Title: Crafting a Unified World in Unreal Engine: My Role in a Collaborative Project
Introduction:
Embarking on a collaborative journey within the Unreal Engine, I took on a pivotal role that involved shaping the visual language and aesthetic foundation of our project. From setting the design language to creating a texture library and establishing a cohesive style for all the models, my responsibilities extended to crafting concept art for various elements, including landscapes, structures, and characters.
Our goal was to craft a vertical slice for a playable game level. While our initial vision was an ambitious short film comprising 5 shots narrating a story, Serra urged us to embrace a more experimental route rather than sticking to the conventional approach. This led us to rethink our original concept and transform it into a single, playable scene. Our focus shifted towards exploring the realms of physics within the Unreal Engine.
Setting the Design Language:
One of my primary duties was to define a design language that would serve as the visual backbone of our project. This involved meticulous look development, where I explored various themes, colour palettes, and stylistic elements to create a consistent and engaging visual experience.
Concept Art for a Unified Style:
Creating concept art was a key aspect of my role, allowing me to establish a unified style for the diverse elements in our project. From the lush greenery of a forest to the rustic charm of shacks and the whimsy of mushroom characters, I sketched and conceptualized each component, providing a visual roadmap for our team.
Texture Library Creation:
To ensure that our models seamlessly blended together, I curated a comprehensive texture library. This library became a reservoir of visual elements that unified the aesthetic appeal of our environment. From the bark of trees to the texture of mushroom characters, each detail was carefully crafted to contribute to the overall cohesion of our virtual world.
Contribution to Environment Assets:
I used Blender to create environment assets and small props. Using Blender’s versatile tools, I carefully designed, added textures, and set up lighting for these models. This approach provided my team with a straightforward preview of how these assets would fit into the Unreal Engine environment once we imported them.
Unrealized Characters and Animation:
Despite our ambitious goals, time constraints led us to prioritize certain aspects of the project. While I sketched out characters with unique personalities and characteristics, unfortunately, we couldn’t dedicate the time needed for modelling, rigging, and animating them. Nevertheless, the groundwork laid through the concept art ensures that these characters can be brought to life in future iterations.
Conclusion:
In the collaborative world of Unreal Engine, my role involved shaping the very essence of our project. From defining the design language to creating a texture library and producing concept art, my contributions aimed at establishing a cohesive and visually stunning world. While some aspects, like character modelling and animation, remain unrealised for now, the foundation has been set for future development, promising an immersive experience in the digital landscapes we envisioned.