Game Character Animation All in One

by Pardew, Les

• ISBN13: 9781598630640
• ISBN10: 1598630644
• Edition: DVD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-27
• Publisher: Cengage Learning Ptr

Summary

Within the world of video games, characters become almost living entities. Through the use of logic and artificial intelligence, the video-game character is able to act and react to each situation. As the designer, you hold the character's creative expression in your control. Game Character Animation All in One is a comprehensive guide to the techniques of developing and animating amazing characters for your games. It covers not only introductory-level character-design techniques, but also advanced character-creation and animation topics. With an 8-page color insert showcasing game-character design, this book is a detailed guide to creating exciting, believable, engaging characters for your games.

Table of Contents

Introduction	x
Game Characters	1	(42)
What Are Game Characters?	1	(2)
Types of Game Characters	3	(6)
Player Characters	4	(1)
Non-Player Characters	5	(2)
Enemies	7	(1)
Designing Characters	7	(2)
Viewing Characters in a Game	9	(1)
A Historical Overview of Computer Art and Game Characters	10	(8)
The Move to Color	12	(2)
More Power Brings Better Tools	14	(1)
3D Makes Its Move	15	(3)
Looking to the Future	18	(1)
2D and 3D Art	18	(1)
Using Painting and Drawing Programs	19	(2)
3D Art in Games	21	(17)
The Vertex	22	(1)
The Polygon	22	(2)
Textures	24	(4)
Lighting and Reflections	28	(7)
Animation	35	(2)
Game Al and Blind Data	37	(1)
Bringing Everything Together	38	(2)
Summary	40	(3)
Developing Character Ideas	43	(62)
Characters in Games	43	(2)
Character Descriptions	45	(5)
Writing Character Descriptions	49	(1)
Drawing	50	(8)
Holding and Using the Pencil Incorrectly	51	(4)
Too Dark	55	(2)
Not Blocking in the Drawing	57	(1)
Too Much Erasing	58	(1)
Character Thumbnails	58	(2)
Drawing Characters	60	(44)
Start with the Head	60	(5)
Realistic Proportions	65	(10)
Facial Features	75	(9)
Drawing the Full Figure	84	(4)
Proportions of the Body	88	(4)
Hands	92	(5)
Putting It Together	97	(1)
Character Exaggeration	98	(6)
Summary	104	(1)
Character Illustrations and Templates	105	(44)
Character Illustrations	105	(24)
What Are Character Illustrations?	105	(1)
How Are Character Illustrations Used?	106	(1)
What Makes a Good Character Illustration?	107	(1)
Simple Character Illustrations	108	(6)
Detailed Character Illustrations	114	(15)
Character Model Sheets	129	(17)
What Are Model Sheets?	129	(3)
How Are Model Sheets Used?	132	(2)
Creating Base Model Sheets	134	(6)
Making Character Model Sheets	140	(5)
Color in Model Sheets	145	(1)
Summary	146	(3)
Character Modeling	149	(82)
Installing Maya	149	(1)
The Maya Screen	150	(16)
The Workspace	151	(5)
The Toolbox and Quick Layout Buttons	156	(2)
The Main Menu	158	(1)
The Status Line	158	(2)
The Shelves	160	(1)
The Sidebar	161	(2)
Animation Tools	163	(2)
Command and Message Lines	165	(1)
Having a Ball	166	(6)
Menus	172	(10)
Menu Layout	172	(3)
Common Main Menu Options	175	(1)
The Animation Menu Options	176	(1)
The Polygons Menu Options	177	(1)
The Surfaces Menu Options	178	(1)
The Dynamics Menu Options	179	(1)
The Rendering Menu Options	180	(1)
The Cloth Menu Options	181	(1)
Polygon Modeling Tools	182	(17)
Creating Polygon Primitives	183	(10)
Modeling Polygon Primitives	193	(6)
Building a Simple Character Model	199	(30)
Building the Head	207	(6)
Attaching the Head	213	(2)
Building the Arms and Legs	215	(7)
Creating Hands and Feet	222	(7)
Summary	229	(2)
Character Modeling 2	231	(72)
Setting Up the Template	232	(5)
Modeling the Face	237	(16)
The Eye	237	(5)
The Mouth	242	(3)
The Face	245	(8)
Modeling the Head	253	(13)
The Head Wrap	253	(4)
The Helmet	257	(9)
Modeling the Breast Plate	266	(4)
Modeling the Arm	270	(4)
Modeling the Hand	274	(4)
Modeling the Leg	278	(7)
Modeling the Foot	285	(5)
Finishing the Model	290	(9)
Mirroring the Model	299	(2)
Summary	301	(2)
Texturing the Character	303	(54)
Preparing the Model	304	(21)
Mapping UVs	305	(12)
Organizing Texture Groups	317	(8)
Painting the Textures	325	(30)
Preparing the Normals	326	(1)
Painting the Face Texture	327	(14)
Painting the Chainmail Texture	341	(3)
Creating the Belt Texture	344	(4)
Creating the Plate Armor Texture	348	(4)
Creating the Eye Texture	352	(3)
Summary	355	(2)
Character Rigging	357	(40)
External Movement Versus Internal Movement	357	(1)
Skeletal Systems	358	(19)
Building the Skeleton	358	(19)
Skinning the Model	377	(19)
Adjusting Skin Weights	380	(16)
Summary	396	(1)
Basic Animation	397	(54)
2D Animation	398	(12)
Creating a Simple 2D Animation	398	(12)
Character Animation	410	(11)
Comparing Motions	411	(1)
Weight and Gravity	411	(1)
Arcs in Animation	412	(1)
Internal Animation	413	(1)
Creating a Simple Character Animation	413	(8)
3D Animation	421	(27)
Maya's Animation Controls	423	(1)
Moving Objects	424	(6)
Path Animation	430	(3)
Simple Character Animation	433	(15)
Summary	448	(3)
Animation Cycles	451	(30)
Moving the Feet	452	(5)
Arm and Chest Movements	457	(5)
Animating the Feet	462	(5)
3D Movement	467	(10)
Making Final Adjustments	477	(3)
Summary	480	(1)
Non-Linear Animation	481	(22)
Using the Trax Editor	482	(17)
Creating Clips	483	(2)
Ready Animation	485	(11)
Blending Clips	496	(3)
Exporting Animation	499	(2)
Summary	501	(1)
Closing Remarks	502	(1)
Index	503