Lunar Industries - Sarang Base [Game Environment - From Start To Finish]
After watching the film Moon, (Great movie btw, definitely check it out if you haven't done so already!) I have decided to take it upon myself to create a mini-environment from the film as a strong portfolio piece. I plan on using the UDK engine to implement the scene.
I've wanted to make a sci-fi environment for awhile now, but so many people are doing the sci-fi metal type environments, so I decided to do something with a bit of a different feel. I really enjoyed the clean crisp look of Mirror's Edge, and wanted to do something similar to that as well and figured that this would kind of be reminiscent because of the lack of grunge.
I also picked this piece because I know that in order to make it look really good, I will have to work on the lighting... a lot. And it has been something I've wanted to improve for a long while now. So when the time comes for me to light this scene I would definitely appreciate some help!
I will be posting plenty of WIP pics and will be looking for all kinds of critiques/suggestions on anything and everything, throughout the entire time it takes me to finish this piece.
Inspiration/Concept:
I have decided to use these 2 concepts as my goal for the 2 end beauty shots, but this may change in time.
Shot #1:
Shot #2:
I'm using these 2 because of the fact that they go well together. The tunnel from Shot #1 will lead to the door found in Shot #2.
I may not end up going with an exact 1:1 representation of the shots, but want it pretty close, and may end up adding a prop or too from elsewhere in the base to try and balance out the scene a bit more.
Plan of Attack:
- Low Poly block out to get size and scale of environment
- High Poly pass
- Tweak Low Poly and layout UV's
- Baking High to Low where necessary
- Texturing
- Importing and setting up in UDK
- Lighting
- Look over and fix up environment to get final beauty shots.
3D/2D Asset Breakdown:
- GERTY (the robot)
- Wall Pieces (approx. 5) + Segment Connector
- Floor Pieces (approx. 3)
- Door
- Tunnel Pads
- Digital Sign
- Ladder
- Misc. Boxes on Wall
- Black compost box
- Fluorescent Lights in Tunnel
- Signs, Stickers, and Grunge Decals
Wanting to learn and try:
- Creating a single 512 or 1024 wall texture for use on multiple wall meshes.
- Using a second UV map for the Ambient Occlusion on wall meshes as well as figuring out how to create this material in UDK.
- Trying out Lightmass and AO in UDK for first time.
- Using Decals for:
--- Creating multiple grunge textures to show that the interior has been used and is not brand spankin' new, as well as to break up all the whiteness.
--- The floor pieces. Have never used normal mapped decals before, but think it should work.
--- All of the signs and stickers throughout the environment.
- Proper Lighting techniques.
Moodboard:
End Goal:
- Actually finish a portfolio-worthy piece. Will need encouragement to keep chugging along i'm sure!
- Strong Environment Portfolio piece with 2 beauty renders.
- Strong Prop Portfolio Piece (GERTY).
- Gaining more knowledge!
- Receive plenty of constructive criticism and use it to help make the environment as best I can.
* Thank you to Gavin Rothery for all of his work on Moon, and for all of the reference pictures! Also, thanks to Clint Mansell who's music for the movie will be constantly playing while I work on this piece!
I've wanted to make a sci-fi environment for awhile now, but so many people are doing the sci-fi metal type environments, so I decided to do something with a bit of a different feel. I really enjoyed the clean crisp look of Mirror's Edge, and wanted to do something similar to that as well and figured that this would kind of be reminiscent because of the lack of grunge.
I also picked this piece because I know that in order to make it look really good, I will have to work on the lighting... a lot. And it has been something I've wanted to improve for a long while now. So when the time comes for me to light this scene I would definitely appreciate some help!
I will be posting plenty of WIP pics and will be looking for all kinds of critiques/suggestions on anything and everything, throughout the entire time it takes me to finish this piece.
Inspiration/Concept:
I have decided to use these 2 concepts as my goal for the 2 end beauty shots, but this may change in time.
Shot #1:
Shot #2:
I'm using these 2 because of the fact that they go well together. The tunnel from Shot #1 will lead to the door found in Shot #2.
I may not end up going with an exact 1:1 representation of the shots, but want it pretty close, and may end up adding a prop or too from elsewhere in the base to try and balance out the scene a bit more.
Plan of Attack:
- Low Poly block out to get size and scale of environment
- High Poly pass
- Tweak Low Poly and layout UV's
- Baking High to Low where necessary
- Texturing
- Importing and setting up in UDK
- Lighting
- Look over and fix up environment to get final beauty shots.
3D/2D Asset Breakdown:
- GERTY (the robot)
- Wall Pieces (approx. 5) + Segment Connector
- Floor Pieces (approx. 3)
- Door
- Tunnel Pads
- Digital Sign
- Ladder
- Misc. Boxes on Wall
- Black compost box
- Fluorescent Lights in Tunnel
- Signs, Stickers, and Grunge Decals
Wanting to learn and try:
- Creating a single 512 or 1024 wall texture for use on multiple wall meshes.
- Using a second UV map for the Ambient Occlusion on wall meshes as well as figuring out how to create this material in UDK.
- Trying out Lightmass and AO in UDK for first time.
- Using Decals for:
--- Creating multiple grunge textures to show that the interior has been used and is not brand spankin' new, as well as to break up all the whiteness.
--- The floor pieces. Have never used normal mapped decals before, but think it should work.
--- All of the signs and stickers throughout the environment.
- Proper Lighting techniques.
Moodboard:
End Goal:
- Actually finish a portfolio-worthy piece. Will need encouragement to keep chugging along i'm sure!
- Strong Environment Portfolio piece with 2 beauty renders.
- Strong Prop Portfolio Piece (GERTY).
- Gaining more knowledge!
- Receive plenty of constructive criticism and use it to help make the environment as best I can.
* Thank you to Gavin Rothery for all of his work on Moon, and for all of the reference pictures! Also, thanks to Clint Mansell who's music for the movie will be constantly playing while I work on this piece!
Replies
All the props and stuff look really doable,if I can give you on big hint, it would be to keep everything clean (watch out with the grunge you're mentioning) and focus on having the lighting make things interesting. With Lightmass there's definitely a possibility to get this to look great.
edit: oh and do it modular, that way you can easily build an entire base (i would LOVE to walk around in that).
ScoobyDoofus: Yah I too have many things started but not finished, i'm hoping with some pushes here and there i'll be able to complete this one!
Xoliul: Thanks for the tip! I plan on having it quite clean, the grunge I was talking about would be extremely low opacity and be on the floor, some bottom edges and stuff like that, but i'm not turning this into a grunged up version that is for sure!
I haven't fooled around with lightmass yet but will when I get to that stage. Any tuts or anything of the like linked to now will definitely be looked at!
Thought about doing a similar environment but never came about.
Good luck!
The texturing won't be too hard since this is all white and clean stuff. Work with cool reflections!
I thought I would post this up now because I will be gone for this weekend for Easter, and I won't be able to work on it til early next week.
But i'd say it's coming along nicely so far. Any suggestions to the blockout thus far?
Here's the updated blockout and I've started working on some textures. Want to get a good chunk of that done before I bring it into UDK.
Dammit.
But anyways, off to do some more low poly building and texturing, will post another update probably later today.