DataHive

ADayInForever · May 2012

This is my second serious project using UDK. It's called "DataHive".

I'd appreciate constructive feedback as I'm constantly looking for ways to improve this project. I value critiques because I'm struggling to make this a better and more visually appealing game for folks. UDK Optimization tricks, techniques, suggestions on lighting, postprocess, worldinfo settings, etc would be greatly appreciated!

And now without further ado:

Youtube Clip:
[ame="

DennisGlowacki · Jun 2012

Hmmmmmmm. This one has me thinking hard how to put this.

There are elements that make me think NICE. Parts that look really good.
Then there are parts that make me think Uhh... Needs some love.

I don't think I've seen an environment made by one person with this level of contradiction.

You have areas of low noise, areas of high noise. Areas of high texel density next to low.

That bee character is awesome.

I think this shows a good example of a lot of things jumbled up.
http://screencast.com/t/r8mRZd97

http://screencast.com/t/vbqh9IUX
I like these pillars

Here is an image i wrote some notes on.
http://screencast.com/t/GZ82U7xgj

Some of your compositions have a great feel but others are overwhelming because of how how much is in it and how everything is so abstract.

UDK Optimization tricks, techniques, suggestions on lighting, postprocess, worldinfo settings, etc

I can't really comment on optimizing unless I saw wires, textures, etc.

As for lighting, are you using lightmass? and have an importance volume?
What I see feels very monotone and looks like direct lighting and no shadowing?
Or maybe all the lighting is just blowing out all the shadows. (do you have lightmap uv's on everything?)

Post processing I would suggest trying a LUT, I would explain more but I think you should have a solid lighting pass before worrying about post processing.

world properties and etc:
http://www.chrisalbeluhn.com/UDK_Lightmass_Tutorial.html
I think this goes over a lot of great stuff.

Pancakes · Jun 2012

I like it a lot! I didn't see any action but the exploration part looks cool

ADayInForever · Jun 2012

@Pancakes:
There's no action in the last vid I made, but hopefully this will change your perception!

Full 360 AI Tour:
[ame="

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4YNsTrBKBw&hd=1"]DataHive - 6/17/2012 - Full 360 AI Tour - YouTube[/ame]

Also, I've got a new Beacon AI system implemented that uses neither UDK's built in pathnode system OR navmesh system (but can work within both latter mentioned systems, if need be). It's quite invigorating to not have to be bound so tightly to UDK's heavily native navpoints and navmesh systems.

And you can really see it in action, especially with DataNemesis' flight patterns here in this YT vid:
[ame="

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fIvxBHoUxM&hd=1"]Dynamic DataNemesis -- Beacon System - YouTube[/ame]

I'm still working through the AI of both enemies (the DataOctopus and the DataNemesis bees.). The DataNemesis will have both hand to hand and projectile attacks from its hands. So be ready for that in the next progress vid

.

@DennisGlowacki:
Thanks a lot for responding to my thread! It's great to finally get some feedback. I've since worked on the environment some (see YT link mentioned earlier in this post), having heard similar crits over texture frequencies from other sites. I'm not sure that I've been very successful in balancing texture frequency, even WITH my updates. Just sort of leaves me wondering what to do next, you know? I think I may have to just redo the entire room. I hate to tear down something in which I put a lot of time, but much of the hive interior I think is just becoming too problematic.

As for the hives in your second "split screen" capture: I have to agree. The diffuse textures are pretty bland. At the expense of trying to create a "clean" environment, I've sort of stumbled onto creating meshes that appear uninspired. Definitely leaves me wondering how to fix that.

I am using lightmass, yes. With global illumination and all that fun stuff. I have one dominant directional light that acts as a general scene illuminator, because otherwise I run into the issue of having to stick in hundreds of pointlights in a scene with many actors that are great distances apart. Thus leading to all kinds of headaches and irritation.

I also use lightmassimportancevolumes also. That's like the cardinal rule of lighting right there :P. If I didn't use that, believe me, I would probably be spending over an hour baking the light, rather than just 5 minutes like usual!

I've been struggling to make areas that are reasonably high contrast, with shadows that mean something, same as lights. But I believe in the end, I resorted to using DX11 features as a sort of a copout from really being able to make lightmass work for me. I often see some of the lighting environments from fellow UDK users on this forum, and I just can't help but ask "how do they do it?" Some people really just have an eye for this lighting stuff.

I'll take some screens really quick for lighting sections so you can see for yourself

lightmasssettings.pnghttp:

Take note that the screen is different from the video shown earlier in post because the PostProcess volume effects are not active in the editor.

In many cases, you see "U" in the pointlight instead of "S" because if I had allowed these point lights to cast shadows, the shadows would be cast in all of these really bizarre directions.... plus I was looking for more of an ambient lighting setup, rather than something quite literally drawn out.

Again, whatever feedback you might have, please provide it! Always good to hear a differing viewpoint from a fresh pair of eyes.

ADayInForever · Nov 2012

Hello again, I've updated DataHive taking into consideration a lot of the feedback that people have provided earlier in this thread.

@Pancakes: you said there was no action before, but I guarantee you'll see plenty of action in this latest update!

I hope you like.

BTW -- I am aware of the player character's animation looking quite rigid. I will be changing the protagonist's mesh and rig completely in a few weeks. And with this new updated character, I'll be using motion capture instead of hand keyed animation.

[ame="

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNPoMvINtc&hd=1"]DataHive - New FX and Hive Interior - YouTube[/ame]

ADayInForever · Aug 2013

Forgot to update my DataHive thread on Polycount. So here is my first update in a long while for this site. I hope you like it!

[ame="

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syppd_SUc2M&hd=1"]DataHive: 7/15/2013 - Cumulative Update - RESUBMIT - YouTube[/ame]

ADayInForever · Aug 2013

And here is my second update. DataHive now has a new climbing mechanic that works for static and moving actors. AND this mechanic also works in inverted gravity!

[ame="

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf2wosr30kc&hd=1"]DataHive: 8/22/2013 - Climbing [Static, Moving, Inverse Gravity] - YouTube[/ame]

You can watch the mechanic in action. If you're interested to see the inverted gravity mechanic, take a look at the second half of the video. You'll see the player has been flipped upside down and is still climbing.

Enjoy!

DataHive

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