Low poly clothing?

ssurfy

I'm interested in learning how clothing is done in gaming.
Can anyone recommend a good method of creating low poly clothing?

Also what are the best tools to use? Are Zbrush or Mudbox recommended?

Should most the detail be left to the texturing?

Want to try create something along the lines of these:

Neox

how lowpoly? what platform, what type of game?

ssurfy

Trying to stick around 6k poly for the character, leading to PC, maybe Xbox or PS3 etc?

Mark Dygert

Using normal maps or just diffuse texturing?

Suggestions: Study cloth folds as they hang on people, not hangers.

Enlighter

pc/mac (xbox/ps3 is a dream right now)

Richard Kain

Your modeling should capture the volume of the clothing. But all of the detail should be in the normal mapping and texturing. Remember not to crinkle and fold the clothing all over. Any areas that would likely be tighter or pressed close to the character's body aren't going to have any creases, they'll be pulled flat. Usually most clothes tend not to crease across the shoulders or across the chest. Remember that where the clothes are looser you are going to get gentle curves and folds. Where the clothing is tighter, or bunced up, you are going to get harder, sharper creases. (armpit, inside of elbow, crotch area, etc...)

With a little practice, you should get pretty used to sculpting and texturing clothing. The real challenge of clothing on in-game models is the animation.