Some help brainstorming computer game level design...

#1

I’m running Softimage 2010 and I’m building a outdoor canyon level for Torque 3D. I’m designing a shanty town; so I need to model all the buildings, tables, gas generators, barrels, etc. and put them all together to export it using COLLADA. I’d like to design the majority of the level in Softimage, so I’m wondering what the best way to model the art would be.

My thoughts are:

  1. Put each object on a separate layer; hiding all the other layers, and model. Once that asset is done; clone it to a master layer that will be the level, and place it accordingly. If I need to change the model later I can hide all the layers except for the “modeling” one, and then the clone will be updated accordingly.

  2. My second thought would be to have a file for each separate object, and bring them into one level file. I’ve seen it done, but I’m not sure how to go about and do that. Any thoughts? And if I use an external file per model, is there a way to make changes to the model without closing the level file? I rather not go back and forth into each file to make/see my changes.

Any help and/or thoughts would be appreciated!

#2

Since I’m assuming you’ll need seperate models for game engine, I’d suggest using reference models. I believe you can open another copy of softimage to edit original model, but I’ve honestly never tried that. Then, I think there’s option to update ref model.

BTW - are you using full version or mod tool?

-=Dave

#3

Dave, reference models are exactly what I’m looking for, thanks! I am using the full version…

#4

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