HR Giger / Alien inspired scene - UDK
polycounter lvl 12
Hey everybody!
So, I've decided to go from working on characters (specifically cartoony ones which I've been doing for years) and other random stuff to moving into environments. I've got the bug and found myself thinking about them all the time. I have no experience of creating environments in a game engine. I am also brand new to UDK and have been running through some tutorials. The one area I still need to get to know is UDK materials - will pick up the Eat 3D DVD/3D Motive stuff for that. So lots of new stuff for me.
I have a Giger book and thought some of his more abstract, repetitive and mechanical paintings would make a great basis for something sci-fi - hey it worked for Alien. So I think this is going to get some influence from the Alien films, definitely because I didn't want to do anything too ambitious for my first project, so it's getting that Alien cramped corridor vibe.
This is my rough blockout and composition in Max:
I want to give it a very dark atmosphere and a sense that something could be lurking in the shafts above the players head.
I've scanned in and cut out some parts I liked from the Giger book. Using this as reference for detailing the walls/panels/whatever:
And this is my progress on some high poly parts. I'm just creating and experimenting with segments that are repeatable that I will later put together:
I kind of want to stay away from some of the more decorative and organic "Alien body" type parts. But some of the parts are kind of looking like that. I want to go a bit more mechanical.
So, I've decided to go from working on characters (specifically cartoony ones which I've been doing for years) and other random stuff to moving into environments. I've got the bug and found myself thinking about them all the time. I have no experience of creating environments in a game engine. I am also brand new to UDK and have been running through some tutorials. The one area I still need to get to know is UDK materials - will pick up the Eat 3D DVD/3D Motive stuff for that. So lots of new stuff for me.
I have a Giger book and thought some of his more abstract, repetitive and mechanical paintings would make a great basis for something sci-fi - hey it worked for Alien. So I think this is going to get some influence from the Alien films, definitely because I didn't want to do anything too ambitious for my first project, so it's getting that Alien cramped corridor vibe.
This is my rough blockout and composition in Max:
I want to give it a very dark atmosphere and a sense that something could be lurking in the shafts above the players head.
I've scanned in and cut out some parts I liked from the Giger book. Using this as reference for detailing the walls/panels/whatever:
And this is my progress on some high poly parts. I'm just creating and experimenting with segments that are repeatable that I will later put together:
I kind of want to stay away from some of the more decorative and organic "Alien body" type parts. But some of the parts are kind of looking like that. I want to go a bit more mechanical.
Replies
Sweet man! As in an Aliens game? I didn't know there was a game in production.
Getting a bit more done on this over the next couple days. Will post an update then.
Theres two. Aliens Colonial Marines which i think Joshua Stubbles is working on. And an Alien game by the Creative Assembly, set in the universe of the first film.
Does look good. Will be following this!
I'm tagging this as I love Giger. Looking forward to what you do.
Yeah I see what you are saying. I've done quick symmetric corner parts just to see what they look like and how they could be used. I think you're right that curved corners would look better.
Any opinions on whether to take these into a sculpting app to add rust, damage or wear? Or just keep them clean? I'm trying to be weary of any un-noticeable detail that could be lost when baked down. Can always add those details in the texture.
If you look at your reference, does it look rusty to you? Seems to me that most of your texture level detail should be coming from grunge and your specular texture..
Also some strong AO and directional shadowing will help make this pop like the ref.
*Sees that you're influenced by Giger*
*Sees phallic shapes in texture mood board*
Good! carry on!
Thread subbed!
Yep sounds right. I think the specular will be crucial for trying to get things to pop. I will probably get some grunge in the crevices to darken and remove spec highlight. Then give the more extruded sections that shine to give a nice contrast.
Heh!
Thanks for the encouragement guys! Hopefully I'm on the right track with this one.
moar penises and skulls though.
penis skulls?
And i agree with marks, doesn't need to be damaged. What's going to sell it is the sheen and slimey feeling alien environments are like.
Max's AO in the nitrous realistic mode giving a nice feel for the shapes.
Still need to tidy up some of the parts on this. Max is crashing often with all these polys and my pathetic 4GB of RAM. Having to be a bit clever with scene management.
Slow going with work and other stuff getting in the way.....
Dude, just gotta say yours is great. Maybe not hitting the Giger look but I think yours has a nice mix of Aliens and something like Mass Effect. Your incredibly well detailed ship is also a favorite of mine. Fantastic work.
Anyway, finally have something to show. It's been very slow as there's so many high poly detailed parts to arrange (not to mention work and the wife getting in the way).
So the inner wall is baked out and I have it in UDK.
Just a flat colour with AO and a temp blotchy spec (texturing will come once I've got everything in place). Temp lighting as well of course. The blank area will have large pipes coming out of it.
Wires:
Looking at the scale of this wall I think I'm going to have to enlarge the humans scale and also make the ceiling a bit higher.
I also need to watch out for too much high frequency detail. Maybe need to tone that down a bit with some of the other parts (although I need it for the Giger style).
You might be able to work with the high frequency detail everywhere with it being geiger, and if you're clever with your lighting.
I'm currently working on the Space Jockey and plan modeling the environment. Looking at these images is very inspirational and motivates me even more to start some environmental stuff once I'm done with the low poly model.
Been working on the floor. These are repeatable floor segments.
High poly:
Low poly:
And in the scene:
(still all with a basic temp AO+color and blotchy spec map)
Still some touching up and fixes to do, but does anyone know why after baking the lighting I'm getting a duplicated half getting darker shading? You can see it with that segment at the bottom.
The other thing that I'd offer is that aside from straight edges, there's a lot of perfect 90 degree curves and turns in the borders of various pieces, as well as pure verticals and horizontals.
Giger loves organic, varied angles and irregular sweeping curves. Incorporating some of that will really make this pop.
Anyone know why I've got that light baking seam at the bottom where I've duplicated and rotated the other half of the segment (it's darker for some reason)?