Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Matthew Jones

#21

Interesting comments there, I completely agree that the soldiers would be scared. Interesting too that you think the soldiers are certain to lose. I was hoping they had a chance to defeat the Seithe ship. Many of the soldiers will die in this great battle at least, and they know it, but I want them to show a belief in themselves to come out victorious. This does not mean by any way that they will not have fear written on their faces and I dearly want to incorporate this in the final composition.

The flag bearer is there to rally the troops forward, himself a battle veteran who has earned the right to guard the colours from his previous vicories, whence the decorative sword and glove. It would be wrong in that respect for him to be scared, but for other soldiers acceptable. It almost reminds me of the Russian WWII battles we see on film, such as ‘Enemy at the Gates’ where Russian Officers send troops off into battle, should they take a single step backwards they are shot.

I’ll certainly be looking into WWII archives and see what comes out of it. Thanks for the advice, it’s really helpful!

#22

Here is a concept I have been working on today for the soldier armour. I am thinking of adding small details for individual soldiers nearer to the camera such as belts, pouches and guns in holsters. Not to mention the hands and head!! :stuck_out_tongue:

#23

I’m not ever so happy with the suit at the moment so that may well change. This is a helmet design that I have been working on. It does not show the face too much as I have decided that breathing gear would be necessary, I am however thinking of making the visor transparent to show the eyes. So the eyes together with time spent on positioning the body should show some sort of emotion from the individual soldiers.

#24

Matthew,
Nice designs for your ships to go with a good concept. Like the progression of your ship model.
Good luck.

Mike

My Space opera entry
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=180886

#25

I am still working on this!! Just had to take time out and get Gta SA out of my system.

This is a new suit, I have roughly textured it. I’m yet to add more detail such as battle wounds and maybe the odd belt or so. The sword is the next thing to add before I work on adding more soldiers and adding the ship into the background. Due to render time, I can see me building up the scene in three or four layers. But it is continuing, I will get there!

#26

Hi, Matt - nice work. I love the compostion I LOVE the 2D sketches. Take care not to lose the movemenyt that is in the sketches when it all gets solid and 3D The latest suit is a massive improvement. The shiny model thing looked rubbish :wink: At the moment the character still looks a bit static, and that combined with all the armour means it looks like a robot rather than a human. Opera is all about human emotion, so take care to preserve the human element - dont just concentrate on shiny sexy hardware. If the banner is torn and battered, then this has to be reflected in the texturing of the armour (I know its not finished, just my thoughts). I like the lighting and colours, though - with the possible exception of the visor. You siggest earlier that it could be transparent - I think it should be but the shape of the helmet might cause problems - the eyes seem a long way apart. Sorry if Im being harsh - you did ask me to comment!!

love PHIL

PS love the ship, but maybe it would be more threatening if some of the weaponry pointed down at the soldiers instead of up in the air…

#27

Alreet there dude (nippophil)! Not offended about the first suit design - it really was poor and the metallic shine made matters worse, I am going to change the current one some more with battle scars and perhaps some medals etc… i’m also thinking about a material cape or something similar to the roman decorated uniforms, but may stick to what I know!

“the eyes seem a long way apart” yes they are. Now… this is a problem because the Xionas (soldiers) are not human, yet I want them to be stuctured in the same way as they are meant to reflect battles fought in our history - whence the flags, swords etc… The visor should be see-through to show it is not human, and I have tried this. I also have made a face for behind the visor should it be transparent and will experiment with it some more to post a close up sometime soon.

The ship is firing up into the sky, well spotted. I am tempted to put ‘flying fortress’ style gun bays on the sides and underbelly which will have blasts firing into the grounds. Alternatively I considered turning the ship upside down! I’ll see what looks good, but at the moment I’m working on the soldiers as they are the most important.

Cheers for the comments, all valid - and yes you may add more! :stuck_out_tongue:

#28

Ok, after trying to decide where to put guns on the sides of the ship and what colour the visor would be etc… I decided it may be a good idea to put what I have done already into the scene - lose the detailed texturing problem by just using my original concept colours and see what the whole thing looks like. I’m thinking as there is not a whole lot of time to go I should not worry about fine tuning at the moment and just get the scene looking somewhere near finished. I want this to be completed! :stuck_out_tongue:

#29

Great! I like it very much. You must play a lot with disatnce fog and some background and very far background… the effect wil be amazing. I have a quite similar in my scene, you can look how I did it. With your scene it would look better because of the camera being close to the ground.
I’ll be watching you!

#30

Very nice composition here…and your modeling has great detail. I look forward to seeing you progress.

Gray

#31

Thanks for the comments, they keep me going!

Here’s a quick terrain model, I hope to add more detail and that all important distance fog :wink:

C&Cs welcome!

#32

Hi M477

Nice progress, I like your progress and story, as a lot of entries have drifted away from the original concept, I think the lighting will help your compositon a lot. I look forward to following your thread.

Check my link!

Paul P, Patina

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/grandspaceopera/view_entries.php?challenger=5288

#33

Interesting, interesting. The image where youve plotted the rest of the army looks FANTASTIC because of the colours (which are reminiscent of your 2D concept sketch). I think its an interesting challenge for you to try to keep that effect, without rendering the whole thing in monochrome. The dull dusty colours are much more evocative of epic cinema (esp. war movies) than of stage opera, but I think thats fine. You can try to be too literal with a theme. I dont see how what youve previously plotted fits on to the terrain model, but as you know Im a layman - so I guess Ill trust you. To implicitly expand the scale of the battle, have you thought about having one or two more ships in the far distance?
As far as composition, you can only tell so much from those pillars. Having another soldier in the foreground, half in the frame on the right hand side will change the balance of the image a lot. I think all you can do, though is experiment with that.
Oh, the planet (or sun) youve put behind the soldier seems very big but, I like the idea of highlighting the banner in this way - like it has a unique power - if only symbolic. It also looks a little like a halo around the soldiers head. Religious imagery in opera? Yes, yes, yes - like it! lots and lots of love (he doesnt like me putting that) PHIL
PS like the santa gear!

#34

“I dont see how what youve previously plotted fits on to the terrain model, but as you know Im a layman - so I guess Ill trust you.”

Ahh, well I will have to post a render of the ship in the scene. I have just done it fairly quickly and added a few simple lights to help sit it in place. Just a rough render, but will give you the idea. I also added a couple of outrageously large cannons onto the sides of the ship, which will mean that it now has the power to shoot the poor soldiers. :stuck_out_tongue:

“To implicitly expand the scale of the battle, have you thought about having one or two more ships in the far distance?”

yes… But not the aggressor. There is only one large ship to stay true to the story line. There are bombers though, who will attack the large ship once it is occupied with fighting soldiers so I may well add these (see how time goes).

“As far as composition, you can only tell so much from those pillars. Having another soldier in the foreground, half in the frame on the right hand side will change the balance of the image a lot. I think all you can do, though is experiment with that.”

Experimented a little, I’ll have to spend a long time positioning soldiers. I may have to render them sepparately to the terrain and ship just because of rendering time. Will post something in the future

“Oh, the planet (or sun) you`ve put behind the soldier seems very big but, I like the idea of highlighting the banner in this way - like it has a unique power - if only symbolic. It also looks a little like a halo around the soldiers head. Religious imagery in opera? Yes, yes, yes - like it!”

I’m glad you like that. I will try try try to maintain it! Thanks for the indepth response :buttrock:

#35

Here it is… The ship located in the terrain. There are no textures in this render yet but it shows how the ship will look in situation.

I have added a few direct lights under the thrusters on the ship, and a couple of visible omnis to show a dust kickup and also light the terrain around it. I will be adding a few laseresque blasts from the cannons and explosions (sending a few soldiers flying into the air) at some point. I will try to keep posting work as I do it.

Thanks agin to all who have commented it is a real help and keeps me going. :slight_smile:

#36

Just a quick post. Soldier in the foreground (army to be added), planet at the back, ship in situation… C&Cs on composition welcome as always! Cheers :slight_smile:

#37

great work M477 :buttrock:!

maybe u can widen the image horizontally so that we all can see more of the army.
anyways the colour theme and the concept is magnificant .

#38

Mind reader alert! :stuck_out_tongue: That’s an interesting point which I have been thinking about for a while. I have done a quick render of the scene, this time a wide letterbox style. No adjustments on the lighting in this one, but as for the ‘wider’ scene let me know what you think. Much appreciated

#39

Hi M477,

yes ! It´s better now cause it gives your image more depth… Just push the background planet more to the left so it`s in the corner again and voilà :arteest:

#40

Agreed! I’ve moved the planet to the left. I also added a new sky map, which I created myself instead of using a photo. :stuck_out_tongue: Now, I just have to add the army and I’m almost there! Time is running out!!