[WIP] Snowy Keep
polycounter lvl 8
Hey!
Backstory: I recently did a scene where I created an environment with the landscape feature in UDK (...in this thread). I've been interested in terrain and terrain generation for a long time so as vacation came up it was finally time for me to jump in! And I learnt a lot!
This time I want to make it a work in progress thread, my first one actually! So I can better document my progress and get feedback from you guys on the way. For the scene, instead of doing something new I figured I'd continue with the landscape and snow theme and try to iterate and improve upon my last attempt. I love iterating and finding out what comes out in the end. Here's a list of things I'd like to accomplish:
Currently I'm working on blocking out the main structure for the scene. I want the building to function as an oasis in the otherwise desolate landscape. The whole scene is cold and I want to counter that with a huge bonfire and light coming out of the structure.
Backstory: I recently did a scene where I created an environment with the landscape feature in UDK (...in this thread). I've been interested in terrain and terrain generation for a long time so as vacation came up it was finally time for me to jump in! And I learnt a lot!
This time I want to make it a work in progress thread, my first one actually! So I can better document my progress and get feedback from you guys on the way. For the scene, instead of doing something new I figured I'd continue with the landscape and snow theme and try to iterate and improve upon my last attempt. I love iterating and finding out what comes out in the end. Here's a list of things I'd like to accomplish:
- Adding a structure or structures with exploreable interior sections
- Creating a new and better terrain
- Improving the sky, last one was flat and simple
- Learning more about particle systems and matinee
Currently I'm working on blocking out the main structure for the scene. I want the building to function as an oasis in the otherwise desolate landscape. The whole scene is cold and I want to counter that with a huge bonfire and light coming out of the structure.
Replies
In the meantime I worked on the colors for the sky and tweaked materials for the terrain.
Question: I have a snow particle effect but I have to use a lot of particle emitters to cover the whole environment. Is there any way to create a screen space particle effect? Or maybe have the particle emitter follow the camera / player?
The orange lighting is supposed to be torches and there is supposed to be a big fire at the top of the tower. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
DUDE, THIS IS AN AMAZING SHOT.
Keep working at it, up the detail a bit. This can go far. grr, I have a modeling itch now...
I have a few ideas on how to expand the structure part of the scene. So I'll definitively be looking into that. I'm also playing around with matinee so I can post a fly-through. There are some effects like the fire and snow that can only be fully enjoyed in moving format!
I'll make sure to post again as soon as I have something to show.
I agree with some of the comments though. Seems a bit empty.
You could put a few more trees around the place?
And another thing I think is that the sky is 'weird', I can't really tell if it's day or night.
I suggest making the sky a bit darker, or, get rid of the stars and add more clouds.
Just for some more contrast/definition.
Good work though. Looking forward to updates!
But of course you can argue that, it snows a lot... so it's covered up.
This, also one thing that bothers me slightly is that the hill it's on is surrounded by other larger hills and would that watchtower not be on the tallest accessible hill but that's a minor grip, other than that this looks cool.
I get the feeling that when viewed from the entrance side there are some incongruences with the scene. With a bright sky like that, I would expect the flame to seem less bright (less contrast + light interference etc). I would also expect flames to pour out some smoke (but then its more particle work than anything else and that's up to you).
I was going to say that the orange hue is a bit too saturated, but after looking some "flame in the snow" and "torch in the snow" images on google I realized I could be wrong. Perhaps you can add to the feeling of the image by making the flame lights look less "omnidirectional". Open flames don't propagate to all sides equaly and are instead molded by the material they are burning on etc..
e.g.: some similar lighting artwork
Perhaps since the sky is that bright you can reduce the ammount of orange as the "white/blue" hue from the moonlight would propagate better. (Even on the back of the tower because of the reflecting snow).
Aaaaaaanyways... those are my two cents from someone who knows nothing about this :P
There are a number of changes and tweaks.
Can we see some model wireframes and textures please!?
Especially like the fire on top of the tower, adds character.
Crits:
- I'd make the moon a bit smaller and the bloom for it a bit bigger(and less saturated)
- Less snow around the staircase considering those torches have been burning for a while.
- Agree, no grass but you could put in a few shrubs (dead ones) and snow up those trees!
- Finally I'd up the contrast a bit for more depth.
Thats it!
Yes, here you go! Everything is still work in progress. There are a lot of areas to be optimized and improved upon later
The first one is a screenshot of the background mountains. The second is a screenshot of the actual "gameplay" terrain. Where the tower is located. I removed the tower and lifted the terrains out of the scene to better show them without a lot of clutter and things in the way. Both terrains were generated in World Machine with some additional Photoshop help.
Here is what the tower looks like unlit. You can clearly see the vertex painting going on.
Two of the textures used in the scene; brick and wood.
And finally the wireframes for the entire scene. You can clearly see that there are parts that can be optimized further. The tower has a lot of extra edge loops because of the vertex painting. However, there is also an interior part of the tower that will probably be cut out later or optimized a lot.