Game Engines

It's the second year, and we've just started the dreaded Queens building project. Its not been going to bad, but it has introduced us to game engines. Whereas before we were simply making 3D models, now we can import them into the unreal engine and make a playable level.

The definition of a games engine is 'A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games'. A game engine typically contains a rendering engine, a physics engine, sound, scripting, animation, AI, networking, streaming, memory management, threading, localization support. Basically, a game engine is where you can put all the different parts of a game to create the finished playable version.

It used to be that games companies would make their own engines, for example, the Scumm engine (Lucas Arts) and SCI by Sierra. However, the cost of making your own engine has got more expensive since then, and so companies started to create engines then sell them to games companies. For example, the unreal engine. It's simply cheaper and more time efficient for some companies to buy the engines instead of hiring more programmers to create one from scratch.

There are different types of game engine availed. Here is three major types. Firstly, roll your own game engines (low level). Even though it is more expensive some companies will want to build their own game engines. The advantage to making your own is that it gives the programmers a lot more flexibility. However, this takes a lot of time, and would be very difficult for beginners.

There is also mostly ready game engines (mid level). They are already built and allow you to change things around. The main advantage is the fact that you can just start the engine up and all the tools are there. The main disadvantage is that you don't have as much customisation, so you may not be able to get things exactly like you want. There are lots of engines that are like this because they can be used pretty much out of the box without limiting you too much. examples include Torque, Unreal, and Gamebryo. This is the type of game engine we use.

The next level up is point and click engines (highest level). These are very limiting and can only make one or two different types of games. They contain everything  you need to create a game. The main advantage is that they allow you to create a finished product very quickly, without too much work. The disadvantage  is that it is very limited and it is difficult to be creative with lots of restrictions. Examples of this type of engine include GameMaker, Torque Game Builder, and Unity3d. 

The main thing now for me is to get used to using game engines, which I really need to have down for next year. This queens building project is a good introduction, as we are in a group so we can help each other out. Knowing how to use UDK is necessary for the final major project, and I don't want to be left behind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/529/what_is_a_game.php?page=1

Technical Specification

Project outline

The game is a cop game, based in near future New York. The main character is up against criminal gangs. The game is heavily action based, and is a FPS. It will feature mostly shooting sections with a little bit of interaction with ncps. It will be cross platform next gen, (playstation 3, xbox 360 and pc) and aimed at an audience of males aged 16 to 25. The style will be  realistic and the game play will be fast paced. This game will need to use 3DS Max to build the assets and the level will be built unreal engine. Photoshop will also be needed to create the textures in the game, as well as other possible programs such as crazy bump to create normal maps.

Lead Character

The lead character is around 45 years old. He has short brown hair with flecks of grey. His eye colour is also brown. He is also fairly stocky, and not very tall. On his arms are scars from his service in the force. He has been with the police for a long time and it shows in his stance and his looks.

10,000 triangles

texture 1024x1024 x2 with specular and normal maps

rigged with a skeleton with no more than 25 bones

NPC

police officer, age 30, male. A squad mate of the main character. He is younger, with slightly longer hair, which is coloured blonde. His eye colour is green.

5,000

texture 1024x1024 with specular and normal maps

rigged with a skeleton with no more than 20 bones

Vehicle

squad car

a standard patrol car. Its slightly updated from modern day versions, with the insides  featuring computers and other technological updates. It is slightly worn, with scratches and some mud spattering.

5,000

texture 1024x1024 with specular and normal maps

Environment

Club/ bar located in SoHo. The building is relatively old, and the club is up market. However, a fire fight has broken out between two rival gangs and the police have been sent in to gain control of the area. The club is in a mess, with the area covered in bullet holes and smashed up furniture. The bar has a heavy art theme and will feature some destroyed canvasses and lots of paintings. The style of the bar is modern, which clashes with the older style outside.

  20,000 triangles

texture 1024x 1024 with specular and normal maps. 

Prop

this prop is the bar. It is made of metal with a glass worktop, which is extremely polished.

2,000 triangles

texture 1024x1024 with specular and normal maps

Queens Building project

Got the Queens Building brief yesterday, as well as the teams. It's going to be a survival horror, although I though beforehand that we got to choose what we could do with the building. It seems like it'll be ok, I've been working on some paint over's and floor plan ideas, which has been quite fun. Got some pictures of the building for reference too, although my photograph skills and equipment are a little lacking . 

The main worry is that nobody that is in our group has had any experience with UDK, and I hope that we don't run into too many problems (famous last words). As long as we don't make the task too complicated, and try to do too much, then we shall be fine.

Post Chrismas Update

Well just got back from Christmas, So I thought I'd write a little update. To be honest, I have been very unproductive this Christmas holiday, especially with the 3D side of things. I have filled up a little sketch pad with drawings though over the break. I always have this feeling that I'm not doing enough, especially when I look at what other people are producing. I've continued doing some more speed paints, and hopefully it will help me with my painting. Gesture drawings, I need to get back to doing those. And I've been working on a personal 3D project of a house.

I've also started a separate art blog. This is so I can spam all my drawings up there, and hopefully encourage me to draw as much as possible. I've bought some marker pens in the sale and they are great fun to use, especially for quick sketches.

We're handing in all our first semester work tomorrow. I've got everything on disk and sorted, I'm just a little worried that nobody has been reading this blog, and that they'd think that I've not done anything for Critical studies.