• What worked?

What worked was creating my 3D models in Maya using a variety of tools and techniques. I started with a reference image of a harp, warrior helmet, sundial, or other image that I wanted to model. I went into the side view, created a cube, selected a face on the cube, and began extruding downwards, upwards, or left or right along with the silhouette of the references image. At each curve or part in the image, I extruded the face further and further. I scaled inwards or outwards to match the thickness of the reference image. When needed, I rotated the face to fit with the image as well. Then, as required for the model, I added edge loops using the edge loop tool and adjusted the vertices or edges to match the reference image even more. On certain models like the harp, I used the mirror tool to duplicate one side of the harp over to the other side. For the warrior helmet, I had to delete faces to create a hollow shape inside the helmet, duplicate the helmet, scale it down, reversed the normals inside, and then target weld the edges of the duplicated scaled helmet to the edges of the larger helmet.  Finally, another thing that worked was using a tutorial to create a spiral effect in Unreal using particle simulations.

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• What didn't?

What didn’t work for my models was using the pol draw tool to create the models. When I created the harp using this tool, it seemed to work pretty nicely at first. I put vertices all around the silhouette of the harp until I created the basic outline of the harp. I clicked enter and it formed a flat plane of the shape of the harp. Then I clicked the plane and extruded it out to create a 3D model of the harp. Although the harp looked really good in Maya, when I did an FBX export of the harp, there were z-fighting and parts of the mesh were still flat.

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Another thing that didn’t work was not noticing when edge loops were not connected in my meshes. After creating my harp, I realized that those edges were not attached between the front side of the harp and the backside. I had to pull the edge forward with the manipulator tool to notice these holes in my mesh. I then used the target weld tool to connect them back together and the manipulator tool to bring them back into place.

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It also didn’t work to connect and group everything together until I finished the model. When I tried to connect everything together prematurely, I was obviously unable to move separate parts of the mesh to form my meshes as in the reference image.

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Another thing that didn’t work for my models was when I created the sundial, I couldn’t place the pieces of the clock equidistant from one another easily without some impreciseness. I had to use a duplicate special tool in Maya, to duplicate the pieces of the clock at 45 degrees so that they were equally spaced in an efficient way.

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As far as creating textures for my models, I noticed that sometimes textures.com did not have a base color so I had to create one in Substance Painter. In Substance Painter, I forgot the process of adding more than one color to a mesh. Adding more than one color on one layer, didn’t work because each time a new texture was added, the previous texture disappeared over the entire mesh. I saw on YouTube a tutorial that explained how to add more than one color using a black mask and then adding color to specific polygons and UVs.

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• What were the challenges you came across?

Some of the challenges I came across was that the meshes of my models sometimes became stretched or warped if I pulled a vertex too far or below the surface of a face. Sometimes the normal became reversed. Sometimes the meshes became too complicated so I decided to just redo them from the beginning. Another challenge I came across was deciding on which meshes to model. I wasn’t sure which were the best models to use to convey an ancient culture.  When creating the spiral effect in Unreal, one challenge I came across was that I made a mistake in the number I plugged into one of the nodes. Many steps later, I couldn’t realize which lights flashed but didn’t orbit in a circle. I had to backtrack several steps and troubleshoot until I realized which numbers I forgot to plug into the nodes.

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• What did you learn?

I learned the process of using lighting and blocking to create a dynamic scene in Unreal. I also learned the significance of mise en scene to tell a story or narrative. I learned about Github and other topics discussed in class. I learned briefly about different forms of perspective in video games such as first-person, second-person, third-person, and top-down or isometric. I learned how to analyze and critique a scene in Unreal using different fundamentals such as Composition, Perspective, Flow, Balance, and Contrast.

 

Additionally, I learned different methods of 3D modeling. I learned the process of modeling from a 2D reference image by extruding from a single face. I also learned how to use the mirror tool and the duplicate special tool. I reviewed the process of connecting individual parts and grouping them together. Generally, I improved my 3D visual/spatial skills, problem-solving, and creativity.

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I learned how to create a spiral in Unreal by attaching different nodes together using particle simulations and effects. I learned how to adjust the frequency of the light and other factors to create a galaxy-like spiral.

I relearned how to add multiple colors and textures to a mesh in Substance Painter.

I learned how to fix meshes and enhance their appearance.

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• What would you do different?

If I were to redo my models, something I would do differently would be to look up and research many online tutorials to get a feel and see how professionals would model that specific object.

I would look up various tools in Maya to extrude and create various shapes that would add to the model’s overall esthetic appeal.

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Another thing I would do differently would be to utilize Substance Designer to create more of my own textures and designs as opposed to using already created textures from Substance Painter.

I would also spend some time modeling swords for the ancient people, sandals, robes, and other features that are prevalent in their way of life.

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I might also try to create vegetation for the scene in Unreal. I would also create some more particle simulations such as a comet or shoot star effect in Unreal.  

Do not stop at these questions. They are a start. 

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Other questions:

• What was the significance of the models that you chose?

Most of the models were taken from Greek-style culture which I appreciate. I thought that a harp would show the tranquil nature of the good ancient people. The warrior helmet would show that they still used warfare, however, to protect themselves from an aggressor nation. The sundial, astrolabe, and pottery showed some of their skills in art and science which meant that they were a sophisticated and developed group of people.

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What was the reason you focused on the ancient good people as opposed to the dominating evil people for your models?

I chose to focus on creating models for the ancient good people because I tended towards and was more interested in their good behavior in contrast to the dominating, warlike oppressing group. Additionally, another group member had already begun to work on modeling the tanks for the dominating evil people and he seemed to be doing a good job on that by himself.

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What is the purpose of the center Life Force Tree exactly?

The purpose of the Life energy tree is for the good people to connect with the Divine Being (i.e. God). The people are able to touch the tree with their hands and their souls begin soaring higher and higher in spiritual realms towards the Divine Being. The Divine Creator used the tree as a physical channel to nourish the people physically and spiritually so that they do not have to even eat or take care of physical needs. The tree transcends time and space. The Divine Creator has provided it with the power to keep the planet from falling apart and stay in orbit around a nearby star in our Milky Way Galaxy.  

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Why did you decide to create a galaxy spiral twirl as an effect in Unreal?

I wanted to assist my group by adding to the scene. I also was hoping that the spiral would extend from the life energy tree in the center to give it more attention and pizzaz. I wanted the spiral to be the light that extended from the tree. Additionally, because our scene was sci-fi and located in outer space, I felt that a galaxy would fit well for our purposes.