Cool! So, I started working on the lion model. I started yesterday and got to where I am now. Actually, all the work I've done was from yesterday, I'm gonna have to change that I think lol. Wow, I got pretty far for one afternoon. I guess I just kinda lost track of time listening to music and workin on A:M. I swear listening to music makes me like twice as productive. Aanyways, here's what I got so far. I've been workin off the model sheet by bob for the most part. I have yet to finish his hair and his chest hair. Along... with... well everything else that has to get done. lol So ok! Here's what I got. Let me know if you like it so far. later-

Not a bad start, Robert.

I think you should note that this character was a late addition and was not actually written into the script, to my knowledge. I think it was Bob's intention to use him for promotional purposes and maybe a little cameo role. Not sure.

I had an email from Bob today and he confirmed that he is no longer attached to the TWO movie project. He has moved on and put it behind him so you may need to seek advice from the new directors as to the requirements of this model.

If you are enjoying the modelling you might want to continue, for your own pleasure, and if the directors decide to use it so much the better.

What ever way it goes, have fun! :-)

Robert;

I think your Lion is very good. Keep going. I've already told Greg Schumsky about it, and I'm absolutely certain he will be interested in it for the TWO game. When our director, Bob, comes back on-board, we'll find out how he wants to use the Lion in the TWO movie trailer.

Yes sir! . Thanks. Okay then, I'll keep workin on this model and posting updates when i can. Later-

Ok, so here's my progress from this afternoon. All that's left is the arms, hands, feet, and tail and I'll be about done! Alright! Any suggestions, critiques, comments, whatever dont be afraid to post them.

Oh, and martin. do you want me to send you an email with the TWO contract thing (i just read it) even though this character may not be used in the actual movie? Ok, thanks! later-

Hey Robert,

That is actually a great lion, and I'd be happy to use it in the TWO game. So, my best suggestion is keep plugging along, because there is a good chance it will be used in the film or at least trailer, and definately in the game.

And thanks for all your hard work too!

Greg

It looks great so far. My only crit would be the fur on the chest is too symetrical.

Greg, can particle hair be used for the game or does it have to be geometry?

You've captured the sketch very well. I'd like to see shaded wires please.

Robert, can you post a shaded wireframe so I can see your splining? The form looks good--the only decision that I question is modeling the clumps of fur.
I believe that it would be better to model the surface smooth and then to build-up the chest hair and mane using particle hair. If you want any help setting it up, I would be happy to advise.

It'd have to be either geometry, or we might just make it a mapped texture, depending on how good it can be made to look with low splinage. One thing we'll need to do with all the models is get some people to de-spline the models as much as possible but keep them looking nice. Since we'll never be too close to them in the game (like Star Wars or any other FPS), then we can get away with mapping for faking the detail.

I will be starting some new threads as we move along for "de-spliners", texturers (making 32x32 tileable textures and then mapping them onto the models), sound conversion folk (compression and such), animators for game models, animators for cut-scenes (we could though use the footage from the film in some cases) using the high-res models, then Torque people for porting the finished models and actions into the engine, level designers, and so on, as well as story/movie adaption, making scenes "interactive".

Greg

There are some proxy models already that are low patch count (under 2000 patches), they could probably be use, but there are alot of 5pt. patches, is that a problem? They keep the basic look of the models though. At some point there will be proxy models for all of them.

I have yet to work on it some more today so I havent added or changed anything yet.

mtpeak2 you are right, I agree that the chest hair looks too symetrical so I will be changing it.

zandoriastudios, I honestly dont know how it would look. It would be a totally different style. I can imagine it looking good. But I've never used the hair features in A:M so I wouldn't have a clue on how to get it to look right. That would be awesome if you'd be willing to advise me on how to go about doing it. Thanks!

Here's a quick turnaround with the wireframe for you to look at. I've got lots of work I have to do today so I dont think I'll be able to get in an update on the model today but we'll see.

The patch count right now is at 2403.

later-

Just my 2 cents but I think for game models you would want the patch count to be in the low hundreds. Of course it all depends on how much action is going to be occurring on screen at one time.

The lower the better. And we'll need to clean up any 5 point patches, maybe making them into 3 pointers (we're okay with that since those are as close as you can get to poly's). But having the proxy's is a great start and will save the de-spliners a lot of time (I'm hoping).



You are correct. I'd like to see how close to under 1000 we can get. There will be LOTS of action going on, especially in the Loon village.

The work is looking good, xade. Three lions is a bit redundant, so I kind of stepped off when I saw how well your first cut was going.

Thanks! I appreciate it. Ya, I didnt see you continuing work on it... so i thought i could take a stab at it.

Anyways, I got to work on it some more and I added the feet, the tail, and the arms. I worked on the chest hair a bit but I still have to make it look less symmetrical i think. All that I have left to model though are the hands which I will hopefully get a chance to do soon.

In the meantime, I did a quick color test on the model to see how things are lookin. I think I'm pretty pleased with how its goin. Let me know what you guys think of it so far. Cool! later-

Wow, you should be pleased with yourself.

Ha, ha! That is Bob's lion!

Well done, Robert! :-)

I hope Bob sees him.

LOL. Excellent. Say, I wonder if I could borrow his feet for the legs of the Tinman's throne?

Ken,
That is just so wrong on so many levels.
Not only does poor Lion have to miss out on the casting call but he has to live with the infamy of this friend Tinman sitting on a throne fashioned in the form of and even from his very own legs.

What a sad state for such a wonderful actor to find himself in... how did it ever come to this...

Great work... great character Xtas!

Heh. Funny. But it makes sense for Tinman to have elements of his friends round him.

Hmm, where could we put Dorothy's feet.

Thanks!


Thanks. So wait. Any news on if bob is going to be coming back to this project and when?


Sure can! You want me to send you the model via email, post the model file, etc?


Umm... Im not Xtas. Im xade. lol. Speaking of which though, Is there a way to change the name to something else? I was at one point gonna make a character called xade. But now Id rather just use my own name. If not. Whatever.


That or he needs a lion rug in the castle. That'd be kinda funny. Or this guy stuffed in a corner... maybe not. lol


We could always put them on the tinman? Or... well... ok. Maybe thats a bad idea too. lol

So, I think Im pretty much all done! . I am quite enthused. So! Umm here he is. Let me know if there's anything I should still do or what you think. Cool? Cool. Oh, and I have yet to do teeth. Which is what I have a question about. What kind of teeth should I make for this guy? Human teeth? Lion teeth? Or a nice combination of the two? Cool! Let me know, thanks! later-

lol Ace. I'm unsure as to whether the square paws will blend with the rest of the characters though.....

As for teeth, it's probably not worth putting much time into that. Maybe you could use/modify the Kong set of teeth on the cd?

This is a very cool Lion! Great job Robert.

Frank Silas

Good work, Robert! You have really captured Bob's sketches.
One small criticism: ears!
;-)

Well, I'm pretty sure its done! Unless you guys have any more suggestions, buuuut I think I've got it. This version is just with a simple color scheme. I dont have photoshop or an understanding on how to texture it so (if it needs to be) someone can take over that job. Should I email it to somebody or should I just post the model file? Cool! Thanks! Later-

Mark will be taking it off your hands to do the rigging and put in SVN. We've already got a place for it in Mrs. Yoop's Castle. There's a Great Hall where Tin Girl is anonymously standing among a bunch of statues. Of course, there will be a Thom statue, and some of the other A:M mascot statues, and NOW, lion will be in there too.

He, he! Well done!
You got him, Robert!

Whoops! Sorry about that. I officially cannot keep up any more. The A:M Community continues to grow as I continue to get dumber.

If you do want to change your forum name:
Contact Will Pickering (willp@hash.com) and he'll get you changed.

I would recommend you keep your same avatar for awhile as that will help people to remember you.
Um... I'll certainly forget for a brief period of time. I WILL NOT however call you Xtas again.

Very outstanding work on the Lion!

Robert, you can send it to me for rigging. I PM'd you my e-mail address, did you get it?

Awesome! Thanks Rodney!

Hey mtpeak2! Sorry it took so long, but its sent! Enjoy!

Glad I could work on this project. Is there any way I can work on the trailers and stuff? Ok! let me know! Thanks! Later-

That is a great lion Lazz.

So, if you want to continue helping out, how about jumping over to the game? It would be really cool if you could make a game version of the lion. If you are interested in that, ping Paul Forwood and he can give you the details as far as patch count and not using 5 point patches. Also, you'd need to build it in v12 of AM (if you have it).

Greg

awsome lion cant wait to see it finished