Advanced 3d design and production

(3d to 2d comic game design)

By Aarron Gledhill U0765347

My idea (game on the net) The main idea was to make a game that would be uploaded to the web. I began to draw an outline of what features the game consists of. The idea behind the story is that it would follow a comic and the user will get to play 3 levels with 3 different characters to play on each level, each character playing the role in the comic strip. A pick-up and play, 2d alien shooter was the keywords I used. The gameplay tasks are simple just shoot to protect and make sure none of your team mates go down or you lose points.

The characters in the game range from 3 characters played, 6 unplayable characters play their role in the comic. Going onto the enemy characters (bad guys) there are 3 types ranging from weak to strong in attack and the 3rd is presumed the boss.

Concepts (drawings, teaser and promo) When I was designing the characters I was still unsure what type of 3D render I was looking for so the first thing was I made a box model example, then from here I made poly model example, Which I got from a front and side view concepts of the character.

I created a few character tests in preparation to give me a choice what to improve on. The chosen model was then textured and rigged so I could animate for the game. Certain sequences involving the character to jump was created and the best way I could see was to rig up, this gave the character a more fluent movement.

Start of production (end of preparation) The game is to be set on an imaginary planet called Xander which I specified would have the same type of terrain as the planet Mars. All 3 of the levels will take place on this planet; this gave a good amount of scenery to use and ideas that was drafted as concept.

2d and 3d decision (why) I designed it so the 3d animation files would be exported as individual image files (.gif) I decided this format because it gives you the choice to export the alpha channel. I then took the files into flash and made them into frames. After the second type of the character was rigged I came across this, taking a large amount of time even when I reduced the frames I used for each character. I still continued because I wanted to get my alpha stage up using 3d renders rather than the all of a sudden change, I can later transfer the idea to 2d.

3 Weapons and 3 pick-ups was created, each weapon was to be used on each of the 3 levels and health kits, ammo box s and a special slow-motion item was also modelled each with their own animations.

I created the O.S.W comic last year but the early designs for the intro (like the image above) was created at the start of this year .

The storey goes like this, A team of specially trained troops equipped to launch into space and land on this unknown planet, the operation of the 9 member team is to land collect soil samples and return back to earth. Unaware that their are pockets of oxygen allowing them to breath. There are 3 types of creature that inhabit this planet ( well, only 3 spotted ). Other than that the planet is a red ruin of rock. The team are military prepared for the mission and the game comes into play while the comic is playing each scene that takes place after each level. The game will end with the team returning back to earth after encountering the alien species.

Stats to May 2011

First of all stored online at deviantart.com to always update and bring new content also shows progress

What I am going to do next (august release) After a long process of 3d production I have decided to transfer, this ends my 3d input to the game and I concentrate on delivering what I said also changing the release date for the game from June to August.

The top image refers to the gameplay mechanics, the bottom images are digital edits of the first scene to the intro of the game.

The above image is the side view or the background to the last level. The user takes control of a troop called Timothy Skritte shoots a sniper rifle towards the attacking enemy aliens.

This drawing was generated throughout the early phase of the environment concept. The character with the wings was a 4th character I could of created. The 3 types of enemy s all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Type one is normal attributes with standard damage to give. Type 2 is smaller moves faster and attacks more frequent and in groups. Finally type3, this is a more bigger evolved version with a tale, spikes and the ability to take twice as much damage although the down side is, that it moves much slower.

The image above was created to publicise the game.Using layers I acquire from a 3d render of the aliens, a cross hair,an image of the earth and the title, I was able to create a great front cover design.

The 4 images above represent one character being modelled. As we all know poly modelling is a long process, here I drew and matted onto 2 planes the concept for the character then, interlocking them so I can model the 2d as a 3d image. After I could rig and texture making a great 3d render.

This screenshot is the first level. This file was uploaded with a promise to changes before review took place.

The project has ended with the start of a new game, only some feedback was relevant as I already acknowledged the rest. Here is what I commented underneath the playable alpha stage of the game (first demo)

Newgrounds.com memberDesigner bangerbishop A.L.P.H.A game-design Under 60 seconds on each level (landscaping and basic maintenance needs to be re -rendered) Working on-

- newhud and weapons - new character - applying game mechanics - set the game modes - new pickup(s)

Reviews(feedback)

"GAME HAS NO PROMISE" by: kclimer13 date: March 1, 2011 WOW good job the best game ever! No get real! This game sucks! I went into the negatives with my ammo! WTH! "needs.." by: lfromdeathnote date: March 1, 2011 work. alot of it. game dose have promise. "Area 51: The Moon, eh?eh?!" by: GameDragonEXE date: March 1, 2011 Looking forward to it! Just don't make it as repetitive as the aliens. Can't wait!

"Too many flaws" By: WiredTazman666 Date: March 1, 2011 You can go into negative ammo, health, can't reload on the 3 levels after the first. on a loop. pretty much impossible to lose, even if you don t have infinite health. Glitchenemy s, and gun. Very good this is not final "Horrible." By: AioriaRox Date: March 1, 2011 Just draw your own graphics using the tools you're given in Flash, it will look much, MUCH better even if you don't know how to draw. Also, try using a different font for the numbers, and make it white! I know it's only on Alpha, but man it looks so terrible that it annoys me. The gameplay is barely working too, after the first level. Make some transactions between levels too, but make them pretty, for God's sake! :P "Um okay..." By: pivotslager Date: March 1, 2011 1. I don't like it when people put unfinished work on new grounds. 2. no sound, please add some in full game 3.very repetitive try to make it not as loopy 4.on the sniper level all you need to do is rapidly tap left click lol Additionalinformation Alpha Submitted: 03/01/2011 | 07:07PM EST File Info: Game | 4 MB | Add Game to Favourites Genre: Action - Shooter - First Person Current Score: 2.66 / 5.00 210 votes | 766 views

Uploaded content Promo Submitted: 12/30/2010 | 11:53PM EST File Info: Movie | 4.2 MB | Add Movie to Favourites Genre: Experimental Current Score: 2.08 / 5.00 227 votes | 629 views Teaser Submitted: 12/30/2010 | 11:08PM EST File Info: Movie | 3.7 MB | Add Movie to Favourites Genre: Action Current Score: 2.35 / 5.00 214 votes | 651 views

Other concepts

These are the examples I used to creating the environment. Red, rubble desert feel. The sky in the scene is on a separate layer to the foreground so this enables me to edit a little more.

This image re rese s the alie c ce t. I was going for a Human looking creature with an alien head.This 3d project as gone successful, I have been able to ac uire feedback for later production and I have created a base in which the new 2d style can easily adapt to. Part of the code is already generated leaving me to add the e tra code needed but completely change the overall quality.

Report by Aarron Gledhill

linksnewgrounds.com-http://bangerbishop.newgrounds.com/ youtube.com-http://www.youtube.com/user/BangerBishop vimeo.com-http://vimeo.com/aarrongledhill deviantart.com-http://bangerbishop.deviantart.com/ website- http://mybam2u.com/ website for game to be hosted on- http://mybam2u.com/o.s.w_2dgame.html/