Coming In-Game Movie in TGEA/Torque 3D
by Will Zettler · 03/24/2013 (7:12 am) · 4 comments
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to give you all an update on what's new and what I'm working on. Currently, I have two projects going at once which is nice to keep me busy. I'm currently working on Orion Space Saver Dying World to improve it which will be running under Torque 2D 1.8 version when it is converted over and done. It is now still in 1.1.3 release.
Project Jupiter Mini Movie
Well, after some time trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the game/story idea, I have decided on a movie inside Torque 1.8.2 which is still a great engine. It might be old, but it works. I was throwing around the idea to make it in Torque 3D but right now, to me anyway, T3D is still a complex piece of software which I'm still learning about slowly.
I am considering porting the movie over to Torque 3D once I get it worked out in TGEA 1.8. I'm thinking I can still get the shots I want and still be able to make the movie work and look good within the older engine. Currently, I'm story-boarding the mini movie then using the content packs I already have and bought years ago to add to it for scene props and such, so nothing goes to waste.
Lighting should look sharp, I'm testing all kinds of things from shaders to faking scenes to get what I need and that is it to tell the story. I've been working with TGEA for years off and on, and have a lot more experience with it then Torque 3D so that was some of why I am using the older engine to pull this off.
Below are some screen shots of a few of the many models in the movie I will be using...
I will post more in the next blog update...
The Story
I don't want to give too much away but in a nutshell, a mining crew goes missing on a space station above the planet Jupiter, 7 years later a recovery mission comes to check out what went wrong when a beacon for help is heard coming from deep within the mysterious planet. Will anyone survive this nightmare? Well.. you will have to wait and see how it plays out.
The idea for the story was from being interested in the planets as a kid. I have always been amazed by the power of Jupiter and how it keeps it secrets so well hidden. I've always believed life has to be around outside our little bubble. Sure, I could be wrong but it makes for a great Sci-Fi story, so I'm running with it.
Research
I have bought many DVD and books on the subject of space and the planets in general, so I have a good idea of what's out there... gases, rocks, comits... alot of things we still don't know about or fully understand just yet. I have enough info on the subject now to fill a class with I'm sure. The net is a great place for the info too.
The Project Jupiter Game
Early on, I was planning to make a game based on the idea I present in the mini movie, but, I'm hardly a game maker. I'm good at certain things with game design, but the lack of a team for the undertaking has shot the project down to a mini movie. I am considering, depending how this all turns out to reconsider making a game using the base story as a guide to build from. Anyone interested in helping me?? :-)
Honestly, the main focus is for the movie first. A game would be fun too. I would like to make the game as a free release or at the very least a low cost game, maybe $9.99 a copy or something, depending how that turns out. The movie is scheduled to begin 'shooting' next month as I begin the process of taking one scene at a time until the entire project is finished, then going to release it on Youtube freely for everyone to enjoy. Who knows, I might get some working gigs from the effort for contracting my talents out.
Well, that is it for now. Thank you for readying and I hope your excited. I know I am. Watch for my next blog soon. If you would like to help on the project or movie, please drop me a line anytime. dlstorminc@yahoo.com and as always, thanks for reading!
Will Zettler
Just wanted to give you all an update on what's new and what I'm working on. Currently, I have two projects going at once which is nice to keep me busy. I'm currently working on Orion Space Saver Dying World to improve it which will be running under Torque 2D 1.8 version when it is converted over and done. It is now still in 1.1.3 release.
Project Jupiter Mini Movie
Well, after some time trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the game/story idea, I have decided on a movie inside Torque 1.8.2 which is still a great engine. It might be old, but it works. I was throwing around the idea to make it in Torque 3D but right now, to me anyway, T3D is still a complex piece of software which I'm still learning about slowly.
I am considering porting the movie over to Torque 3D once I get it worked out in TGEA 1.8. I'm thinking I can still get the shots I want and still be able to make the movie work and look good within the older engine. Currently, I'm story-boarding the mini movie then using the content packs I already have and bought years ago to add to it for scene props and such, so nothing goes to waste.
Lighting should look sharp, I'm testing all kinds of things from shaders to faking scenes to get what I need and that is it to tell the story. I've been working with TGEA for years off and on, and have a lot more experience with it then Torque 3D so that was some of why I am using the older engine to pull this off.
Below are some screen shots of a few of the many models in the movie I will be using...
I will post more in the next blog update...
The Story
I don't want to give too much away but in a nutshell, a mining crew goes missing on a space station above the planet Jupiter, 7 years later a recovery mission comes to check out what went wrong when a beacon for help is heard coming from deep within the mysterious planet. Will anyone survive this nightmare? Well.. you will have to wait and see how it plays out.
The idea for the story was from being interested in the planets as a kid. I have always been amazed by the power of Jupiter and how it keeps it secrets so well hidden. I've always believed life has to be around outside our little bubble. Sure, I could be wrong but it makes for a great Sci-Fi story, so I'm running with it.
Research
I have bought many DVD and books on the subject of space and the planets in general, so I have a good idea of what's out there... gases, rocks, comits... alot of things we still don't know about or fully understand just yet. I have enough info on the subject now to fill a class with I'm sure. The net is a great place for the info too.
The Project Jupiter Game
Early on, I was planning to make a game based on the idea I present in the mini movie, but, I'm hardly a game maker. I'm good at certain things with game design, but the lack of a team for the undertaking has shot the project down to a mini movie. I am considering, depending how this all turns out to reconsider making a game using the base story as a guide to build from. Anyone interested in helping me?? :-)
Honestly, the main focus is for the movie first. A game would be fun too. I would like to make the game as a free release or at the very least a low cost game, maybe $9.99 a copy or something, depending how that turns out. The movie is scheduled to begin 'shooting' next month as I begin the process of taking one scene at a time until the entire project is finished, then going to release it on Youtube freely for everyone to enjoy. Who knows, I might get some working gigs from the effort for contracting my talents out.
Well, that is it for now. Thank you for readying and I hope your excited. I know I am. Watch for my next blog soon. If you would like to help on the project or movie, please drop me a line anytime. dlstorminc@yahoo.com and as always, thanks for reading!
Will Zettler
About the author
- Ambient sound artist since 2004 - Texture artist since 2001 - Terrain designer since 2006 - Android app design since 2016 - Game design (Sky Fall, A_Clone) 2018
#2
03/24/2013 (7:59 am)
nice models! I really like it. 
#3
03/24/2013 (6:50 pm)
Good luck with your surgery! I hope everything goes all right. I love the idea of making a short film in T3D. You could even distribute it as a 'game' that is one long cutscene instead of YouTubing it - would allow people to run it at native resolution, etc, and might be smaller depending on your art files! 
#4
In fact I believe that there is such a thing as a "kinetic novel" - like a visual novel but without input from the player ... so an animated short I guess ... but it is a type of game apparently.
Good luck with the surgery.
03/25/2013 (1:58 pm)
I had been wondering if anyone would try a movie short in a game engine as opposed to inside a 3D modeling app (I know that stuff has been done in Max and Blender).In fact I believe that there is such a thing as a "kinetic novel" - like a visual novel but without input from the player ... so an animated short I guess ... but it is a type of game apparently.
Good luck with the surgery.
Torque Owner Will Zettler
Digital Lightstorm Game Studio
You can still get any of my packs via my email... dlstorminc@yahoo.com and just write me and we can setup something you want or need for your game project which the site is offline. All Ambient audio packs just $15 each. I also do terrains in Grone 2, World Machine 2 and L3DT too if you need a custom terrain or something. Hit me up with an email. Thanks for checking out my blog guys. Be safe!
Will