around different parts of the level. 

This picture shows off a safe area that allows the player to hide from the A.I. The players could use this area to get away from enemies that have spotted them, or to hide from enemies that they are about to run into. As well as giving them an area to hide and rest for a little while. 

The reason I have chosen this picture is to show off how I see the player acting around the A.I in the prototype. The A.I will have a cone of vision and only see the player if they enter that cone, and if they don’t the A.I will be walking on a set path that it has to follow. The player will be able to take advantage of this and use objects it to avoid the A.I.  

[kenlaufutureworks]

Let’s see some of your visual reference put onto sheets with annotated notes of your analysis of each image. 

Will you be creating some early art tests to see if you can create the style you are referencing?

[ryandasilvahonours]

Prototype 1 Mood board

Showing different concepts, designs and textures that could be used/inspired from.

http://pin.it/2INjYEQ

[kenlaufutureworks]

oh - are you still thinking about modelling a weapons platform for your Honours??

[curtisjumpfwxb3992]

Rail Shooter Engine Concept & Research

The third idea for this year’s honours project is to create a rail shooter, salvaging only the magical glyph screen-drawing element of the previous idea. Rail shooter games are a pretty odd genre, however, with very view games obeying the same set of rules.

I think it’s important at this stage, before even making a new project plan, to tackle exactly what systems are always present through necessity, and which features would really make a concept like this shine; Both in terms of playability and art style.

For those disinclined, a rail shooter is a game like Star Fox, in which the player controls a ship or character flying through a set ‘path’ or ‘tunnel’, combating various opponents along the way, generally with firearms.

-A critical view of the genre-

They are less precise than 2D shoot-em-ups, as the perspective can make it difficult to discern exactly how close enemy projectiles are to one’s hitbox; And even worse, aiming at an enemy can place the player’s character directly in the line of fire whilst also blocking their point of view, especially annoying in otherwise interesting pseudo-2D titles like Space Harrier and Iridion 3D.

Later games using polygonal graphics at least had the foresight to give the player a separate aiming crosshairs and often a lock-on function, as in Star Fox and Panzer Dragoon. Even late examples can be very mercurial with this mold, however, as it seems even much newer games like Sin & Punishment and certain sections of Nier Automata focus a lot more on spectacle than really developing new mechanics…

The larger screen presence of characters on the screen does mean things are more personable than 2D shoot-em-ups, but perhaps there is a better way to use these sort of mechanics for more modern controls and playstyles?

-Potential Control Styles, Strengths and Weaknesses-

1) Standard WASD

The type seen in older shooters.

Strengths: Very easy to learn, almost no controls, suits 2D sprite graphics well.

Weaknesses: The player character blocks the line of sight with the object they are firing at.

2) WASD + Aiming Reticule

Represented here with mouse controls, but a good facsimile of how Panzer Dragoon plays for the most part.

Strengths; Solves the ‘blocking problem’, makes better use of 3D graphics. Controls not too dissimilar to an FPS, which most people are familiar with.

Weaknesses; Actually HAS to be in 3D, since the craft rotating independently would look very strange in sprite form.  Doesn’t entirely solve the depth perception troubles.

3) WASD + Mouse Screen Position Freeroaming

Similar to the freeroaming sections of Starfox 64, this is a bit of a radical departure, allowing the player to move around FPS style, but also giving them the freedom to maneuver character around the screen for more immediate dodging actions.

Strengths; Freeroaming! Would work with either sprites or polygons. Solves the depth perception troubles by simply allowing the player to turn away and go in a different direction.

Weaknesses; Levels would either be a lot more work, or smaller and less focused. It could also be difficult to tell if an enemy is shooting at you from a direction other than the front.

-The Verdict-

Given more time I think the third example would make for some fun boss battle gameplay, but in terms both ease of use and an ability to cast the magic spells with ease, the second is probably more realistic to accomplish.

-Engine Preliminary Test-

With all this in mind, I threw something together to test the viability of a separate aiming object. Turns out the most straightforward way to do this is simply to get the screen position results from the mouse, and have it transform the location of a component object. Making a separate object adds too much complexity in terms of having two objects trade values with each other, whilst this automatically offsets the cone’s location by the player’s relative location too.

In this case, it simply moves the cone around, like a piece of chalk on an invisible chalkboard. This would be the aiming crosshairs in the final version, with the player object constantly facing it, and the entire camera+player+aiming apparatus attached directly onto a spline that guides it through the level.

[kenlaufutureworks]

I love that you are testing your ideas at this early stage. Great stuff! Would love to see some videos of your controls in action.

Are you still going with a fantasy/horror setting?

[jamescarryear3]

Mood-board Overview

The Forest #1

I have chosen this image as it closely resembles what I am aiming for when it comes to my own base building mechanic. I want the player to be able to place a “ghost” version of the building components then go out to collect the required resources needed to build the full component.

Image Source

The Forest #2

Another example of the base building I want in my game. Having a plethora of modular assets that can be combined together to make a unique base and keep enemies out. Combining the building mechanic with the modular assets will make it so it’s easy to create a variety of bases to serve specific functions.

Image Source 

PUBG #3

This picture is of the map of the popular game PUBG or Player Unknowns Battleground, the map shows plenty of different locations and environments as well as areas where certain things spawn and can be located.

Image Source

Nier Automata #4

This picture displays what I want the camera movement to be like. With the character movement detached from the cameras pivot and movement. Freely being able to move the camera around the player model so the player can view the surrounding area without having to turn around.

Image Source

The Witcher #5

This picture resembles one of the combat types I am debating to put into my game. Third person real time combat would be the simplest implementation of combat into my game while adding enemy lock on would be a helpful addition to this kind of game-play.

Image Source

Borderlands #6

In my game I am aiming for 3 classes to choose from, this will add variety to game-play and will give the player many more options when it comes to survivability in the long run. The 3 classes will have different weapons and starter abilities while every other skill is available to them after a while.

Image Source

The following sources are aimed towards the art-style I will be trying to go for.

Firewatch #7

In this screenshot of fire watch the soft lighting and god rays really appeal to me. The way the light beams come through the tree leaves and add a sense of warmth to the scene is something I would like to achieve in my game.

Image Source

ABZU #8

This picture of the water and sky in the game abzu, the cartoony style of the clouds really looks nice in my opinion and the way the water reflects the scene while keeping the detail of the waveforms in water. The vibrant colours also attract my attention.

Image Source

WoodBound #9

This picture is of the game woodbound, ive been following it for a while now and the art direction the game has taken looks great. The use of vibrant colours and the soft lighting combined with a cartoony style is what I am going to be trying to aim for with my game.

Image Source

Loz Breath of the Wild #10

The final picture I have is of LoZ : Breath of the Wild, it uses the same kind of vibrant colours im looking to recreate however it uses models that have a lot more detail when it comes to the texturing. In this picture what I really admire is the landscape, there is a lot of variation in the area. In the foreground there is flat plains then the middle ground has mountainous terrain with a cliff looking area then the background higher plains. The distinguished landscape is something I would like to include in my game.

Image Source

[kenlaufutureworks]

It’s great that you’ve collected a lot of visual reference here on your Tumblr. It would be useful to collate the images onto a single sheet and annote the images with your thoughts and analysis. 

Would also be useful to create some simple props or scenes to see if you can create the visuals that you are referencing.

Are there any other sources for visual reference other than games? 

[ryandasilvahonours]

Prototype 1 Mood board

Showing different concepts, designs and textures that could be used/inspired from.

http://pin.it/2INjYEQ

[kenlaufutureworks]

Hi Ryan, let’s see more research and analysis on your Tumblr. I like that you have created a Pinterest Board for your visual research. But it would be useful for you to create visual research sheets with your annotated notes on - describing your analysis. You can annotate what you like, what you think is particularly well modelled etc. You can research artists and really go a lot more in depth than you are doing at the moment.

[adamhemsleyfwxb3992-blog]

A quick concept piece for the honours project. While The Witness (player character) is not seen within the game, as it is played from a first person perspective,I felt it was important to get a feel for her and how she moves within the world.

[kenlaufutureworks]

What’s the significance of the three eyes? Also - if you are painting digitally - do you want a challenge? If you do, try painting the whole image and not use photo manipulation for the texturing or even the line tools.