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So I've started work on a small environment roughly inspired by the architecture and villages on the Greek island Santorini. I intend the focus to be on a quaint hotel/resort style building, and I intend for there to be a few other structures surrounding it.
Here's a VERY rough sketch i used to help with the blockout. I probably should have spent more time on the concept sketch, but I feel it's a bit too late to go back and do it now. Since it's so rough i'll try and explain what everything is.
Bottom level will be a sort of patio/lounge area with a few tables covered by umbrellas. There's a shaded area, and though the archway by the patio, a door to the interior (most likely a kitchen or staff's quarters). In the corner by the stairs will be a little garden area with a fountain and various foliage.
Second story is what was changed the most from concept to reality, I liked the windmill on the 3rd story with the tower a lot more, so now the second story is a bit bare... I'm thinking maybe either an outdoor bar on the stair side and a few entrances to rooms for the guests.
Top story features a windmill (The big dome shaped building, have to do the detail of the sail things still), a giant tower, and another patio/Garden area.
ANYWAYS here's what I have so far, just a basic block out in udk. Having a bit of trouble with lightmaps in some areas, I don't really know of an easy way to fix them, so I'm definitely open to suggestions. Perhaps once it's textured the mistakes will be less noticeable, but a less painful way of doing them would be great to know.
This is only my 2nd attempt at an environment in UDK, and the first was a group project for school, so I'm kinda learning some things as I go... Please be patient with my lack of technical know-how and talk veeeeery slowly. lol
Oh, and feel free to offer suggestions, videos, tutorials, or anything else! Many thanks~
Replies
Added a bunch more detail to the windmill, having issues with the lightmap of the archway around the door, Ill probably fiddle with it a bit more and see if i can get it working right.
Also began texturing a bit, let me know if I could make any improvements. (I plan on vertex painting dirt/moss on the tile and wall, just havent gotten to that part yet)
I love the rock floors, you see that a lot in Greece.
I also really liked that you had that swinging feeling to the steps in the concept.
The Aegean islands saw Turkish and Venetian occupation and so you can find a lot of curvy middle eastern architecture as a result.
If you could reintroduce that into your model I think it would look great.
I'm not so sure about the table/chair ensemble however. If your going for a very upscale type of resort they're too classic and if you go for a Greek 'kafeneion' (coffee house) look they are not classic enough.
Take a look at these:
http://www.trapezomania.gr/images/ProdPics/00309.JPG
http://94.246.113.66/images/images/60/6067916725.jpg
http://images02.olx.gr/ui/20/06/44/1335736467_253430244_8
.jpg
The chair on the left on that last one would be seen more in the upscale type resort whereas the first is very traditional.
Also don't be afraid to add color.
The Greek sun is very strong and will bleach everything out so the culture around that chose bright colors for contrast (hint: lots of blue)
http://www.wildernesstravel.com/images/trips/europe/greece/greek_isles-fototeca-johanna-huber-541695-pano.jpg
http://www.refashion.ru/img/arts/st_4348_3b.jpg
http://img0.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/c/2//69/739/69739848_0707_greece_santorini.jpg
Lastly that space would probably also be used for parties.
It is very common in Greece to have some jury rigged for of entertainment system:
http://www.athensminibus.com/eikones/plaka.jpg
Us Greeks love our tacky lights
You're off to a great start, Rock On!
After texturing the chair I started to kinda see what you were getting at Nomad, so there's a good chance I might end up redoing it. I like the idea of a party/entertainment center on the second floor too, I'll start working on how to incorporate that into my scene.
Textured a few more things, trying to get a good balance of color (which is proving difficult with so much white!) Thinking about changing the tower at the top, a little stuck on what do do with it... So I'm open to suggestions there.
I think I'll also start doing a bit more ivy and perhaps some potted plants to add some more color and detail in the scene.
still not finished texturing everything, but I'm getting there...
Really like it otherwise!
And another thing that is a little strange is why the resort would have a windmill?
Otherwise then that it is great!
Kar-re- Thanks! I didnt want to mess with the lighting too much before I built my own skybox, but It definitely looks so much better now. I could probably go further with the contrast, but I dont want to overdo it too much. What do you think?
Still gotta work on the entrance and the second story here... Im kinda all over the place do bare with me... lol
I think I'm ready to call this done... any last minute adjustment/suggestions?
I got a suggestion to show it lit up at night as well as day so I can show off both the details and the cool lighting. Let me know what you think.
Oh and the site doesn't exist on the internet yet, so dont bother trying to find it. x)
On a related note, the sea should be almost black, with only a faint reflection of the moon.
Unless it's diffused by moisture, the moon's texture should be very apparent.
You might want to give the shadows a faint blue tint.