Minas Tirith Project || Part 2

#2401

I’ve nothing original to say, only that it is one of the most wonderful 3d projects ever, and that it would be a shame not to complete it. Of course, nobody can blame the team which is really doing amazing things. I find a bit strange that there is so few people wanting to collaborate, since once it is finished, they could very well include it in their portfolios. I suppose that a fully featured version of the viewer and the city may even be quoted by hw articles to show gpu performances, just as right now is done with the many benchmarks out there…
If only I was a cg artist I would help, but cg is only a hobby at the time and I’ve not the skills to being helpful (as I probably showed when I posted a building some time ago :slight_smile:

Com’on guys, make every LOTR lover out there be able to walk this city around!

#2402

Are you going to model the palace/cathedral I just posted???Please do.

#2403

I just came to say cool project, looking amazing.

I’ll be watching to see how it all works out in the end.

#2404

I find a bit strange that there is so few people wanting to collaborate, since once it is finished, they could very well include it in their portfolios.

Actually i think there are many who want to collaborate, but are not suitable since after some short time they get bored and leave unnoticed.

#2405

Yes it should indeed be less pink/orange. I’m not sure how the colours are set in the viewer though.
We can at least alter it for the next version.

Back to things with major priority… I will be highly available for texture work and modelling from second week of july.

Good! I’m looking forward to it :slight_smile:

Actually, I think that this project has already confirmed that online collaborative projects are very hard to keep going, let alone finish it succesfully.

I could land a hand if you whant (and it looks like you could use it) on what ever the area you need most. ( I will update the cgtalk porfolio soon to show some work if it’s desired).

That would be very nice :slight_smile:

What percent of the modeling you consider done on the whole model?

It’s hard to say. Perhaps 60% if you only count finished models. But there are a lot of things that could be copied into new buildings. It does take some time too though.

There are, as Kriket-Guy said, still people who want to join, but really determined people who can/want to do more than just some minor stuff are rare. I don’t know how many people I’ve seen coming and going without having contributed anything substantial. One of the problems more collab projects have to deal with I think.
Another problem is finding people with good skills. It may sound cocky, but I’d rather have one highly skilled person in the team that you can trust to produce quality work, than three or four that produce work that you’l always have to check. I am ofcourse aware that collab projects like this are also a good learning place (also for myself), and that you should give people a chance to develop their skills and techniques, but you’ve got to keep a good balance.
Anyway, thanks for your encouragements :slight_smile:

I don’t think we will. I must say that I find it a bit odd, and slightly out of style.
What’s more, I don’t think that a ‘cathedral’ fits in a MiddleEarth environment. Nowhere in the book is there a mention of religion (apart perhaps from honouring ancestors, but we’ve got the Hallows for that). So I think we’ll just stick to the current concept/layout of the buildings.
What’s more, if we’d keep on changing the layout time and again, we’d slow down even more.

Thanks :slight_smile:

#2406

On the contrary, there may well be a Gondorian religion.
[font=Verdana][color=white]“We will burn like the heathen kings before ever a ship sailed hither from the West.” Denethor commenting on his suicide plans, Pg 857, The Siege of Gondor[/color][/font]
[font=Verdana][/font]
[font=Verdana]I realise this is theoretical, but heathen means either someones non-belief in God, or non-belieft in a religion [atheism]. Denethor is referring to the heathen kings that ruled before the coming of the Numenorians, which implies that they must now be religious [probably Valorian]. [/font]
[font=Verdana][/font]
[font=Verdana]But that’s just my interpretation, so if anyone felt the urge to design a cathedral, then it’s got it’s background. [/font]
[font=Verdana]But like Pjanssen said, it would slow down the progress of the project so it’s up to him as project leader. [/font]
[font=Verdana]But there’s your history lesson of Gondor for you.[/font]
[font=Verdana][/font]
[font=Verdana]Sadroneru[/font]

#2407

Hm you’re right, that could indeed be a reference to religion.
I would like to argue however that Tolkien doesn’t mean heathen literally as ‘unreligious’ or ‘from a different religion’ here. It could also mean unsophisticated, or with manners different from the Gondorians/Numenorians.
Here’s what the Oxford says about heathen:
[i]heathen
n.

  1. A person who does not belong to a widely spread religion (esp. who is not Christian, Jew or Muslim) as regarded by those that do.
  2. An unenlightened person; a person regarded as lacking culture or moral principles
  3. (the heathen) heathen people collectively.
  4. Bibl. a Gentile
    adj.
  5. of or relating to heathens
  6. having no religion.

[/i]

#2408

Judging by Tolkien’s own beliefs (Catholicism), I wouldn’t be surprised if Gondorians / Numenorians had a religion. This is especially evident if you’ve read The Silmarillion, which refers the Valar of the West as gods under Eru. And after the Numenorian’s fall to the Valarian gods, it is certainly conceivable that they had a religion introduced from Elendil and down from his line.

But I agree, that Tolkien also may be just referring to morals (as your Oxford dictionary points out).

Well back to the project, it really doesn’t matter if you put in a cathedral or not because you can argue it either way. Although (it seems that you’re quite educated with Middle-Earth), do you know the purpose of the Tower of Ecthelion? Because it could have something to do with a Gondorian religion; otherwise, perhaps, just a way of saying “look how cool we are with a 300 foot high tower.”

#2409

Oh and regarding the matte painting issue. You are quite right in saying that it would be plagerism to use theirs. But looking at the website which has those images of the New Line matte painting for the Pelennor, it says that you can’t reuse them without the permission of New Line. So you could always try get permission. If you mention that this project is non-profitable they might let you use it without cost.

All images copyright New Line Cinema , 2004.

Any reproduction whatsoever without express written consent of New Line Cinema is prohibited.

[left]So try it if you get the time. If you don’t have time but would like to try them, then I’d be happy to do my (little) part for the project and ask them on your behalf.[/left]

#2410

How do you guys handle work? I mean what’s the workflow? Are there generalists or people on specific duties (modeling, texturing, etc)? Is there a modeling/texturing test?

#2411

We’re pretty flexible when it comes to specific tasks. Initially someone will work on one ‘assignment’, say modeling a section. But if there are other things that have to be done, lets say modeling a prop, and the person wants to do this, that’s just fine ofcourse.
Basically it comes down to ‘the more you can contribute the better’. This can be on different disciplines too, so if you want to do both modeling and texturing, that’s no problem at all. As long as it is communicated ofcourse :wink:

#2412

Concerning asking NewLine for permission to use LOTR property, that’s a definite no-go.
I’ve corresponded with someone from Warner Bros (who appearently handle the copyrights) about a year and a half ago. This was more about general copyright issues of the project as it is now. But it was made quite clear that using movie footage or going commercial was out of the question.

#2413

Well there goes that idea…

#2414

Pjanssen there is a religion since in the Silmarillion, in the chapter abou the fall of Numenor, it is stated that the queen went to a temple in the highest mountain to pray for forgiveness to iluvitar.

#2415

Pjanssen there is a religion since in the Silmarillion, in the chapter abou the fall of Numenor, it is stated that the queen went to a temple in the highest mountain to pray for forgiveness to iluvitar.

I guess you are referring to the Meneltarma and Ilúvatar in the Akallabêth. Yes that’s true, although only the Kings were allowed to go there and not the common people so I’m not sure about how the people were involved in religious activities. And also, if we DO say that they had religious activities, it is not stated or at least, it is not certain that this tradition was brought to Middle Earth by the Faithful and continued to be practised in Gondor.

Btw, Pjanssen, when you want, just tell me what needs to be modelled (buildings would be best, rather than statues, hehe :))

#2416

I don’t post here much, but jeez man, give it a rest. This project has been around for years, all the modellers have seen the references pics a thousand times. Pjanssen has already made it clear they won’t be doing an exact replica of the Minas Tirith model used for the move.

#2417

I have added some old images on my porto. Can’t post anything new since it’s from my workplace.

I would like to know when i’ll be given an assignment and on what deadline?

#2418

That’s some nice stuff you’ve got in your portfolio. Just out of curiosity: where are you working now?

@3dEffects & Kriket-Guy:
Before I can give assignments to people, I’ve got to get things together and make a list of sections/buildings that have to be done. When that’s done I can discuss with people what they can do. If there are any things or sections you already know you would prefer doing, let me know.
You can contact me on msn, the address can be found in my profile. And please register on the forum. It’s not used a lot, but there’s a collection of conceptart and some WIP thread for team members there.

I will also send some mails to other people who applied for a team position recently.

To give you an idea of the building progress:

(click to enlarge)

Green = Done.
Yellow = WIP / Needs adjustments.
Red = Not done.

#2419

I work for a german gaming studio. I would prefer not to mention it’s name.

As for what part i would like doing most it will certanly be a section that has not much already done.Bottom right of level 1 looks perfect for me.

A few questions:

  1. Are the buildings optimised?
  2. What scale did the members have in consideration ( i see some off scales in some models) (like meters, or by the eye, or something else)
  3. I admit that the viewer is cool, but with not too much eye candy.This eye candy can be faked (like glows, rays of light, volume light, etc etc). I know it’s still not textured, but this kind of details makes something look good and special.Is alpha supported by the viewer? Is there an animation exporter or any way to put animations in, like windy flags and something like?
  4. Does the viewer have optimisations concerning the polys? Example: only polys in range of 60m will be rendered, and so on for higher fps.

I will not bug you anymore :slight_smile:

#2420

Ah ok that’s cool.

As for what part i would like doing most it will certanly be a section that has not much already done.Bottom right of level 1 looks perfect for me.
Allright with me. :slight_smile:

  1. Are the buildings optimised?
    No. That’s something that will be high on the to-do list.
  1. What scale did the members have in consideration ( i see some off scales in some models) (like meters, or by the eye, or something else)
    We’ve got a human size reference model which is to be used. But indeed as you point out, some scales are a bit off. This is something that could be checked and corrected when optimising the models.
  1. I admit that the viewer is cool, but with not too much eye candy.This eye candy can be faked (like glows, rays of light, volume light, etc etc). I know it’s still not textured, but this kind of details makes something look good and special.
    I agree.

Is alpha supported by the viewer?
Yes.

Is there an animation exporter or any way to put animations in, like windy flags and something like?
Not yet, but it’s a feature that Flavien is going to add.

  1. Does the viewer have optimisations concerning the polys? Example: only polys in range of 60m will be rendered, and so on for higher fps.
    There is no clipping. I’m not sure if occlusion culling is still in, I know that Flavien has been toying a bit with that. And there’s the level of detail algorithm of course.

I will not bug you anymore :slight_smile:
Hehe that’s no problem, ask away :slight_smile: