Creating game models
 

Hi everybody

If I am wanting to create a game model for PS 2, X-box and GameCube platforms, how many polys should I be aiming for,
it is just that when I get started, I get a bit carried away:D by adding more detail forgeting that most of the detail in games comes from textures.

Dae:D

I have done some lowpoly modeling for game mods. Mostly Half-life and UT2003.
The polycount depends on what the model will be used for.
In FPS games my wepon models have been 800 - 1000 tri polys.
Dont forget game models must be 3 point polys only.
If the model is shown often in the game whit other models and it self, then you should keep it as low poly as you can.

The maximum PolyCount per model and maximum texture resolution depends on the game engine. So read the specifications of the engine first.

I'm working on a current xbox title for argonaut, and we have been working to 10k polys for hero objects, 2k for non-hero, and 100 for very lowdetail distant stuff. Characters are ranging between 4k and 7k, and vehicles between 8k and 12k.

Textures are critical in adding detail, and a careful mix of the 2 gives wicked results. We mostly use hi-def models as the texture source for the realtime with rendered in shadows in corners, nooks etc....

For anyone interested, check us out at E3. Look for POWERDROME :)

Cheers

Craig

Thanks to all who answered my question, I now know more or less the number of polys that I should say between to achieve a game model.

Thanks
Dae