~Kitasia
Thinking 3D
Today I tried skinning and animating a quick model I like to call Block Felix and so far everything has gone without a hitch! It’s almost surreal that I’m finally doing it in 3D. Currently Block Felix just slides across the modeling studio and I use the xbox controller to animate him. In a way, I’m preparing for the game engine. I’ll be using Blo
ck Felix for a while until I feel I can make a real model without needing to redo anything later.
Much of this probably isn’t impressing anyone, but for something I’ve wanted to do so long, yes, I’m going to make a big deal out of it! Everything I did in 2D was actually planned in 3D first. My whole policy was to think in 3D. I drew this some time ago to get an idea of what Felix may look like in the city and how talk indications would be displayed.
I’m probably rambling now, I think I’m just antsy to see how it turns out. Personally, I think this is going to to be quite a show.
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about 4 months ago
Technically it is a show, though players rarely realize, it is a feat for any programmer to make a 3D game with their own engine. I was impressed by Tandem Tales to start with, and have not yet finished any game on that level.
about 4 months ago
A feat? Well that’s pretty uplifting!
Strangely enough after all this, I don’t feel like a programmer. It’s as if I’m just reading ideas and piecing them together really. The real feat is how much I’ve spent in books.
I like to take it as a sign that I haven’t wandered from my designer background!
about 4 months ago
I wonder how much designer versus programmer shows in a finished game. Tale of Night seems more technical and polished than Tandem Tales, while I have a feeling I enjoyed Tandem Tales more… maybe because it is more designed overall. Except the Trickster ; P
There are some commercial games that are nicer as one time experiences than replaying them, because they rely on impressive technology. One of my favorites is Mirror’s Edge but I cannot say I enjoy replaying it as it is more about audiovisual effects than game flow (the effects are the rewards X )
It is a matter of taste, too, I realize.
about 4 months ago
From my experience, my programmer side wants to make things more efficient and smooth and more professional capabilities while the designer in me what’s to just take it easy and concentrate on making the game fun. They sometimes collaborate to make me do somewhat technical things because it will really make the game more polished and more fun at the same time.
I gotta say, my designer side is losing right now.
I guess it’ll show up again outside tool work. : (
I think it might seem Tandem Tales had more design to it because it was based on a dream. But being longer as you said, probably played a major role. Imagine if it had stopped at the first stage
Games IMO that relies only on impressive technology are doomed to be forgotten. Mirror’s edge seemed to be more about speed running and the feeling of doing all those stunts in first person than showing off to me. A happy medium perhaps? : D
about 4 months ago
You’re right about Mirror’s Edge – I’m just stumped to the ground by its incredible IK animations, adaptive eye filters and stuff.
I looked at old games of mine (I don’t dare show them hehe) and realized I have no designer side yet, but I am practicing : )
about 4 months ago
(Well, I did a quite nice fan game, so I borrowed most of the design)
To get back on topic, something I learned from your games is how good visual indications can be, like the talk indications mentioned. I think there was that context sensitivity in… Tandem Tales even.
about 4 months ago
Aren’t most games borrowed design these days ; D
My concern with visual cues stemmed from a gamedev.net post. If I remember correctly, someone said how hard it was to notice the indications below the health bar. I think today they’re just about required though.