Journals

Been awhile TWHL. Ive been busy with school, mapping, modeling, personal crap at home, but Im back! During which Ive learned almost everything about modeling, and source mapping. Ive got 2 years of C++ coding under my belt, and around may of 2007 myself and Exos started working on our mod, HELIX. A description of it is here:

http://twhl.co.za/forums.php?action=viewthread&pg=last&id=14172

Well, nice to be back, anyone need source mapping help, modeling help, skinning, exporting models, textures, animating, etc feel free to ask.

Christmas is over, Im on winter break, and the new year is starting.

I havent been on in about 2 months now. I had a shit load of cramming for finals, research papers, etc. After that was christmas vacation. I spent it with my family/friends

Ive kept the modding to a minimum. Ive been kind of busy lately, and couldnt really find time for it.

My brother Exos (used to visit here) is currently working on a Resident evil mod. Its looking really well. Hes also been recruited by the Goldeneye source team (pending) for model animations/mapping.
On the side hes been learning the Unreal Editor for UT 2004. Since UT 2007 is coming and will be the first next gen SDK out, He thought (as well as I) it would be good to learn their old engine.

This leads me into my next statements. Ive watched him and listened as he learned. Ive come to realize that the Unreal Editor is far greater than Source. It allows for VERY detailed brushwork (can pretty much model in the editor using brushes!) some concepts from modeling are applied in the editor such as extrusion on faces, bevelling, etc.

Take the void for instance. Instead of it being a void, in UT you "carve" your map into the void. This makes leaks impossible.

another plus is the 3d view is RENDERED AND LIGHTED IN REAL TIME. This means what you see in the editor is what you see in the game. This allows for very complex and intricate lighting.

Compiles dont exist in UT. It compiles as you go. No slowdowns either. You simply hit play and jump right in.

There are FAR more aspects that are better than source. I suggest taking a look at it. Be warned though, alot of the mapping is opposite of what you have learned. Such as minus and plus brushes.

This is essentially how the UT 2007 SDK (using Unreal engine 3, same engine as Gears of War) will work.

A little fun fact. Xbox 360 marketplace now offers SDK kits for creating games on the 360! If you have your PC connected to the 360 via windows media center you can work on the game in the SDK and transfer it to the 360! Microsoft also allows you to distribute it over xbox live! (you must meet their criteria, but you can do it)
For anyone who wanted to mod on a console, here it is folks!
.....cough, ....only problem is, .......its 40 US dollars a month......cough.......

Dont think Im off the source engine. I will be working with both. I want to even learn more engines and how they work.

Currently im working on a generator model for Exos's mod team

Some more things:

FPS banana:

Alot of bad things are said about this site. If you actually went there you would find excellent modelers, mappers, texture artists, animators, mod teams, etc. Professionals left and right. Its not a bad site. Need to know alot of advanced techniques in any medium of modding, visit it. Dont just cast it aside. Its really a good site.

Nice to be back, although I wont be on often. But Nice to see the site still Pwning XD

Inspired by Gears of War, Ive started a character model of a soldier who is based on the theme in Gears of War, but not related or based on anything in particular. Ive started the chest, and will be modeling everything, leaving the face/head for last.

Ill still be working on steamcastle, but also working on many other things as well. Im determined to get that finished.

For those who have not seen, here is a pic of my finished and skinned face:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5163/ownedpq6.jpg

I just bought Gears of war today too During my break from class, instead of study I went to EB games. There was like 20 people in line all there go get Gears of War. I was forced to buy the 75 dollar version (limited edition) because everyone else pre-ordered the regular version. Still I got it, and will be on it in like 3 hours!

Here are some doodles I did during my programming lecture on thursday instead of paying attention XD

I really rushed these, so please excuse the crudeness of them:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8894/scan0001iu8.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6551/scan0002fl4.jpg

Im also planning to do a total walkthrough VIDEO tutorial (split into parts) through the steps of modeling a face using polygon extrusion, setting up the UV map with some really awsome FAST techniques, Creating the skin for it in Photoshop from SCRATCH, applying the skin to the model, and finally exporting it and getting it in-game.

its going to be TEH AWSOMEZORBZ

Still working on models for my steamcastle map. Im also going to start learning animations and exporting characters into source.

As for school, Im working on my first C++ program. It takes the time in/out from work inputted by the user, their hourly wage, and % taken out from tax. Then it gives either daily hours/minutes worked, total made for the day, and total after taxes. It also displays weekly.

Ive got the input/output/main modules done, and 1/4 of the calculation code done. Its nothing special since its my first time coding, but It will be fun Ill post it here when its done. (Its a console application)

oh, and on a totally unrelated note, almost all custom maps in CSS (on servers) are TOTAL CRAP!

Finally Im not sick anymore! And its my day off too! I made sure to study and do all my homework yesterday so I could sit around all day today! Modeling day today! More models for the SteamCastle map!

Ever study so much that you enter a Zen like state? Happened to me after the 7 hour mark. After you achieve it you like absorb all information directly. Its awsome!11

Progress on "SteamCastle" is actually going very well. Ive drawn out the outline and completed 2 more models. There are still 6 that need to be skinned by Exos though. (Or Mr. Data I think he likes going by that now.) (Were both big Star Trek TNG fans)

I hate typing on laptops. The keys are all squished together and in different locations compared to where my hands are placed on a regular keyboard.

Thats enough of my random journal entry.

Oh GOD!, THere is the most annoying person in my computer hardware class! Everytime the professor says something, he pretends he knows more, and contradicts him with RANDOM stupid jibberish! Literally every minute he is saying something stupid! Everyone wants to punch him in the face

Anyway, Ive been modeling a wee bit. I started a train. Its FAR FAR FAR from being done, and Im kind of modeling it from only one perspective, but it still looks good so far:

Have not been on TWHL for awhile, but I try to stop by now and then. Ive been working on my HL2:SP map a little bit, but mainly Ive been working on school work. Im working on algorithmic design for coding, and my professor loves to give homework, so

I have been working on the main hall design of my map. Beveled struts on the walls, custom materials, da works Im also working on a combine overwatch "mech". I am thinking about letting the player control it using a player view control parented to a func_tank or something along those lines, with it triggering a "walk" animation on the model parented to a reference brushwork func_tank.

Ill post screenies on that too when im far along enough.

And thats whats going on with me. Also been playing Chrome Hounds a bit too.

Back in college again I started my C++ coding class, as well as some other computer classes. I might have some questions here and there, and I know some of you do some coding, so if and when I need help I would appreciate it

As far as my new map/models go, Im working on them, but I dont have as much time anymore so Im sad facing it up

Now for some random gripes I have with games Ive played this summer:

Chrome hounds:

SP sucks
Online you have to wait through multiple "connecting with Chromehounds server" messages every time the menu screen changes!
Average wait time to get into a game is 5 minutes because everyone is an asshole in the briefing room!

Random link for me to use later: (not for viewing)

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/340/uvgc8.jpg

Back to college this thursday. I only have 2 days a week for classes. 15 credits (Average is 12), 5 classes. They start at 9 in the morning, and end around 10 at night. Sounds rough, but its only tues and thurs. I figure 3 days for study and work, 2 for play (mappin, modelin, etc) Im going to need to get some loans my 3rd year. My scolarship money covered the 1st 2 years along with other grants, but soon Im going to need some loans. Feel free to mail me money if you want

As far as mapping goes, Im working on my HL2-SP map. Im really working hard to make this a unique experience thats fun, and feels different from Hl2. You can take a look at its progress here:

http://twhl.co.za/forums.php?pgt=1&action=viewthread&id=12126&pg=1

Im been working on and off on my man model. Im mainly focused on my models for my map now, and materials.

Unfortunately the work will slow down when I start college again, but thats ok.

Time to get crackin on my mappin work!

Well, I have 30 days until I start my second year of college. Ive got 15 credits again this semester. I managed to squeeze my classes into 2 days. tues and thurs. classes from 9 in the morning to 8 at night. Sounds harsh, but its only 2 days a week

Today Im getting my books, school supplies, a haircut :), and a credit card. (To build my credit, not go go crazy with)

Should be on my way in a couple hours or so. I think Ill play some xbox 360 a bit until its time to leave

Got a ticket today. I was parked in a firezone for too long. I was returning a defective recliner, so I parked out front because its heavy, and the closer proximity to the store the better. After settling the matter of the refund, I decided to purchase the same chair as a trade for the old one. So Im waiting like 10 minutes for the stock guy to come help with the chair to take it outside. He does not show, so me and my bro put it in a cart and get it to the checkout desk. (Almost snapped the cart in half, lol)

Finally I get the chair outside and I find a parking ticket on my car! Now, the clerk in the store told me it was ok to keep it there because I was returning with the other chair. When I go in to see if he knows what the ticket is about, he says: "We dont have any relations with what the police do.

Now I got a ticket, and im pissed

The ticket was only 43 dollars, but its the principle of the matter!

New Face model update! Progress on my face model has been slow. Ive been busy lately, but still Ive managed to work on it here and there. Here is an update. ("3D" rotoscope in view, sorry :()Ive decided I will make a body for this. I wonder what I will do??? Perhaps a statue static prop for source XD

Im progressing pretty good so far on my face model. Its about 49% done so far. I dont know if I will make a body or not though.....

Here's a screenie:Its almost done. Ill probably compile it with a animation and make it a prop_dynamic or something.

Finally I think Im ready to map again. Ive been doing (and learning) other things related to mapping like texture creation, normal mapping, reflections, parallax, prop modeling, prop dynamic modeling, prop physics modeling, face modeling, model animating, model importing, v_model importing and animating, Whew I think thats all of it

Anyway Im making a kind of ferryboat map (I scratched the subway idea) That will be ALL custom materials (Except for water), Mostly custom props, and will pwn to the max!

It will be the quintessential achivement of mapping!