Where games are these days?
polycounter lvl 15
I really hope this hasn't already recently been discussed... but i had sort of a realization today that is really disappointing for some people (like me!).
So, I graduated last year with a bfa in 3d modeling. Most of my learning was in low poly modeling and texturing. Since I've graduated I've had one full time job (that I was just laid-off from unfortunately due to the fact that the game wasn't bringing in enough money for the whole company...). That job was for a facebook game called "PopSugar's Retail Therapy." I did 3d models for that game, which was awesome for me, but I was always a little confused about why we didn't just go with 2d vector like almost everyone else. I guess it was just to be a little different though, which was cool.
Anyway, where I'm getting at is it seems like these days low-poly 3d is almost obsolete. Most facebook/phone games are flash now, and console/pc games are all high poly (8000+ tris), normal mapped and really high quality... there's barely a place for low poly modeling (when i say low poly, i mean less than 1000 tris or something around there). It really sucks, cause in school i never even learned normal mapping. I'm actually really surprised my teachers didn't get into that, I like I said I just graduated last year... Anyway, I just want to start a conversation about this and see what other people think?
So, I graduated last year with a bfa in 3d modeling. Most of my learning was in low poly modeling and texturing. Since I've graduated I've had one full time job (that I was just laid-off from unfortunately due to the fact that the game wasn't bringing in enough money for the whole company...). That job was for a facebook game called "PopSugar's Retail Therapy." I did 3d models for that game, which was awesome for me, but I was always a little confused about why we didn't just go with 2d vector like almost everyone else. I guess it was just to be a little different though, which was cool.
Anyway, where I'm getting at is it seems like these days low-poly 3d is almost obsolete. Most facebook/phone games are flash now, and console/pc games are all high poly (8000+ tris), normal mapped and really high quality... there's barely a place for low poly modeling (when i say low poly, i mean less than 1000 tris or something around there). It really sucks, cause in school i never even learned normal mapping. I'm actually really surprised my teachers didn't get into that, I like I said I just graduated last year... Anyway, I just want to start a conversation about this and see what other people think?
Replies
That said I don't think diffuse painted styles will ever go away, they'll just have more geometry.
most people who get a 3d degree get jacked... best you can do is stay motivated and teach yourself. Luckily you are on the single best site in the universe for that.
It does seem like iphone apps are the only way to go for what i learned in school. But those can still be really hard to get into. I also see a lot of those companies looking for 2d people more than 3d
I did all my learning from Riki and his DVD's at Eat3d.com
(Not a paid spokesman)
Where I work we focus a lot on handheld...and even then we're doing a lot of normal mapping.
You should like...learn it. It's not that hard....well, SubD modeling is challenging, but it's fun if you think of it as a puzzle and try to figure out where your loops should go.
I do understand your frustration though, about school not teaching you...If I could go back I wouldn't have gone to school and just bought some DVD's from Riki at Eat3D. (not a paid spokesman)
Looking at your portfolio. I'm not sure if you're a character artist or an environment artist, or if you do mainly do 2d or 3d?
cougheat3d.comcough
tutorials/dvds are the way to go. actually now that i think of it, i wonder where i would be if i wouldn't have gone to college... i learned a lot just doing tutorials a year before i started school.
Yeah these days a lot of people are working backwards. In my case I started off as a 2D guy but then made the transition over to ZBrush and picked that up. I only had experience making abstract 3D wallpapers in Max but I started learning how to poly model in Maya to help with my sculpting basemeshes. Now I'm going back to the roots and learning low poly stuff and hand painting techniques. It's pretty ass backwards but it's definitely essential if you want to be a good game artist that can complete a variety of styles and within certain technical limitations that still hold up today for various platforms.
Just like any artist and other crafts, the day you stop learning is the day where somebody is going to take your job and do it either faster and/or better.
Flash is also starting to become an MMO and multiplayer gaming platform. Even I'm moving into multiplayer Flash games now, albiet 2.5D at first.
You just have to move with the technology...You don't really see people making pixel art much anymore, for example.
While you can certainly still find platforms that embrace low poly work, you will need to move along with technology. Any industry like ours will routinely shake up everything with emerging technology.
It sucks that your school didn't teach you much for current gen type work. My school's curriculum was balls too. There's plenty of resources on the internet though to help you out.
What a weird name
But you have to admit, how do people expect these type of games to sell well? They're basically just mini games sold as full games. The trouble is they don't know this market at all, I'd set them straight!
Anyway I hope you land on your feet, always a shame to lose your first job
Hah, Allods was a great game. Stunning visuals too...
Too bad they had a disastrous FTP model.