Flagpost and dock for Unreal full conv mod.

Taylor Hood

Hey guys, I'm working in a UT3 full conversion mod. The project lead plans to go to a london game festival and show the demo.

My task is to create a dock with crates, flagpost and flag - with opacity masking.

So, I have almost finished the flag and just a few minutes ago I put it into my test map.
The concept below is a very rough sketch.



I'm going to create a small section of the bridge and then it will be tiled in the scene for the actual game.

praxedes

I like the concept design- should look cool. Not much to say about the pole- it looks nice enough, but it's...a pole. Once the flag is on it'll be a lot cooler!

Good luck!

~P~

Taylor Hood

Uh hu, thanks mate

Ben Apuna

This flag post, you got any photo ref or concept art for it? I'm just asking because to me right now it seems a bit too thick... or possibly too short. Right now it's looking more like a street pole in scale width wise, though there's not much in the scene to judge it against so I could be totally wrong :poly136:

If you're not already doing it, always check your scene and props against a character while you work to check the scale.

Taylor Hood

I see what you mean. All I was handed was that peice of concept there. You can sort of see the post in there but its pretty small. Luckily I have ut3 so I can scale and check out the scale in realtime. I'll try scaling it up. Lets just see how it all comes together.

Ben Apuna

Someone on your team should make a blockout map. That way all the scale issues are worked out and all you need to do is re-import/replace the blockout static meshes. Just keep the pivots in the same location and you should be all set.

Congrats on finding a team to work with btw, looks like you guys are past the planning stage

achillesian

can i join team!

Taylor Hood

Thanks Ben
We're have the basic idea down and we have a pretty proffesional game document which I was impressed by.
I think its full on asset building now. Yay.

Achillesian, you are looking for a ut3 mod team? I'll refer you to the project lead.

Wells

Ben - keep in mind this isn't a conventional flagpole, but really is more like a lamp-post with an arm coming off it to hang the flag.

that said, i think it could stand to be either a bit taller or thinner.

personally, i think the base could be more interesting than a simple cylinder. a lot of lamp-posts/poles have octagonal bases, which add a bit of visual flair. diggit:

Taylor Hood

Uh hu.
Well, I'm going to be doing many detailed assets later on. This flagpost asset is not going to be seen that much.

EbolaV

craaaates that pole Sectaurs posted looks nice. May i ask what setting or background that mod will be?

Taylor Hood

Ebola, the mod is going to be a full conversion fighting game mod I think. The lead said to me devil may cry style but he ment combo points and fighting. That sort of thing.

EbolaV

Sounds cool. Hope you guys can make it ^^

Taylor Hood

Thanks man. We actually only have till the end of october :S then I think he's going to take it, provided we can get it done, to the festival.

I'm really excited about the fact that we're gonna have our cinematic intros.

Taylor Hood

I've been in alot of game teams and non have even come close to asset implementation o.O Weird, right?

This guy has a Hons in game design or something. Hopefully he knows what he's doing I've reffered you Ach btw.

onionhead_o

can i join too?

Taylor Hood

Uhm I'll have to ask aswell.

Ben Apuna

@Sectaurs

Yup, that makes sense, good point.

Taylor Hood

An app is open for 3D Character artist!
Ya'll know I need a break in a good mod team so I've taken props and hardsurface!

Taylor Hood

Part of the bridge which will be cloned and such to form the dock.
(Light weakens normals in that shot)

cholden

I'm with Sectaurs on the flag pole. Even if it's not seen so much, and it does read a bit thick and tossed together. To me, it just doesn't cut it, more info on this in paragraph three.

Whats the work flow on the wood; Google "wood", put result in crazybump? Not that that's totally wrong. I mean, we all get it, wood equals brown and grain.

I have a feeling those docks are going to be more about the modeling itself than the material. As stated, it's wood so it either looks like wood or it doesn't. Your result looks like wood. One thing that's going to be imporant about conveying the docks is very plank must read. Make every plank have value, focus on silhouette and recognizable shapes.


Here's a few example images of what I mean. Each of which could be represented in a simply low poly mesh.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1189519100_56fd88abc1.jpg
http://image64.webshots.com/164/9/84/77/442098477xVuUKI_ph.jpg
http://media.photobucket.com/image/rickety%20docks/adekeijzer/A%20Foto%20Blog/LakeAtitlan.jpg
http://designsimply.com/gallery2/d/509-2/Dock_and_Sunset_5295.jpg
http://mythicmktg.fileburst.com/war/us/home/images/conceptart/WARca0207_03.jpg

Taylor Hood

Thanks Cholden.
Yeah, about the flag post. Its not even half done. I threw it in and didn't think of the scale.
Also, I've made the wood tileable (it wasnt in the screenshot above) do you know why in Unreal ed I cant ..its hard to explain but.. how I can't get the best of moving my mesh around? For example, I'm trying to make it tilable but it sort of snaps in the other object and when I push it out its too far. Yeah, thats the problem.