Conifer Forest Pack - Video_01
by Ron Kapaun · 01/14/2012 (5:32 pm) · 25 comments
Hey All,
The video link below shows off my latest bit of 'experimentation' since I got back from Afghanistan. All the models, textures, billboards and well basically anything else you see was modeled/painted and put into Torque 1.2 by me. Keep in mind when viewing this, that there are only a total of 8 unique models. 2 Pine trees, a large Sequia, 1 bush model, 1 fern model, 1 large leaf plant, and 2 unique rock formations. All the rest is done through instancing and creative and liberal use of the forest tool.
Each model has at least 3 LOD levels and the plants use a large scale 'auto-billboard' that I made using user values assigned to a dummy object in 3D Max (technical stuff for artists). There really are some good tutorials once you dig around a bit. Additionally, in order to reduce draw calls I used a slightly different technique to produce the 'billboard' foliage. Kind of difficult to explain here but, it worked. Finally, each model is 'UV' corrected to work in Torque, this helps with the lighting and avoiding that 'this is a billboard' look. Made all the .dds format textures, with multiple MipMaps. (GIMP is a GREAT tool). Anyway, The river, the terrain, and all the rest were hand done in Torque. All the plants and trees are vertex painted to take advantage of the Wind Emitter. I spent a large amount of time on the lighting and I am pretty happy with the results. Audio design was done by myself (Goldwave and Sony Acid). The music is a Royalty Free piece I purchased a number of years ago.
I get some really solid frame rates (30+ in all areas of the map running a 1920 X 1080). FRAPS of course, is not the greatest for capturing but, hey I paid for it, may as well use it. So I downgraded the graphics to 1280 X 720 for capture. My design system is not too out of this world. 3.2 gig Quad core, 4 gigs on-board ram and a Nvidia Geforce GTX 550Ti running 1 gig of ram and the latest drivers. Currently, testing the level on 'less' beefy systems to ensure everything is optimized.
The idea is to package all this stuff up, along with several PDF format art asset creation tutorials I wrote while doing all of this and sell it for around 30$ in the store (Should Garage Games deem it worthy). I would give it away but, I spend way too much time doing this to be able to afford to do that. Anyway, take a look at the video (keep in mind...FRAPS and YouTube...ehhh) and let me know what you think.
P.S. HD 720p is far better.
Enjoy... More to follow!
The Video:
KAP
The video link below shows off my latest bit of 'experimentation' since I got back from Afghanistan. All the models, textures, billboards and well basically anything else you see was modeled/painted and put into Torque 1.2 by me. Keep in mind when viewing this, that there are only a total of 8 unique models. 2 Pine trees, a large Sequia, 1 bush model, 1 fern model, 1 large leaf plant, and 2 unique rock formations. All the rest is done through instancing and creative and liberal use of the forest tool.
Each model has at least 3 LOD levels and the plants use a large scale 'auto-billboard' that I made using user values assigned to a dummy object in 3D Max (technical stuff for artists). There really are some good tutorials once you dig around a bit. Additionally, in order to reduce draw calls I used a slightly different technique to produce the 'billboard' foliage. Kind of difficult to explain here but, it worked. Finally, each model is 'UV' corrected to work in Torque, this helps with the lighting and avoiding that 'this is a billboard' look. Made all the .dds format textures, with multiple MipMaps. (GIMP is a GREAT tool). Anyway, The river, the terrain, and all the rest were hand done in Torque. All the plants and trees are vertex painted to take advantage of the Wind Emitter. I spent a large amount of time on the lighting and I am pretty happy with the results. Audio design was done by myself (Goldwave and Sony Acid). The music is a Royalty Free piece I purchased a number of years ago.
I get some really solid frame rates (30+ in all areas of the map running a 1920 X 1080). FRAPS of course, is not the greatest for capturing but, hey I paid for it, may as well use it. So I downgraded the graphics to 1280 X 720 for capture. My design system is not too out of this world. 3.2 gig Quad core, 4 gigs on-board ram and a Nvidia Geforce GTX 550Ti running 1 gig of ram and the latest drivers. Currently, testing the level on 'less' beefy systems to ensure everything is optimized.
The idea is to package all this stuff up, along with several PDF format art asset creation tutorials I wrote while doing all of this and sell it for around 30$ in the store (Should Garage Games deem it worthy). I would give it away but, I spend way too much time doing this to be able to afford to do that. Anyway, take a look at the video (keep in mind...FRAPS and YouTube...ehhh) and let me know what you think.
P.S. HD 720p is far better.
Enjoy... More to follow!
The Video:
KAP
About the author
Currently a Sergeant (E-5) in the US Army stationed at Fort Hood Tx. Been to Iraq and Afghanistan. Formerly an instructor at a community college in Minnesota for 3D design, web development and general Multimedia development.
#22
I noticed in one shot you've got two textures under a waterfall: fast flowing river and a boiling area. Could you do something similar to make the eddies and slower flowing water at the edges of the river?
01/22/2012 (7:24 pm)
Fantastic!I noticed in one shot you've got two textures under a waterfall: fast flowing river and a boiling area. Could you do something similar to make the eddies and slower flowing water at the edges of the river?
#23
01/31/2012 (2:55 pm)
Ron@ Nice looking conifers! I've partial to forest environments myself ... i'd definitely pick this pack up, especially if it includes (a) conifers (b) support for wind effects (c) a demo level!
#24
02/13/2012 (10:23 pm)
when is this coming on the store then?
Torque 3D Owner Greg M
DERP Studio
Good to see people putting the effort in to produce quality packs.
Keep it up.