[GALLERY] Hunter

the point of doing 3D art is not to get approval from other people. It's to make things that you will be happy with when you finish them and will be proud of...and obviously look cool. And it's also to better your skills as you go and expand your talent across various styles and genres. The reason why it was pointless for you to keep doing halo stuff, It's the same style, over and over again, with little to no various in complexity, just the amount of time put into it. The one thing that military modeling has to offer (for me anyway) is even though it lacks style and originality, there's still the challenge of creating a complex and large vehicle or weapon while also keeping it within a decent Triangle range, and still have it look ascetically pleasing and realistically convincing. I usually choose something a bit more challenging and complex than the previous thing i modeled.

So choose something that will be fun and challenging.

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Originally Posted by Hunter

The post was aimed at more of: is this a good idea?

Something, different/not copying from a game. ya'know, something ive been moaned at for so long, but "ok" will do I supose.

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Do what you will. Don't let people bully you away from your passions. They're just being lazy with their critique and blaming the subject. Just do a better job and they'll shut their traps.

For instance, you should try to avoid 1:1 translation of Bungie assets. Learn to to pick out what's right about Bungie's work and what's wrong about it. They aren't perfect. They get sloppy. They take shortcuts. They omit important details, while adding useless ones.

Broaden your reference material. If you're modeling an assault rifle, don't just use screenshots as reference, use real-life weapons, fictional weapons from other fictional universes, industrial parts, etc. to help you improve on Bungie's design. Modeling a black hawk instead of a Pelican or a Humvee instead of a Warthog is not going to make you better. But modeling a Pelican using Blackhawk reference or a Warthog using Humvee reference would take your work to the next level.

You don't have to be an "artiste" to be a 3D modeler. But if you are trying to develop an art background, you should set aside 3D and concentrate on traditional media, taking lessons and doing exercises. Switching styles or subject matter in 3D isn't going to make any difference to your artistic ability compared to sticking with Halo. But like I said, you don't need to wear a beret and grow a soul patch to do good work or get good work. If Halo inspires you, use that. Do the best you can and be your own worst critic. That's all you need to get better.

You got something to say about my soul patch, ejburke? :p

Penguin and ejburke nailed it. Especially the bit about traditional art.

The problem with copy already made game art is what you're modeling has already been made into a model and all you're doing really is mimicking their same moves. It'd definitely help to add your own spin on to it, and like you mentioned use outside references to better bungie's models. But I still feel as though it'd be more beneficial to make something based off a reference that isn't an in game model. If you like bungie's stuff, perhaps you might try and find some of their concept art from like the original Halo days and try and model something that never actually made it past the concept stages. This way you get some experience with using your own creativity to better it and you're working from something that isn't already a game model. Really either way works, this is just my opinion on how I think you can better your skill. Which 3D modeling is more of a tool set skill than an art, for most anyway.

A screenshot is just concept art that has been mathematically solved. If he can learn to unsolve it in his mind and come up with his own solution, then he's good to go. A lot of the scrapped concept art was not produced for a reason.

3D is cool, because a modeler can take a very analog/right-brained approach or a very digital/left-brained approach. You can be an artist or a mathematician and be equally good (at different aspects). The ultimate is to be both, but that's not realistic for everyone. And that's okay. 3D is getting more and more procedural all the time. Things that require skills now will be a button-push in a few years. Things that required skill a few years ago are NOW done with the push of a button. I think you'll know you're on the right track as a 3D modeler when you mutter to yourself, "These tools suck for what I want to do." That's what you'll be saying to yourself when you're truly pushing the boundaries of your technique and that's when you'll be producing really exciting stuff.

I agree with the part where copying the existing model is pointless, as I can easily just use the lighting to see the edges. But with the Halo:Reach Granade Launcher I didnt actually look at tthe poly placement in order to achieve the same effect, so I beleive i'm improving. And its sub'd as well, not perfect, but new to what I usually do.

The only reason I model Halo designs because I really like the style, and Halo:Reach designs are just like amazing, because they look cool and realistic. And I know I won't move forward. But I start University to study Game Design in September :) So I will have plenty of chances to design my own concepts and model other things, went in today for an event and met some guy who is a concept artist, so maybe I can get him to draw me something :)

And I sure hope things like 3D models won't be generated from a click of a button one day because my learning will be pointless then :P haha. And I agree with almost everything you guys have said above, tah :)

Halo:Reach Granade Launcher Added.

Game Design? You'll have to be doing concept drawing too then.

What's a "granade", pray tell?

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Originally Posted by Hunter

I agree with the part where copying the existing model is pointless, as I can easily just use the lighting to see the edges. But with the Halo:Reach Granade Launcher I didnt actually look at tthe poly placement in order to achieve the same effect, so I beleive i'm improving. And its sub'd as well, not perfect, but new to what I usually do.

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There's nothing wrong with copying, as long as you add your style to it. Artists over the centuries have always been taught their master's style, later on in their training, they improve on the style and make it their own. Copying let's you learn the basics, but you still have to make your own style. Also it's Grenade, not Granade.

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Originally Posted by Hunter

The only reason I model Halo designs because I really like the style, and Halo:Reach designs are just like amazing, because they look cool and realistic. And I know I won't move forward. But I start University to study Game Design in September :) So I will have plenty of chances to design my own concepts and model other things, went in today for an event and met some guy who is a concept artist, so maybe I can get him to draw me something :)

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Honestly, there's nothing realistic about Reach's design. The weapons are getting a bit ridiculous in design and alot more boxy. I don't get why they dropped the sleekness of the covie weapons for more crude design.

Why not start early? Have something to show before you start? If you really like this field, why wait?

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Originally Posted by Hunter

And I sure hope things like 3D models won't be generated from a click of a button one day because my learning will be pointless then :P haha. And I agree with almost everything you guys have said above, tah :)

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sorry, but this is a bit more complex than a click of a button:
http://www.cyberware.com/products/scanners/ps.html

The industry have always been able to convert physical model to 3d digital and vice versa. this is generally used in car design (or that's where I usually see this technology being used), but have been used for games (I believe guitar hero 3 used this to get musician faces ingame).

Computer still make errors and these usually have very high density meshes. until games can run millions of polies per object in real time, you won't be out of a job.