First full environnement creation, how to get started?

HashBrownHamish

Hello everyone,

I've been modelling props for a while now and i wanted to attack my first environnement scene. So i wanted to get information on how to start doing environnements.
What should i aim for with my first scene ? Will taking on an outdoor environnement be too challenging at first ?

For example i was aiming to do this bridge and some of the flora around it (trees, grass ..). Also the river running through it.


Where can i get some good tutorials to learn how to model terrain and use unreal engine ?

Eric Chadwick

Moved your thread from GD to TT.

Best place to start is the engine docs
https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/Engine/Content/QuickStart/index.html

Also we have good resources here on our wiki
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Modular_environments
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Foliage
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Landscape

HashBrownHamish

Ok thank you ^^ Yes i didn't know which sub forum was more appropriate

inMemory

Usually what I would recommend first is block everything out, especially the shapes, proportions, etc. Think of it as passes, you start with a rough one and then start adding detail with each pass. One thing that sometimes beginners can struggle with is the "overwhelming feeling" of doing or working towards a complete piece. So starting from Macro to Micro helps you to keep you focused and the task at hand in perspective. 

And above all, just do it! Regardless if you're going to nail it in the end or not, because you will always learn something in the process. 

Eric Chadwick

Yeah that's a good point about blockout. This is a good process:
http://www.bendarling.net/index.php?page=levels

yukonwanderer

Eric Chadwick said:

Yeah that's a good point about blockout. This is a good process:
http://www.bendarling.net/index.php?page=levels

So how do you go about becoming a level designer at a studio? Do you have to have levels in your portfolio or is it a position that comes only internally through promotion?

Eric Chadwick

Either way works. Usually though you have to show that you can... um... make levels.