Characters: Cave-dwelling battle bots

[nataz]

It's not usual (the knees especially, kind of antic greece - that may be a good idea to push forward), i like it.

To me the characters are fine (Just be carefull with the right arm of the back character; the spiral seems to have moved a little).
You may do something more with their material (i'd think a little more "old" bronze like...).
The little "robot-pet" is awsome i really like it (it reminds me a french comic character which has the same neck - see tobor.jpg).

[ODoul]

Thanks man! Damn! You know, I fixed that helix but forgot to upload it to my server as a corrected version. Excellent catch! Thanks for the feedback, that's exactly the kind of response I was hoping for. Take it easy! -- 3d_e

[ODoul]

Here is that corrected version. I've also made some adjustments to the lights. Thanks!

http://members.fortunecity.com/explorer2003/Post2.jpg

[Iggy]

I like the bots a lot. I don't think the metal needs to be older. These might be late-model bots. ;) No battle scars yet.

Two things. I don't like the hand on the shoulder, since it hides the whole arm. Well, let me rephrase: I *like* the fact that the rear robot has his hand on the other's shoulder. That solidarity between bots is great. But I'd like to see the arm, I think it looks weird to have it missing. Also, maybe the dog-bot could float up a little higher, upper shin level? Or are his repulsers limited to low ground?

Overall I really like them. Like to see them in a little action.

[nataz]

you're right about the arm but that may be changed by slightly moving the point of view (personnaly i see it as the back bot saying "hold on" to his fellow...)

btw - i think the light is better that way

[NWoolridge]

Great image...

The lighting is good, nice and dark and in tune with the cave setting. But it would be nice to see some more nuance, like blue light cast onto the floor from the lights on the bottom of the robot vacuum cleaner thingy.

It would be cool to see this as a radiosity render, where you would get all that stuff for free (well, the price is render time...). A radiosity render would look quite different, and I think, more convincing...

Great models and poses; keep up the good work.

Nick

[ODoul]

Thanks Iggy! I really do agree with you about the hand. This render started off as me just getting a handle on posing this robot and then led to 2 robots just to see how they worked together in the same scene. This render isn't really "about" anything other than me practicing animation techniques and posing realistically. There is NOTHING functional about these bots at all. Of course, often times, even in the movies, robots could no way function in reality. These are a couple characters for an animation I'm working on as part of a short I have in mind. I've only been doing this for a couple of months now and shouldn't expect much out of it but it's been a fantastic avenue for me to come to grips with certain aspects of 3D. Animation is my ultimate goal. Working for Pixar would be fantastic but a little un-realistic so I would settle for just about anything at this point. Yet I digress, so in closing, thanks! -- 3d_e

[ODoul]

Thanks to you too, Nwoolridge, but as I stated in my previous post, this isn't really about anything other than posing and animation. Feedback is really, really appreciated though!

[AdamT]

Overall I like the image very much. The sort of 40s Sci-Fi style of the robots is really appealing. This is entirely subjective, but here are some things you might consider:

* biggest gripe: the materials all look too procedural/CG. I think it would help immensely to break them up with some grime maps in the color, reflectance, and specular channels. It doesn't have to be extreme--like they're really grimy--just a subtle randomness that everything has in reality. The bump map on the breast plates in particular looks pretty CGish.

* the pose, although it conveys action, is a little too static. Maybe instead of having the rear bot placing a cautionary hand on his mate's shoulder he could actually be holding him back. So, the fore-bot's torso would be twisted more, his front foot raised off the ground, a little off balance. Maybe the lights on the aggressorbot's staff could be brighter or shifting to red--phasers on stun and all that.

* the dogbot could be fixed to the scene by placing it lower and having the blue lights reflect off the ground. That would also bring its shadow closer to it which I think would help.

Nice job, keep it up!

[ODoul]

Thanks adam! I'll give it a go. Still a newbie, ya know. ;) -- 3d_e

[mimo8]

composition idea:

too many colours
the three buttons on their chests are too much to me. this traffic light colours have nothing to do with the rest of the composition colours ... also the blue is quite strong - but as the highlight colour it works - perhaps less excessive use of it : )

keep on

[flyingP]

Hey glad to see that you've carried on with this 3d_e, you already know my thoughts on this guy so there is not much more to add at this point, was just happy to see it again.

Cheers

[ODoul]

It's been difficult keeping up with all the dynamite suggestions you guys had. Here is the latest and possibly final version of this. There are some things that I didn't change because, well, I just liked it better my way. :p I've dirtied them up a bit and added some glow from the weapons. I've also changed the poses to hopefully make them a bit more dynamic. Thanks everyone! -- 3d_e

http://members.fortunecity.com/explorer2003/Post3.jpg

[flyingP]

the pose with the two battle bots 'is' working better here, not quite sure why you changed it on the dogbot though I though tit was working better before, sort of looks a bit static now, not sure about the grime either looks a bit too regular to me at the moment.

cheers

[JIII]

nice man that last pic is just plain good.

only problem the scaring might be a little too procedural that s my only beef. I love it


great job.

[ODoul]

I changed the pose of the little fella because someone in the finished works gallery said it looked like he was fixated on the end of the weapon, I kind of agreed but was indifferent. The grime probably is a bit regular, it's SLA and distributed pretty evenly. Quite frankly, I really don't have the patience to deal with this model anymore. You're right though, can't argue that. Thanks for all your help, flyingP! You too JII, you snuck one in on me there. ;) -- 3d_e

[flyingP]

Originally posted by 3D_Explorer
I changed the pose of the little fella because someone in the finished works gallery said it looked like he was fixated on the end of the weapon, I kind of agreed but was indifferent. The grime probably is a bit regular, it's SLA and distributed pretty evenly. Quite frankly, I really don't have the patience to deal with this model anymore. You're right though, can't argue that. Thanks for all your help, flyingP! You too JII, you snuck one in on me there. ;) -- 3d_e

Don't want to believe everything you read in the finished work gallery, someone replied to one of my posts there with the word 'unique' and I am still trying to figure just what the meant by that one.

If the patience is running out then maybe it's time to move on, no doubt you have learnt from this one and I have enjoyed following it, will be interesting to see what you come up with next.

Cheers

[AdamT]

I like the pose and the dog postion better. I agree with FlyinP about the grime. Still too procedural looking.

[nataz]

Real nice; but i think the texture on their "eyes" is way too "plastic".

Otherwise "tobor" is great & the texture of both bot is ok - better look like that - even though it should be different from one another

Keep up the good job!

[ndat]

Hey sweet 3D_e,
I woke up one morning and went to check this thread but it wasnt here lol. And here it is again, looking great as usual. I love the sparkle in the floor and the compisition of th image. I agree that the grim looks a bit too uniform, I would try messing with the settings a bit more till it looks less uniform. And I too liked the helper bot looking up at them, it gave it more of an emotional apeal. But I would try and have it so it didnt look like it was staring directly at the end of his weapon.

Other than that, your putting out great stuff as always :), Keep it up...

[ODoul]

Thanks guys/gals? -- 3d_e

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.