Week One - Play & Observation
Using a photograph as reference, I modeled a low poly tram scene that represents my observation of Melbournes iconic tram scene. Using my skills as a 3D artist, I used Autodesk Maya to model the objects, purposely using a low polygon count to achieve a cartoon aesthetic, and used Unity to light and render the scene. Despite its simplicity, this task really helped inform my Studio practice by reafirming how much I want to create styilised 3D environments. As a practioner I love to create
3D worlds that users can explore in a game space (whether that be in Virtual Reality or on a computer), and as a result of this quick exercise I was inspired to use Maya and Unity to create a Studio project in which the user explores styilised 3D environments.
Week Two - Play & Tinkering
In order to better understand the workflow between Maya, Zbrush and Substance Painter, I took this opportunity to tinker with these programs to better understand how I can create styilised textures for my 3D models. By taking a highpoly model from Maya, transfering it to Zbrush and baking the maps in Substance Painter, this method of tinkering has helped me build a better workflow that I can utilise in my studio practice. As a result of this Magi work I have a better grasp on how to use these programs, and feel more able to use this process to texture the 3D assets I will use to create my styilised 3D environment.
Week Three - Play and Found Objects
Upon finding Pro Builder, a program that allows users to model 3D
shapes directly within Unity, I decided to use this class as an opportunity to learn how to I can use it to create white box prototypes. Being able to use this program within Unity has played a very important role within my Studio as I have progressed throughout the semester, as it has allowed me to create level designs soley within Unity without having to use a 3D program such as Maya. Despite the result of this exercise looking rather simple, this Magi work has helped inform my practice by giving me the skills to create simple white box environments within Unity, that I can use to test layouts for my studio project.
Week Four - Play and Place
Building upon the previous weeks exercise, I decided to take the white box environment I created and push it further by adding better lighting and objects with bevels and boolens for extra detail. Created completely in Unity, the ability to add these details has further pushed the boundaries in regards to the types of environments, albeit simple, that I can create in Unity. To try and give the environment some character, and make it somewhat similar to the interior that I want to create in my Studio, I added in windows, skirting boards and doors to give this environment some semblance of a house interior. As a result of this work, I have learnt how to enhance simple objects to create more dynamic white box spaces as I continue to build and iterate the environments for my Studio.
Week Five - Play and Objects
For this weeks exercise I again wanted to build upon the whitebox environment I created the previous week. In order to tie this work to the topic of objects being both anywhere and anything, I decided to take the house environment and use it to help further explore my Studio project. As I am investigating how 3D visuals can be implemented in a 3D space to convey emotions of isolation and helplessness within my studio, I have taken this virtual space and attempted to make the user feel isolated by forcing the walls to close in around them. By taking this object (the interior environment) and giving it agency, I feel that I have achieved some success in being able to evoke these emotions within the user. However, I have discovered through this exercise that I have made the space too large and feel that this detracts from the emotions that I am trying to convey within the scene. As a direct result of this Magi work, I will reduce the size of the interior envrionements within my studio project as to ensure that the changes within the environment have a much more powerful impact on the players.
Links
Week 1: http://magistudio.net/work/character-place-simulation-observation Week 2: http://magistudio.net/work/character-place-simulation-week-2 Week 3: http://magistudio.net/work/cps-week-3-2
Week 4: http://magistudio.net/work/cps-week-4-1
Week 5: http://magistudio.net/work/cps-week-5-1