Game engine Wires and groups of wires - How?

Mossbros

So I've done some browsing on the forums to try and find an answer to this but so far I've only gone around in a giant circle to find my self in the same position. Nowhere.

Here's a few of my main concerns when it comes to the crunch.

So the question is, how do you create wires and groups of wires for a game environment?

Should I embed it into the texture sheet, or make them a separate entity?

How would I go about unwrapping multiple wires without making a mess on my UV sheet?

How should I set up the scene to get the wires looking smooth with/without the use of normals?

Could & should this be done with decals?

I know it seems a lot to answer but those are the main questions I've had, if not for me but for others to can someone please explain on how to go about this. I've been wrapping my head around how to do this for a while and every attempt has been a failure Thanks!


PS this is more to do with wires that are pinned against the walls rather than swinging wires, but if someone could elaborate on how to do both it would be EXTREMELY helpful.

timotronprime

Mossbros wrote: »

do you create wires and groups of wires for a game environment?

Mossbros wrote: »

Should I embed it into the texture sheet, or make them a separate entity?

There are multiple ways depending on what is appropriate for their purposes. Modeling them out, using plane strips, baking them onto the mesh itself etc.

Mossbros wrote: »

How would I go about unwrapping multiple wires without making a mess on my UV sheet?

What kind of 'mess' are you getting? They only get as complicated as cylinders can get right?

Mossbros wrote: »

How should I set up the scene to get the wires looking smooth with/without the use of normals?

I'm assuming you mean without using a normal map texture. You can add more geo for the u span (or is it v span?) or soften the normals depending on how it's done.

Mossbros wrote: »

Could & should this be done with decals?

It could. Should it? depends on what you're using it for.


It would help if you post images to be more specific on what you're trying to achieve.

Mossbros

Sorry, It's more a problem of how I've been (avoiding) it as whenever I attempt it, it's a poor attempt.

This is the scene I'm currently working with, No wires at the moment within engine, but the wires in max are as basic as can be, a square.

(This is my first environment, so please any CONSTRUCTIVE feedback would be awesome)


Cryengine Scene



Concept


3DS max atm

Mossbros

Specifically this kind of area, but I'm assuming the rule can be applied to most wires

timotronprime

These aren't really wires but more of electrical piping so I would model them in segments.

Mossbros

timotronprime wrote: »

These aren't really wires but more of electrical piping so I would model them in segments.

I don't want to sound depreciative of your advice, but what do you mean by segments?
Like how I've done it?

timotronprime

For example:
- long straight piece
- short straight piece
- L-shape piece
- S-shape piece
- corner-piece
- power box connection piece
etc

So you can model/texture a few modular pieces and then build them all in-engine.

Doing what you have right now isn't wrong. I'm just suggesting another approach.

Mossbros

timotronprime wrote: »

For example:
- long straight piece
- short straight piece
- L-shape piece
- S-shape piece
- corner-piece
- power box connection piece
etc

So you can model/texture a few modular pieces and then build them all in-engine.

Doing what you have right now isn't wrong. I'm just suggesting another approach.

Alright thanks man,