Does studios like Blizzard Entertainment use any third party plugins or applications?

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

Hi there, just was wondering if studios like Blizzard Entertainment and such tend to use third party plugins or applications to do their work. In example, Ndo2 or equivalent for texturing, UVLayout or equivalent to unwrap,Marmoset Toolbag or equivalent to make real time previews, etc. Any additional program that could speed up the workflow.

Torch · Aug 2013

If you're speaking about 'in-game' assets, I'd assume they don't use Ndo or anything like that, it would most likely be something like UV layout or even 3D Coat for UVing/Texturing, or (given that the models are so low poly) even some old school techniques, just unwrapping in the 3D app, PS for painting, etc. Stuff like the Warcraft series would just be good, old-fashioned hand-painting with something like 3D coat or Mudbox for projection painting I'd guess

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

yeah I was referring to in game assets. Say props, buildings, because I guess they have their own tools to build the world. May I ask another useful technique to generate maps like NDO2 does?

Rockley Bonner · Aug 2013

I would think a large studio like blizzard would make there own apps.thats what TA is for.

Isaiah Sherman · Aug 2013

Yes.

Studios, regardless of size, will purchase licenses for tools that speed up content creators' work flows.

However, I don't think Marmoset would be of any use. Marmoset is best for personal projects and getting sweet screenshots and turn tables for single assets. It's useless because artists put their work into their game's engine to see how the final product will render.

Ndo, Ddo, Crazybump, Xnormal, and all those other goodies are quite commonly used.

[HP] · Aug 2013

What Isaiah said.

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

Primarily I asked this because I use those tools, and I was wondering if my knowledge was of any application when I enter the actual game industry. Somehow I thought using Ndo to generate maps was much easier and therefore not used in the studios. Thx for your answers.:)

Bibendum · Aug 2013

HatPoweredSpyCrab wrote: »

Somehow I thought using Ndo to generate maps was much easier and therefore not used in the studios. Thx for your answers.:)

...Why would anyone avoid something because it was an easier way to work?

whats_true · Aug 2013

For StarCraft2, my friend said he used mostly crazybump for their normal maps (or some other normal map generator). Said it was cleaner and quicker then baking it out (this was i think a year ago, so it might have changed a little since then?).

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

Bibendum wrote: »

...Why would anyone avoid something because it was an easier way to work?

because my own fucked up logic:\

Crazybump :O, need to give it a shot, I mainly use NDO2 for everything map related. May I think they avoided doing the High Poly at all? Am i correct?

mikezoo · Aug 2013

HatPoweredSpyCrab wrote: »

May I think they avoided doing the High Poly at all? Am i correct?

I wouldent say so,

check out the ZBC thread on Heart of the swarm.

Some really cool stuff.

whats_true · Aug 2013

Im mainly refrencing noCinamatic props. Characters are a whole other ball game of course.
But again, things might have changed since then.

Ace-Angel · Aug 2013

It would make sense for SC2, the units are pretty small, and it would be pointless trying to get 'clean' bakes on your characters with bevels that you will never see.

Might as well CB for that, for quick iterative builds, as to see which one will look the best for a birds view distance.

a3sthesia · Aug 2013

You should check out the Blizzard Job pages, they mention a lot of what they're looking for in there.

The Starcraft character position in particular mentions:
"Experience with Mudbox, ZBrush, (or equivalent modeling programs) and the process of converting high-poly sculpted environments into lower poly game assets"

They're advertising a Prop Artist position at the moment too. It's for WoW, but might still give you some insight ^_^

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

"Solid background in traditional arts included but not limited to animation, illustration, design or traditional media2 got to work with that. modeling, texturing, and animating objects using 3ds Max and Photoshop (or equivalent 3D and 2D programs). Does this means if I am well versed with Maya do i get to work with maya? I've known that they use Maya for their environments.

MartinH · Aug 2013

If you know either Maya or Max it shouldn't be a dealbreaker for anyone to switch between them. Starcraft and Diablo uses maya, WoW uses Max. Just figure out where the buttons are basically.

peanut · Aug 2013

Do you plan on working at Blizzard ? why even bother asking what kind of plugins they use ?

just saying ...

a3sthesia · Aug 2013

It's never a bad idea to keep up with the technologies being used by your favourite studios. It's like setting a standard for yourself, and setting a goal to meet and exceed.

MainManiac · Aug 2013

Why would they use marmoset to preview their assets if the game its for looks nothing like marmoset?

They'll preview it in a WoW/Starcraft etc model viewer that uses the same ingame rendering so they get a real preview. Though Marmoset could probably come close it probably isn't practical

eld · Aug 2013

HatPoweredSpyCrab wrote: »

Solid background in traditional arts

This is the important bit you should focus on,

HatPoweredSpyCrab wrote: »

3ds Max and Photoshop (or equivalent 3D and 2D programs).

And this one here means you should have ANY proficiency in programs rather than none, but there's no solid preference when the artist has a solid portfolio already.

Bibendum · Aug 2013

peanut wrote: »

Do you plan on working at Blizzard ? why even bother asking what kind of plugins they use ?

just saying ...

Half the people who post here probably want/wanted to work at Blizzard.

peanut · Aug 2013

Bibendum wrote: »

Half the people who post here probably want/wanted to work at Blizzard.

True, true, i remember that, its when they did the game warcraft 1 in 1993 you weren't born yet. :poly142:

Bibendum · Aug 2013

peanut wrote: »

True, true, i remember that, its when they did the game warcraft 1 in 1993 you weren't born yet.

Probably closer to 2008~ when WoW peaked.

Also I'm nearly 30 -__-

peanut · Aug 2013

Just kidding mate, :wink;

don't worry about it

Bibendum · Aug 2013

It's okay we'll look back on this moment fondly when we're both polycounting from our retirement homes

HatPoweredSpyCrab · Aug 2013

Yeah marmoset... that was a stupid question but i thought... it's even more stupid not to ask, or at least that was uni thougth me jejeje.Yeah actually i am trying to do something like that "It's never a bad idea to keep up with the technologies being used by your favourite studios. It's like setting a standard for yourself, and setting a goal to meet and exceed." I do know I am going to work there, a long path awaits me but I will work at Blizzard

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Does studios like Blizzard Entertainment use any third party plugins or applications?

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