D.R.I.P. Trailer

Here is a link to a trailer of my game. I created it used after effects and Premiere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3KO9uB7xJc

Substance painter

As I mentioned in my previous post I had the challenge of learning another software which is Substance painter. I really enjoyed working with this application. It is similar to Photoshop but you get to paint on 3D object you create. Here are some objects I painted in Substance painter.

Challenges and overcoming them!

One thing you can guarantee when working with a team on a project is a conflict or issue arising.
One important thing is to remain cool and level headed. I am usually quiet in my team because I am an international student who is surrounded by German 7 hours a day. Therefore I cannot engage in conversation so I tune out or observe. I am quite an observant person who analysis people and behaviour. Its interesting how much you can pick up and understand even when its a language you don't understand. It's all about reading body language and tone of voice.

Nobody knows how I am feeling while working in this environment because I keep my emotions to myself. It has been difficult working in a project where you are surrounded by people talking in another language. I spend 7 hours a day here, 5 days a week. I now understand the expression " You can be complete isolated, even in a crowded room". That is me 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. My team only talk in English when we are talking about the project and even then sometimes its in German. It has been an interesting learning environment where I can only observe. Additionally it has improved my patience.

One challenge I have had with a team member is that they liked to pass their work load to me. There was a festival last week so my team was gone from Thursday to Monday. Then this teammate fell ill and was out for the entire week which created a problem with our schedule. Originally we had planned to divide the modelling and adding textures. However that did not happen and it tested my patience. I created more assets and they made a show and dance about not having time because they were sick but in reality they had a tendency to procrastinate when there was a problem. They wasted time with me talking about how long UV wrapping an object would take but when they were out sick another teammate showed me a fast way that took less than 20 seconds and that included exporting the object. The issue was adding texture then. They wanted to UV wrap and give me all the assets to add texture to, which I had never done before. So I had the challenge of learning a new software. I wanted to divide the texture workload in half but they were against it because "they did not have the time" and they also had other project work to do. For some reason they could not do both. In the end I gave up on them and took all the assets to add texture to. We have over 50 assets in total and I had about a week and a bit so learn the software and add texture to.

Once I started experimenting with Substance painter I got fast at creating textures and I had 30 textures done in a week. In conclusion when you work hard you can overcome and obstacles and challenges. I kept my emotions cool when dealing with this issue with my teammate. To be honest I doubt they even realized they were causing an issue because they were so absorbed in their own problems. Best thing to do is move forward and focus on the positivity.

Developing 3D modelling skills and adding texture!

Over the past two weeks I have been working in Maya, experimenting with the tools I can use. Our game environment it is set in an underground cave with metallic rusty pipes and glowing mutated mushrooms. My task was to create assets for the scientists lab and create different mushroom styles. I thoroughly enjoyed created intriguing mushrooms. Here is one of my favourite styles I liked to create.

I used the smooth tool to make it less sharp and I quite like the dripping/hanging vines. So I created multiple mushrooms with this kind of style.















Now that I have created all the assets I needed, it is time to move onto the next stage. Adding texture.

Learning Maya!

Okay we have officially started the production phase! My biggest concern is that the team will be carrying me because of my lack of skills in the software. Since the beginning of this project I said I would do 3D modelling because I have some basic knowledge on how to use 3D Max. I don't know how to 3D animate or use Unity or program so my skills are small. But I am eager to learn. I was introduced to Unreal Engine last semester but my team decided to use Unity. That was alright because my task was creating the assets. My challenge was to learn how to use Maya and fast.

Luckily there was a module called Tech art 2 where they used Maya in class. A very kind tutor in the class helped me after the first class and showed me the layout of Maya and how to model basic shapes. Now the class is called Tech art 2 which indicates that they had Tech art 1 last semester. So I am a semester behind and I skipped the introduction stage and jumped straight into rigging 3D objects. Nonetheless this module helped me a great deal throughout the semester and every week I learn something new.

In our coaching, I informed them that I was new to Maya and still learning how to use it which is code for the assets I create might look terrible but I'm doing my best! Here are a few assets I created this week.

Green light Presentation

Today was our green light presentation which went smoothly. The team presenting before us had technical difficulties and had to stop presenting which gave us a slight advantage. One of my challenges for presentations is that I get nervous and when I get nervous I talk fast. I had to remind myself to talk slow because English isn't the audiences first language and they are hearing this story for the first time.
Our manager had the idea of having t-shirts with our logo to promote the team. It was a success because we were the only team to wear something with our project on it. After the presentations we had a coaching to hear if we get a green light or not. Looking back I can laugh but at the time I was so disappointed. The coaches started off by saying that "at least the t-shirts were cool". My stomach dropped when they said this. I thought the presentation went alright. However we were missing a map or doll house illustration of the game. I had asked one team member to create this number of times but they said they needed to work on the mechanics instead. Without this map the audience couldn't see the big picture, only the details. So after ten minutes of telling us everything wrong they eventually told us that "you're fine, you got a green light"! It was an interesting scare tactic. Now we can move forward and start the production phase which I am a little nervous for

Animatic of D.R.I.P.!

Our Green light presentation is next Wednesday. We have a long list of items we need to have for this presentation. My responsibility is to create the mad scientist animatic and put together Drips underground animatic. I also have a research paper due on Monday for this project. No pressure! Be Grand! We got this.

Here is the mad scientist animatic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qrm03A94QU




Here is the underground animatic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFSB7LIAPbg

Character Mutation Ideas!

When the mad scientist pours his experiments down the drain it has an affect on the environment and also Drip. Underground there are piles but parts of them have eroded away because of the acid in the experiments. The experiments cause mutated plants to grow and destroys Drips home. Additionally when Drip comes in contact with the chemical they start mutating. Below are some mutation ideas.


1. Glowing eyes.
Because it is set underground, one idea was to have certain areas so dark you couldn't see. When Drip comes in contact with the chemical that's dripping out of the pile their eyes start to glow like a flashlight. They can use this power to light up the darkness in the tunnel.



2. Balloon-head
Another mutation idea is a balloon head. The goal of the game is to journey upwards. What if certain areas could not be reached because they were too high? What if you needed a boast? Therefore when you come in contact with this certain chemical your head swells up with hair, allowing you to float upwards. My programmer on my team came up with this game mechanic and you point the mouse in the direction you want the air to go. You travel in the opposite direction of the air.

Environment Concept Art!

After the coaches looked at my sketches for the assets, they told me that they need to see concept art of the environment, not just assets on their own. This made me panic a little bit because its new to me and it's my responsibility. Taking a deep breath I first created a moodboard of different concept art for inspiration. I looked up underground settings, mushrooms, tunnels, etc. This was the moodboard I created:


What I love about these concept art is the dark and eerie atmosphere but it is also enchanting and beautiful with the soft glow coming from the mushrooms. I am intrigued by the shape of the mushrooms because they looked like some of my own sketches. When I was sketching mushrooms last week I also looked up jellyfish and I was mesmerised by them. Therefore when I was sketching the concept art I had jellyfish on my mind. Here are my attempts of environment concept art for the underground.

Below is my attempt at concept art for the mad scientist. I had difficulty with the architecture and depth because I have not been taught how to draw rooms. But practice makes perfect!

Mutated Bugs and Game Assets!

For this project I am the vision keeper and concept artist. Not gonna lie, I've never created concept art before so I feel like I am winging it. After today's coaching they want me to create environment concept art. I have 7 years of art classes and a FETAC level 5 i art, craft and design but not once have I created environment art. I spent 7 years in a classroom, drawing what is in front of me. Nope I have to use that skill and draw whats inside my head. I have the imagination and I can visualize the world and characters clear but the challenge is getting that onto paper. The first thing I did was sketch mutated bugs and Assets that could be used in the environment. Below are sketches from my sketchbook:

Mad Scientist!

When I first came up with the story I had a noisy neighbour as the antagonist but that character didn't fit the story very well. The coaches wanted us to rework our story and characters. I left my team to go to my classical drawing class and I spent the class looking at the marks on the ground and sketching what came to my mind. When I was lost in a daydream a new story came into my head. What if it was a mad scientist that is disturbing Drip. What if it's his experiments that are causing mutations and trouble down below?
When I met up with my team later that day I told them this new story idea and they were on board.
As the concept artist it was my responsibility to sketch the mad scientist.
Below are some sketches:


After the next coaching session the coaches agreed with our story change and asked to see sketches of the characters side by side. Below are my sketches:

Character Feedback and Walk Cycles!

After meeting with the coaches I was asked why my character was designed like that. At the time my mind went blank as to why I designed them that way but after reflecting on my character design I was able to give them a reason. When I was imagining the character I was inspired by a bug theme and I focuses on using a lady bug shape to the character. The main protagonist lives underground so naturally bugs were the first thing that came to my mind.
However after a character design class on Wednesday I decided to sketch the character with multiple shapes to test out which one will work. After sketching these characters my team and I still using my original character shape and design just minus the cat ears.
Here are various sketches and color ideas for the character.





Facial expressions of Drip.



Below is a walk and jump cycle of the main character. Also there is are push poses which will help the animator when she is animating the characters. I researched walk cycles to see where each of the joints are and where they would be in various poses.

Character Design

When I was trying to design the character I researched Tim Burtons character features and decided first of all that I wanted large eyes. I was also inspired by a lady bug for the shape. Here are some my first sketches.

Character Mood-board

When I was research Character styles and design I looked mainly at Tim Burton's characters, Disney and Pixar. My game 2.5D. Therefore all the assets and characters we create need to be 3D. For the body shape I decided on a large round head with a semi oval shaped body. The limbs will be short, almost bug like.
After getting feedback from our coaches we needed to distinguish a difference between the dead person and the mad scientist. Therefore the dead person has no pupils and had a greyish blue tone to their skin. The mad scientist will have one pupil larger than the other, hair on his head and have a pinkish white face. The dead person has no gender and wears a faded red hoodie.

Vision Keeper and 3D modeller

This project is a team project and we have decided our roles. As it was my idea and pitch I am now the vision keeper and artist for the project. My role is to make sure the team stick to my vision. I have a lot of sketching to do during the pre-production phase. I was a producer in a team project last semester and the vision keeper seems to act as a producer. Therefore I have an idea of what is expected of me and what I must deliver. Once we are in the production phase, my responsibility will be to create 3D assets for the environment.

Last semester I was introduced to 3D max and unreal engine so I have an idea about 3D modelling. However I won't be working with either of these applications. My programmer is going to use another application and I cannot get 3D max on my laptop. Therefore I will be using Maya. An app I'm not familiar with. However I have a module this semester called Tech Art 2 which is about 3D modelling and we use Maya in that class. My challenge will be to become familiar with Maya because I have a lot of complicated assets to create. You got this!

Moodboard for the Game Environment

When I imagine the world of the game, I visualize a dark Gothic environment with a fantasy style to it. I was inspired by Tim Burton's art style. I want to create a game that has an eerie feel to it but is enchanting at the same time. The world of the game is set underground so I want a lot of natural elements to it but also some bizarre mutated assets that have appeared because of the mad scientists experiments.

Story of the Game D.R.I.P.

D.R.I.P.

(Don't rest in peace)

Once upon a time there was two neighbours from two completely different worlds. One was a mad scientist conducting experiments in his laboratory. The other was dead and living in the underground. The chemicals and acid from the mad scientists experiments started to erode the pipes in the tunnels underground. Over time mutated mushrooms, plants and bugs started appearing in the tunnels. One day a drop fell from the pipe above our main protagonists head and disturbed them from their rest. They were horrified to see their home destroyed by mushrooms and plants. They made it their mission to confront the one responsible and make them aware of the damage they were doing to the environment around them.

Game Idea

Welcome to my blog!





This blog is to document my Animation and Game project. For this project we needed to pitch an Animation/VR/Game idea. Below is my project idea:

1.Project Name
Dead or Alive





2.Logline

Buried deep underground you are sound asleep until a noisy neighbour moves in upstairs. Rest in peace was promised to you but what if someone stole it.

3.Story synopsis

Two neighbours from opposite worlds live side by side. One is a loud, obnoxious human and the other is introverted and lives in the underworld.

It is a first person POV game from the perspective of the dead. You were promised peace and quiet for the remainder of your after life but now a noisy, disruptive human is causing trouble. Your objective is to make your way through the underworld and up to the human world so you can scare them away. You must make it past obstacles that are buried deep underground and avoid falling debris. The closer you get to the human world the more difficult the obstacles will be.

It is set in an underground city that has many platforms and bridges. The lighting is dim and the colors are quite dark. The art style of the underworld is dark Gothic with cool tones an inspired by Tim Burtons art style.

4. Visuals