Huddersfield University research scrap book Part 4

This source is a video created by Grant Warwick covering the basics on how hard surface modelling works by exploring a large range of different examples and walking through viewers through the process. While not as high in quality as videos from sites such as Digital Tutors and 3D Motive it does cover how hard surfaces work in detail unlike most videos which cover it but do not really go in depth. This is another video I hope to make use of in my work flow guide.

Grant Warwick - Hard Surface Essentials 

Warwick, G.W. (2010). Grant Warwick- Hard Surface Essentials. Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/10941211.

Huddersfield University research scrap book Part 3

This next source is another paid tutorial site which I have found invaluable when developing my own understanding of 3D applications. 3D Motive offers a range of video tutorials covering popular applications such as 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, Maya and Zbrush and much more. While many of the videos are very informative, one particular series: "BAKING NORMAL MAPS TIPS & TRICKS" caught my eye showing me everything I needed to know about normal maps in a very short amount of time. This focused more on the ideas on how normal maps worked and avoiding common pitfalls rather than how to bake them with a quick cage modifier in 3D Studio Max and a render to texture.

I hope to fully utilize the knowledge this series provides to further my game asset work flow research as normal maps are a vital part of the process with most game engines.

3D Motive's Baking normal maps tips & tricks

3D Motive (2013). BAKING NORMAL MAPS TIPS & TRICK. Retrieved from https://www.3dmotive.com/v101901.

Huddersfield University research scrap book Part 2

Looking at another source to use in my research I expanded my search into a free tutorial resource such as CG Tut's Plus, while it contains many impressive paid tutorials, this particular series "Next Gen weapon creation" caught my eye and while slightly outdated in terms of the end result the process is simple and easy to understand with it being split into four parts. Starting off with the high poly process, then the low poly moving into baking setup and the actual bake then finishing off with the texturing. I hope to extract much of this process as it works between 3D Studio max and Photoshop rather well but does not include plug-ins or third party applications that may be more effective.

cg.tutsplus - Next Gen Weapon Creation

CG Tut's Plus (2013). Next-Gen Weapon Creation. Retrieved from http://cg.tutsplus.com/sessions/next-gen-weapon-creation.

Huddersfield University research scrap book.

I will be using this blog to present my research findings as they progress as part of my final major project titled: Research, analysis and application of games asset production work flow and tools interoperability.

To achieve this I will be looking into existing work flow techniques from both books and websites which I will break down and look into then find if I can make additions or subtractions to the work flow in an attempt to make and present an easy to understand 3D game asset work flow that can be improved as a user either gains a larger interest in the process, a better understanding or the software required.

Professional Series: Game Asset Production Pipeline - Digital Tutors 

My first research point is this tutorial series from Digital tutors: “Professional Series: Game Asset Production Pipeline”. While starting at a high level, assuming the audience knows basic and intermediate level techniques then explaining little instead focusing more on the work flow as a whole this had gained my interest as a good starting point for creating my own work flow. I am hoping to combine this with other work flows that does not require Zbrush and include a more in depth tutorial on the actual process.

Digital Tutors (2013). Professional Series: Game Asset Production Pipeline. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltutors.com/tutorial/821-Professional-Series-Game-Asset-Production-Pipeline.

New website

This post is a test to see if the embed code works on my new website in development

setting up a games console.

Setting up one of the latest generation consoles such as the xbox 360 or PS3 has become easier than it was before, with some consoles only working on a particular Televison. Most if not all game consoles now can make use of RCA cables that can send the signal from the console to the Television, two of the cables provide sound, while the third provides video. RCA is usually a low quality compared to other cables they can make use of such as HDMI cables that provide a high quality image unlike RCA.

Setting up the console itself is very simple, the user has to slot in the cable into the console first leaving the ends of the cable free to use, there is a port for the power supply, RCA cable, HDMI, Composite or something similar, as well as a port for an ethernet cable and controllers as well as any features unique to the console. plugging in the RCA cables into the Television is very simple as well, just matching up the coloured pins to the coloured ports. Another cable, component provides a far higher video quality than RCA thanks to its additional cables for the video signal, this provides shaper and clearer images than the RCA cable, and is added in a similar way. However older televisions may not have these ports so the use of SCART may be required, this is unlikely on the latest televisions but most if not all Televisions will likely have a SCART port where a SCART converter can be placed so that the RCA pins can be inserted into the SCART converter.

The user then needs to select the correct channel on the Televison and can usually be chosen easily if the user knows which ports go to what channel on the television. Then the settings can be tweaked further in the console settings such as defination increases and decreases, if the defination is incompatiable the image will go black and reset itself after 30 seconds allowing the user to choose again.

the overall success of the digital showcase

• 
  
• n I found that the digital showcase itself was a major success meeting its original goal of previewing the work of both second year and first year students to perspective students and other visitors. All the teams attended the trailer making it look very professional and far more impressive than without the team members.
• n Each team had to produce an end game trailer for the showcase which acted as the final deadline, each time managed to produce and hand in their trailer in time for the showcase, some teams sooner than others. The trailers also had to be prepared into a playlist that could be shown onto the screens which was done without much trouble, as well as boards showcasing work and portfolios of students work.
• n The showcase was performed in two rooms that were adjacent to each other, in one room it previewed the first years work and the previous second year work using the large projector as well as student portfolios and boards with images of their work such as concept art, 3D models and plans of some of their work showing all visitors the quality of work and what new students would expect to do when they arrive. In the second room there were more portfolios of the work, this time of the second years as well as boards showing the second years work such as 3DS max work and storyboards. The projector in this room also showed the digital showcase trailers on a loop showing each time in turn. On another screen was a football match playing giving more Varity on the showcase that that it would all not focus on a single theme.
• n The current students had a multitude of tasks such as talking and explaining to perspective students what they could expect what to do and answer any questions they might have about the course and the software. Students also performed demonstrations on what could be done with the software such as Photoshop, 3DS max and how they did some of the work. I think this would have been more of a success if there was more room to work on the demonstrations allowing more than two people to watch the screen at once and explain what was happening to the visitor, however for those who had a demonstration I believe it was a great success giving them a better understanding of the process that occurs when creating a trailer or another multimedia product.
  nMuch like the team members the teachers talked to the perspective students about the course and what they could expect from it, as well as what they would need to qualify for it such as grades and any skills. The tutors helped fix any last minute problems such as any missing posters and organizing the video demonstrations which greatly helped each team member. They also performed interviews for perspective students who wanted to sign up there and then, informing them of any up coming summer classes to get used to the course before it started.
• 
  
• n The major goal of the showcase was to attract new students into signing up for the course and answering any questions they may have about it. Throughout the showcase there was a good number of visitors that started to come around half an hour after the showcase started. Most of our visitors were students, however some parents of the current year students were present and came to visit at separate times. Many if not all of the perspective students and visitors were impressed with what had happened there and even some professionals such as a member of Bradford university was particularly impressed with the level of quality of the trailers and work done.
  n We had also invited industry professionals such as Team 17 who had agreed to come to the showcase however unfortunately they were unable to come, along with others who wanted to come but was unable to attend. I believe there would have been more visitors to the showcase if it was not shown during the World Cup football match since no doubt many of the possible visitors would have been watching it instead, however I found it to be a major success none the less.
• n Overall I found the showcase to be a major success with only a few down points, if there was a dedicated area for demonstrations that allowed for more people to group around I believe it would have been more popular during the showcase, another problem I found was the showcase may have benefitted from a more hands on approach leaving some machines free for perspective students just to explore the software how they would like and experiment before the came. But I found the trailers, portfolio's and the ability to talk to existing students worked very well I also I found the most enjoyable part of the showcase was the actual start since I could see the hard work that everyone had produced in one show reel.
•