Auto

Here is the auto model subdivided in the program this model is still weighing in at 1,490 polygons. I am hoping to keep it still under 2,000 for the shell of the car itself.

Futuristic Auto

I like to create inorganic and organic modeling my goal here is to create a futuristic police vehicle from a current vehicle type in this case a Subaru Impreza WRX-ST used in Japan, I have taken the current blueprints and will create an idea of what this vehicle might look like in 5 to10 years in the future. The current model half is a minuscule 414 polys, that will be mirrored or completed by the symmetry modifier, my goal for the completion of this model is 1500-2000 polys or less. These cars could literally litter the screen and through animations scenarios be set-up for multiple crash and chase scenarios.

Geometry Match

It goes without saying that the most important part of modeling for animation is using reference, however the one thing to remember is that you must try to maintain solid geometry with no overlapping and keep the polygons to a manageable number, lastly do not feel that once you have finished model that you can not dissect, reduce or reform the geometry of the model. Pride is a luxury you can not afford when it comes to your models if you have to rework it rework it.

Going out on a limb (Rigging)

Optimization I really had to bring down the detail of the mesh to allow for a more stable geometry base for rigging. A lot of models with really high polys are just show pieces for demo reels and have no real deformable geometry, this won't do.

Completed Box

Next Generation is really about pushing textures into the area of realism. Here is the finished box rendered with scanline, normal, specular and diffuse maps in 3DS Max it looks OK and should maintain the same look in most game engines. I might work on it at a later date.

Good Wood and a Good Box is Hard to Find

Well the truth of next gen texturing is in the details with this one side you can see that the use of baking in AO (ambient occlusion) is the key. Later I will add dirt and dust layers a normal map and specular map and lighting to bring this out to the next level. I really love the idea of the create it has been around in games film and generally everything in between. The iconic box gets a revamp with Next Generation Texturing , hopefully designers find even better usages for this faithful and unsung hero of gaming history.

Next Generation Texturing

Next Gen textures will by far be one of those things that help to pull in the casual and hardcore gaming crowd, as much as game play is the fundamental draw the second is how good the game looks. I have seen lots of well textured crates but many of them forget to chamfer the edges. To pick up subtleties of light the edges can not be hard they have to be well constructed before you even begin to texture. Here is a crate that I started with a chamfered box in 3Ds Max many people think of some of the prefabricated elements in Max as a cheat, but they allow you the opportunity to create realistic geometry without a lot of work. Here is a crate with a test pattern applied to start the proper work-flow prior to texturing a crate, the crate also has the appropriate areas chamfered. The wood base was created by duplicating the original image and changing the blending modes and tweaking the image itself to give it a richer look.