Creating a Next-Gen Video Game Hot Rod: the Complete Workflow – Day 1

Tutorial Details

Program: 3ds Max
Difficulty: Advanced
Completion Time: Several hours

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

Ever wanted to know how the artists create those amazing cars for AAA video game titles? Well here’s your chance to find out. In this incredible CGTuts+ exclusive tutorial series, you will follow professional CG artist and teacher Laurens Corijn as he creates a high quality, next-gen, normal mapped Hot Rod for realtime use.

In this first part of the series, Laurens takes you through the first planning and design steps, such as gathering inspiration, collecting reference, and fleshing out the idea, and then demonstrates how to get started with the first rough blockout of the model.

This tutorial is Day 1 in a series

Tutorial Details

Difficulty: Advanced

Techniques Covered: Reference and inspiration gathering; Initial blockout

Completion Time: 1- 2 hours

Software/ Hardware Requirements: 3D application capable of low and high poly modeling; Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card

Introduction

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Tutorial Video

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Creating a Next-Gen Video Game Hot Rod: the Complete Workflow – Day 2

In this second part of our mammoth series, Laurens will show you how to add technical details to the blockout (created in part 1) that was used to define the final proportions and design. A big focus of this part of the tutorial will be how to use and interpret reference when creating mechanical components, as well as understanding what you are effectively modeling.

This tutorial is Day 2 in a series

Final Effect Preview

Click on Image to Open a High Rez Version

Tutorial Details

Difficulty: Advanced

Techniques Covered: Reference and inspiration gathering; Initial blockout; Low & high poly technical modeling

Completion Time: 3 – 5 hours

Software/ Hardware Requirements: 3D application capable of low and high poly modeling; Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card

Introduction

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 1

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 3

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Creating a Next-Gen Video Game Hot Rod: the Complete Workflow – Day 3

In the series’ biggest part yet, we’ll be diving straight into highpoly modeling with the most challenging part of the car, the gigantic, supercharged Hemi 540 engine and its transmission! Through this, you will learn that modeling something as complex as an engine is not an impossible task!

This tutorial can be followed as part of the larger series, but it can also be viewed as a standalone tutorial for creating an impressive highpoly engine block. It even includes a bonus video that explains how to make a nice render setup for this sort of highpoly mechanical work!!

Final Effect Preview

Click on Image to Open a High Rez Version

Tutorial Details

Difficulty: Advanced

Techniques Covered:High poly technical modeling

Completion Time: 6+ hours

Software/ Hardware Requirements: 3D application capable of low and high poly modeling; Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card

Video 1

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 3

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Bonus Video

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Creating a Next-Gen Video Game Hot Rod: the Complete Workflow – Day 4

Tutorial Details

Difficulty: Advanced
Techniques Covered: High poly technical modeling
Completion Time: 2 - 3 hours
Software/ Hardware Requirements: 3D application capable of low and high poly modeling; Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

This tutorial is Day 4 in a series

Now in the fourth part of our mammoth series, we will follow Laurens as he completes the high poly mesh of his hot rod, all the while making sure that is will be suitable for baking onto a low poly realtime model.

Video 1

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 3

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Creating a Next-Gen Video Game Hot Rod: the Complete Workflow – Day 5

Tutorial Details

Difficulty: Advanced
Techniques Covered: Low poly technical modeling
Completion Time: 2 - 3 hours
Software/ Hardware Requirements: 3D application capable of low and high poly modeling; Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

This tutorial is Day 5 in a series

Now, in the fifth part of our mammoth series, Laurens will demonstrate how to carefully design your low poly model in the most efficient way possible, while still being optimal for baking the details from your high poly model into a normal map texture.

Completed This Project....

Monday, January 17, 2011