Environment Artist... getting started

Talbot

So I have been working in 3ds max a little for the past couple years... but from how good I am you could say that I have only been working in it for a couple months. I'm trying to do more environment work this summer, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should do. I went into the summer thinking I was going to make a map in the Crysis editor. I started a map and was only working in the editor and I felt fine. But then I found this website... and from the looks of the absolutely amazing things I've seen, I should be making everything in 3ds max... am I wrong??? At one point I was working on a Halo 2 Vista map in 3ds max that I was going to transfer into that editor but besides halo... but I really don't know how I would make something in 3ds max and transfer it into any other game. You may think that I'm asking how I should transfer models that I do into 3ds max, but really I'm not even at that point. What should I do? Should I just make an environment in 3ds max and keep that way? Maybe make something in 3ds max then transfer it into a game (if so how?)? Or should I just strictly make something in a map editor? Also if you get around to it in your reply I would love to hear an easy environment that I should start on that maybe even you started with.

Thank you!
Talbot

And thanks for listening to a such a beginner as I am...

Jeremy Lindstrom

have a look here:

http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=53002

for starters you can make it in what ever 3d program you are comfortable with, myself I've used maya for a few years and am teaching myself max because it seems to be more widespread.

There are many tuts out there about getting your models into whatever game engine you're looking into. Unreal 3 comes with the editor and teh collectors edition comes with a second dvd with a bunch of movie tutorials.

Just remember the map editor u can make things from brushes, etc but you'll need to import models for more dynamic looking atmosphere usually.

Take a look around, that link above is what I gathered around when I was looking for some information.

Ryno

Making an entire level is a very ambitious undertaking. I'd suggest making a very small environment, or a building or something like that. A nice little art test that we sometimes have people do is to make the exterior model of the house that they live in. Try to do that in under 3000 triangles, with diffuse, specular, and normal maps.

If that's too ambitios for you, make a mailbox, a garbage dumpster, or some similar type of prop.