looking for some general mapping advice
by James Pulliam · in Torque 3D Beginner · 10/27/2012 (4:25 pm) · 6 replies
i am looking into learning how to create levels/maps for game developement.
however i am finding myself having troubles trying to decide which way i should go to get myself started.
so i thought i would write this post in hopes that some more experienced mappers/level designers could share some advice and help me get started in the right path.
i have blender installed on my pc and i am slowly picking up on how to use blender to build models. however i find myself wondering how good blender would be for creating levels in a game. i do feel that blender in the long run will be a much better program to learn and use, but don't really know how good it would be to build larger models such as buildings and such.
i also have the torque constructor installed on my pc. now the constructor is alot easier tool to work with, and i feel would handle larger builds in a much more user freindly enviroment. however it lacks documentaion, and anything i build in it would be pretty much restricted to the torque game engine, although i could be wrong about that. for as i said it lacks documentation so i really don't know what it can and can't do.
and to help reduce possible suggestions, i do not have the money to purchase such programs like maya, rhino, 3d max, and such.
although right now i am concentrating just on learning the process. my end goal is to be able to design, create, package, and distribute content packs for the creation of maps/levels.
my thoughts on it, is to use the constructor for the larger builds, then use blender for more detailed pieces to add into the map/level. however as i mentioned there isn't really alot of documentation on the torque contructor, and i fear that it could perhaps be a dead project. for i haven't seen any updates for it for a long time now.
so i am basically looking for some good solid advice on how to set up a level for the creation of creating a content package for map/level design.
and any advice on the strengths and or weakness of blender and or constructor when it comes to mapping/level design.
#2
One thing about Blender is that you'll find hundreds of videos to do just about anything. The videos for Blender can often be used as a guide for people that choose other modeling applications in that the work flow is generally the same, even when the commands are named differently.
You'll also appreciate The GIMP for painting materials and UV's as an option to Photoshop since they share many of the same tools and in some cases GIMP has better tools.
You'll also like to obtain the Blender to DTS plugin so you can export your models into DTS format and Collada ( Collada export is already built in ).
You'll also need a DDS converter. If free is important to you then you're in luck! The GIMP has a plugin to export your files directly into a DDS format. There is also a small stand-alone program that's simply called DDS Converter that does the same thing.
If Terrain is your thing, you will find many programs available to make Terrain for you but beware that they don't all support massive land areas with attention to seams.. in this case.. you get what you pay for.
But it is also entirely possible to make your own Terrains inside Blender.
I'd like to advise that you google Amazon.com for books. You'll find many that suit your needs and interests and they can fill in the gaps that the youtube videos may not cover.
Lastly, but not leastly ( is that a word? lol ).. You have the community forums to search through the resources and if the answers are not there or in the documentation then you can resort to forum posts and I am sure that somebody here in the community will provide at least some useful pointer in the right direction.
Edit: I remembered the Store here at GG. The content packs not only offer content but they also show the correct way to build and release a content package, so obtaining a few of them will be very useful to your end results.
10/27/2012 (5:18 pm)
I'm with Britt's suggestion. Blender has come a long way from it's roots and today is a very useful modeling application. It includes all the abilities you need to create content.One thing about Blender is that you'll find hundreds of videos to do just about anything. The videos for Blender can often be used as a guide for people that choose other modeling applications in that the work flow is generally the same, even when the commands are named differently.
You'll also appreciate The GIMP for painting materials and UV's as an option to Photoshop since they share many of the same tools and in some cases GIMP has better tools.
You'll also like to obtain the Blender to DTS plugin so you can export your models into DTS format and Collada ( Collada export is already built in ).
You'll also need a DDS converter. If free is important to you then you're in luck! The GIMP has a plugin to export your files directly into a DDS format. There is also a small stand-alone program that's simply called DDS Converter that does the same thing.
If Terrain is your thing, you will find many programs available to make Terrain for you but beware that they don't all support massive land areas with attention to seams.. in this case.. you get what you pay for.
But it is also entirely possible to make your own Terrains inside Blender.
I'd like to advise that you google Amazon.com for books. You'll find many that suit your needs and interests and they can fill in the gaps that the youtube videos may not cover.
Lastly, but not leastly ( is that a word? lol ).. You have the community forums to search through the resources and if the answers are not there or in the documentation then you can resort to forum posts and I am sure that somebody here in the community will provide at least some useful pointer in the right direction.
Edit: I remembered the Store here at GG. The content packs not only offer content but they also show the correct way to build and release a content package, so obtaining a few of them will be very useful to your end results.
#3
and i have seen the trouble with textures in constructor even early on, trying to get the repeats to line up to different sized brushes.
it sort of like each have their avantages and disavantages.
i have looked at gimp, and although it not bad, it reminds me too much of fireworks, which i didn't like at all. i will do most of my texturing in paintshop pro X2.
but it seems from your oppinions, well atleast for so far, blender is the better choice of the two. and yes when it comes to tutorials there is milions of them on the web.
i was toying around with hexigan from daz studios, i purchased it back when they was first developing it, however they are now offering it for free, and although it does have a pretty user friendly enviroment, it seems to have been discontinued for further development, which is why i went with blender between the two.
i am sure i can figure blender out, i am taking it slowly, i feel as long as i learn one new thing about it each weekend, which is about the only real time i have to learn it, then i am going in the right direction.
10/27/2012 (7:48 pm)
thanks for the replies, i am leaning to blender just because it would be in my opinion a better long term plan. and yes i too have seen some pretty amazing stuff done with blender,it has def.came along ways since i first looked at it about 10 years ago. it was a mess back then.and i have seen the trouble with textures in constructor even early on, trying to get the repeats to line up to different sized brushes.
it sort of like each have their avantages and disavantages.
i have looked at gimp, and although it not bad, it reminds me too much of fireworks, which i didn't like at all. i will do most of my texturing in paintshop pro X2.
but it seems from your oppinions, well atleast for so far, blender is the better choice of the two. and yes when it comes to tutorials there is milions of them on the web.
i was toying around with hexigan from daz studios, i purchased it back when they was first developing it, however they are now offering it for free, and although it does have a pretty user friendly enviroment, it seems to have been discontinued for further development, which is why i went with blender between the two.
i am sure i can figure blender out, i am taking it slowly, i feel as long as i learn one new thing about it each weekend, which is about the only real time i have to learn it, then i am going in the right direction.
#4
10/27/2012 (8:24 pm)
You want to keep learning Blender. Nobody really uses BSP methods for level design any more. Once you learn how to UV things properly you will find that there is a ton you can do in a modeling package that you just can't do in one of the older style level editors. There really is a new standard for game art that has been around for the last few years. I'd suggest visiting www.polycount.com and checking out their wiki, that way you can get a good idea of what game art really takes these days. 
#5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18fHcZYCGGA&feature=plcp
designed using blender
more:
http://www.youtube.com/user/yorkshirerifles/videos?view=0
look through his forum posts,u will get more info on blender
search on youtube.u will get lots of tutorial on level desgining on blender.also keeep looking for different game's mode tutorial designed and done using blender
10/27/2012 (9:02 pm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFFE9DIvbeg&feature=plcphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18fHcZYCGGA&feature=plcp
designed using blender
more:
http://www.youtube.com/user/yorkshirerifles/videos?view=0
look through his forum posts,u will get more info on blender
search on youtube.u will get lots of tutorial on level desgining on blender.also keeep looking for different game's mode tutorial designed and done using blender
#6
and bookmarked polycount dashiva. will look deeper into that.
10/27/2012 (10:03 pm)
those look pretty good ahsan.and bookmarked polycount dashiva. will look deeper into that.
Associate Britt Scott
Constructor can also be a pain when texturing.(See my Farm Level)
Blender should be able to do buildings. You'll just have to learn how to break-up the models.
Let me know if you want more information. I only know 3ds Max, but I've seen some amazing work come out of Blender.