Things to look out for while creating 3D Game Assets

Suraj_NM

My main concern is regarding intersecting geometry. Is intersecting geometry okay? It makes the modelling process really faster, but I am not sure if it will work in a game engine properly.

Another thing I'm confused from a long time is, when should I model a part of the asset as a separate object and when should I not?

My English is not that clear, let me know if you didn't understand my explanation.

Shrike

Intersecting geometry is no issue at all. Model things in one piece if you want smooth transitions, otherwise its rarely needed
Don't think too hard, you'll get a feel for it quickly 

Alex_J

The best thing I can recommend that I always recommend to beginners is to download some modkits from Epic Games and just look at professionally made game models. It will clear up so many misconceptiions. 

Also, browse around artstation and check out models with marmoset viewers. You can see what kind of topology other people are doing this way. 

If staring at topology is doing nothing for you because you don't know what to look for, that's a good indicator you lack fundamental knowledge about how 3d works, so in that case head over to the wiki on this site to get a good primer and links to further education.

Suraj_NM

BIGTIMEMASTER said:

The best thing I can recommend that I always recommend to beginners is to download some modkits from Epic Games and just look at professionally made game models. It will clear up so many misconceptiions. 

Also, browse around artstation and check out models with marmoset viewers. You can see what kind of topology other people are doing this way.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely do that.

Suraj_NM

Shrike said:

Intersecting geometry is no issue at all. Model things in one piece if you want smooth transitions, otherwise its rarely needed
Don't think too hard, you'll get a feel for it quickly 

Thanks a lot, this cleared one of my biggest misconceptions!

Steamy_Steve

It always depends on what you want to achieve and what your workflow includes.

I'm a beginner and one of my latest (personal) challenges was to sculpt a high-poly tree in ZBrush and then bake normals onto a Blender low-poly with lower branches showing no seams, thus being modeled as one piece with the trunk.
I found out this was one thing that (apparently) nobody ever tried and I couldn't find any reference/tutorial/example that would address certain issues for me.

In the end I managed to achieve what I had in mind with a fairly satisfying quality/polycount ratio.

Let me know if you still feel like discussing this topic could help you acquire some useful information, I'd be glad to share this specific experience of mines.