imgd 1001 - the game development process: the art pipeline
TRANSCRIPT
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IMGD 1001 - The GameDevelopment Process:
The Art Pipeline
by
Robert W. Lindeman ([email protected])
Kent Quirk ([email protected])
(with lots of input from Mark Claypool!)
Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 2
Outline
The 2D art pipelineConcept
CreationConversion
The 3D art pipelineConceptModelingTexturingLighting
Asset Management
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Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 3
What's a Pipeline?
In the pipelineInformal. in the process of being developed,
provided, or completed; in the works; underway. (Random House)
For our purposesThe sequence of operations required to moveart assets from concept to the finishedproduct
Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 4
Types of 2D Art
These are created with tools:UI
Sprites / pixel art
Type and fonts
These need a pipeline:Character art
Scenery / worlds
Characters
Animation
Video
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2D Asset Creation
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2D Pipeline (1 of 3)
Now draw charts for for each of theremaining things
Concept:Sketches
Napkin-style
Detailed design treatments
Paper prototypes (for UI)
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2D UI Prototype
designersnotebook.com
Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 8
Paper Prototype UI
boxesandarrows.com
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2D Pipeline (2 of 3)
CreationCommercial / third party tools:
Photoshop, The Gimp, sprite editors,HTML/browsers, Flash...
Homegrown toolsSpecialized animation systems
Tools that simulate key game features (UIlayout tool, etc)
The game engine
Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 10
Assets for a 2D animation
eberlein.org/euphoria
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Another 2D character
cvrpg.com
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One More
aniway.com
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2D Pipeline (3 of 3)
ConversionPutting the assets into the final form
File type conversionPSD to TGA / JPG, for example
Compression
Collection (zip files, pak files, etc)
Testing in the game
Debug / fix
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3D Asset Creation
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3D Pipeline (1 of 4)
Concept:Sketches
Napkin-style
Detailed design treatments
Paper prototypes (for UI)
Maquettes
Animation sketches / flipbooks
Mockup models
Texture mockups
Architectural layout
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3D UI Prototype
lostgarden.com
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3D Pipeline (2 of 4)
CreationCommercial / third party tools:
Photoshop, The Gimp, sprite editors,HTML/browsers, Flash...
3D tools: 3D Studio Max, Maya, Lightwave,Blender
Homegrown toolsSpecialized animation systems
Tools that simulate key game features (UIlayout tool, etc)
The game engine
Exporters / plugins
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3D Studio Max
gamedev.net
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Stages of a Model
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3D Pipeline (3 of 4)
Animation systemsMotion capture
Third party tools
Homebuilt tools
Texturing systems
Shaders / surface tools
Renderers / video systems
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Texturing and Accessories
garagegames.com
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A Model, Textured
zbrush
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Character and a Skin
secretlair.com
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Another Skin
cresswells.com
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3D Pipeline (4 of 4)
ConversionExport from modeling to custom formats
Putting the assets into the final formFile type conversion
PSD to TGA / JPG, for example
Compression
Collection (zip files, pak files, etc)
Testing in the game
Debug / fix
Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 26
Asset Management
How do you share the production processacross time, space, and contentcreators?
Source code has many tools -- "solved"Data is harder
Not easily mergedDependencies not obviousRelationships complex
Some commercial systems are tryingTypically a combination of:
Homegrown toolsConvention and process