Maya Studio Projects Game Environments and Props

✍ Scribed by Michael Mckinley

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 291
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Kurzbeschreibung

Use Maya to create realistic environments and props for digital games

Weapons, vehicles, tools, buildings, trees, plants, walls, ceilings, and floors-these items may seem secondary to the game environment, but they are integral parts of the game and they all need to be created. Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props is a step-by-step project guide to creating some of the most popular game art.

Author Michael McKinley shares techniques for getting the most out of Maya to create realistic, vivid, and compelling worlds and otherworldly props. Along the way, he provides notes and FYIs that give readers depth and breadth for bringing both reality and creativity to their game art. A bonus DVD features step-by-step videos to help drive home concepts.
The Studio Projects series offers projects that start from nothing, just as they do in the studio; these books provide you with a step-by-step guide to software attributes and tools that encompass multiple disciplines so that you can create a finished, renderable object
Many games have only a few characters, and multiple levels and environments, and hundreds of props-this book focuses on projects and techniques for creating everything but the character
* Maya is the top 3D app for creating console and computer games such as: Rock Band, Gears of War, James Bond: Quantum of Solace, Fallout 3, and Far Cry 2

Learn effective Maya studio techniques with this handy, step-by-step, full-color book.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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SET THE SCENE WITH TOP-NOTCH GAME ART

Vehicles, weapons, tools, buildings, trees, and other elements are all as essential to bringing a game to vivid life as are the characters. This detailed guide shows you step by step how to create a variety of today's hottest game environments and props using Maya's powerful tools.

You'll start from scratch--the way studio professionals do--and create fully renderable game assets in a series of projects that increase in complexity as you go. Master modeling while you fashion an ivy vine and a tree. Learn more complex UV and texture mapping techniques as you design a revolver. Draw on all your skills and create a cool sci-fi gizmo that glows. It's all here and more in this practical, in-depth guide.
Learn pro techniques for modeling, UV mapping, textures, rigging, and animation
Use polygons, opacity maps, and a lattice to create an exotic tree
Design a dune buggy with shock absorbers, a spoiler, and an engine with gears
Create and animate a Western-style revolver that looks great, even in close-ups
Add level of detail (LOD) with mipmapping, multiple UV channels, collision meshes, and more
Find valuable advice for life on the job, such as how to take direction and criticism

Use modular techniques to create highly detailed environments

Learn all types of video game textures including diffuse maps, normal maps, and emissive maps

Build vehicles, weapons, foliage, and other such environment necessities from scratch

VALUABLE COMPANION DVD
The DVD includes all the project files, movies, and bonus resources mentioned in the book.

(You must have Maya 2010 or Maya 2009 Unlimited to use the files on the DVD.)

✦ Table of Contents

Maya® Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props......Page 1
Contents......Page 11
Introduction......Page 13
Understanding Backgrounds......Page 17
Project: Creating a Brick Wall......Page 19
Information Overload......Page 51
Understanding Foliage......Page 53
Project: Creating Ivy......Page 54
Project: Creating a Savannah Tree......Page 69
The Illusion of Detail......Page 85
Understanding Weapons......Page 87
Project: Creating and Animating a Western Revolver......Page 88
Moving Right Along......Page 122
Understanding Vehicles......Page 125
Project: Building a Dune Buggy......Page 126
Where to Go from Here?......Page 157
Understanding Buildings......Page 159
Project: Building a Skyscraper......Page 160
Let’s Light It Up......Page 197
Understanding Illuminators......Page 199
Project: Creating a Wall Sconce......Page 201
In the Home Stretch!......Page 217
Understanding Movers......Page 219
Project: Creating an Industrial Fan......Page 220
Not Just a Level......Page 231
Project: Creating a Sci-Fi Prop......Page 233
Project Complete!......Page 255
Creating Level of Detail......Page 257
Mipmapping......Page 259
Using Multiple UV Channels......Page 260
Creating Collision Meshes......Page 261
Being Professional......Page 262
Have Fun!......Page 263
Appendix A: Image Gallery......Page 265
What You’ll Find on the DVD......Page 273
System Requirements......Page 274
Using the DVD......Page 276
Customer Care......Page 277
Index......Page 279