New Level (Advanced) - Game Elements 06 v1.0 Archways

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:22 am

Something else I was working on.

A series of archways to fit seemlessly (hopefully - never know) in with walls. This first one is pretty basic & only for the Garden style levels.

More updates to appear in the custom content area.

Robbie

Superterv · Post by **Superterv** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:46 am

I really liked the idea of the arch Robbie, very attractive. Thank you. Keep those ideas coming they are great.

Kaboom! · Post by **Kaboom!** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 10:16 am

Really cool!

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:50 pm

I've been thinking of something like this for ages now, but never got round to it. Glad you did Robbie, saves me the job.

I suppose all you need to change it to other tile sets is jpgs of the wall fronts and tops. As long as they're called model#.jpg they should just replace the garden one. I have some from Secret Worlds so I might give it a try.

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:08 pm

Good work Robbie, maybe Poopascoopa will make something out of this.

It's about time she came out of semi retirement, you are just the man to encourage her.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:46 pm

These are great, Robbie! I just love these - can't wait to use them in a level!! Thanks!

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:49 pm

Er, I tried replacing the jpgs with spooky walls but it didn't quite have the desired effect.

See pic.

I think the garden one works well because it doesn't matter which way up the models are, but with walls with patterns on it does. Different strategy needed for them. Could try using the appropriate floor tiles instead if they're plain enough. Other than that you'd have to make the pattern on the wall follow the curve of the arch.

I wonder if the non-modellers know what I'm talking about.

Forgot to say, the garden one looks stunning. I can see this being used a lot.

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:43 pm

This is better, but it took me 2 hours to redo all the textures, and then only on one model.

This arch could look really good in every setting if a set of textures could be put together so they can be swapped around.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:46 pm

Wonderful job Popo!!

Kaboom! · Post by **Kaboom!** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:54 pm

Hmm... I don't understand a thing about 3d modelling but woudn't it be easier if the models were skinless, and if we could customize its skins/textures with a regular template jpeg file in the same directory as the model

Correct me if I'm wrong.

(wich I'«m pretty sure of it!

)

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:59 pm

Yes, it would.

I think that is what Robbie has in mind, and it is what I was trying to achieve. One model that can have its texture customised.

But to do this, you have to set a texture in the first place and make the texture customisable. If the model was made skinless then you wouldn't be able to give it a texture without a modelling program.

That's clear now, isn't it?

Did I hear you say 'As mud'?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:19 am

Thanks guys!

Yes Pauline, that was the idea. Still experimenting...
I did rush the model through yesterday & hadn't considered that textures for other walls had a little more structure to them than the Garden style.

I like what you did with the Spooky theme

. That is what I had in mind - playing around with the models & the texture coordinate editor so that each wall texture would slot right in. And then fix a template so that Kaboom and all the other eager beavers can get in & skin their own.

Below is a bit of a preliminary working design showing a few different arch styles including ones that fit neatly on a diagonal. When porting these across to Wonderland, they were a little 'bulky' in appearance. With this first model you'll notice I trimmed it down 40%.

I also had a few others... note that 5 of the models have flat tops - I also tried the same ones with another surface either side at a 45 degree angle... but I seem to have not saved them anywhere...

Better get some paying work done now. Will work some more on them later.

Glad you're all excited about them. Oh & Pauline & anyone else, feel free to take the reigns & do some yourselves whether from these designs or your own. Don't want to keep all the fun to myself

Robbie

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:25 am

I love those 2 curvy angled arches in the top right! Those are great! I am just about finished making a level with your first garden arches - really fun to work with! Thanks again!!!

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:39 am

Hmmn... just going back over what you were saying Pauline, and the more I read it the murkier it gets

(probably just me).

Each style would need it's own template with the different shapes but once the model is skinned, that information is stored with the model.

Then if you have a template (provided by the creator whether it be me, Pauline or any of our other high skilled

3d artists) you'd effectively have a skinless model ready to doodle up with your template.

The other thing to note too Kaboom is that you can upsize/downsize your template (with or without larger fries) to included either more or less detail providing that the proportions remain the same. ie with the Screens model with the floor marker there were 3 templates included. I didn't need to skin each individual size - just one. I'm pretty sure you can still use different proportioned templates but you'll end up with some distortion when they appear.

Does that cover what you were saying Pauline?

Even more confused than ever...
Robbie

PS That's great Magic! Look forward to seeing them in action.

popo · Post by **popo** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:15 am

Erm, the more I think about it the more confused I get.

I think what I was saying is....

I think of skinless models as ones that don't have any texture at all, just colour, hence no need for an accompanying jpg file. So in order to have a template, you have to assign the template to the model as if it were a texture. Then folks can do what they want on the template and it will show up on the model. Ta-da!

Those diagonal arches are really groovy (am I still allowed to use that word?). You put a lot of work into these, they will look amazing, and of course they don't have to match the surroundings, they could be made to look like old wood or rock, or polished marble. Anything you like really.

I'll leave it up to you to complete them Robbie, I don't want to 'steal your thunder', and I'm sure I couldn't come up with anything as good as them.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:35 am

WOW!!! These look fantastic! Can't wait to try and use one in a level.

Well done Robbie - you are a star

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:24 am

Thanks Lillian

- Lord knows I won't get the title with the amount of posting I do...

... I've been reading really really carefully Pauline & I think we're saying the same thing. I won't add any more.

Did you say "groovy"

. That's showing up your age now... I'm not sure what's in vogue now but we'll let it pass seeing as most of the others will understand ( ducks for cover ).

Seriously I don't mind if you want to do a little thunder stealing - haven't got a patent on these things

and don't get all modest on us now - you might be semi-retired but you're more than capable.

Robbie

Liz Mayhew · Post by **Liz Mayhew** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:44 pm

Really fabulous arches Robbie. Have just seen them used in Majic1's level Through the Arches. Thanks for all your hard work.

And Popo, the spooky archway you spent so long on looks fab! (And that's showing my age even more!) Super!

Liz