This week I have decided to take on what I consider to be one of the hardest task in development of an action RPG. Creating the 3d model of the main protagonist. While the task is not much different from creating any other 3d asset, there are a lot more factors to account for. First and foremost, the protagonist will be on screen the majority of gameplay. While player will overlook and forgive flaw in background objects, ie trees, box, buildings etc etc, imperfections will be seriousness criticized on a main character. Design the main character is a battle between imagination and capabilities. I will guide you through my battle to create the model which will become our hopeful main protagonist, Elle.
Stephen Covey author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People list being with end in mind as 2nd important habit and in character creation this perhaps the most important ideal. The first step in Character Modeling is knowing you limitations. Depending on the game engine used and your target platform. At this point in time, we are using the Unity3D 4.5 game engine and planing for release PC with hope to expand to console. For me that means that I have target range of 3000 to 6000 triangles for my in-game model for optimal performance. Those of you who are looking to make mobile game have a range of 300 to 150 tris. More information on Unity’s design recommendation can be found here, http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/ModelingOptimizedCharacters.html.
Now that the limitations have been set, ITS TIME TO GET INSPIRED!! And the best way to do this, at least for me, is to play 20 Q’s with my character.
- What is it’s species?
- What is it’s gender?
- What is it’s race/class/clan/tribe/alliance?
- Describe the character physique? Height, size, weight,
- What is the character’s overall mood and view of life?
- What is character’s identifying feature? Hair, eye, and skin texture and color
- and the list can go on and on…
Once you are satisfied with you answer, and you are blessed with the able to draw, draw you creation multiple time at various angles and poses. Do not use previous drawing as references. Each time you draw the character you should see variations. Take each drawing you can draw a final form.
Now for those of you, much like myself, who struggle with drawing stick figure, use Google search and Deviant art for sample that fit your conditions. For my character, Elle, I chose this image by Deviant Artist Xeromander.
The overall look match most of my choices and I will be making changes to the hair skin color to complete fit Elle persona.
