Proposal.

Throughout this project I will be specializing in 3D modelling. I have and always will be passionate about the production of 3D creations and the creativity it brings out of me. For this project I will be making the essential 3D models and layout of the map. As I aim to learn throughout this experience, I will be looking closely into UV unwrapping and texturing as this is an area which I feel needs big improvements. Additionally, I want to look at pathways and how to incorporate a flowing map where a player doesn't get lost but have options in which direction to choose. I plan to focus on these specialties to develop as well as  enhance my pre- existing knowledge in games design.

My reason for choosing 3D modeling on this project is because of the intriguing structures and fascinating objects that can bring a game to life as since I was young I have had a deep connection with video games. This something that I have pursued and developed skills in very well. However I still have grey areas that I am open to learning and bettering my development process.

From the start of this year, I have spent my time focusing on a new software that was highly recommended by my peers and tutors. I have spent my time refining the skills I have learned through previous years and pulling it all together on Autodesk Maya. By doing this it has showed me what I enjoy the most when 3D modelling which has allowed my to focus my skills on prop development. However in doing this I have still looked into new areas such as map designing as there are many ways to layout and design an intricate map. 

Before this year, I was learning the basics of game development and making sure I use the correct workflow so that I never found myself backtracking on work that I had missed. I also found that I had basic understanding of all the areas but lacked knowledge on the parts I wanted to pursue the most. however this allowed my to understand the entire process of game development and how to pull together as a team knowing what some of their struggles will be and how as a 3D modeler I can make it easier for the rest of us with my design choices of props.

During this final year, I have put my time and effort into expanding my skill set on new software that I was mostly unfamiliar with. Unreal engine, Autodesk Maya and Adobe Substance Painter as a collective, have allowed me to further myself this academic year because it has shown me how I put my models into a game engine and see them in their final state as well as my topology and the use of tools in Maya being utilized.

From the beginning, I have been very interested in how a game is developed, and have always desired to make a fully functional game. However, my experience on this course has pointed me to the areas I am beneficial in and the parts I do not have an interest in. At the top of list is 3D modelling as this is where a story can be told without words. The imaginary scenery's that can make a person wonder and explore is exactly why I strive to learn and understand 3D modelling.

During this project, I aim to challenge myself by making difficult models such as buildings which I have never really made before. While I have experience in modelling, doing a building that fits well with the floor plan that also does not make one team have an advantage will take time and good planning in order for a balanced player verse player.

This project will be the biggest I have participated in as its more ambitious then my previous year because of the new knowledge I have gained during this year. This project will give me the opportunity to grow and perfect my skills as a 3D modeler and a game developer but in other aspects I have not worked on before. I am aiming to develop these skills to create an even and flowing map with an intriguing design.

For this project, we plan to show off a fully functional gaming experience that will be short, featuring one map so that we do not have anything unfinished by the end. I will showcase my participation throughout the eleven weeks on my blog giving weekly updates, research, production and evaluation keeping them separate so that my blog is clear and easy to understand. To find the final product we will be hosting the game on Itch.io and in the near future steam.

This project will look good on my portfolio as its an area I have not yet touched upon when making video games and will be a great way to show my passion for very different genres showing off my variety of skills and ideas which can look great for future employers. I also do not want to close my self off to one specific genre such as racing as it limits me to a certain area that I might get bored of so by doing different projects now, I get to explore all my possible options and career paths.

I hope to work on games either in a small or big company as a 3D modeler but I also understand how difficult it is to get your name out there which is why I would not mind doing some freelance work so that I am recognized. By doing freelance work it would give me a lot more control over the work and projects I create compared to a triple A game producers. I am happy to explore both of these options because I understand the difficulties of becoming a game developer.

For this FMP, we, as a group, Alex Needham, Mitchell Whittaker, Joseph Bowman, Zak Annetts, and Kyle Williams, aim to create a detailed and realistic First-Person Shooter. The Players will spawn on the map and must find advanced weapons to fight against their opponents. Play in teams of two to capture the enemy's base or go against each other in a wild, Free-For-All Deathmatch.

In this game, the player can switch between found weapons with four guns to select the best choice for the task at hand. The play time of a match will depend on the players, with a two-team match lasting anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes with three rounds. The Free-For-All will last however long it takes to reach a target of fifty eliminations.

There will be a simple main menu showing the map in detailed screenshots, fading from one to another. There will be a simple pause menu so the player can leave the game and return to the main menu. A UI at the top will show the top player and their scores when in a match. In Capture the Flag, it will show the team scores at the top. There will also be a settings menu allowing the player to change the in-game settings.

There will be music, but we do not plan to create it for the game. We will use copyright-free music from music sources. The game will have sound effects for aspects like shooting, explosions, and flash bangs. Visual effects in the game will include flashbangs, bullet holes, explosions, and more.

The controls will be simple and stick to the keyboard layout. The player will use the movement keys to walk around and run with the shift key. The player will be able to jump and crouch with space and control. The player will have areas to climb, including ladders and stairs. They will be able to climb onto building sides after jumping close.

We will have a single map set in an offside military base, with weapons strewn throughout the map. There will be warehouse buildings where the military used to operate. Throughout the map will be props like shipping containers, crates, and fences. The map will have a realistic style but will be simple to save time.

At the end of this FMP, I want to have a shipping container yard that is UV unwrapped and textured and I will be showcasing this on a turntable using Adobe Substance 3D Stager. This container yard will be filled out with other props that I will make such as Drum barrels, Pallets and crates. These will be separately showcased on 3D Stager as a close up. I also aim to make a skyscraper building that will be filled out with crates, pallets and plasterboard stacks that will lead to a unique design. This building will be showcased in Unity where I will walk through all the floors and playable areas. Another thing that I aim to model and texture is a construction crane which will most likely be showcased by itself using 3D Stager on a turntable. One last thing, to showcase this together, I will put all my work into 3D Stager using a turntable to present all the work I have made during this Final Ever Project.

To reflect on this project I will write about how the week went on my blog every week where I talk about what went wrong what we have completed and what to improve on in the upcoming week. As a group we will be able to discuss this when we have weekly meetings where we have the opportunity to backlog uncompleted tasks for next week. I will reflect on my team based on their efforts and motivation so that if they are unmotivated how I and other group members can change that.

At the end of the final week I will reflect on how the group project went as a whole, how well I felt I did and if I'm happy with what we have produced. I will cover from start to finish reflecting on what I have done wrong and how I could do complete the task differently, making sure I highlight my weaknesses and strengths for another project.

During the production stage I will make a weekly log where I go over what I have produced and if its to the standard that I want it to be at. I will also talk about if I have planned enough or not enough work for that week so that I know if I'm putting too much pressure on myself to get tasks done in a timeframe that is not capable of achieving.

In my final evaluation, I will go over the entire project and critically analyze personal and technical skills. I will cover my time management and how well it went, along with if I met my goals that I originally set out to achieve. I will conclude my thoughts at the end to say whether this project was a failure or a success as well as if I have found any new weaknesses and strengths that I should perhaps look into to so that I can improve and actually gain something positive after as a I believe that this is a good chance to highlight any issues I find myself in.

For this project I am expected to use both primary and secondary research. To start off I will use google forms as my initial primary research where I ask about what props they expect to see in a first person shooter to see if there's anything I might forget about that are crucial in the level. The second questionnaire will consist of questions about level design and map layouts and what makes a good map layout in an even PVP. The third questionnaire will be gathering feed back on the project to see what areas I can improve on and what I could do better for next time. These questionnaires will be spread throughout the project, the first one being about my props that will be handed out at the start, the second one will be halfway through the project before I start on level design and the third being at the end to get peoples feedback on our project.

For secondary research I will be looking at complete surveys such as ones on colour theory and shape theory as well as credible sources such as videos and articles to help gather information on areas that I do not have time to do a survey on. when doing this secondary research I will look closely into how it effects what I create and how I create it so that it is appealing to the right audience.

Another area I will research is the games target audience as its important to know who our consumer is as well as finding out what games they play and why they appeal to them as a gamer. This will help us figure out what areas we need to focus on so that we have customers in the first place. This is arguably the most important part of my research as it will determine the games future if it has a future at all. 

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

For the first week, I will be completing my proposal. On this I will explain my career choice and why I have a desire for this particular specialization. I will also complete project concept so that as a team we have a clear end goal from the start. Another thing to complete this week is project rationale so that I stay on track for when I come to completing week two but to also cover what i want to improve by the end of this project.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

This week I will need access to a working computer at home and college. I will need this to complete written work for my Google Site. To get to Google Sites I will need access to the internet to be able to update and publish my work when I make changes the blog. I will also need websites like Grammarly and other blogs so that I can double check that I am up to a very good standard. 

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will be making my first survey so that I can see what props I will need to research before I go ahead and make them. I will discuss the answers from my survey to see if they are valid with team members so that as a group, we can decide what is wrong and right. I will also be starting to research my target audience as its important to know from the start who we are trying to appeal to so that our game is interesting for that particular group of people.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week, I will need access to a working computer both at home and at college. The computers will need a good internet connection so that I can conduct my research and put anything I learn on to my blog. A good internet connection is important so that I do not lose any work I carry out on my blog as I am publishing/ showcasing to work I have done that week.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

For week three I will continue with my research, I will look into all the props I need to create as well as making plenty of mood boards so that I know what theme I will be doing for that particular prop. Understanding the theme and background of a prop is important as I do not want to get them mixed up for example if the game is based in the UK I would not want Japanese dustbins.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week, I will need access to a working computer both at home and at college. The computers will need a good internet connection so that I can conduct my research and put anything I learn on to my blog. A good internet connection is important so that I do not lose any work I carry out on my blog as I am publishing/ showcasing to work I have done that week.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will be researching colour and shape theory to fully understand where it comes into play and what will suit our game theme the best. This will help me with my design choices and make sure I am getting the most out of what I will be creating. I will also be researching heavily into map designs and layouts as well as drawing up a few sketches of my own before I get to the production stage.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week, I will need access to a working computer both at home and at college. The computers will need a good internet connection so that I can conduct my research and put anything I learn on to my blog. A good internet connection is important so that I do not lose any work I carry out on my blog as I am publishing/ showcasing to work I have done that week.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

I will be making this my last week of research and will be going through all the research I have done and making sure I have not missed anything important before I start my production. This is a week earlier on the schedule as my next weeks will be stressful if I only have four weeks to do all my props and level design.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week, I will need access to a working computer both at home and at college. The computers will need a good internet connection so that I can conduct my research and put anything I learn on to my blog. A good internet connection is important so that I do not lose any work I carry out on my blog as I am publishing/ showcasing to work I have done that week.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will start off with modelling my props, I will take into consideration all of my previous research and produce a model to a very good standard that lines up with my research of that prop. I will be UV unwrapping and texturing these models as I go along. I should hope to be completing roughly two props a day which should leave me with a total of fourteen props in one week.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to a computer with a good WIFI connection both at home and at college. The software I will be needing is Autodesk Maya 2023 and Adobe Substance Painter so that I can model, UV unwrap and texture. This will allow me to complete all my modeling for this project. I will also need access to PowerPoint so that I can make my weekly updates which I will be posting on to my blog on the production page.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will be finishing any props off that I did not get done in the previous week as well as making a start on my second survey which will be about level and map design. Near the end of the week I will go through the results with my team and make a start with a final layout which I will follow.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to a computer with a good WIFI connection both at home and at college. The software I will be needing is Autodesk Maya 2023 and Adobe Substance Painter so that I can model, UV unwrap and texture. This will allow me to complete all my modelling for this project. I will also need access to PowerPoint so that I can make my weekly updates which I will be posting on to my blog on the production page.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will be making a start on the level design following my map layout that I have made the previous week. I will making building models and cranes that can be found on big ports as this is where the game is based. This will take up my next two weeks of production, I will also be implementing all the props I have made into the right positions over these two weeks.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to a computer with a good WIFI connection both at home and at college. The software I will be needing is Autodesk Maya 2023 and Adobe Substance Painter so that I can model, UV unwrap and texture. This will allow me to complete all my modeling for this project. I will also need access to PowerPoint so that I can make my weekly updates which I will be posting on to my blog on the production page.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this week I will be making a start on the level design following my map layout that I have made the previous week. I will making building models and cranes that can be found on big ports as this is where the game is based. This will take up my next two weeks of production, I will also be implementing all the props I have made into the right positions over these two weeks.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to a computer with a good WIFI connection both at home and at college. The software I will be needing is Autodesk Maya 2023 and Adobe Substance Painter so that I can model, UV unwrap and texture. This will allow me to complete all my modeling for this project. I will also need access to PowerPoint so that I can make my weekly updates which I will be posting on to my blog on the production page.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this last week of production I will be checking over everything in my level making sure we are not missing anything critical, as well as playtesting the game. This week is mainly checking over everything I have done and making sure I have the time to go back and change it so that I do not severely lack anything on the entirety of my blog.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to a computer with a good WIFI connection both at home and at college. The software I will be needing is Autodesk Maya 2023 and Adobe Substance Painter so that I can model, UV unwrap and texture. This will allow me to complete all my modeling for this project. I will also need access to PowerPoint so that I can make my weekly updates which I will be posting on to my blog on the production page.

Activity / What you are intending to do, including independent study?

In this final week I will be writing my evaluation and analyzing everything from start to finish, all my strength and weaknesses as well as how well my team have contributed to the group project. I will conclude all of this with my opinions and talk about I can improve myself for next time. I will also be creating my final survey to get feedback on the project, such as performance and enjoyment of the final product.

Resources / what you will need to do it, including access to workshops?

For this week I will need access to computers both at home and college as well as good internet so that I can write my evaluation and put into onto my blog. This will all be published and ready to hand in for the date May 20th 2024.