Video Game Design..?

# 1 17-03-2006 , 08:28 AM

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Okay the real reason I am getting involved in 3d and animation is for the simple fact, that I want to make video game graphics.. I know it will be a hard and long journey but its something I am interested in!

I was hoping someone here has had a little experience in this field that could point out the key points and the things I need to learn/know about game design.

Also if I wanted to create a world/zone for the characters to walk through what process would I go to. (this question could take some time explaining, feel free to ignore it if I am asking to much).

Thanks,
Robert

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# 2 17-03-2006 , 02:14 PM

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One thing you might be interested in knowing is the term "game designer." A lot of the colleges that advertise game courses always tend to group their graphics courses as "game design" courses. My school did that too.

The game artists in game studios, however, actually have very little design input for the most part. When I was hired at my first job, I found this out when I mentioned that I was a designer and they said, "I thought you were an artist?" lol

Another thing you probably know is that to create a zone (and I assume you mean a level or like an area in a MMOG) lots of people go into creating it. Not just one.

So, if being an environment artist is what you are interested in, I'd suggest building your portfolio up with environment objects and not an entire environment itself. Take a look at my site if you'd like, I have some examples of my own environment work up there.

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

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# 3 17-03-2006 , 03:33 PM

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I suppose I have a long ways to go.. I should start with modeling and texture probably..

One more thing.. Which is better to go with as a "game artist", nurbs, polygons or what?

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# 4 17-03-2006 , 03:38 PM

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if you want to be a game artist, you are essentially limited to only using polygons.

-Mike
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# 5 18-03-2006 , 06:43 AM

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Why is this.. ? Memory useage?

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# 6 18-03-2006 , 06:50 AM

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polygons are simply composed of points in space with a surface drawn between them. With a series of xyz coordinates, a polygon can be drawn pretty easily.

NURBS and SubDs on the other hand use much more complicated math to draw on the screen.

Because games are real-time (that is, the action on the screen happens as you push a button and isn't rendered or anything) they need to be able to compute locations of objects, particles, run scripts, etc etc as fast as possible. Polygons are the most efficient way of doing that at this time. And I don't really forsee that changing any time soon. Even though machines are getting much more powerful, we simply increase the polygon count that they can generate per second, rather than trying to create things out of smoother geometry types. If we did suddenly try to make a game with nurbs, even with the next-gen hardware, we'd have to go back to, like, Nintendo 64 kind of graphics due to the computational math involved.

Hope that makes sense.

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

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# 7 18-03-2006 , 06:50 AM

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if you want to be a game artist, you are essentially limited to only using polygons

Originally Posted by

For times like these and the technology we have at hand, really this shouldnt be the case. I wish that hardware companys would put there ass into gear and make the hardware that can smoothly view high polycount characters.

Why do we have to suffer with low quality images...

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# 8 18-03-2006 , 06:59 AM

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I don't know, I think the next-gen stuff I've seen is pretty darn impressive.

-Mike
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# 9 18-03-2006 , 07:01 AM

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Would be good if there was more demand for it..

My Work

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# 10 18-03-2006 , 07:06 AM

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In good time my friend, good time.

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# 11 18-03-2006 , 07:08 AM

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:headbang:

time...

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# 12 31-03-2006 , 01:10 AM

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Also interested in becoming a Video Game Artist

I'm also looking to become a Video Game Artist, and will soon be buying Maya within a month. Right now I'm just researching and trying to learn the basics. I know that game characters need to use low polygons like you all said. But I'm trying to get into all aspects of Game Art, like cut scenes, game play, etc. Cut scenes would be created in NURBS right, b/c it is an animation?

,Pat

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# 13 31-03-2006 , 01:25 AM

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cinematics can be created with anything, nurbs or otherwise

-Mike
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# 14 31-03-2006 , 03:18 AM

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Do companies have specific jobs for people, like for someone to only work on characters, or only work on cinematics? Or do they have a job title for what I'm lookin' for, kinda help in all aspects with the art, not like a director, but as an artist?

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# 15 31-03-2006 , 03:21 AM

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Basically larger companies have specific duties for different people whilst smaller less know companies might have what you are after but, in my opinion its better to learn all aspects of maya and other 3d programs and then go specialise in your favoured area, where it may be texturing, modelling, landscapes and so on.

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