fpscharliequilton

[fpscharliequilton]

Auto terrain/height maps

In unreal you can use a landscape tool to create big pieces of land which can be manually used to create terrain like mountains with tools like extrude and transforming terrain. But we can get a file that will automatically create a piece of terrain for us. 

To do this first we need to get a height map. If you want one quick a good place to get one is :

http://terrain.party/

This site has a map of the world so you can select a square of it and get a height maps for it. Whilst here it best to change the preview too USGS shaded relief as this will be showing the land with shaded areas to show depth with what's tall and such.

When ready to download hit the cloud with an arrow button. This will give a pop up to pick a name for it. Then it should download. If there's only a read me file then that means you picked an area which doesn't have the files needed. 

After this you will get a file which has the name you gave with “(merged)” at the end. Get this photo out of the folder at an easy location. Like the desktop.

In unreal engine when creating the new landscape on the left instead of create new choose import from file. Then where there's three dots you can select the file we got earlier. then in overall resolution and pick the right one of the image file. Since the overall resolution doesn't change. Then import it. 

Now you have realistic land in your game. 

[fpscharliequilton]

UV maps- examples

This one doesnt have the most amount of detail but has alot  of addon equipment on the model.So it looks generic but the detail is show with how they had to have modeled and created his arms and the mechanical parts around them. Also the face is a lot smaller in the UV map then it is in the model. I cant do this type of model making yet or uv mapping since i wouldnt know how to have that much on one model whilst adding this many addons with the uv map. 

This character has a lot more detail in stuff like its clothing and the face. The models UV map for the face is really small but the surrounding around it is massive. The neck also looks like its own model. 

I could make a model and uv map like this since this is a lot more simple to make. Adding detail to the model will mostly be in the uv map since the model is just a cylinder. 

In this model the character has a more difficult body to work with with some of the body sticking out compared to being flat. I wouldn't be able to do this since i have no experience with going this in depth and also making a character with no arms would be hard. 

This UV map is an odd one since that it didn't separate any of the mapping for specific parts of the head and just has it connected. apart from the eyes. This would be more difficult since you have to know what is the back of the head and what's the face, Then remember when making the UV map later. I wouldn't be able to do the face but i could do the same for the hair.

This models uv map is more complex and looks like something I couldn't do yet. The uv map has separated parts for certain limbs like the arms and legs. And the pumpkin too. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Arnold renderer

Arnold renderer makes your models have a nice look to them in an 3d environment and basically shows what it looks like in perfect form and shape together. So you would make a model for the game and such then use Arnold render to show off that model you have created either in showings or just to the internet. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Process of my shipping container

I laid out my base colours first for the container so that it could add detail on top of that and have it look nicer later. Also it sets a better outline for me to work with. 

I added the logo for the container and details that would be on a container. 

After that i added a rust texture so that it looked more real and have it different size and shape on each side. 

Also for the top of the container I added bird poop drops as a part of how they would potentially catch some over time. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Fugl- voxel

Fugl is a very calming game which you can fly around as a pixel bird in a pixel environment and with its smooth animation and nice art style makes this game stand out. The game also is really bright and is very colorful as it has gorgeous scenery and has amazing pop outs of detail as you explore. As well with it smooth water against the pixel creates a great contrast on how the game looks so good against real looking water. The lighting is also really well done with the colourful environment it makes the game seem more realistic with how the light reflects colours on objects and its world. 

I really like how this game looks and wish to try it out someday.

[fpscharliequilton]

Minecraft- voxel

Minecraft has a pixel set art style but is unique for it being in a 3d environment and they add detail to the bloxes in the games so that it still is detailed enough to look at then just plain 1 pixel blocks. These details also change a block entirely with its style or functions. For example,  andesite block and stone block. Each one has different purposes and it can be seen by difference since one is more shaded in than the other.  

The game has a lot of these details in the game with blocks. This game is filled with great color work with the pixel drawing they have. It makes the game seem more natural compared to being just a generic pixel game.

Also since the game has simple pixel style you can easily customize things in game to be something else with texture packs. This lets you also be creative and add more to its art style. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Crossy road- voxel

Crossy roads art style is related to original frogger game which its gameplay tries to replicate. The original frogger had a pixel style and which crossy replicates but in 3d which gives its simple art style nice classic look. And as this was a mobile game having a simple art style is good for the player too understand what is happening on screen. This also makes it easier for developers to also add new distinct characters and models since its more simple looking then complex.

[fpscharliequilton]

Voxelmade

I really like this 3d pixel art style since i think it can look either really simple and clean so its easy to know what it is or you can go super detailed to the point you cant tell its from square pixels. I like the world building worlds with this pixel style cause that style can make a world look so detailed or just really memorable for later. 

For example in this image it uses individual 3d pixel blocks to have detail in either patterns or outlining. And the simple made out animals on the side of the entrance is a great example with how this style can be simple yet detail since its easy to tell what they are. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Can renders

[fpscharliequilton]

Photos of my level.

My game isn't big and went through a massive change with how I was going to design my level. I took ideas from the level I took out to put into the main level so that it doesn't feel like repetition on a harder note

[fpscharliequilton]

Upload to youtube

 To upload to YouTube just open your YouTube channel and click upload video or the camera icon. Then drag in the video in files that has been recorded. Make the sure the videos details are as followed: Not made for children, Unlisted, Titled accordingly. 

Heres my link: 

[fpscharliequilton]

OBS Set up

OBS is used to record a pc screen and set it up as a recorder set up. 

To do this first in obs If you have already used the scenes in obs make another one to be clear. Then make a new source in the source tab. When clicking the “+” icon in sources you have options. You can either choose “display capture” which is the monitor screen or “window capture” which shows the tab which the game is running in. Then after that in the display you should see your game. If its not working look through the properties of the setup. Then to record hit the record button near the bottom right of the screen. Then after to stop recording just click the same button. To find the video directory go to settings in OBS then go to output then in recording column should show the directory for videos. Then you can find it or change the directory. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Map ideas

My mood board on how I chose to design my games levels. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Overwatch- Game environment

Overwatch’s maps are designed to either have an objective or two of them or to push a payload to another location. Each map has two different spawns for each team. The maps are also designed in mind of location based in the future so they take inspiration from real locations and add on or just go off distinct ideas of how a place should look. The game also has platforms and secret rooms to set up things for specific class abilities. 

I like how the game tries to have sections for every character and how they can show off there specific abilities. I also like the style of each map and how it looks amazing. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Doom (2016)- Game environment

In doom in concentrates its design to have more explorable levels and gives hints on how to complete level by letting you see through buildings on which you have to try and enter. The games levels also have hidden ammo and amour to collect to help with fights. It also has sections where demons will just spawn in a room or when an action is done they spawn in. This makes it intense at moments when yo open entrances to new places since you get to fight more demons and have moments when you have to fight a group of enemies and possibly and really hard target too. 

This game stands out to me for having less of the generic fps shooter style linear levels and goes for an open environment one filled with enemies to fight and kill on and on again which is instantly replayable and makes the game that much more fun.

[fpscharliequilton]

Portal 2- Game environment

In portal 2 the environment at the start of the game is meant to show this overgrown testing facility with greenery growing through the walls and roof. The way it presents the levels and situation is so well done that the player doesn't need too be told that the place has been ruined and left untouched for ages cause you can see it has. Also later when glados I back in control the place starts looking neat and tidy with some rust but more presentable. This massively contrasts it self from the start to show the massive change that has happened.  Through out the entire game you can see these changes happening to the  environment which relate to the story. 

With all this going on though the game still keeps its steady pace of gameplay and story cause it never really dwells on how it looks since the player can tell at first what has happened and if there confused on something they find out later. This game stands out to me cause of its secrets and details in the game cause not only does this keep the game to be interesting it also makes the player want explore later. 

[fpscharliequilton]

Evaluation

What went well: I made the basics of a game on picking the character control, platforms with actions , targets and etc. I also got a wall running mechanic which i found online a tutorial which I did. The reason why I didn't create the wall running mechanic by myself is because I wanted to learn how to make one in best way also I didn't want to waste time. I also made a custom gun with magicalvoxel and connected it to the first person characters gun so it animates up and down with the arms. I also made a diamond in magicalvoxel and have used it as a collectable. 

What could have gone better: The game has plain white levels with not a lot of colour or character to it. I didn't add anything to the environment since I didn't wanna waste time on details like that but I think its does make the level seem bland. Also I only made one level cause when I was making another running type level I didn't stick to it cause the wall running made it hard to have control on sections which need to be more precise. But I may make one more level at one point. 

What would you do differently next time: Next time when making a game I will be more creative and have more of a distinct idea on what I want in my game. Also I wanna make a game more enjoyable since I feel that this one game is a little fun but I want to make one which is more enjoyable to play. 

In this project I learnt a lot about creating environments forming out landscapes. Also making the game look more realistic with textured grass on the floor and having realistic trees. So this project was fun and I learnt a lot so I can use that to help with my next project.