Week 4 Assignment - UDK Brush Scene

This week I have been practicing building with brushes inside the UDK editor. In all honesty, this scene was only my first ever attempt at using brushes, so I decided to use most of my time building which unfortunately left me no time to use my own textures. Instead, I experimented with the textures inside UDK and using the texture alignment tool to re-scale and re-position it appropriately. I have a few visible mistakes, such as the hole at the bottom of the tower and one or two missing windows. Also, I am yet to discover how to add more sides to a cylindrical brush in order to make smoother archways. With more practice and tutorials, these will be overcome over time. Luckily, I remembered to move the dominant light around so the sun casts the lighting in the correct direction as shown in the reference.

Subway Train Interior Scene - Analysis and Research

This next piece is inspired by something I see everyday. Public transportation often presents its efficient use after a full day of being used by a lot of people, some places more than others. Busy cities often have plenty of road traffic, so people often prefer to travel by train. My scene will be based inside an urban style (New York?) subway car, with many details to show evidence of its frequent use.

Below is break down of some details I may wish to add, such as dints in the door, vents, signage and lighting which follows the edges of the ceiling.

Below demonstrates my choice of advertisement layout. I like the idea that the signage and lighting is together and displayed as wide, billboard-like flyers.

Typically, users often leave behind trash for the cleaners to take care afterwards. Items such as; tickets, newspapers, coffee/fast food cups and food packets are common culprits. Just last week someone on my train forgot a full packet of HobNobs! Infact, earlier this year (August, 2013) a dead baby shark was found on a subway train in New York! You can read the story here: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/08/09/solved-the-great-mystery-of-the-nyc-subway-shark/. It just shows that anything can be found on the subway.

Edit: Japan generally has a very clean subway system from what I've seen in comparison to those further west. The image below shows some interesting electronic signage and a lighting reference I may consider alternatively, in conjunction with the details from the 'dirtier', western-style train I have chosen to create.

Security Embassy Scene - Concept and Reference

A great artist cannot simply imagine a concept, without visualising the story behind it, the mood and the kind of message it gives off first. With this in mind I have began to collaborate reference images for my current ideas for portfolio pieces. First of all I have a scene. Inspired by stealth games such as Splinter Cell, Second Sight, Metal Gear Solid and several others I have enjoyed over the years. I particularly like the element of dynamic, low key lighting which is often found in games set mostly at night, in abandoned buildings and top-secret agencies occupied by only a small handful of agents and investigators, or essentially places of importance which are protected by some level of security.

The message I wish to convey from this scene the aftermath of a silent assassination (or sedation in this case). An office, which was once occupied by a lone secret agent, working through his night shift. The room will be be filled with several key props and the rest of the 'fill-in' props for added detail. The key props include a computer and a desk, with a stack or two of paper work and a spilled coffee mug. This is expected to make use of raytrace lighting coming through the window and blinds next to it and the spilled coffee should make good use of reflectivity. Behind will be a bookshelf, with one or two books handing over the edge or fallen over to suggest it has been climbed. This leads onto the open air vent on top, where the cover has been taken off and leaned on the side. Next to the bookshelf is the door, open with a small corridor in view leading to darkness.

With this, I hope to leave the audience with many questions and clues to what may have happened, and achieve the best quality possible.