Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Matt Waggle

[teyekanik]

I had signed up for 2D but my concept is so big I went 3d instead.. gonna spend all my time on this one mates! Good luck to all!

[teyekanik]

Ok.. here's what's sitting in my head...

Remember the first battle scene in Saving Private Ryan? I want to achieve that same feeling of impending doom as these space marines wait on the hull of thier ships.. .. They are magnetically attached by thier boots as thier ships cruise toward the not too distant battle raging in the distance.

So basically you are looking thru the eyes of a marine on his way to a huge meat grinder.

I will be tightening this up and hopefully add some alien soldiers to the mix as well...

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/thumb.jpg

[teyekanik]

Ok.. here's my armour design. It's not to flashy but I wanted it to be believable. I'm still working out the gun designs but I will post those soon.

the gun will be mounted the the shoulder bar you see on his left shoulder.. . .
and uh. .. I'm still working on the boots

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/MattsArmor_1.jpg

[teyekanik]

just a bigger view of the armour sketches:

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/MattsArmor_Front.jpg

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/MattsArmor_Side.jpg

[Tekano]

Hello teyekanik,

nice theme, the space marine reminds me a little of Buzz Lightyear from toy story, im sure these guys will end up looking nothing remotely like him though :) . I think the foreground /far distance in your concept sketch is coming along but there feels like a big gap between the marines at the front of the image and the far background. I think you should have some more 'action' with the battle in the mid ground. The thing about private ryan was there was a considerable amount of 'guts' and damage in that opening scene, if you can somehow sense the impending scale of the damage the newly arrived marries are rushing towards (in the mid ground ) where bodies and damage could be made out in detail, then you will be getting closer to what you want to achieve. good work.

[BookMansBlues]

Great idea and drawings man! Good Luck!

[Grimreaper1981]

yeah, great idea, great sketches, go forward with your work;

i'm sure you'll bring in that oppressive feeling you've wanted :thumbsup:

[teyekanik]

thanks so far guys! yes.. the background seems a bit far away in that sketch.. But the battle will be HUGE and I think I will add some floating wreckage/bodies somewhere in there... I think after the textureing and weoponry is done then the marines will look a little less Buzz Lightyear.

[Bumbi]

Yes really good sketches! Looks like they'll be easy to use as modelling reference too which is good :)

I also like the idea of seeing the troops faces as they are sent into battle. Maybe some more saving private ryan stuff would be nice... some ground defences and guns firing at the ships killing of people in the foreground, wounded troops on the ground and so on.

Now were just waiting for the modeling :thumbsup:

[M477]

This looks like its got loads of potential! Do you have any idea of what the marines will look like when they have been shot? Will one of those glass helmets be imploding with the pressure in space? that could look really cool!!

Keep up the good work, to infinity and beyond!! sorry I'm sure it wont look like buzz too! :p

[teyekanik]

haha. Ya.. I am thinking of maybe having a closer fighting scene in the midground.. I'm going to render and composite ala final fantasy. I don't know If I will have the glass breaking in this, though it would be really cool. The guns the marines are using are magnetically driven projectiles that basically pop holes in anything (think of the movie: eraser gun)

I also want to include more faces, including faces from different species of aliens. And some heavy armoured units... like gundamn size units. And some fighter jets... but it's all about time.. thanks guys!

[silencermh16]

hu looks nice
BUT dont forget that the images u post without the "submit entry funktion" arent judged.....

[teyekanik]

what? I'm not aware of that function!!! help me by clarifying that.. what am I doing wrong?

[silencermh16]

uhm

open this page

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/grandspaceopera/submit_entry.php

then fill in ur user informations. After that a page appears where u have the opportunity to upload ur pictures

[teyekanik]

ya.. I figured it out.. just glossed over that part before... thanks!

[GaNNEl]

Hey man! Great sketches! good work! another one that plans to make a battle heh :D that's cool! Keep it up I'll return for MORE! :D

[teyekanik]

ahh! I am having so much trouble making my planet look realistic up close.. are there any good turorials on makeing a GREAT planet? help me! thnx. . . I am moving onto modeling now.. . . .

[teyekanik]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1098878605_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1098878605_large.jpg)

Ok.. thought I would do some proper concept sketches. this is primarily my forground.. I am mainly concerned with composition with this one. Take some time to pick through this one please. Also, I am looking for some tutorials on creating a great looking planet.. I am having trouble with my planet right now.. thanks!

[WazaR]

You work demonstrates an influance of STARCRAFT and WARHAMMER.

As for the composition.
a. there appears to be no "center of gravity". All the differnt elements seam like a collage of pics placed next to each other.

b. in the sense of 3d space, I find it very hard to judge the distances and therefore the realative scales of the differnt elements in this composition.

c. what is the "main" action going on here in this image? There are many complex movements going on and it is rather difficult to determine what exactly is going on, or what is the intent of all the violance.

d. I get the feeling that this is taking place in a dry buring dessert. This is not a bad thing, but alot of people are doing the whole "space dessert" thing. Blame it on STARCRAFT BROOD WAR, or on STAR WARS CLONES WARS. I think you'd short sell yourself by using a dessert enviorment.

e. And finally the most important question... why should I care at all whats happing to this people?? Quite franckly right now I dont care if anyone of these soliders die. What emotional content are you trying to get across? Fundamentally what is there in this image that I can relate to???


Buena suerte amigo.

[teyekanik]

well, that's a pretty good critique man.. let me take some time to answer it.

As far as composition:
This sketch is mainly the foreground. As you can see all the transport ships are pointing in the same general direction, indicating they are heading toward the battle. I realise there is alot to be desired in this as a composition but I am confident when the background battle and the starmap is completed then the eye will be pleasantly directed.

As far as scale:
I plan on throwing in a couple more transports at various depths to help give a sense of scale... but as far as it lacking here, well... its just a sketch :)

As for main action:
Basically these transport ships are cruising into battle. As they near the battle all of the marines are launching off of the deck to join the fray.

As for setting:
It's pretty much the opposite I guess.... They are in orbit of an ocean planet. They're not on land at all! If it seems I am influenced by either of those things, then maybe. But I did alot of reasearch of space suit technology as it exists today and modified it for a more military look.

As far a caring for these people:
That type of comment wasn't really expected but it brings up a good point.. in my earlier post I said I am trying to get a feeling of the first battle scene of "Saving Private Ryan."
I'll try to achieve this and keep your comment in mind during my progress. But I think I want the feeling that although these guys are obviously people, they are cannon fodder in this huge battle. So maybe not caring about them is a good thing?


Thanks alot man, back to work!

[Pufferfish]

Nice drawings, I especially like that last one. Looks like you're aiming for good old space battle scene, looks very promising. I like how you are using troops more than just spaceships.

Good luck,

-pfish

[teyekanik]

hey! Thanks for the comment man.. I hope I can pull it off to the standards of the CG veterans. can't wait to see yours too man... until then!

[SuperXCM]

Good sketch, you're right, the model of Dustin Davis look like your sketch, but the both look like warhammer...nevertheless i very like it!!! :thumbsup:
Want to see it in 3D! Keep going! :buttrock:

[ARSA]

nice concept you got here, I think you should add one of the enemy characters to the front line, like good vs evil


-cheers!

[pddaugusto]

Cool sketches. The space suit is very well detailed, and look very nice. The 3d model is going to be great.

:thumbsup:

[plaguelord]

your concepts rocks dude! If you can translate that to 3d, I bet you will be on the major leagues!

good luck and keep posting :D

[Ddavis]

I love the concept, AWESOME!!! Nice job on the suit man, yeh it does kinda look similar, but they both have there on characteristics. Good luck with this challenge, ill be interested in checking out this thread. :)

[teyekanik]

ok... just working on the environment... I need to find a good planet tutorial . . please help?!?! This is a little overdone but its a w.i.p. thanks for all the comments so far...

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/space_01.jpg

[plaguelord]

well, a tut of a planet... I never saw one, maybe because a planet is a simple sphere with a real good shader, maybe try to make a high high res picture of the planet surface on photoshop, and then work on the atmosphere.
maybe on the nasa site you can find good references pictures.

[teyekanik]

ya.. I am mainly struggling on setting up the atmosphere around the planet.. I am wondering if I should use a layered shader or use seperately textured spheres with glow effects.. I am trying to achieve a dusty, tangible atmosphere.. . . . . also having trouble with the scale coming off right.. I want the planet to appear HUGE.. almost a straight line as the curvature of the planet.. . so I guess I need help on setting up the shader for the atmosphere... not the color texture... thanks for the comment though.

[Tekano]

Hi, im not sure which package you are using but i would start playing with any 'thickness' shaders lying around to get the horizon atmosphere at the edges as well as throwing in rim lighting, incidence and a few gradients into the shader network melting pot. for complexity I would also use fractal noise nodes plugged into more fractal noise nodes and also layering so you have complexity inside complexity.. if you get what I mean. Definately make your planet bigger, its looking quite small moonish atm. :) good luck!

[pBarrelas]

You have good skills for hand drawing!! I like a lot your ideas, keep on!! I'll stay tuned to this thread !!:thumbsup:

[teyekanik]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099056167_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099056167_large.jpg)

Someone suggested showing some combat up close to the viewer to include more action in the piece... and well, if your gonna have good guys, you gotta have bady guys.. here's the badguy suit.. WOOT weeks of modeling ahead!

[Grimreaper1981]

looks real good... :thumbsup:

just a hint: maybe you modify the feet a bit, hard to describe, looks a bit weird with that spurs...:shrug:

[Orporick]

Yes .. and the feets seems a little too big (but maybe this is an intended effect) .. apart from these I really love your sketches (expecially the marines ones) .. I wonder how many years of test and try and study will take to me to reach the same ability to draw .. or maybe it is something that you have or not have, without any hope to be able to learn ... anyway, my compliments, really nice models .. looking forward to see all these marines (and the bad guys too) in 3D ..

See you, Riccardo

[BookMansBlues]

Can we have and "Ohh Hell yeah!" :)

I love that bro! Really mean looking space dude! :)

[sad]

i think the face is too evil. how about removing the ´mouth´? the good vs. evil thing is so overworked lately... ok, just my 2 cents.

[pinnamraj]

superb stuff...

all the best

[texxx]

very good sketches.

[teyekanik]

Sad- I was thinking of relaxing the faces grimace.. you just convinced me.. I am trying to get the feel of a gladiators mask misked with the mask of a samurai. But ya, right now it's plane old uglE.

Thanks everyone for the comments!

Orporick- the feet are big with intention.. they are rigged with jump jets and magnetics to attach to hulls, ect. I have been drawing pretty seriously since high-school.. but no matter what anyone says, it's something you can learn. But you gotta have a love for it and do it every day and ignore everything but your own instincts... I'm nowhere near as "good" as I want to be... but I appreciate the compliment... keep drawing.. I think you'll find it helps in 3d and vice versa.

Thanks guys, I really admire what you guys are putting out so it's great to hear from you on this. Damn, this is fun!

[AirbORn]

Very cool. You are right, you got weeks upon weeks of modeling ahead, Good luck :)

[kaajey]

Very nice sketches. its good start when you know drawing
Good work for now. :thumbsup:

[teyekanik]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099207179_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099207179_large.jpg)

Ok... I know I've been doing alot of pre work and not alot of modeling. But I feel the need to stay with my strengths (drawing) as long as possible before I start randomly modeling and messing up the 3D over and over as usual... so, here's the guns that will appear in the final comp.. I'll probably model these first to get the ball rolling.. thanks!

[Grimreaper1981]

great pics man, stay tuned...:D

[YasushAzush]

nothing to say
i like your style
good luck

[teyekanik]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099486300_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/4712/4712_1099486300_large.jpg)

less drawing, more modelling!

[Bumbi]

Very nice designs, I love the drum magazine.

The proportions to where they should hold the gun seems wrong for some reason, It also feels a bit too heavy to hold under one arm like that. Would be more natural with a assembly on top of the arm instead.

[teyekanik]

ya.. I fixed the proportions shortly after I made this.. also, as far as wieght is concerned this is strictly a space combat weapon... intended only for a zero gravity environment... so wieght dont't matter.. see how I dodged that bullet?

[vrhead]

looks like an arm mounted m60

[teyekanik]

thanks? I think it's a good thing.. ehe.

[vrhead]

yea it is.. very cool and realisitc armor for the space marines ... looks like this is going to be a top notch image when its done

[plaguelord]

Yeah, the weapon is cool, clean desing, we want some updates! :cool:

[Virtuoso]

Your doing a wonderful job here matt................I like the scope and dramatic battle scene.The scene looks like one Hell of a wild battle,fierce and intense..................Nice sketches,and overall alot of really nice eye candy.....I like your entry and will be around for more as you continue,it's be fun to see this grow........:arteest:

[teyekanik]

thanks mane! I want to hammer this out.. learning alot.. for one, subD modeling... hard to get the ball rolling but thanks for the motivational words!

[HieSpike]

Nice work. You have a good idea of what you want. Make sure to plan it very carefully thought since you have so much to do. It would be a shame to model that awesome bad guy and have it be 2 pixels in the background.


good luck!

[teyekanik]

cool.. thanks. I will try hard to see this to the end.

Well.. this is the technique I am using to make the armour suits... it's from the connect poly shape Maya script held at high-end 3D: Link. (http://www.highend3d.com/files/dl.3d?group=melscripts&file_loc=cps3-v3.0-.0_maya4.0.zip&file_id=707)
I think it's really effective.. and alot of the setup is automated better than Maya has thiers setup... But I am also learnig subD so we'll see what happens.. But email me or try out the plugin yourself to find out more..

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/fps01.jpg

[teyekanik]

Oh I alos thought this would be really good for a normal map.. the influenced poly shape underneath could be used for the normal map layed out onto the control mesh...
has anyone had any experience using a poly proxy in this way?

[pBarrelas]

Keep modeling dude, it looks like your modeling is in the right way!!:thumbsup:

[plaguelord]

Its good to the that wonderfull drawings are come to life! Happy modeling :thumbsup:

[teyekanik]

more hammering out of the "good guys suit"...

http://www.inkmafia.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/maya%202004-11-08%2017-06-37-78.jpg

[plaguelord]

looks good. I like it.

[pBarrelas]

Let me tell you that your model is looking very nice!! Keep on dude!:thumbsup:

[KennyM]

model is starting to get there, good job allready :wise:

very clean & detailed concepts you drew :D
atm I can draw one view to match with itself lol but guess that isn't really an accomplishment:rolleyes:

waiting for more:buttrock:

[Aethyrprime]

Looking good. I like the detail in the weapon and character model. The space flight pack is a nice idea. There is a sense of urgency in your art. As if something was needing to happen fast. Can't wait to see the next step.

[HieSpike]

Looks like things are coming along. Keep up the good work!

[Aethyrprime]

No updates iin awhile.. :( Well what ever your doing I hope your have a wonderful new year!

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