I build a whole range of different characters and objects using Maya, some of them need to be low resolution for a production with a low storage volume and some are high resolution for picture perfect results.
Below is an ongoing list of some of the modeling projects I have been working on.
Below is an ongoing list of some of the modeling projects I have been working on.
May 2010 - My Head
As a fun experiment I decided to find out what I would look like as a games character – my head at least. This is an exercise to make a head model as close to the photo reference as I could, not to make me look pretty.
I built the model in Maya, then projected the textures in Zbrush and pieced them together again in Photoshop to make the colour texture. I also made a high resolution version in Zbrush that was used to make the normal map or can be used on its own if you have enough memory. |
April 2010 - NobbyNobby is a medium resolution character I built and rigged in about a week. I plan to use him for a few animations and he should be a lot of fun to play with.
Rig-wise, he has a fully IK/FK switchable rig, including arms, legs and torso. He uses blend shapes for facial control but it's all driven by controllers using set driven keys. Nobby also has a removable hat so he could drop it if he wanted to. He should prove to be a very versatile rig. |
Sheep: Low Resolution
This sheep was built as a test and was never used. He is fully rigged, he can move around and has a basic facial rig. His wool can also droop allowing him to appear wet . This model is only 2268 Tris.
Dog: High Resolution
I built this Dog for a short film I created in 2005. He is fully rigged and can run around as shown, he also has a working tongue and full facial setup for lip sync animation.
Character Heads
Below are a number of Characters I created from photo reference, the aim was to make these characters look as close to the original photos as I could. Each face is exactly 2000 polys and the hair can be anywhere within 300 to 1200 depending on length and difficulty. Each of these heads were created within 2 to 3 days, that includes modelling in Maya, as well as texturing in Photoshop and Zbrush for colour, specular and normal mapping.
Wild Banana
This High resolution character comes in at 8816 tris. He has been fully rigged for motion and has a full facial rig to enable lip sync animation. He was built in 2008.
Spyro, The Eternal Night: Props Department
As a member of the Props Department on Spyro I built a lot of the props required for the game. Props are objects the character interacts with that aren't actually other characters or enemies, usually the player will activate them in some way making them explode, light up, move, or even attack them.
All props built needed to be as light weight as possibly so the less polygons we used the better the game would run, but they still needed to look nice and work properly. As well as basic props I handled most of the animated props, props that had floating elements, doors that lit up and opened, plants that shook and a pirate that swung back and forth attacking you – he was fun!
Below is a collection of screen shots showing you some of the props I built.
All props built needed to be as light weight as possibly so the less polygons we used the better the game would run, but they still needed to look nice and work properly. As well as basic props I handled most of the animated props, props that had floating elements, doors that lit up and opened, plants that shook and a pirate that swung back and forth attacking you – he was fun!
Below is a collection of screen shots showing you some of the props I built.
Above: Ball locks (roll ball into lock and it lights up). Rune Stones (once activated glow rune pattern). Magic floating rock gate (between rune Stones - disappear once puzzle is solved).
Below: Pirate Gun Turret (fires exploding cannon balls until you explode it). Teleporter (glows with magic). Spiked gate (moved down through floor once puzzle solved). Rattle Door (door rattles like there is something trying to break out)
Below: Pirate Gun Turret (fires exploding cannon balls until you explode it). Teleporter (glows with magic). Spiked gate (moved down through floor once puzzle solved). Rattle Door (door rattles like there is something trying to break out)
Below: Dropping cannon balls fall from the sky.
Right: Dark crystal (steals health and magic from Spyro and glows alot). |
Below:Cannon Ball Depot (dispenses cannon balls once activated).
Left: Beer Keg and Beer puddle (Beer slowly drips from the tap into a slippery puddle). Glowing mushrooms (shattering prop) |
Above: Hook platform (jumping puzzles). Elevator cage (lifts Spyro to new level). Floating pillar tilting platform (jumping/balance puzles)
Below: Glowing Dragon Door (3 separate activations light up the different parts of the door before it opens).
Dark Dragon Door (similar method as above)
Huge Dark door ( opens invitingly and chains rattle as it clunks to a stop).
Below: Glowing Dragon Door (3 separate activations light up the different parts of the door before it opens).
Dark Dragon Door (similar method as above)
Huge Dark door ( opens invitingly and chains rattle as it clunks to a stop).
Below: Floating Books (jumping puzzles)
Ice platforms (some shatter, some float - for use in safe path puzzles)
Ice platforms (some shatter, some float - for use in safe path puzzles)