APD Week 9 - Materiality: The Invasion of Planet Blanket [][]

By Carlo Tolentino

THEME: Materiality

CONTEXT:

For materiality, I wanted to create a first person exploration level in Unity, using photogrammetry as a method for level design. Engaging with the theme, the aim is to translate the topographical features of a physical object into a digital 3D landscape environment for interactivity.

An inspiration for this undertaking is the Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_av5kqcMVm4 It was fascinating how simply using practical effects during these days, the production managed to situate the shrunken characters in alien or otherworldly experiences despite being in simply mundane household locations and things. A popular execution of this was also seen in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Antman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54h7QYEkkBk.

METHOD: To use photogrammetry on a found object in creating an interactive game level landscape or environment.

RESPONSE: The Invasion of Planet Blanket is a first-person or VR exploration game in Unity, created using photogrammetry on a crumpled up blanket hanging on a drying rack. The Invasion of Planet Blanket places players in an alien landscape, running through plains, mountains, and crevices. All while the planet is slowly being invaded by large ominous spheres.

REFLECTION: In this week’s response, I aspired to fulfil my initial intention on APD’s first week response in observation. Which is to create a first-person game with the skin of my face as the ground in which players feels like a tiny insect walking on an alien landscape.I initially wanted to create my response for this by using moulding clay, but I decided it was more playful to use found objects instead. Found objects, a subject matter which is very relevant in my studio practice in creating level design with pre-existing objects. I’ve always wanted to think of alternative ways of designing digital environments or landscapes, and in the theme of materiality, the photogrammetry process was perfect. I wanted to play around with the idea of subverting regular household objects, and making them into landscapes of epic proportions. Similar to how when one is lying sideways on the bed, focusing on the details of ruffled or crumpled up bed sheets can seem like mountain ranges of an alien landscape. Photogrammetry is also used in triple-A game development in the creation of assets such as objects, characters, faces, and even structures, such as what is shown by Wojciech Pazdur of Farm51 studio : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=558Z37p7Bi4. However, photogrammetry in game development is often used just as 1:1 for realism and proportion. I wanted to test the potential of how photogrammetry can be used for world or level creation in surreal, imaginative, and subversive outputs, such as overblowing the proportions of a blanket to create an alien planet. 

In creating The Invasion of Planet Blanket, I wanted to stay true to the physical material elements of the physical blanket. Its texture, colour, and the topography of the crumples. I intended to create the landscape without editing the 3D model whatsoever, and trusting what may result in the 120+ photos of the photogrammetry process. I added the falling white balls to highlight the topographic landscape as the balls hit, and roll in the environment with the use of the 3D blanket’s mesh colliders and Unity’s gravity physics. The addition of a starry-cosmic skybox into the scene intends to elevate the atmosphere of the otherworldly exploration of something as simple as a crumpled blanket. If I were to take this a step further, I would hope to add cotton or grass-like protrusions on the blanket instead of just a texture. Adding other household objects in place of the falling white balls could also be something worth exploring. Translating physical objects and spaces into the digital gameplay levels and environments using photogrammetry is something I think plays with the idea of mind and subjective play. The re-imagination or fantastical possibilities of photogrammetry in found object level design is something I’m very interested in engaging with for future project ideas.