Messages

101

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

« on: 2012-06-15 19:47:01 »

Good show. May be someday i'll be as good....maybe

I only got that way by not letting anything stop me! And if you think what you've seen so far was good... That was only me learning how to do these things in the first place. Developing your spacial reasoning through observation is the key. After that you have to familiarize yourself with the software. But the software doesn't think for you! The best work comes from those who truly have an understanding of thinking of an objects volume and shape in their own minds. OBSERVATIONAL DRAWING is absolutely the fastest way to get that skill. And sculpting clay and such helps enormously.


As far as the New face for the Cloud model... I painted one up, but I have to quickly re-teach myself how to do all this stuff. I might have it ready tonight if my son goes to sleep and nobody else needs my attention tonight 

102

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

« on: 2012-06-12 03:47:31 »

Glad to hear it

On Wednesday I'll paint something up, and convert it to the proper format within all my old files and re-upload it. Considering The old thread has a negative heading on it... I suppose it will warrant a new thread in the releases section. And everyone can be happy and stop e-mailing me at least once a week  (Seriously... 3 years later and I still get asked about it, that's freakin awesome!)

It'll be the battle model only unfortunately... But it's better than nothing!

103

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

« on: 2012-06-11 08:49:31 »

Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 20 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.

I would love to post a new reply thank you 

OKAY The thing you guys have all been waiting to hear IS>>>>>>

That I still want to do this! PLUS~ When I finally get around to it, I have 10 times the talent that I had even 1 year ago (which means... about the last time I actually checked this board)

THE BAD NEWS. I'm the intrepid father who's trying to graduate and work a full time job to keep my wife and kid fed and I'm kinda REALLY busy!!! 

I don't wanna be that guy. Well... I DO  But I don't like to abandon things that I want to do.

I WANT TO DO THIS CLOUD THING FOR YOU GUYS But life is hard man!  I pull about 2 all nighters a week.

<off topic>And for those of you who've read my inane ramblings about how dramatic my life is... IT GOT WORSE!!!! Last January some serious life changing bullmoore happened that threatened my sanity and family. TWO separate and equally soul crushing things happened within 2 days. I can't talk about it obviously... Let's just say the damage is pretty permanent, and a man I used to respect will be in jail for the rest of his life, a family member of mine will need counseling... And a person I love very much will never speak to me again... But no more elaboration is needed. I live in a soap opera is what I'm trying to say</off topic>

ANYWAYS! You can't keep a good dog down, and I'm still kicking!

All the work on this page that you've seen so far...? Scrapped!

But no worries. I can pump this guy out in a week with the talent I've accrued (Which involved working at Sony Online Entertainment for 3 months) And with my new fangled ZBrush skills, he'll be pretty and accurate and retopo'd with a nice clean simple mesh. I'll even bake out a normals and spec map for you people with the Aali's custom driver.

I'll take screenshots to track my progress and explain what I'm doing in each step, it could be used as a how-to of sorts for those that are interested in learning these skills. (Time tracking is VERY important in the video game field! GET USED TO TRACKING YOUR TIME if you want to be a part of that kind of work!!!)

AAAAAAAAAAND... FUDGE IT!  I'll go ahead and rerelease my old APZ Cloud Model with a brand new painted face so no one can complain! (Hey, it's better than waiting for my life to slow down again right!?)

I'll post about it later in the week after my finals on Tuesday... I'll quickly repaint the face (with that shiggity one I still have half completed on a layer in the photoshop file) And make the post so you people can finally be happy about it being back 

--(Why didn't I do this earlier? Cause I really wanted to make a Cloud that blew it out of the water! But after FOUR ALMOST FIVE YEARS people are STILL emailing me about my APZ Cloud... THAT MEANS SOMETHING!!! That means people loved it more than most big budget summer movies! Granted it's not my intellectual property... but folks loved my work ferociously regardless)

104

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

« on: 2011-12-23 21:29:19 »

I would love to do different character models! But my free time has gone out the window. I'm still in school, I have a 1 year old, I'm interning at Sony, and I'm developing a music video for a musician. I'm just straight up SWAMPED! But don't give up hope yet, I REALLY want to finish this project. And I AM NOT ABANDONING THIS PROJECT

This Cloud will be completed and I also want to do the dlc different versions of him. In the same vein as the different Batmans for Arkham City.

As far as other characters...? I might make a few if for no other reason than for my art portfolio. And I'll leave it to the community to chop them up and code them into the game, I just don't think I'll have the time.

105

Graphical / Re: A Perfect AC Cloud Model

« on: 2011-10-10 05:42:34 »

Make the model and textures from scratch and we'll be your friends    Although I'm not entirely sure about AC Cloud...? I think I read somewhere about them only allowing mods that enhance the original characters. Which I think would include AC Cloud...?

Alls I know is using Sonic and Tails, or Link, or Raziel from Soul Reaver is not allowed even if it's 100% your creation. Something about "Goodwill" and how we must not "damage the goodwill and image" of Square Enix. And that's why we can't add content that Square doesn't own because they don't want a lawsuit aim at THEM!

So... Since Square owns the content of AC Cloud... I think...? It's okay to make your own?  Help me out guys 

106

Completely Unrelated / Re: From the Same Project that New Canon Cloud is being made for (for Doom Fans)

« on: 2011-09-26 11:57:04 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUeur1YYz_8

Here's a model turnaround and rigging demo for the Doom Imp.

edit: As an added bonus. The song playing the the background was 100% written and performed by me... Well... Unfortunately I can't say I played the solo  I'm not that great at guitar, but I did write most of the solo.

107

Graphical / Re: WIP Tifa

« on: 2011-09-25 00:31:22 »

As i have both imported and made and textured models, id suggest texturing after the split. Youll get extra polies from the caps of each object and its eaiser to texture those nicely after theyre modeled!

Yes, that is true, however that isn't what I did  For example for the leg I'd have the same 4 edge loops in both the shin model and the thigh. That way, I could have the unbroken model not look wierd.

As someone who has imported dozens and dozens of models, I can tell you that it is ok if the model isn't the same size as the original.  Bone lengths can indeed be adjusted as can animations.  So feel free to model her as you see best.  However, it will definitely benefit you to look at how the original Tifa model is put together and at least attempt to emulate it.

Ahh, this is one of the answers I was looking for. That puts my mind at rest for the most part then on this. I thank you sir for the clear answer.

I tried to say that in the pm I sent you but I guess I complicated it with difficult language  Sorry about that!


BUT I must say that I'm glad you've decided to join forces with us. And I'm excited to see the end result! I like where this is going so far!

108

Graphical / Re: Anybody has a model of tifa?

« on: 2011-09-21 06:07:59 »

Just wait  I heard some news. And I don't mean me.

109

Completely Unrelated / Re: From the Same Project that New Canon Cloud is being made for (for Doom Fans)

« on: 2011-09-18 23:30:24 »

Importing as a quick monster replacement mod for Doom 3 sounds fun. I was a part of "DOOM REBORN" at some point. It went downhill and there was little to no management what-so-ever. And one of our team members went rouge and hacked the web-site to shreds. We all just lost interest and gave up when we realized that this teenager's superiority complex wasn't gonna let up.

Mostly that was texture creation and some props. For the character's I barely changed any geometry. I just pulled verts on the imp and repainted him. But I joined that mod because i wanted to see if anyone had recreated and rendered the first level in Doom. Then I found them and realized that I could be a part of an interactive recreation. Awesome. Until it imploded.


But this current project of mine is basically the realization of what drew me to the mod in the first place. But mine will be video only, not interactive.

110

Completely Unrelated / From the Same Project that New Canon Cloud is being made for (for Doom Fans)

« on: 2011-09-18 06:37:28 »

Finally got him streamlined, with retopo'd geometry (all quads) with normal maps that were sculpted in ZBrush. Built the rig by hand from scratch in Maya, I've still yet to implement some muscles deformers (to get that perfect pectoral deltoid trapezius look) He has a working jaw, it can open and close over the teeth. And even working eye lids that close.

Point is... I couldn't do all this 6 months ago. (ZBrush, retopo-ing, Maya rigging)

This is actually for the project that I'm building the New Canon Cloud for. I won't say much, because honestly don't expect much attention when it's done... but just imagine something that involves Cloud and Imp's 

111

Gameplay / Re: My apz Cloud black dress

« on: 2011-09-11 07:30:15 »

FIRST OFF!!!

Thank you ferruz96 for admitting that you will not release this  Smart man

Secondly...

...the Model uses a little of the Disidia or Crisis Core model...

No infact I did not copy and paste the model AT ALL. The tedious and embarrassingly strange Obsessive Compulsive method I spent meticulously recreating everything to perfection didn't happen as fast as it takes to CTRL+C and CTRL+P. If I just copy and pasted doncha think I would have released it earlier? 

(Plus I didn't know how to use vertex snapping back then, I guess I just ignored it or hadn't figure it out yet. Hilarious, it would have sped up this long tedious process from days to just hours)

The model itself is completely custom, just has some uv's and textures from Dissidia. It was allowed until that was uncovered.

Thank you for defending me  That's the most accurate description I've read yet. But textureS? No... The texture! singular. Infact... THIS IS THE ONLY THING I'M TRULY GUILTY OF RIGHT HERE:



Kinda puts the whole fiasco in perspective doesn't it? All that uproar over THIS!?!?!?

The head was ripped from Kingdom Hearts.

No Vgr... The kingdom Hearts head model had different polys. Trust me, I was there  I think my opinion about my own work counts doncha think? Let me straighten this out for you guys visually because I realize that not everyone has read everything I had to say about it.



The model I closely followed was not the Kingdom Hearts head. It was the second costume head from Dissidia. Trust me  I was there


(And I realize that some people might just assume I'm lying to cover my ass. Which is silly. I released that in 2009, I hadn't even gotten to the 3D modeling classes in Art School yet. I'm capable of so much more now, so why would I lie about some amateur stuff I did before I really knew what I was doing?)

I'm a fully grown man (Not a teenager) who takes responsibility for my actions and my mistakes. I was wrong! And to make up for my mistake I'm making a whole new and infinitely better model for everyone to enjoy! 

I also have a gentle need to be understood. Thank you if you actually took the time to read this 

p.s. I'm sorry I spent more time defending myself than working on Cloud  Truth is it's really hard to concentrate on work when I have baby duty  But while he crawls underfoot with his toys I take a minute here and there. And the thinking and writing helps me keep my mind together under the constant sleep deprivation. (Work, School, My kid, homework, no days off) But it's all good, and it's all worth it. Just forgive my vociferousness. Here's some recent work to prove that I've been keeping busy on school

112

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

« on: 2011-08-31 20:04:41 »

Yeah, it must have happened when I was doing whatever with the belts. Soft selection type stuff. Didn't get around the raising his in-seam when I made the screenshot. I was trying to match the belts and the bangle to rendered pictures of Zack and Cloud as best as possible, wasn't paying attention to his crotch 

113

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

« on: 2011-08-31 05:44:13 »

Yes, please check the PRP Thread. And use that as a starting point to branch off of. I have no interest in it. I understand that you want to take my old APZ Cloud and turn him into a field model and not release it, just for yourself. But that requires a lot more than just renaming files.

Unfortunately no, I can't really help you there. I have enough trouble explaining animation and 3DS Max and Maya and After Effects to the students I tutor. I'm pretty booked. And besides... I honestly haven't even opened ANY of the FFVIIPC tools since 2009. I'm bound to have forgotten nearly all of it! I'll have to relearn all over again.

(and the only reason I've been posting more than usual is because it keeps my mind active on as little sleep as I get. So I can keep working on my school projects without passing out!)

I wish I had a screenshot to keep this thread focused, but I don't have anything that's any more than the last post:




That's NOT the final head... The file with that hair model got corrupted or something when I opened it in 3DS Max 2012 and tried to save it to 2011. No worries, I wasn't 100% on it, and it wasn't final anyways...

I work iteratively, (as in cloudv01.max, cloudv02.max, cloudv03.max) So we're SAFE! and there was no monitor screaming like in the old days  Just a quick sigh and a shrug. Nothing was lost that was gold.

114

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

« on: 2011-08-30 20:44:11 »

And I'm saying either go all in, not just the face, or don't

We'll see If I ever get around to it.

115

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

« on: 2011-08-30 19:13:35 »

Apz, I wouldn't do an anime face. Though it might help meld your art with the rest of the game, I doubt it would truly fit even with the rest of the model. between highly detailed hair, and fairly realistic body proportions, it would stand out. The anime face needs an anime body too - tiny torso, long legs, oversized forarms, etc.

That's the point really. To put it into the game AT ALL yo have to go by the game's unrealistic proportions. I'm talking anime for the game only, not outside of it.

116

Archive / Re: Need help with weapon creation

« on: 2011-08-30 13:31:46 »

BlitzNCS That's all excellent advice!

To add to it. Sometimes old pivot point data get's saved when you open it in pccreator even when you manually edit the pivot in max first. To solve that:

First I line up the object where it's supposed to be. I use an imported model from the game to guess it.

Then I create a box using the keyboard entry creation dialogue. usually X=0 Y=0 Z=0 and length width and height at 10 or something. Doesn't matter, only the 0 for the X Y and Z.

Then I right click Convert To: > Convert to Editable Poly

Then all you gotta do is use Attach in the Modify panel of that box and attach your model. VIOLA! It resets the pivot to Zero!

Aaaaand. Then I go to Element subselection mode, and delete the box. Because Element is the quickest way. DONE!




That's one of those APZ technique born out of countless hours screaming in anger at the monitor in 2007 to 2008. Thought someone might find it useful. Doesn't have to be a box. Just anything that get's generated at the world 0, 0, 0. It was frustrating when even if I went to the Hierarchy Panel>Affect Pivot Point Only and manually set the pivot.... it didn't register in pccreator...? But when I did this trick I just explained... it worked!

117

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

« on: 2011-08-30 09:14:54 »

ei mr APZ do you have a plan to do also the field model of new cloud?

That correct answer is... a definite MAYBE. I don't know where my head space will be by the time I finally get this project done. I may or may not have the stamina or the drive to make the field model.

(p.s. I'm tickled that everyone in my pm box calls me polite names like "Sir" and "Mr Freak"  )

Don't get me wrong... I totally want to make the field model! I really do! But I'm not sure yet if it's in the cards. But in the mean by guys... No more pm's about it please. It's one of the most asked questions. I'm sure I've said this several times (I'm not sure I haven't checked  ) But please no more.

But to answer yet another possible question: IF I DO make a field model IT WILL BE the chibi version like in the original game. I do not personally care for the regular size conversion mods. No offense! But it's not my cup of tea. I prefer it the way was.

And no, I'm sorry. But I won't answer any questions referring to my older "APZ CLOUD". Sorry. The customer service has run out on that one  Besides... Wouldn't you want the better one I'm cooking up!? Just wait, it's not like FFVIIPC's getting any more outdated than it already is 

Of course, I was wondering if I should do an anime face counterpart in addition to the current one!?!?! Just the face. So that it'll fit in more with the game. Basically what I mean is to recreate the "APZ CLOUD" with my new model. To make the populous happy, as well as myself. It'll fit in more with the other characters to have him be more anime like, and also using the same colors from the original one. That's the philosophy behind the design of APZ CLOUD.

<COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT>

(It's funny because I made APZ CLOUD '08-'09-ish and my memories are a bit hazy about it. When everyone dissected the texture file, I couldn't remember honestly if I used the face texture from Dissidia or not! To this day is the 80% painted face texture layer in the photoshop file turned off over the dreaded copied texture from Dissidia. You know the one what broke everyone's heart and lost the respect for me from a lot of people  ) I exaggerate But it seemed that way 

But that's the reason why I'm doing THIS Cloud! Not only will it be BETTER, with the new knowledge and skills I've acquired. But it's there as a peace offering to those who were upset and disappointed by my (dishonesty...?) um I dunno... My failure to create the entirety of my textures from scratch I guess!? (I still don't know exactly what "swiping UV's" means...? You can't easily copy the uv layout off of another model that has a different vertex order! My polys were hand crafted, I followed the structure of the Dissidia one, but I didn't just "Copy and Paste") Of course, everyone's entitled to their own opinions. But I was THERE!

It's funny to me because I wondered at the time if anyone might look at the polys of the head and compare it to the Dissidia model and call me out on it. I had APZ CLOUD's head with the Dissidia head right next to it when modeling it. It isn't exactly the same, but yes, I basically recreated it. I knew for my self that I didn't just "Copy and Paste" I wondered if I'd be accused of it. And well... I was!

Hilarity ensues! And I look back at my past self and I laugh at him, because he somehow knew. 

</COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT>

118

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

« on: 2011-08-25 03:29:41 »

Thanks guys  Those kind words mean more to me than "dude how I pwned your cloud modl and download that sh*%, why its not werkin?" kinda things that fill my pm inbox to full every month or so. I prefer to communicate in complete and whole language.


This is, I kid you not, an actual quote:

Yo clouds a shizNIT mutha F. LOL shut-up u freak crazy- plses after seeing my ashey legs in the morn they would NOT like dat il git my neighbor do it as well we did it last year the dent come out 4 the rest of the year- well they did they jus practiced on the ohger side of the school hahaa

  It makes me wonder if they were trying to talk to me and accidentally pasted something they accidentally copied...?

I believe this is the reason the more sane and novice members who try to ask me something sometimes don't get an answer from me. I'm sorry you few innocent guys!


To make this post less off topic. I promise you members and floaters that I will NOT give up on Cloud! And he will be awesome

119

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

« on: 2011-08-23 15:24:02 »

when is the apz new cloud going to be released?

Well that's the question isn't it?  Right now I'm suffering through severe financial crunch in my life and school's beating the crap outta my every free moment. I barely sleep as it is, and I need to get another job just to climb out of this predicament. I'm not asking for any sympathy, as frustrating as my position may be I still count myself a lucky man.

But in the mean by that means that I need to focus all my energy into keeping my head above water. And as much as I'd like to tear into Cloud and get him done tomorrow... I have priorities that demand my immediate and constant attention.

The only promise I can make is that I haven't forgotten, and I haven't abandoned this yet. I have no intention of dropping this project. I just have to wait until I haven enough freetime/motivation to achieve it.

So bear with me  Have a little patience and faith. I really don't want to let you guys down

120

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

« on: 2011-08-13 09:09:02 »

Sorry guys school's beating me to a pulp! I got Production Team where a team of 7 students make an animated short film in 3 months... and I'm the art lead and most of my team isn't very skilled... So I'm kind of teaching everyone what we've already learned for the last year (Sigh inducing disappointment)... It'll be great though! Me and the Production Team leader are decent enough and I'm sure that with enough grinding we'll make something cool! Also Advanced Rigging (which is more like advanced round about way of making things more complicated for animators  but seriously I'm learning a TON) and lastly I got Animation Studio V Which is a 3 month long project dedicated to the area of cg that I'm most interested in (Character Concept/Creation/and Animation) the whole purpose is that I make something polished to put on my demo reel.

I'll include my version of the opening screen (made to look more like the original but with the new sword of course) when I finally get around to releasing Cloud.

Have faith guys  I'm sorry, it'll be worth it! I won't let you down

121

WIP / Re: Halkun's new Project... Introducing N-gears

« on: 2011-08-01 20:52:57 »

Hey! Crazy or not I'm interested! 

122

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

« on: 2011-07-13 04:46:52 »

Here's what I've used as my background for the last couple of months, thought you guys might like it as well:

123

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

« on: 2011-07-12 20:31:21 »

If it isn't any trouble, you should release the hi-poly and lo-poly versions, so people who want hi-poly can get it but people who can't use it (or aren't interested for some reason) have an option too. If you make both of them, why not release them?

Because it wouldn't really look THAT much different honestly! The camera doesn't get close enough for those tiny details to really pop out. And Trust in me  I model smart to get as much detail with as little polys. Takes less time to render.

And as far as I'm concerned the "high poly" is only a stand-in/mid-step to my full render model to use in one of my projects. And that and converting it to the games files would be more trouble than it's worth, and the different only slightly noticeable. As an smart animator, you only model out the finite details you'll see up close.

124

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

« on: 2011-07-12 18:07:27 »

I have no plans to release the high poly version. Once I finish him I'll combine the sculpting detail and ornamental polygon detail into normal maps for one combined and slightly retopo'd mesh (ex: The suspender straps will be just a raised portion of the chest mesh) I'm shooting for a final that'll be roughly less than 4000 polys, or 7 to 8 thousand tri polys.

@Nightmarish check the various posts I've made, I have several shots of the working of the face. I'll add them to the WIP links on the first post of this thread

125

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

« on: 2011-07-12 11:33:26 »

My base mesh with base colors before any sculpting, with additional ornaments that'll be used to bake normals.



I'm keepin the head a surprise until it's textured