Final Storyboard Animatic Playblast...Thing

To give a better understanding of what I was aiming for...

Techincal UDK Rubbish...

Rubbish = my UDK skills...

Today been trying to get all the fancy things in UDK done, but to no avail :( I'm going to have to settle for what I've done, sadly.

I can't get triggers working whatsoever, Kismet has not been my friend. (side note: Kismet means fate/destiny in Turkish. Theres a commonly used phrase of "It's just not ment to be" using the word kismet, and THATS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS!)



I have however...square snow!



Its a shame I couldn't get the level to look and work better, but with time constraints this is at least a moveable working visually-appleasing prototype. Instead, I plan to create a storyboard animatic illustrating how the player would move and interact with the animals (using screenshoots taken from the level).

Game Logo

I'm now slowly building up the prototype in UDK, with minor techinical and major lack-of-skill glitches. I've got a saved package, but working on collision, dust/snow particles and triggers. Having issues with DirectX.

In the mean time, I'm building up my portfolio (or as the deliverables state; Task 1 + 2)

Here's my final games name/logo:



I was happy with my text but worried the butterfly was abit too girly. I came up with afew other variations (including doodles I won't upload) but decided to keep with Tera.

Model Schmodel

It's taken me longer than I wish it had, but I've now completely modelled/textured all the interactable animals in Antarctica.


Now, to make them all UDK ready and to model an environment :)

Game Portfolio

As a submission, I'm going to present an A4 portfolio/book, that would explain and (to a potential client) sell my game. While this blog is more technical, I'd hope the folio would provide exciting final images and give the viewer a clear idea of my question and the answer I've provided.

Pages planned:
1) Typed up brief, question, objective, game intro
2) Mood board
3) Mood board, Gameplay controls and screenshots
4) Profile and introduction of Tera the guide
5) Digital painting of Antarctica level
6) Gameplay of Antarctica level
7-8) Antarctica animal profiles
9) Digital painting of Amazonia level
10) Gameplay of Amazonia level
11 - 12) Amazonia animal profiles
13) Digital painting of China level
14) Gameplay of China level
15 - 16) Chinese animal profiles
17) Digital painting of Africa level
18) Gameplay of Africa level
19 - 20) African animal profiles

Keep Calm and Carry On UVing

Phew, these two were a challange. I had to UV the whale afew times and I'm still not 100% happy with it, and the penguin took alot of time too. Nonetheless, here we go:

Alright! Got the Albatross, Polar Bear, Albatross' snack, and the environment itself left to model in Maya, then I can no longer ignore UDK.

I'm also working on my "pitch book" as I'm calling it. Might post up a quick entry on how I'm planning to approach it.

Mini Game Fishes

Long time no update. So a quick look at the fish "mini game" the Penguin gives the User. All the user would have to do is walk up to and click a fish as they pass in the stream of water. I made two variety of fish, but it honestly doesn't matter which one the player catches:

textured and ready for UDK

Tera UV/texture/Final Model:


Arctic Fox UV/texture/final model:


I say ready to UDK but...I'm too scared to use it. ;.; Maybe later...in...December...

UV mapped butterfly

Ooooh, my first ever successful (I hope, be kind lecturer reading/grading this) unfolded UV map. I really botched up in 2nd year, but plan to be UVing lots in this module, so yes :) *proud moment*
I'll probably start texturing and get angsty at the mesh tomorrow, and gradually start modelling the Antarctic animals :)

UV mapping is possible the worst thing in Computer Arts

True title. "Maya Crashing" is the 2nd most worst thing.

So I've modelled my Tera butterfly, and I've tried to keep it simple so it could be rigged for animation (The wings fluttering).


UV mapping is something I just can't grasp, but slowly, I'm trying. Just can't wait to get on to the textures - best part. :)

Endangered Animals - Part 4 Africa

Alright, finally! Going to take a wee break until I start finalizing gameplay for the other levels. I won't upload them, but put them in my portfolio thingy. So I might be abit quiet here for abit :)

Endangered Animals - Part 3 China

Endangered Animals - Part 2 Amazonia

Endangered Animals - Part 1 Antarctica

Antarctica Level Design Final

Urgh I've been researching endangered animals, ecology and locations all weekend, but so worth it - my interactive world is finally coming together :)

In glorious flat 2D I have a pretty finalized idea of my Antarctica level:

The red arrows shows the linear path the player will take, and in what order the animals are to be encountered. After completing the specific animals task, they will help you advance: -

x The arctic fox helps you through the blizzard.
x The royal penguin will help you down stream to the whale.
x The blue whale will spurt you out of his blowhole onto the top of the cliff.
x The tristan albatross bird will fly you down to the polar bear.
x The polar bear lets you advance to the next level: THE AMAZON RAINFOREST.

The order of animals in the 4 different levels that are to be faced (side note: I chose the Black Rhino to be the last animal encountered as it is the worlds most endangered species):

Pretty quick rough sketches for my own benefit really, but if you want, guess the doodle and the species! The butterfly represents Tera, your guide.

I need to okay it with a lecturer first, but I'm pretty keen on wanting to extensively layout the 4 levels the way I've done the Antarctica level, and go through all the species have spent so much time researching, and give them all a style and personality.

Rather than blog it, I want to create a physical folder; as if I was pitching this as a game idea...

Next time I blog will hopefully be more Antarctica sketches - 2D to 3D transition time!

Levels & Interactive Characters for game

4 total game levels, with 5 endangered animals to interact with. Each animal will introduce themselves (species), give the user a task, and when the task is completed they are rewarded with an educational fact.

- Antarctica

Royal Penguin
Polar Bear
Blue Whale
Tristan Albatross
Arctic Fox

- The Amazon Rainforest - Amazonia

Jaguars
Blue Macaws
Sloths
Poison Dart Frog
Golden-Lion Tamarin

- China

Brown Eared Pheasant
Crested Ibis
South China Tiger
Golden Snub-nosed Monkey
Giant Panda

- Africa

Chimpanzee
Sand Cat
Striped Hyena
Black Rhinoceros (the most endangered animal)
African Elephant

For the purpose for this class, I'm only going to extensively work into the Antarctic level, but will probably still outline all of the levels and characters :)

Colour Schemes & Butterfly Tour Guide...

Because I use mainly Photoshop, it's always good to have a set pallete of colours at the ready. Here's a pretty basic one I've stuck to:


FINALLY got access to a scanner. Here are the initial sketches for the tour guide character:

I've settled on an endangered species of butterfly called Ornithoptera Croesus - or better known as Wallace's Golden Birdwing - and I've gone with it's female form (which is this gorgeous speciemen belowww~)
I've simplified it alittle, such as making it pure black lines/patterns, and shrinking the body, but I think it'll be quite easy to model, texture (with transparency) and (hopefully) animate.
Ornithoptera Croesus is quite a mouthful. Her name is "Tera" for short. :)