Elementary Islands
Since the last post, I have been working on some possibilities of character designs, that although finished they are still yet to be decided.
The first one is smooth edge version of the female and male characters, but after some discussion with my group members, it was decided that a hard edges version would fit the environment better since they were opting for a very simple and low poly assets style. Therefore, I presented them with two other options, both in hard edges, but one of them a “chibi” and simpler model compared to the first one. Either way, as soon as they decide I intend to start animating as soon as possible.
In addition, I´ve done an animation they requested a few weeks ago, of the wolf pet walking in happy way that changes to a sad walk.
14th April 2017
Hello! My group consists of Birgit Chmelar, Danny Dočekalů and Petra Krnáčová, the Erasmus group from Instituto Superiror Técnico, and me, Magda Silva from the Fine Arts University of Lisbon.
Although being a working title, our game is named Elementary Islands and it is aimed for the casual player of all ages, since the gameplay and storyline are simple enough to catch on. The game has puzzles, item collection, challenges, animal partnership, some action, amongst other assets that create an original fantasy world where magic exists. The game is going to be made in 3D low poly, in order to create a more detail artwork and a more accurate programing only the first three levels will be developed until the end of the semester.
After exchanging some emails, we decided to meet at the IST library to shed light on some issues, for example if the IST group wanted to develop the full game or just a demo version, as previously stated we will develop a demo version. In addition, the IST group informed that for their next assignment they needed to show that the game is feasible, therefore I was asked to create a simple animation of the pet character (a wolf) walking in two different ways: a happy/healthy walk that changes into a sad/sick walk, due next week.
We keep in touch regularly through a group conversation via Facebook where we post relevant updates, which in my case are about the modelling and animation progress. Until now I have modelled the main characters (the male and female versions ) and I’m half through the wolf.
27th March 2017
30th April 2017
15th May 2017
Hello, since the previous update my group has decided which character style they preferred – the bigger ones – which allowed me to start working on the animations, not only the humans ones, but the wolf’s as well. Currently, the wolf’s animations are almost finished: walking, running, idle, digging, tracking, jumping and howling, which leaves the attack animation the only one remaining to do. For the humans, on the other hand, I only have the Male character walking for now, since I was asked to take care of the some interfaces first.
About that topic I currently have some 2D images of all the characters faces to build a health bar and I´m working on some buttons for the wolf’s actions – digging, tracking, howling and attacking.
I had some initial trouble with the wolf’s rig because it didn't really allowed me o animate according to it’s anatomy which can be seen in some of the animations (if one knows how a wolf should move). Apart from that it only took me a little patience and dedication to do all the animations. About the interfaces, I’m having some trouble in representing the four wolf actions in a small square, but I’m still sketching some ideas.
Since the last post, I’ve been working on the remaining animations of the human characters that will paticipate in only one of the islands. Therefore,my group has decided that the female version of the main character shall be used as NPC and it will only be possible to play with de male. However, as an NPC the female will need an animal as well, which was later decided to be a mole. Right now I have only the mole’s modeling and animations left to do since the human ones are done and the wolf’s are practacly over as well (it’s still missing the attack animation).
Since the last update I had to model a mole and also a fox. Regarding the mole, I had to do 4 animations: walking, idle, cowering and digging; and, regarding the fox, only 2: running and attacking. The group asked me as well to change the human running animation to something less stiff because it didnt fit the game as they wanted. I also had to give that same animation and the walking one, some forward movement, since the the controls that my group wanted to use were root motion activated. After all the animations done I modeled some objets they requested as well: a flower and a shinny necklace with a moon stone.
In order to advertize the game I also made a poster and a “player controls guide” explaining how to play. In the Mojo day, everything went smothly, the game was playable and mostly intuitive, which proved to be a sucessfull experience. At the moment the project is concluded.
1st June 2017
Elementary Islands
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