Week 2: Starting development and prop ideas

braniff-j5

Feb 21, 20233 min read

Maya- 3D Modelling Software

We learned how to use the basics of Maya in a class where Daryl showed the class all of the tools within Maya we can use to create our props. He showed us how to take basic polygon shapes such as a cube or a cylinder and then start changing the shape of it using tools to create a unique prop.

Motorbike Class Project

As a class competition we were challenged to create a motorbike prop using what skills we had learned in Maya. I found this challenge entertaining, I thought it was quite engaging to use our knowledge of Maya to try and create this object and I was quite proud of the motorbike I had created.

I used a range of different shapes to create this motorbike such as a torus, sphere, cube and cylinder. My main goal was to try to create the motorbike according to logic so that it makes sense and someone would be able to identify it as a motorbike. I like the details to the wheel rim and connecting metals which allow the motorbike to move as a single object were done well.

I feel like I could have improved on the detail of the handlebar as it looks quite simple and I could have added more details to make it look more realistic.

Creating a unique prop for the Roki scene

Bell

The prop I worked on was a bell as I thought it could be within the cave as we thought the cave could have been a prison before Ragnarök happened but since our scene is based off the events after Ragnarök we could have the bell be quite rusted and dulled over time.

I thought that I could also give it small details which make it look damaged such as the indents within the bell itself and on the edges of the base of the bell. I think it looks similar to Roki's art style with its roundness and simple shape.

The geometry for the bell shape isn't complicated and is more simple which makes it easy to make changes later and allows for people to understand the shape of the prop easier also.

I thought the bell would be a good prop for the Roki scene as wolves are summoned by a howl as pack so I thought it would have suited the wolf's personality to have a loud noise which is used to summon attention within the cave. I feel like it also gives the impression that the cave was used as a prison and was taken over humans introducing the themes of humans taking over the mythological place and transforming it, taking away its nature.

Stalactite/Stalagmite

I also made stalactite and stalagmite props which I thought would look good in the cave within the foreground, background and perhaps the middle ground. This will add an element of danger within the cave which will help to connect the atmosphere of the cave to the wolf's lonely nature.

I drew sketches of what stalactites and stalagmites look like regularly versus what they may look like in the art style of Roki. Once I sketched these I could see the difference between regular stalagmites and stalactites versus what they look like in Roki. I then went on to attempt modelling a stalactite/stalagmite.

I think I made the stalactite/stalagmite prop quite well. I plan to make different types of shapes for stalactites and stalagmites and put them together in the cave scene to create groups of stalactites and stalagmites in the environment.

I also learned a new way to use multi cut as I was originally adding small details by using a single multi cut connected by other multi cuts and moving individual parts however now I have learned how to effective make several multi cuts with 'shift' while using the multi cut tool. This can be used to effectively change the shape of the stalactite/stalagmite into a unique shape.

I feel like I could improve the prop by having less sharp edges and giving the stalactites some bluntness so that all the props aren't sharp and unrealistic. I also feel like I should add more detail around the whole of the prop so that it feels much more rough and not artificial as a prop.

Ideas for props

A few ideas I've had for props for the environment of our Roki project are: