IP Incubator Club Thread 2015: Monthly-016: May 2014


#1

Do you have an idea for a cool:
Web Comic?
Animated Short?
Filmed VFX short?
Indie Game?

Join us at the IP Development Club

Current PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:

Hextraction
WEBSITE : www.hextraction.com/
PRODUCTION BLOG : www.combomash.com/category/production-blog/
CATEGORY : Video Game (PC, MAC, Linux, OUYA)

[b]PROJECT DESCRIPTION :

[/b]Take command of a crew of mercenary oil riggers tasked with locating and acquiring rare natural resources from an uncharted alien planet. In this sci-fi tower offense strategy game, you are challenged to manage a crew as they build towers, collect resources and try to survive hordes of alien creatures on an ever-changing game board.

STATUS NUMBER : 3
TEAM MEMBERS : 2 core + freelance / businesses

Grant Moore - Creative Director
Name Redacted - Managing Director

NEXT MILESTONE : Kickstarter Campaign Launch, April 21st

[b]HELP ME!

[/b]We’re doing a lot of work to prepare for our day #1 Kickstarter campaign launch and a big part of that is ensuring we get this campaign approved. So if you could please lend us a tweet or share by clicking on the red buttons on this page, it would be hugely appreciated.

https://www.thunderclap.it/en/proje…197-hextraction

[b]WHAT WENT RIGHT THIS WEEK

[/b]We have got lots accomplished in the past week, I’ll just do a quick list. Got a bunch of art assets finished, made some wicked code to generate a tiles map procedurally using re-producable seed values, managed to book 9 local companies for a launch “demo” party next week, got pre-vis handed off to a local VFX studio to help do cinematics for our trailer, found a lawyer and got him to draft all the necessary start-up legal docs (cost a lot, but worth it for long term protection)… gah, don’t even know what else. Lots. We’ve been going non-stop for a month now and it’s all starting to come together.

[b]WHAT WENT WRONG THIS WEEK

[/b]I’m getting sick from working too much? Seriously, that’s about the worst part this past week but it’s kind of to be expected during perpetual crunch time until we launch.

[b]SHOW AND TELL

[/b]Wicked new animated logo I threw together the other day.

[b]Close-up of the firing & “damage” effects working in-game.

Automatically generated tile maps in our new system

The fully rigged and texture player pod, which will be used in both the game & trailer

[/b]

[b]Some more examples of tile generation. We still need to “flatten” it a work on the textures so it’s not so visually distracting, but it’s getting really close to what we want.

A bunch of the current units, we won’t have time to make any more before the campaign but hopefully this should show enough of where we want to take this game.
[/b]

___________________________________________________________________
[b]Wanna JOIN the IP Incubator Club? Well the Instructions are below.[/b]

(Every month I will spotlight one of the Incubator projects. To have a chance for a spotlight, just post a WIP on out IP incubator threads.)

Rob Note:
Please do post projects you are working on, I WILL eventually spotlight them.

Welcome to the IP INCUBATOR CLUB
Past Threads:

IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Week-001: April 15-21- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-002: April 22-May 5- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-003: May 6-19- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-004: May 20-June 2- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-005: June 3-June 16- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-006: June17-June 30- 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Bi-Week-007: July 1-July 28- 2013[/b]
[b]
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Monthly-008: July 29-August 31- 2013

IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Monthly-009: -September 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Monthly-010: -October 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Monthly-011: -November 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2013: Monthly-012: December 2013
IP Incubator Club Thread 2014: Monthly-013: January2014
IP Incubator Club Thread 2014: Monthly-014: February2014
IP Incubator Club Thread 2015: Monthly-015: March 2014

Projects So Far:
—Click To Expand—
[SPOILER]
The Projects so far this week:

Project Name:____________CATEGORY:Start Date: First Post______Link

[color=#ffffff][color=darkorange]Pole Force 1____________Games _Jan 2013[/color][/color][color=#ffffff][color=darkorange]Q4 2013 ___Link
[/color][/color][color=#ffffff][color=darkorange]STASIS_________________Games ______Dec 2010_____04-16-2013 ___Link
NeverEndingPrincessStory___Animation____TBD__________04-16-2013___ Link
Le Gouffre_______________Animation July 2011______04-16-2013 Link
Top secret project ________Animation TBD_________04-16-2013 Link [color=darkorange]
Spec Commercial__________Animation___ April 2013___04-17-2013 Link
I am the Antagonist________Cross Media TBD__________04-17-2013__ _Link
SCHIRKOA_______________Animation___ Mid 2010______04-17-2013___ Link
HYPERREALITY ENGINE_____3D Engine ___ April 2013_____04-18-2013___ Link
[size=2][color=darkorange]Blaster X HD_____________Games ______End of 2010____04-25-2013 ___Link
Soliloquy of a Madman _____ Games _____January 2013___04-23-2013 ___Link
[size=2][color=darkorange]Le Gouffre _______________Animation_____ July 2013_____ 04-23-2013___Link[size=2][color=#ffffff][color=darkorange]
I LOVE KAIJU_____________Animation___ April 2013______05-04-2013___ Link
NeverEndingPrincessStory __ Animation June 2010_______04-29-2013_ Link
The Wrath [color=#ffffff][color=darkorange]June 2012 - October 2013 Link
[/color]
[/color][/color][/size][/SPOILER]
THE IP INCUBATOR CLUB.

in·cu·bate

/ˈɪnkyəˌbeɪt, ˈɪŋ-/ Show Spelled [in-kyuh-beyt, ing-] Show IPA verb, in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing.verb (used with object)

  1. to sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
  2. to hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
  3. to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
    4. to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to: His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.

Welcome to the IP Incubator Club
The idea behind this Club is simple

POST MONTHLY UPDATES of Original IP that you are developing. Hopefully IP that can eventually help the creator generate some income.
Also you should provide CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK to the work posted by other posters of the club.

The idea of this “Incubator Club” is to get away from the gloom and doom and provide a lifeline of support for our fellow artists.

The artists will have at their discretion how much they wish to share on the projects they are working on, what program they will be using and the medium . But the IP HAS BE AN ORIGINAL CREATION.

DEVELOPER CO-SPONSORS
[size=2][size=2]The idea is to match developers with individual sponsors. People whose responsibility is to monitor the progress of a specific project. The sponsors would be fellow developers. It would be their responsibility to provide support and provide guidance to the developer from an outsider’s point of view. I’m not advocating “mentor ship” where there usually is an imbalance of expertise/knowledge between two parties. Rather, I envision sponsorship to be a vehicle for peer support, for consultation between and among artists who each have valuable tools, experience, and knowledge to share. Sponsorship is method for both parties to learn and grow professionally and perhaps personally as well.[/size]

[font=Verdana]
The Concept[/font]___________________________
Ok so lets recap:
[color=white]The idea behind this IP incubator club is to provide a cool hangout place for IP creators. [/color]recap…
Weekly threads will be posted, to provide encouragement for developer to keep working on their idea.

On way to see this is to think of us as a spotter on your local gym.
You use your WIP thread to post your regular updates, But ONCE A WEEK you post on the IP INC thread a summary, based on the forsmat posted blow.

GENERAL RULES:

[ul]
[li]FOR GEN DISCUSSION of the IP CLUB CLICK HERE: Your Own IP?[/li][li]WEEKLY WIP are encouraged[/li][/ul][/size][/color][/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/color][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][/color][/color][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe]

[/color][/color][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe]On your weekly post please Fill the following information (you can cut and paste it[size=3]:)[/size][/color][/color] [color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=#ff8c00]CONCEPT NAME:

STILL IMAGE: (VOLUNTARY)
CATEGORY:
Art
Animation
Comics
Design
Fashion (3D Printing)
Film
Games
[i][b]Merchandizing
[i][b]Publishing
Technology
Toys
Web Comics
Video

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
STATUS NUMBER: 1
TEAM MEMBERS:(Voluntary)
START DATEESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE : (Voluntary) -
WIP THREAD:
WHAT WENT RIGHT THIS WEEK:
WHAT WENT WRONG:
SHOW AND TELL: [/b][/i][/b][/i]
[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/color]

[ul]
[li][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2]WIP thread should be posted on the appropriate CGSociety/Game Art Sub forum and should follow the following naming convention: IP Incubator!:xxxxx:[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2]Only participants who follow the rules and submit a weekly Entry entry will be eligible for a monthly spotlight ( A frontpage plug).[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2]Any piece caught breaking the rules will be taken off the thread.[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2]When you are done creating your IP please do give at least a thank you to the IP. We need the press.[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][/ul][color=#ffffff][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=#ff8c00]RESOURCES:
ART LAW RESOURCES:
–CLICK TO EXPAND–
[SPOILER]
What is a Trademark?
http://www.uspto.gov/faq/trademarks.jsp
What is a Copyright?
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

US
http://www.copyright.gov/
http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

INT
http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en

Notable Laws:
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
[size=3]Copyright Act of 1976
Copyright Act, 1978
[/SPOILER]
MARKETPLACES:
–CLICK TO EXPAND–
[Spoiler]
Film/ Video/ Animation Content[/size][/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/color]
[ul]
[list]
[li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://vimeo.com/[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://www.youtube.com/[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]Stock Footage:[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://www.pond5.com/index.php?ref=orbitrob[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://submit.shutterstock.com/[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://www.stockfootageseller.com[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][li][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]http://www.stockfootageseller.com/w…ostock-logo.jpg[/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][/li][/ul]
[/list][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][color=white]Games/Apps

[ul]
[list]
[li]http://store.steampowered.com/[/li][li]http://www.microsoftstore.com/store…DisplayHomePage[/li][li]http://developer.android.com/index.html[/li][li]Web Comics[/li][li]www.comixology.com[/li][/ul]
[/list]3D Models (for Animation)

[ul]
[list]
[li]http://www.turbosquid.com/[/li][li]http://www.daz3d.com/[/li][li]3D Models (for 3d Printing)[/li][li]https://www.ponoko.com/[/li][li]http://www.shapeways.com/[/li][li]http://www.sculpteo.com/en/[/li][li]http://i.materialise.com/[/li][/ul]
[/list]Clip Art

Custom Merchadize:
http://www.zazzle.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/Make Magazine: Ultimate Guide for 3D Printing is a FANTASTIC resource. GET IT if you are interested in getting into this market:
http://www.amazon.com/Make-Ultimate…s=make+magazine

[/SPOILER]
CONFERENCES:
–CLICK TO EXPAND–
[Spoiler]
Digital Media:

[ul]
[li]SXSW[/li][li]Shepton Digi Fest[/li][li]NAB[/li][/ul]Gaming:
[ul]
[li]PAX[/li][li]PAX East[/li][li][size=5]Independent Games Festival[/li][li]E3[/li][/ul]Europe:
[ul]
[li]Edinburgh Interactive Festival[/li][li]Eurogamer Expo[/li][/ul]Comics:
[ul]
[li]Comicon[/li][li]SPX[/li][/ul]Animation Festivals:
[ul]
[li]SIGGRAPH [/li][li]Bradford Animation Festival[/li][/ul][/size][/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][/color][color=#fffffe][color=#ffffff][size=2][color=#fffffe][size=2][/size][/size][/color][/color][/color][color=#ffffff][/Spoiler][/color]


#2

As promised

DCACM SIGGRAPH:US Copyright Law & Visual Artists Rights (Talk by US Copyright Office)


#3

Sounds great! I can’t attend myself, but hope others do.


#4

Well would you be interested in a Webcast?


#5

Grant,

I saw watched this AMAZING talk on the GDC Vault on how they designed StarCraft 2 to be a ‘spectator friendly’ game.

http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014488/The-Game-Design-of-STARCRAFT

He goes through everything from how they created their tech tree to how the decided on the size of the units. Its an excellent watch, and Im sure you will get some inspiration from it!


#6

Depends on Time and Price. :stuck_out_tongue:


#7

How about free?
It is part of my full time job to spread this info…


#8

When’s the Webcast? My timezone is GMT+8hrs… but of course the speakers for webcast are in a different timezone so that’s just fyi. :slight_smile:


#9

Ok I will be Pm you…lets get back to this month’s IP Club


#10

Hi Grant,

Your game is looking great! I feel it has a very good chance of doing well, however, I noticed that you don’t have “mobile” listed on your supported platforms. Granted, mobile is not always the best option for certain games, but I think Hextraction would do well on a tablet. Especially since it is more of a strategy game, which tend to yield higher premiums on a mobile platform.

The only comment besides that, I think it would be great to see some water tiles and possibly a greater depth in elevation - to make the terrain more diverse, visually. Just an idea, but that might impact your game design.

I wish you well with your game and I hope it does awesome. With the amount of games that come out everyday, I think a lot of people lose sight in just how difficult it is to make a game. It is definitely no easy task, so kudos to you and your team. :slight_smile:


#11

Concept Name: SCHIRKOA

Website: http://www.schirkoa.com/

CGTalk WIP thread: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthr…00&page=1&pp=20

Project Description:
SCHIRKOA is the story (an IP maybe) I will be trying to develop in coming years.
At the moment I am aiming at an animated Short Film. Followed by a graphic novel. And then let’s see what else can come out. It’s set in a dystopian city, involves bagheads and some other ‘creatures’.

Status Number: 16

What went right this week:
Done with a couple of new environments. Found a way to cut down render times significantly. This should help me finish the film on time. More on that in next update.

What went wrong this week:
Researching to cut down render times meant less production work done. I hope it’s for the best.

Show & Tell:
Not at the moment. Should be up in next update.


#12

Hey Grant,

Cool trailer. Any update on your game?


#13

mhhhh, i just found the (already canceled) hextraction kickstarter… I totally missed it (was it posted here, or is this a case of “no kickstarter announcements allowed”? Because this kinda counterfits the idea of providing a place to show progress, but not allowing to communicate important project news like this.

?


#14

Post in ON THIS THREAD.


#15

PROJECT TITLE: The Offering
WEBSITE: www.blurtheline.co.uk
CATEGORY: Short film (part of trailer for feature project)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The UK Prime Minister meets up with an investment banker at number 10. The banker through debate, weakens the Prime Minister’s resolve, putting him through the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance until he finally admits that he is not even worthy to be a politician. In such a weakened state, his soul is easily possessed.

STATUS NUMBER: 1
TEAM MEMBERS: Voluntary

WIP THREAD: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=7828948#post7828948

Locations

The location for the narrative part of the scene is to be shot in Piccadilly, London. Shoot date 12th June. The location for the greenscreen portion of the scene to be shot with a treadmill, wind machine etc. Date TBA

Storyboards





What went right this week:
Film crew of DP, sound recordist, lighting, gaffers, make-up etc. confirmed for the filming on the 12th, including the actors of course. Location booked.
Shooting on a 4K camera (the Blackmagic Production Camera).

What went wrong this week:
Didn’t manage to get hold of a motion control rig. Plan B now is to use a treadmill and re-frame shots in After Effects to simulate camera dollying where needed.