Creating a Environment Kit Design for Games
Release date:2016, July 12
Duration:02 h 38 m
Author:Christian Bradley
Skill level:Beginner
Language:English
Exercise files:Yes
Learn how to use 3ds Max to make kits of scalable, modular assets and textures for your 3D games. Modular assets can be combined to make bigger, more complex objects, scenes, or environments. They snap together easily and are designed so they transition seamlessly to their final destination. In this course, Christian Bradley shows how to create walls, columns, and other modular building components based on a grid system in 3ds Max.
He first introduces the modular pipeline in Max and the basics of making modular models. Then Christian shows how to ensure your texture maps align to the grid, and places objects in the scene to build the complex final structure—an ornate castle—shown at the end of the course. With a little patience, attention to detail, and the skills learned in this class, you can create design kits that speed up development and result in more realistic and immersive game environments.
Topics include:
Setting up the workspace, units, and grid
Modeling the main walls
Working with back-facing polygons
Creating base objects
Building modular elements
UX mapping modular meshes
Changing materials
00. Introduction
01 – Welcome
02 – Why modular assets
03 – Using the exercise files
01. Model the Main Walls
04 – Setting up the workspace
05 – Setting up units in Max
06 – Setting up the grid
07 – Snap settings
08 – Game engine scale vs. real-world scale
09 – Pivot placement
10 – Modular systems you can work with
11 – Modeling a simple modular wall unit
12 – Modeling a simple modular pillar
13 – Working with back-facing polygons
02. Block Out the Space
14 – Planning space between modular meshes
15 – Creating base objects
16 – Dealing with curves on the grid
17 – Gray boxing your modular environment
03. Build Detailed Modular Elements
18 – Dos and donts of modular systems
19 – Clone, Mirror, and tools to copy meshes
20 – Door sizes and window heights
04. Textures
21 – UV mapping basics for modular meshes
22 – Using base objects as UV templates
23 – The UV grid and editor settings
24 – Determining texel density
25 – UV mapping modular environmental objects
26 – Changing materials on modular meshes
27 – Modular map size and UV placement
05. Put It All Together
28 – Naming conventions for modular elements
29 – Placing detailed elements in the scene
30 – Blending grid–based materials
06. Wrap-Up
31 – Next steps
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