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: