[Bal]

Challenge is over! Here are our final shots:

Beauty Shot #1



Beauty Shot #2

Concept Sheet

Construction Sheet

Texture Sheet



Original Post :

Hey, Team TocTocToc (yeah we voted for the stupidest team name possible), composed of Funshark, GoSsS and myself, have started working on this concept:




Vague Backstory :

Our general idea is to keep the city atmosphere and setting, but transform the machine into some kind of evil alien machinery that crashed down into the city, and that is slowly consuming it, by expanding cables and pipes and random tech-stuff all over the city.

Good luck everyone!

[GoSsS]

Quick sketch to give a vague idea of what we want.



Cables, pipes and other stuff are not visible on this sketch because I created the machinery in its closed state.

[wim]

nice concept so far

[garagarape]

Congratulations Toc! How are Toc and Toc doing?
I've been checking Polycount site a hundred time today to have a look at you work. Good luck to the three of you. I'm sure you'll do something great. See you soon.

[M-Grafx]

Pretty awesome work dude
keep up the good work

[GoSsS]

Et zou !

First prop of the scene.
I just placed it in two UT3's maps to see it in 2 different atmospheres.

[killingpeople]

fix those smoothing groups!

[garagarape]

Yeah nice! The street names are just killing it's mother
I'm looking forward to go back home (to see the lamposts that are on the way home of course). Keep lam-posting man!

[petrol]

Nice work on most of that lamp post there - only problem for me apart from what killingpeople said, is that the opaque texture where the glass should be spoils it completely for me. You should really just give it some alpha lovin' and model a bulb or whatever inside it and work with dynamic lights+emissive maps to get the right effect. Concept is nice tho

[Bal]

Thanks for the comments people! =)

Messed around trying to find some machine design, we want it to be unearthly, but not fall into the cliché random alien sci-fi stuff with clean shiny curves, which is kinda tricky.
Gonna try pushing for some strange steampunkish-tech feeling, while keeping it quite chaotic. The machine has to feel like it's gone out of control (if anyone reads Alastair Reynolds, thinking Melding Plague style).



Also started work on the side buildings. The main one of the left of the machine is gonna be some kind of library, loosely inspired by the NY public library, hopefully we'll have some modeling to show this weekend (bleh, stupid work getting in the way).


Yeah about the lamp post, having it transparent might be best, it's definitely not one of the main pieces of the environment though (depending on the final compositions), so we shall see...

[garagarape]

Oh! It's beautiful. erh... I mean terrific! I was just wondering if the sphere was big enough to contain all the tentacules and stuff the machine is filled with before crashing (landing?). well forget it, I'm just a little jaleous because I wouldn't be abble to draw like that. See you.

[funshark]

Hi there,

Here some early concepts I've done before moving to another direction.

For the main focus of the scene, we are still trying to find the right shape with the proper explanation for it.

[Peris]

very cool concepts!

[EricV]

sweet...nice work so far

[garagarape]

Yeah, nice! I like the sphere with paterns printed on (the drawing on the middle of your last post).
The old style machinery that follows is great too.But wouldn't a mix with Bal's last drawing work better? That's not an easy question but I'm sure you'll find a better design by mixing both drawing.

[pikmin]

Great concepts!
Is that un umbrella on the last machine ? Cute

[GoSsS]

Here is some news :



This building using a 1024x1024 diffuse, normal and spec maps.

For the moment, Bal works on the crashed vessel, Funshark ... just takes vacation (grrr :p) and I work on a fountain.

[M-Grafx]

Great stuff
it rock's

[Mangled Poly]

very cool update!

A few crits:
Those columns on the bottom level are they suppose to only go halfway up the walls? The ones on all the other levels go all the way up.

The building to sidewalk transition is a bit harsh to me for some reason maybe some more grime buildup on the edge of the sidewalk?

Lastly where is this going to be in your scene? if it is one of the main buildings up close I would add some more unique detail to it. Right now it is very modular so you see a lot of repeating elements. Using items like window air conditioners, balconies with vegetation, front doors, and unique wear may help break it up.

Again I am sure you have a lot of those planned out but I thought I would suggest some in case you did not!

[GoSsS]

Those columns on the bottom level are they suppose to only go halfway up the walls? The ones on all the other levels go all the way up.

I just use this image as a reference and as you can see there is some columns that only go halfway up the wall. Probably 'cause of the arch.

http://flickr.com/photos/deanmelbour...46370/sizes/o/

The building to sidewalk transition is a bit harsh to me for some reason maybe some more grime buildup on the edge of the sidewalk?

Yup I'll do that because as you say, the transition between the sidewalk and the building is a little bit to harsh.

Lastly where is this going to be in your scene? if it is one of the main buildings up close I would add some more unique detail to it. Right now it is very modular so you see a lot of repeating elements. Using items like window air conditioners, balconies with vegetation, front doors, and unique wear may help break it up.

This structure will not be really close in the final image but I will add some props as you say to add more details.
But air conditioners is not possible 'cause the scene takes place in the 1900's. So probably, vegetation, front doors (as you suggested), fire stairs, blinds, rails and probably decals to add some random dirt.

[Mangled Poly]

Cool it is looking great...

One last comment looking at your ref I would extend those half columns on the bottom floor the full length of your wsll like the ref. Its a small nitpick I know :p


Keep rocking!

[Orb]

hehehe, great stuff, it is increasingly nice. I'm getting so impatient to see that all finished.

[Box]

Looking good. I hope that building is broken into modular pieces :P Looking forward to seeing more.

[fei-rukawa]

I like the logo ;)
keep up the good work

[garagarape]

Nice! I like the slight gradation from blue to orange on your building. Don't make us wait to much for the next post