Messages

51

Releases / Re: Retro Field Model Update

« on: 2012-09-12 11:35:12 »

I'm a 3DSMax veteran¹ of a few years who's just found out that as a student I can own a full copy of it for absolutely (legally) free . Bit of pointless info, but yeah, I tend to use Max for things like this. In fact, if you look at the files, you'll see that it's all properly² UV mapped and has two completely unnecessary 512*512 texture files (and one 256*256 texture) as I went a bit overkill, and in the future the model can be textured to however I (or anybody else who can be bothered to texture it properly, you have my permission) wants.

I've been working full time up until I go off to university next month, So I've made little to no progress and I have no updates for you (Unless you want to see Barret's upper arms. Which is fine really, I won't judge.) hence why I released just the one model on its own.

But yeah, hope to have more time to work on this soon. As you may be able to tell, it's a little harder to pull off properly³ than it looks!

¹I have no actual sense of what I'm doing.
²I have no actual sense of what I'm doing.
³I have no actual sense of what I'm doing.

Ah! I see, you're in the same boat as me  Yeah I only learned I can legally own 3DS as a student not that long ago... I've been doing the trial and reformat for ages (Always getting the newest version before I want it... Some things get better some things get broken... The new UV system in 2012 has major problems that tick me off something fierce... But I've learned to work around it)

But yes boys and girls. If you wanna learn to model... The industry uses 3DS Max and Maya... I'm proficient in both (Although I prefer Max because I kinda grew up with it since Max 5 in 2003) Blender is free but friggin hard to use... If you wanna get into the field, Max and Maya's the way to go. If you wanna do movies like Shrek or any Pixar film... Learn Maya. The film industry doesn't recognize Max because it's too "cheap" (The is first hand information from a lighting director on Avatar I met, and a match-moving/plate animator who taught 4 of my classes) And by "cheap" they mean literally cheap. Since it doesn't cost as much the investors turn their noses up at it even though the same exact level of quality is capable in both, only the interfaces, workflow, and types of rendering are different. But the same output is absolutely possible. Same with game studios almost... If the studio has more money it's more likely to be a Maya-centric pipeline. Sony's DC Universe Online has a Maya pipeline, and so does everything at id Software. But at least when I worked at Sony, they had Max for me to use 

My advice... If you wanna learn modeling don't waste time with interfaces that you're unlikely to encounter in the field. It's not about "this" being better than "that"... No... The same's possible on almost any software package with varying degrees of features and workflows.

Learn 3DS Max or Maya, it'll be worth the effort. Then if you wanna do this kinda stuff. Then learn UV unwrapping techniques, and for more advanced users, learn Z Brush or Mudbox sculpting and then something called "Retopology" or "Retopo" for short. Try to model in flowing lines, this is called "edgeflow" but video games don't need perfect edgeflow, as long as areas like the elbow and knee have clean geometry that deforms well. Then comes the normal map baking, and the assets that can generate to make a basic texture map more awesome.

It's not easy, and it's a LOT of work. But if you're the kind of person that thinks it's fun... Then it's for you! Because in the industry you are gonna WORK ALLOT so you better like it  That's why there's allot of folks with art degrees who just dropped out... They just wanted to be a part of it, but didn't have any passion for it. What a shame... (Also because both film and video game industries are filled with folks like that... and it makes it hard to get a job unless you are DAMN good at what you do)

52

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-09-10 07:41:29 »

I agree.. this model is really good, the barret model by timu is also well done, we really need a tifa that will match this models in quality somehow the tifa models available here dont fit in with those two.. a bit off topic but do you know of any available unfinished tifa model that we can continue to work on..?

The only one I like so far is the one made by a dude who I provided reference photos to. He built the model very quickly, and never came back

53

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-09-09 03:44:14 »

rather "Embrace Your Dreams And Whatever Happens Protect Your Honour As JANITOR"

 

As a matter of fact I'm a loader at Home Depot (hence the muscles... 80lb bags of concrete all day make you feel the burn hardcore) And I also clean the front of the store at store close... Which means I'm a master of all brooms. Seriously! Not many people can get as much done as I can with a broom. I got mad skillz yo 

I'll have my web-site up soon, and I'll finish the Multi-Cloud drawing as soon as I can finish getting the site running  Also I've made some observations about the new modern Buster Sword that means I have to edit the model I made, since that's a quick fix (for a whole new model...) I'll have the pictures of that soon, and a post describing my observations as to why I changed it

54

Releases / Re: apz cloud field/ apz buster with new tex id

« on: 2012-09-03 23:31:34 »

Hey @Buster Swd. Just asking, is this a texture problem on Cloud's back under his belt or is normal? 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/68476910.png/

THIS IS FROM APZ HIMSELF. This showed up when I first released the new APZ Cloud. But then it was fixed in the following FINAL release. Grab the new upload and it'll solve that problem

55

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-09-03 23:29:22 »

It is absolutely the exact same files that I released originally. Only this time I updated the entire texture to a 24bit bitmap and repainted the face. Also I fixed an issue with mirrored UVs on the pelvis piece, but that's it.

56

Releases / Re: Retro Field Model Update

« on: 2012-09-02 01:17:52 »

Hey man, I am all FOR this!!! If you could get to each of the major characters that'd be quite enough, but it'd totally be interesting and worth it (in my opinion)

And yes... I did kinda think about it, but didn't do much with it. I'd say carry on man! I'll be lookin forward to it!


edit: Some suggestions. When I did it, I applied alpha/color key/transparency(Whichever terminology you perfer) to the eye polygon around the eye texture. I'm not entirely sure if that's what you did or not... But that's the way it is on the original. Also I'd pull the eyes slightly apart to look less cross eyed.

And I appreciate duplicating the lighter grey accents to the shoulder armor and right braclet  But it honestly isn't necessary, it was just the way my texture map was laid out and I'd have had to redo the UV coordinates to fix it, but it was just for a laugh anyways so I didn't bother. But if you like it better that way then run with it! 

57

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-08-31 08:03:43 »

This download comes with the sword I made for it. It's in the screenshots on the first post of this thread 

58

Graphical / Re: ATTENTION MODELLERS

« on: 2012-08-26 06:59:46 »

You know what... If I had the time I'd totally do just that. BUT! My own projects and my own art calls my name. I merely vent my fan enthusiasm for Final Fantasy so that it may not leave an overt imprint over my own creative process. (Classic Doom, FFVII, ALL of Zelda, Soul Reaver, Fight Club... they all call my name and must be exorcized from time to time)

As an artist first and everything else second (I mean work output wise  Husband and Father come first) I'll just let yall know that the bulk of my true creative efforts haven't been introduced to the internet at large, and won't until I can garner the time and resources to fulfill them as they should be.

I take no large measure of importance for myself here, even though I storm in and out like a diva screaming for attention... (Let's face it... I'm a polite attention hog)

But more on topic. I appreciate all you've done and led in this community DLPB, and everyone else. I'd love to do the NPC's but there's just only so much one person can do. My own interests obviously are the reasons why I focus where I do... PERHAPS soon I can provide a simple base mesh that can be manipulated at will to suit the purposes of the people on this board. Also included UV's and a simple texture map applied to it that hopefully can be used modularly.

But just like your insistence on complete rational informed translation, I insist on the creators original intention completely fulfilled as well when it comes to chibi field/world models. That's the way the game was intended and designed. That's the way I like to see it. Ergo, that's the one I'll help provide bases for.

This isn't a promise however... It's just my fascination of this place hasn't died down yet, even though I still have too much on my plate before I can contribute to it again.

59

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-25 04:22:30 »

Ah of course... How could I forget!?

I'll have a drawing up soon of a buncha Clouds standing next to each other. I took inspiration from this set of Batman's:



Why!? Because no one's ever lined em all up next to each other before... That and I'm a madman and I'm exhausting my fan-ness so that it won't effect my personal stuff (It's like a release... So it doesn't overtly influence anything else I do that's creatively mine)

I think it'd be interesting to see them next to eachother in the same context.

60

Releases / Re: apz cloud field/ apz buster with new tex id

« on: 2012-08-25 04:02:04 »

Almost there  Almost. Now you gotta export it into a modeling programs and pull some vertexes to really nail it

61

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-24 10:58:48 »

While we're at it... Has anyone found the PS3 FFVII tech demo in ANY HD...? Anything higher than less than standard def (But obviously saved in higher formats despite being a crappy lo rez video to begin with...)

If Anyone can find that it'll help me out a bit...

edit: Scratch that... I found one that's Standard Def interlaced... Best I'll probably find... But good enough to glint the details in it

62

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-24 10:04:17 »

HAHAHAHAHA! 

You guys make me laugh 

I'll spare you guys any more pictures of myself because it's awfully vain, and I do that enough as it is to my friends and family on facebook already 

But yes it'd be hilarious to do an APZ battle model (Don't think I haven't thought of it... I AM awfully vain after all!  )

I'll stick to the point, and that's making a realistic and fully realized Cloud. Basically This:



Basically what I want to do is to recreate this exact Cloud. And I've searched on the net and haven't found ANYONE who's exactly nailed it... So... That'll be me who does  Of course.

My other (less important) goal is to take that Cloud as a base and see what the original details would look like. With the original bangle design and no belts, and original metal gauntlet thingy on his left arm. (It's quite different if you really look) The closest I've seen to that is the Cloud in Dissidia's fully rendered cutscenes. But THAT's a different style all together!

and THEN! I wanna see how that looks... "Cosmos Cloud" and "Chaos Cloud" (the two different styles in Dissidia Duodecim) standing next to the "New Canonical Cloud", standing next to the "Classic Cloud"... standing next to "Kingdom Hearts Cloud"

And I'll most likely never do all of this... But I CAN draw it!  THAT'S 5 DIFFERENT OFFICIAL CLOUDS!!!

We got to see a whole frontal realistic render of Tifa, and an entire classic looking modernly proportioned Tifa in Dissidia. I've yet to see a realistic modern render of classic Barret... So that'll be interesting. There's a modern render of classic Yuffie. We've all seen RedXIII, Cid isn't hard to imagine, Vincent had a whole game to himself (Albeit a new style... But it's still close enough it isn't hard to imagine)

I'd love to do all the characters! Perhaps someday I'll have the speed and efficiency and TIME that I'll be able to... But why bother??? There's still so much I wanna do of MY OWN ART!!!!  And my animations that I wanna get done. So there's only so much one man can do when he obsesses over something (You guys don't even KNOW about my obsession with classic Doom!) But that's a story for another time... 

63

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-24 08:21:16 »

Here's what I call research...    When you need someone to pose for ya...  and no one's around... what do you do? Take pictures of yourself!



Yes that's me. Thankfully I'm built similarly to Cloud (Except he has long legs and I have short legs...) But you get the idea. I'm drawing some Cloud concept art to see what my ideas look like. I'll have those up soon.

64

Releases / Re: apz cloud field/ apz buster with new tex id

« on: 2012-08-24 04:38:13 »

Looks good.
The only issue of APZ Cloud is his head. He looks like a boy and not like a strong man,
I think a smaller head would be better. That´s why never used the model for battle

It's funny I keep hearing that...  But my philosophy on this model was to mix the way he looks in the secret ending to Crisis Core with the way he's presented in the original game. That included facial proportions. It was also heavily influenced by his appearance in Kingdom Hearts 1.

Not that you're wrong, he absolutely DOES look more like a kid... But stylistically that's the way we first saw him. With that level of large eyed anime-ness. It's in the official art and in the models in the original game. In fact the color I used for his skin is the exact same color from the Final Battle model, as well as the blue for his cloths, and the brown for his boots. I think APZ Cloud was so effective because he works as a better looking substitute that fits in perfectly with the original style.

And it's THAT philosophy (Being a more updated drop in, but with the details of the new continuity) that makes me not support the non-chibi field models. The feet never line up satisfactorily for me, and even with better animations... I dunno... I defer to the way it was presented originally. 

So if any of yall can make a field model that's chibi and matches the one I posted in the APZ Cloud release thread... That'll be the one I support. 



ALSO! The texture from my latest release fixes some color key holes in the back of his belts... So anything APZ Cloud related would be slightly better with the texture from the most recent release! 

65

Releases / Re: [WIP] Simple Cloud Model inspired by fmv Beta Release!

« on: 2012-08-23 08:52:55 »

Nice to see ya around man  I like your concept. Keep everything visually the same across the whole game experience (Nomura was obsessed with that for FFX because it bothered him on FFVII and FFVIII)


Say...

If you'd start a thread spelling out how to get the field models to blink... I'm sure you'd make allot of folks around here happy. Even if it's just a numbered text list, because I've completely forgotten... I remember finding the simple instructions somewhere here on the forum by searching but it wasn't easy. I made a proto-type APZ Cloud chibi field model and got him to blink... that that was years ago and those files are gone.

I understand if it's asking too much, but it'd help.

66

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-23 06:09:38 »

That was my bad,  with all the new threads popping up I sometimes only glance at a thread to see if it needs to be moved or deleted (or locked in this case).  It seemed this was the thread for the upcoming release, so I locked it once I saw your new thread pop up.

In any case thank you buddy! 



On another note... I just uploaded a desktop background render of the Buster Sword I made for New Canon Cloud on my website domain (The site isn't up yet...)

Desktop Background 2560X1440

Not a bad render for a model that uses a 512x512 texture map! (Although I did slightly tool the edges here and there for this picture, nothing too dramatic)

67

Releases / Re: [Project] FF7 Re-animated

« on: 2012-08-23 06:05:55 »

Dude this is awesome! I'm not the type to like the non-chibi style...

But I'm totally down for editing the battle animations. The left shoulder rotates in awkward ways that doesn't work completely well for the proportions I use for my models. I'll read this and figure out how to correct that for New Canon Cloud

68

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-08-23 05:54:34 »

here you go. .zip contains a readme, texture, and model with new tex id.

I appreciate it bro But I'll be honest... I myself may never use it. If you would be so kind as to not have that link in this thread and create your own post for it please.


On another note APZ Cloud has been downloaded almost 200 times since I released him 2 days ago

69

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-08-22 23:31:27 »

Again thanks guys  And Squall8Cloud7 don't worry I'm not offended. I just don't think it'd be a good idea to release my work if it's trying to open other weapon mods that aren't in the download package I provided them. If they use my mod, and no others, that message would show up.

I suggest posting this little tutorial you just wrote on a new thread. But if you please not upload the entire package, just the sword with ID changed for your tutorial  I think people would appreciate that.

I assume allot of people that download it aren't a part of this forum and don't know most of this stuff. I'd rather make a simpler product that doesn't confuse the casual downloader.

70

Graphical / Re: [WIP] APZ's New Canon Cloud

« on: 2012-08-22 21:55:35 »

Thanks for unlocking the thread 

I promise I'll get to work on New Canon Cloud as soon as I can. (I have a website to build and some portfolio art pieces to make first)

And I'll let yall in on the work in progress goodness

71

Releases / Re: [REL] APZ Cloud (Re-Release FINAL)

« on: 2012-08-22 21:53:47 »

I'll leave that one for you guys  There's only so much I can do. And I have college to graduate from, a portfolio to fill, and a career to start. I don't have time to do the other characters even though I want to.

If I do another character it'll be Sephiroth.

72

Releases / Re: [REL] !!!!APZ Cloud!!!! ~*]--(RE--RELEASE!!!)--[*~

« on: 2012-08-22 08:12:37 »

APZ Cloud Re-Release FINAL

---- Download Mirror 1
---- Download Mirror 2

--Message to mods: Don't lock this thread yet! At least wait until it's been dead for a while. And if possible... UNlock the New Canon Cloud thread... Because it's not finished yet... It's barely started project-wise--

73

Releases / Re: [REL] !!!!APZ Cloud!!!! ~*]--(RE--RELEASE!!!)--[*~

« on: 2012-08-22 07:34:24 »

Read the first post in the "APZ New Canon Cloud" Thread: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=11083.0

It's going to be a completely different and new Cloud made by me with the knowledge and skills I have accrued at Art School studying Media Arts and Animation. When I made APZ Cloud... that was the first character model I EVER made... And NOW I'm twelve times the digital artist I was back then.

So... Whoever locked it must have thought I meant the thread to be about the re-release of APZ Cloud... Nope... It was an after-thought to hold people until I get around to making "New Canon Cloud" (Which hopefully won't be too long, we'll see)

But I'd like to store my progress in that thread, otherwise it's kind of a huge waste of a thread, that's interesting, but only there to prematurely announce my after-thought of repainting the texture for APZ Cloud. I didn't "remake" APZ Cloud... He exists exactly the way he was in the download I set up in 2008, only with minor fixes to him and the same texture with a face I painted from scratch...

So... If a mod would be so kind as to unlock that thread I'm not done with it yet  Pretty please? And if not, for whatever reason... I'll just go ahead and make a new one I suppose...?

<Another note>

I POSTED THE FINAL RELEASE

That's it... I will NOT work on APZ Cloud anymore...

Well Squall8Cloud7... I couldn't get your edit to work without each battle starting with red letters saying "ERROR: could not open file CLOUD.T09" over the battle dialogue... So sorry man  I didn't include that fix of your in the final release. But if you make a thread detailing what to do... I think that would benefit anyone wanting to use other weapon packs with my model!  So it's not all bad buddy. But thanks for trying.

But I DID fix the thing that bothered me about the pelvis piece  That's it folks!

Look forward to New Canon Cloud  I'm almost positive that he'll be less popular and definitely less infamous... But it's alright. I WANT to do it... And he'll look amazing! Look to the future, not at the past...

"To infinity... and BEYOND!"

</Another note>

74

Releases / Re: [REL] !!!!APZ Cloud!!!! ~*]--(RE--RELEASE!!!)--[*~

« on: 2012-08-22 05:15:46 »

Oh hey! Who locked the New Canon Cloud thread? Or should I just... make a new one when I start working on it... then...?

75

Releases / Re: [REL] !!!!APZ Cloud!!!! ~*]--(RE--RELEASE!!!)--[*~

« on: 2012-08-22 02:25:56 »

Alright alright...  I'll take Squal8Cloud7's suggestion... And also fix that uv problem on his right hip (It bugs me    And I've gotten 3 kind e-mails telling me they found it) So I might as well fix it.

This is it though! I'll make ONE last update to APZ Cloud before I move on. I have a great many things that I need to spend my focus on.

So if there's any comments, concerns, suggestions before I poke at it again tonight... I'll take it all in in about 5 or 6 hours from now... And post a FINAL release. After that it's up to you guys where it goes from there.