TopDownGame Exercise

Rhoutermans

Hi all,

I've been thinking a lot about creating my own top down game for a while now.The focus of this project is the art-side of the game. Meaning I will force myself to create and design;

- A Player Character
- At least three Enemy types
- Weapons
- Pickups
- A vehicle or two
- One playable Environment
- Materials/Shaders
- Particles

The gameplay will be pretty basic. I've been able to do some testing in UDK, mainly 'borrowing' UDK's scripts to create my own camera,characters and weapons.

This prototype was made in a week, pretty simple but it shows what I'd like the game to be. Also I have no talent for coding, to me it'll just be an interactive piece for my portfolio art.

(Audio might be a bit LOUD) Video shows default UT weapons modified, and some 'vehicle type boss' at the end.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNLyA9OHMjU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNLyA9OHMjU[/ame]

I'll mostly be working on this next to my job so I want to use this thread as a motivator for myself, and from all ur feedback ofcourse.

Theme / Art style.
I have just began thinking about what direction I'd like to go. I'm a fan of the Mad Max movies, post apocalyptic stuff. I really want to go that direction but in a different timeline and possibly an alternative universe (So no leather spandex outfits).

Timeline.
I was thinking about going 1910-1930 but in an alternative timeline, hovering vehicles/trams stuff like that. But first, more reference/research.



updates#

XenoKratios

Hey I love the work on your website, so I think this is going to turn out well man!

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get that old looking mad max bike, the one in the top right corner of your mood board?

Rhoutermans

I just googled image results for "mad max bike" , you'll get similar bikes.
Can't really find the original one from the moodboard ><

edit *

found it

http://motobratva.com/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=2271

Rhoutermans

right, some ref on the first item; (most likely) a player character;



And a first sketch using my ..ehm.. drawing skills ;D



I want to do a second version of this tomorrow and then most likely a quick blockout before it all goes to Zbrush. Please feel free to add any feedback

Rhoutermans

first up, the welding mask;

Rhoutermans

zbrushed, still a few more touches and on to a first baking test

Rhoutermans

A start on the texture

Rhoutermans

Reworked the specular;

Rhoutermans

lunchbreak update; just the straps left now

Rhoutermans

Got some material help from a friend

probably a bit overkill but I'm a bit more happy with how it looks now, starting on the character itself next.



texture sheets;

Lazerus Reborn

Looks brilliant, nice texture pack too.

Looking forward to how you push the art for this.

Rhoutermans

Working on the base, ready soon to put some armor..
Gloves and boots later so I can sculpt em in a different Subtool (feel like that's gonna be the hardest part for me)

I'm no character artist so any advice on anatomy is veeery welcome :



Thanks in advance!

Lazerus Reborn

Look through these images for references;

http://www.posemaniacs.com/thirtysecond

Check the wiki for base meshes to see what proportions you should aim for.

Rhoutermans

Thanks Lazerus, that'll help me out a lot.

#moreWIP

Rhoutermans

Going too slow but here's a small update;

Rhoutermans

Rhoutermans

some highpoly practise , a pretty famous concept.. might finish this one;

Rhoutermans

Getting ready for some high poly detailing , bolts n stuff. Any feedback would be great

Groove619

Awesome!

Rhoutermans

@ Groove619 : Thanks!


Some more detailing and bolts. Also hoping to get this AO looking right

Rhoutermans

Low poly @ UDK (Diffuse AO & Normal), 5k tris:



Starting the texture 2night/2morrow

*edit* And a color blockout..

Rhoutermans

working on a prop, not the actual projectile that the rocketlauncher will use.



And the ref I used. Pretty tough to get the texture to look right, some more tweaking tomorrow.



v2, fixed specular:

Rhoutermans

Environment wallpiece 1:





Ref:

Rhoutermans

worked on the first texture, and added some ceiling pipes

Rhoutermans

Tobbo

Looks great so far! Looking forward to seeing more.

AlanSMitchell

OMG army of 2 lol. good job

Rhoutermans

Thanks guys Added a dom.dir light instead of the point light. Gonna like this a bit more, can't wait to finish texturing this weekend and adding dirt/grunge and smaller props and decals

Snader

I take it this isn't "topdown" anymore?

Rhoutermans

Snader: it is A friend of mine will help me script and he suggested it'd be fun to switch between top down and side scroller as you progress through a level. If he can get it done and it's actually fun I figured, why not So now I can just do a proper level that'll hopefully fit my portfolio as well. It will require some more planning but even if it all fails, this project is still a way to motivate me to keep working on my art skills.

Rhoutermans

working on more lighting and the first diffuse texture pass..still got a lot of work to do Any feedback is appreciated:

alexdubbeat

Looks promising.Probably i`ll subscribe to this.

Rhoutermans

Thanks alexdubbeat

added more diffuse textures..

change 1 small lightmass setting -> rebuild x100...

Rhoutermans

dirty textures/ adding some decals;



edit;
changed some lighting/ added decals



Next up adding dirt/ small parts of debris to the floor

edit2;

Another lighting change..

Rhoutermans

Couple days off, time to add some props: