Maya Studio Projects : Game Environments and Props

by McKinley, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780470524039
• ISBN10: 0470524030
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Sybex

Summary

Use Maya to create realistic environments and props for digital gamesWeapons, vehicles, tools, buildings, trees, plants, walls, ceilings, and floors-these items may seem secondary to the game environment, but they are integral parts of the game and they all need to be created. Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props is a step-by-step project guide to creating some of the most popular game art.Author Michael McKinley shares techniques for getting the most out of Maya to create realistic, vivid, and compelling worlds and otherworldly props. Along the way, he provides notes and FYIs that give readers depth and breadth for bringing both reality and creativity to their game art. A bonus DVD features step-by-step videos to help drive home concepts. The Studio Projects series offers projects that start from nothing, just as they do in the studio; these books provide you with a step-by-step guide to software attributes and tools that encompass multiple disciplines so that you can create a finished, renderable object Many games have only a few characters, and multiple levels and environments, and hundreds of props-this book focuses on projects and techniques for creating everything but the character Maya is the top 3D app for creating console and computer games such as: Rock Band, Gears of War, James Bond: Quantum of Solace, Fallout 3, and Far Cry 2Learn effective Maya studio techniques with this handy, step-by-step, full-color book.

Author Biography

Michael McKinley is a veteran game artist, primarily serving as an environment artist for several titles, including Tomb Raider: Anniversary, NFL Street 3, and many others. He currently works for Zombie Studios in Seattle, Washington, where he created environments and props for Saw as well as other prominent titles. He is the author of The Game Artist's Guide to Maya and The Game Animator's Guide to Maya, both from Sybex.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Walls, Ceilings, and Floors

Understanding Backgrounds

Project: Creating a Brick Wall

Information Overload

Foliage

Understanding Foliage

Project: Creating Ivy

Project: Creating a Savannah Tree

The Illusion of Detail

Weapons

Understanding Weapons

Project: Creating and Animating a Western Revolver

Moving Right Along

Vehicles

Understanding Vehicles

Project: Building a Dune Buggy

Where to Go from Here?

Buildings

Understanding Buildings

Project: Building a Skyscraper

Let's Light It Up

Illuminators

Understanding Illuminators

Project: Creating a Wall Sconce

In the Home Stretch!

Ambient Movement

Understanding Movers

Project: Creating an Industrial Fan

Not Just a Level

Putting It All Together

Project: Creating a Sci-Fi Prop

Project Complete!

Pro Tips

Using Mudbox or ZBrush

Creating Level of Detail

Mipmapping

Using Multiple UV Channels

Creating Collision Meshes

Being Professional

Have Fun!

Image Gallery

About the Companion DVD

What You'll Find on the DVD

System Requirements

Using the DVD

Troubleshooting

Customer Care

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.