Aaron Costello Futureworks

Summary of Brief-

Produce a high-poly model to industry standard with poly count restriction. Texture the model and ensure that the necessary research and planning is done prior.

Planning/ Concept Stage-

Learning objectives-

-Become more adept in using Substance Painter. 

-Learn how to correctly bake textures.

-Understand the baking process.

-Develop ‘Hard-surface Modelling’ skills.

What am i going to model?

I am going to model a weapon. Initially, i was considering modelling a hammer, and whilst modelling a hammer would have made understanding the texture baking process much more easily, i felt this model would not have been  as challenging and i would not have learnt quite as much from it. I will model a weapon from either: a shotgun, a sniper rifle, a video game-based gun, or a futuristic-themed weapon.

Research/ Reference images- 

Source: http://opshead.com/article/699/the-best-weapons-in-call-of-duty-black-ops-3 

Source: http://opshead.com/article/699/the-best-weapons-in-call-of-duty-black-ops-3 

Source: http://opshead.com/article/699/the-best-weapons-in-call-of-duty-black-ops-3 

Source: http://www.gamer-buzz.com/black-ops-3-weapon-list/ 

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/YyLci 

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/YyLci 

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/YyLci 

Source: http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/978488-fallout 

Source: http://gameranx.com/features/id/29197/article/fallout-4-inspired-props-galore-with-propmaker-david-broido/ 

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/L804ll5 

Source: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Plasma_rifle_(Fallout_3)?file=Plasma_rifle-Critical_Hit.jpg 

Source: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Plasma_rifle 

Source: http://maximum-blending.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/futuristic-sniper-rifle.html 

What am i going to model (UPDATED)-

 Aaron Costello

XB2001

Assignment #2

Stephen Morris

Game Development Project

 Project Development-

 Original concepts-

 The art style is aimed towards realism. This is shown through the geometry and textures of models (their whole appearance).

As the prop artist (modeller) within the team, I had to create various props for the levels that would act as physics objects and/ or background assets. The aim was to create quite old-fashioned, generic-looking models for general props (furniture, environmental assets, and any background props) and to create quite unique/ more complex models that stand out that will be important in gameplay. For example, the cube used to open the door in the second level is very different in its style compared to all other models in the second level because it looks strange and it is not clear as to its general purpose within the level (meaning it is questioned by the player and therefore viewed as more important generally).

In order to decide what models to create for the game levels, I had gathered many various reference images and created categorized mood boards using the most relevant (relevant in terms of how close their designs appear to the desired look for models in the level) images. These mood boards are found below...

 Reference imagery-

 Futuristic props-

   This mood board contains various reference images that    have a futuristic theme. Initially, this theme was considered for part of    the first level, but was not used in the final version of the levels. The    images show various piece of furniture that could be placed within a    futuristic office. Shelves, a chair, a lamp, and a table were all modelled    using these images as references (but then were not used due to changes in    the level’s aesthetic theme).

                        House/ Furniture props-

   This mood board contains various reference images of    furniture that can be placed in the house. Generic, worn, and simplicity    are all seen in the designs of these props. The simplicity of these props    is intentional as to show that the main character is average (financially)    in terms of his lifestyle and possessions. The house will look a little    modern, but also somewhat old-fashioned, which works well with some of the    worn/ old-looking designs of some of these props.

Environmental props-

   This mood board contains various reference images of environmental    props that could be made for the third level. Generally, these props are    not stylised for any purpose than creating a realistic-looking environment    of a simple street/ suburban scene.

Research-

 When deciding upon prop styles for the levels, I had to look at reference images to give me a better idea of what might be more realistically seen in the scenes found in the game levels. I also tried to find information regarding interior design to see how a room can be made to look messy (what props can make a room look messier? How can I use props in the scene to create the messy effect/ appearance in the room?).

(Faiella, 2015) says that organisation is the key to creating and maintaining tidiness within the household. So, based on this, if that is the case, then the way of creating more mess in interiors would be through a lack of organisation. To create a lack of organisation in a level, props can be misplaced intentionally, or perhaps even modelling with dents and chips to show they are not well-kept.

(LaBianca, 2016) says that not only is organisation key to keeping a house tidy, but in order to also keep it clean, one must avoid high-maintenance furniture or décor if they do not prioritise cleaning. In the game we are building, highly-detailed, well-polished walls could be used to create the illusion that a ‘high-maintenance’ material is being used, and then a dirt effect could be overlaid onto the polished texture to show the lack of cleanliness.

 Development-

 Asset list-

 ·         Platform

·         Old shelf

·         Bookshelf with books

·         Futuristic lamp

·         Futuristic table

·         Futuristic shelf

·         Street lamp

·         Cube object

·         Door

·         Road (with lowered curbs and speed humps)

.          Floorboard

  Platform-

The platform 3D model was designed to be simple, flat, and easy for the player to stand on, so that it could be used for platforming elements of gameplay. The platform has spikes around the edges to make the platform appear somewhat more dangerous, with an intention of adding tension to the gameplay.

 Old Shelf-

The old shelf was modelled with cracks and chips which I added to make the model seem worn and older. Also, the rails are quite bent. I made the rails look bent in order to give a more appealing design to the shelf rails so that they do not look too unrealistic, and also to make the model overall look generally more worn.

 Bookshelf with Books-

The bookshelf has a very simple generic design. I designed the bookshelf to look like a common modern bookshelf (for instance, a bookshelf that can be found in a public library). I added an outer lining detail around the edges of the inside and outside of the front faces of the bookshelf. I did this to make the bookshelf appear to be a bit more valuable. The books are all aligned quite messily on the shelves in order to add to the narrative illusion that the main character is not able to tidy due to what he is going through (allows the player to sympathise more with the main character and thus care more for them). Whilst quite simple, this is one way of incorporating minor narrative details into a scene even if in a minor way. The books are designed to be low-poly and be easy to edit the proportions in order to create multiple books for the shelves quickly.

 Futuristic Lamps-

I created two different, yet similar designs for the futuristic lamp 3D model. One of the lamp models has a differently-positioned lamp cube (which sticks out of the top of the stand to give a more futuristic look). Both lamps have a simple round stand above and below the cube lamp in the centre. The other futuristic lamp model has a cube lamp that does not stick out of the lamp stand which adds a sense of uniformity to the overall model (a different way of creating a simple yet futuristic appearance)

 Futuristic Table-

The futuristic table, another one of the futuristic props, was designed with complete simplicity being the key. The model is two cubes that have been bent, extruded, and then bridged together to form the basic shape. The detail added to the front and back faces is a simple extrusion of the centre faces around the table.

 Futuristic Shelf-

The design of the futuristic shelf is shown through its interesting inner shape. Whilst the model is four sided, the inside has a strange shape to the shelves and this is done with the intention of making the shelf look unique and interesting when compared to a standard or common shelf.

  Street Lamp-

The street lamp model is aimed to look similar to a real street lamp. The rounded lamp head on the model is quite exaggerated, to make it look bolder. The simple details on it through its little box and the stand at the bottom of the pole are based on a realistic idea of a street lamp also.

 Cube object-

The cube object is designed to look quite complex and intricate with square patterns on each face. This is done to make the cube stand out. This is done intentionally for gameplay purposes, as the player will need to approach this model and pick it up to proceed in the second level of the game.

  Door-

The door model was designed to appear similarly to a standard household door. The door handle has additional detail in order to add some sort of personalisation to the level, making the environment seem more meaningful for the player.

 Road-

The road model has two parts. Firstly, there is the road hump section of the road and the second part is the section of the road with a lowered curb. The road has a pavement at either side and a slight dip at either side of the road. The model is based on real roads/ pavements.

  Floorboard- 

I wanted to design the floorboard model to look very worn and damaged to show signs that the house was somewhat old. I also modelled the shape of this asset to be as ‘square’ as possible, so that it could be used in the game engine with more ease as all of the floorboards will align correctly. 

 Reflective log-

 What would I do differently?

 If I were to repeat this project, I would do various things differently. Firstly, I would make sure to improve my communication skills within the team, as to make more of an influence within the project, and to understand the vision of the game concept more. Another thing I would do is produce more complex models. I believe many of the models I created were somewhat simple, and so not doing this wasn’t helpful as a learning experience.

I would ensure that I contributed towards texturing models within the game as to help other team members. I think this would have benefited the overall project greatly and would help with understanding the overall art style of the game.

 What was successful?

 I am pleased with the models that were created. Models were created for multiple purposes, including gameplay, narrative, and aesthetic purposes. Required models for the game have been created and completed but not all of the models have been textured as necessary.

 What was unsuccessful?

 Some of the modelling software was not always available, which was a slight hindrance to the overall project. Also, I don’t think I produced enough models for the role I was given and the time I had, whilst I did produce work, I feel more could have been done, and thus this was an unsuccessful factor of the project.

 What did I learn?

 In this module, I learnt more about modular modelling in level design through modelling simple props. This will help in the next assignment which will focus on level design. I also learnt more about communicating as a team and understanding concepts amongst several people when working together for one project.

  Bibliography-

 Faiella, A. (2015, November 04). Organizing mistakes that make your house look messy. Retrieved December 15, 2016, from HGTV, http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/organizing-mistakes-that-make-your-house-look-messy-pictures

1.       Why have you chosen this degree? I have chosen this degree because the contents of the course will allow me to explore a broad range of areas within games design, thus allow me to gain more well- rounded skills within the subject (with the exception of programming). Also, I have always enjoyed specific areas of games development since I began studying the subject. Specifically, the two main areas I particularly have an interest in are level design and 3D modelling. I do believe this course will allow me to develop skills within these areas.

 2.       How do you feel about your essay- writing skills? Are there any particular areas you would like to improve? I haven’t written an essay since I attended high- school four years ago, but I do remember how to write an essay. The method I was taught was called ‘P.E.E’, which stands for ‘Point. Evidence. Explanation’. Of course, you would repeat this process for each point you make throughout your essay. I feel some of the things I may need to be refreshed upon are how to provide references to sources of quotes or statements or just general content used as examples. Generally, one of my past weaknesses was the manner of my structuring within the essay, which led to the essay making less sense when read (I could improve on this).

 3.       How do you feel about your presentation skills? Are there any particular areas you would like to improve? I am not confident in my ability to create a presentation. The reason I don’t feel confident in doing this is because sometimes I can write too much in my presentations without noticing whether or not it is too much and I don’t include many images. I think generally the issues here are things I could work at improving my producing draft presentations and evaluating them though. I am confident in my ability to present to an audience but I do get nervous when speaking to many people I don’t know on a personal level.

 4.       What role or roles are you interested in pursuing within the games industry? I aim to become a ‘games designer’ eventually. I understand that this requires prior and advanced knowledge of all aspects of games development, including programming, which I currently have none-to-little knowledge of. I aim to become either a modeller or level designer when enrolling for a junior position.

 5.       What skills do you have in the sector that you have chosen? I have used some level design software, mainly udk and unreal engine. For 3D modelling, I previously worked with and learnt using 3ds Max and now have begun to use Maya. Within 3ds Max, I created some: basic animations, some models, character models, character rigs, and character animations. I used Photoshop to create textures for models.

 6.       Who or what is your inspiration in your chosen sector? I do not have an inspiration, whether it be game or creator. I do, however, find some games inspiring through the innovations they brought forth and I do find some games inspiring for their use of level design. Games I generally feel are inspiring are Heavy Rain and Journey. Heavy Rain used cinematics and took it to a whole new level in the game. The narrative was immense, allowing even more player choice to the point that characters may permanently die and character’s lives may change for better or worse based on your actions. I find most moderate-to-large-sized games generally make good use of level design. I would say SSX Tricky, Pokémon Red/ Blue/ Yellow, Batman Arkham City, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Crash Bandicoot 1, Uncharted 2, and Super Mario Galaxy all use level design somewhat effectively in their own respective gameplay and genres. All use it in a different manner, but all of them use it well, in my opinion. A prime example based on my own experience playing it, Batman Arkham City uses level design well in many ways, including: using a large number of secrets and Easter eggs, having a working skillset that builds up over time and allows you to access new areas, and even the positioning of enemies. These are small examples in the game but I believe smaller details make a big difference in making a game great from just being good.

 7.       What would you like to gain from this module? I would like to gain a more professional mind set and a greater understanding into the thought processes a game designer might take in their daily role. I would also like to learn more about what really makes a game good or not. Where is the line drawn between good, mediocre, and bad?

Contemporary Contextual Design

Module: DD2000

Assignment 1- Essay Plan

Name: Aaron Costello

Tutor: Niall Taylor

Essay Question- “Does the simplicity of human-centric design in modern technology such as mobile devices and digital input devices cause a negative impact of the rate of thought given by humans?”

 Plan- Lineal structure of Essay:

 1.       Introduction to the subject matter, discussing some of the sub-topics will be discussed and summarising what the essay will be about.

Opening statement into modern technology that clearly describes just how human-centric design is focused in product design to assist people and how that could affect the human thought.  

A response to that statement, giving the reader something to think about that will lead them further into the point or purpose of the essay. This leads into the opening paragraph after the introduction.

 2.       This paragraph will be used to provide information based on research done around the subject to inform the reader of what will be talked about. Also, additional information will be provided in order to link in with any points that will be made so that when the points are brought across, the information has already been provided to the reader and they will have some understanding regarding the topic at hand.  

3.       Analytical point (the first point) that will support the ‘argument’ in this essay. The first analytical point will be the point that people perhaps rely on technology too much and that devices are often designed around comfort and ease of use for people. Due to this people don’t always understand how to fully use the technology that they are using at the present time.

Evidence and explanation to the point made currently that will give some understanding to the reader of the point being made. Illustrations will be used during the explanation of the point to help give the reader a visual understanding of the point.

 4.       Analytical point (the second point) that will support the ‘argument’ in this essay. The second analytical point will be the point that design is fundamentally hindered due to factors such as cost efficiency and energy efficiency that hinder the potential quality of the product.

Evidence and explanation to the point made currently that will give some understanding to the reader of the point being made. Illustrations will be used during the explanation of the point to help give the reader a visual understanding of the point.

 5.       Analytical point (the third point) that will support the ‘argument’ in this essay). A decision has not been made upon what will be used as the third point in the essay.

Evidence and explanation to the point made currently that will give some understanding to the reader of the point being made. Illustrations will be used during the explanation of the point to help give the reader a visual understanding of the point.

 6.       Conclusion and recap to the essay and general thesis in the subject matter. A summary of the points made will be given and finally a closing statement will be used to keep the reader thinking about what they think could be the ‘right answer’ (if there is theoretically a truly right answer).

Assignment 2- Route to industry

DD2000

Niall Taylor

Aaron Costello

Route to industry-

Career Path:

Aspired Role- Level Designer

What is a ‘Level Designer’?

A level Designer is primarily a member of the team that designs and creates levels within the Games Design process. Level designers use level editors to arrange and produce level layouts and often do simple programming to implement some of the environmental mechanics within the level. Many of the factors in creating a level, which a level designer will need to implement into the game levels include: scripted/ triggered events, environments, day/night cycle, advanced lighting, adding in characters (including NPCs), adding dialogue and dialogue scenarios, and arranging the level environments.

A level designer also will often have to work in a team or with other individuals to create the levels and test the levels for quality purposes and to see if there are any bugs. Level designers usually will need to train QA testers communicate effectively with team members.  

Skills/ Qualifications needed to become a Level Designer-

The skills needed to gain a level design job will vary dependant on the company the applicant wishes to apply for. For example, ‘Treyarch’ may wish for a candidate that has a familiarity with recent shooters, and has previously worked on published AAA titles, whilst ‘Sledgehammer Games’ may wish for someone with experience in specific software  (such as Radiant, Unreal Engine, Hammer, and other first-person shooter engines) and strong programming experience with languages such as C++ or LUA (David Mullich). Whilst there are specific skill sets various companies ask for, every level design position has a very similar set of general skills that are required to acquire the position and effectively do the job given.

These are examples of such skills:

Strong sense of space, pacing, and composition (Mandi Grant)

Strong passion for Level Design and video games (Pralie Dutzel)

Previous experience within the game industry in similar roles (1-3 years) (Pralie Dutzel)

Strong knowledge of level editors and plenty of experience using them (Pralie Dutzel)

Highly Creative (Pralie Dutzel)

Strong character (this includes: good communication skills, professional attitude, motivated, decisive, committed to the work/ job, and able to work well in a team) (Pralie Dutzel)

Strong portfolio

Able to train QA testers to play/ test the game (CreativeSkillset.org)

Have good general I.T skills (CreativeSkillset.org)

Good understanding of Game Design Theory (CreativeSkillset.org)

Basic programming knowledge (CreativeSkillset.org)

Be very organised (CreativeSkillset.org)

Have a strong reel of work to show to an employer

Mod creation

Current Level Design Experience

Currently, I have only used Unreal Development Kit and Unreal Engine 4. I am aware of other level editor software and am yet to use them. Within Unreal’s level editors, I have created simple mechanics with game level and functioning playable gameplay (shooter free for all-UDK).

I have learnt a fair bit of Game Design Theory throughout my 5 years of higher education (Education level 3- 5) and I have used various 2D, 3D, and level editor software.

Examples of my work that is relevant to level design is included below- (Environment modelling, prop modelling, and level design.

The above images are all renders of assets included in the Unreal Engine level video included above. These are just some of the assets included in the modular level design project i did. I feel i have learnt a good understanding for what makes good modular level design and i can see what is bad and what is good in my level. I understand more for the artistic elements of level design than the technical elements, but i do understand how gameplay must tie in to the design of a level you make and how you must consider various factors when creating appropriate assets for levels.

Generally, I don’t have a set art style in my work, I try to make my level look believable. I aim for a good level of ‘modularity’ in my level design, and I feel at present, I have a lot more experience to gain from using different level designs. For example, in the level shown above, the level is linear, with only one or two paths for the player. In future, I would like to add more substance and vibrancy to my levels. I believe player choice is quite an essential illusion to present upon the player, and will aim to show this in more complex levels.

What do I need to do in order to acquire my ideal position?

To become capable of being a professional level designer, I need to not only develop my current skill set, but I also need to build upon my experiences and learn more in order to understand level design at a higher level. I also need to learn new skills and gain more experience using other design software. An example of a level editor I aim to learn and use is Unity. Many level editors, including Unity, require learning basic programming languages in order to create functionality within various factors of the level. Programming is my weakest point currently, so I will need to improve in this area the most. I already have a fair understanding of 3D modelling and how to create complex models, but it is important to remember that a very high knowledge of 3D modelling is required to show I understand 3D spaces and 3D visualisation. 

Key designer- 

Image source reference- Joel Burgess. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2017, from http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Joel_Burgess 

Joel Burgess’ Blog/ Site- Burgess, J., & profile, V. (2017). Joel Burgess. Blog.joelburgess.com. Retrieved 23 April 2017, from http://blog.joelburgess.com/

Joel Burgess is a level designer. He has worked on famous titles such as: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Fallout 3 (including various DLC titles), and Fallout 4. 

Joel Burgess has an interesting path into the industry. Below is the route Burgess took to reach his first level design position-

2001- Graduated A.A. Music Theory & Performance (College), 3D Artist, UCF GAMES Lab

2002- Featured at IAAPA convention 2002, 3D Artist, UCF GAMES Lab

2003- Featured at ESA conference, Savannah, GA 2003,  3D Artist, UCF GAMES Lab, Art Director & Designer, Dezign Corp.

2004- Graduated B.A. Digital Media: Interactive Media (University),  3D Artist, UCF GAMES Lab, Level Designer, Terminal Reality

2005- Level Designer, Terminal Reality

From this brief list, we see many of the years Burgess is attending educational institutions, he is also building a network, gaining experience, and working on various projects. It is particularly interest to note that he did not seem to know  what career he wanted at an early stage. He chose to do a course in Music during college, but then changed to Digital Media during university. 

Whilst he seemingly/ presumably did not know what career he wished for, it is interesting to know he kept his options open and was always working on something to build up his experience. I feel like this experience must have provided Burgess with a strong set of varied skills, making him quite prepared for life after education. From researching Burgess’ history and background, i believe i can take note on his experiences and follow a similar path into the industry. By varying his work load and projects, Burgess learned a great deal, and eventually found his path toward his desired goal as a Level Designer. 

Since then, Burgess went on to become a successful Level Designer, even working as a Senior Designer on projects such as Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. To further validate the skills he has since learned from such experiences, Burgess has held many talks in regards to his workflow and area of work. 

G. (2016, January 22). How We Used Iterative Level Design to Ship Skyrim and Fallout 3. Retrieved April 23, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhW8CY8XkFg

In the above video, Burgess discusses his experiences in working as efficiently as possible in various projects when working for the company ‘Bethesda Studios’. His workflow, based on his comments in the above video, seem to be quite strict and target-orientated. Also, he mentions that he had to work on many other things at different stages of development. For example, he says that at the start of development there wasn’t enough content for him to work on the level design much, so instead, he worked on areas such as scripting, programming, and completed other necessary tasks to further the development progress. 

Key Companies- 

Arkane Studios

Image source reference- (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://checkout.bethesda.net/store/bethesda/en_IE/pd/productID.1268923800/currency.GBP

Arkane Studios are a subsidiary of ZeniMax Inc. This means that Arkane Studios is a relative company to Bethesda Studios (who is also owned by ZeniMax Inc.). Arkane Studios is a AAA game company, with studios across the globe in countries such as USA and France. Famous titles developed by Arkane Studios include Dishonored, Dishonored 2, and Prey. These games are generally visually/ graphically appealing, have strong narrative, and action-packed gameplay. 

I have looked at various jobs from Arkane Studios. Two jobs piqued my interest and related to my chosen industry field. 

One job was a Level Architect.