[mtmckinley]

Game Animation!

My next book, The Game Animator's Guide to Maya, will be releasing soon, so I thought it might be cool to have a challenge commemorating its release! In addition to our normal prizes, both the Normal and Newbie winners will recieve a signed copy of the book upon its release next month!

Now, this challenge is not just "animation" but is in fact video game animation specific. There are two main types of animation involved in games: Animation Cycles and Animation Sequences.

Cycles are looping actions, such as a walk cycle, run cycle, attack cycle, etc etc.

Sequences are actions that play through once and are not necessarily designed to repeat or loop, such as a death sequence, special attacks, conversations and acting sequences, etc.

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THE GOAL

Create an animation cycle AND/OR an animation sequence! Feel free to use any freely available rigs and characters you can find on the internet. If you create a character or rig for yourself, try not to let it take too much of your time as the judging point is the animation! Not the model, texturing, lighting, etc.

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1) Show progress! This proves that you have worked on the challenge during the challenge timeframe! Show your conceptual process as much as possible!

2) Label your thread thusly:

May/June - Norm or Noob - Your name

Choose to classify yourself as a Normal or Noobie class entry. Whichever class you choose is the class your final submitted entry will compete against! A winner will be chosen from both classes.

You CAN choose to upgrade from Noob to Normal at any point during the challenge. You cannot go from Normal to Noob, however.

3) Mods and Admins can enter, but are inelligible to win. If a mod chooses to participate, choose "Mod" class rather than Norm or Noob.

4) Any 3D application is applicable to participate, but as is obvious, the simply sites' main focus apps at the moment are Maya, Max, Lightwave, and Zbrush.

5) All work must be done by the participant. All work must be done within the confines of the challenge dates and not before. Obviously, you can use any previously created character models or rigs.

6) Try not to attach images to the forum that are larger than 640x480. Feel free to host larger images yourself using 3rd party means.

7) Only one (1) cycle and one (1) sequence per applicant. You CAN have one of both! You can work on as many as you'd like but keep it all in one thread. Choose the one you want to enter as your final.

8) Final entries must be posted into a Final Entry thread that a mod will create in the last couple weeks of the challenge. Final entries should consist of a render or screenshot from your scene as well as an animation clip of your main entry. Your animation can be a playblast (or your program's equivalent) or a render. It'd be preferable if you linked to your videos from your own hosting arrangements since the forum has limited attachment space!

The due date of the challenge is approx. 7am July 1st, USA Pacific time. Get it in before to make sure!

Normal Grand Prize - $400 US! A signed copy of The Game Animator's Guide to Maya!

Newbie Grand Prize - Two Simply DVDs of his/her choice! A signed copy of The Game Animator's Guide to Maya!

Ask any questions here! Make sure you check this thread periodicly for rule updates as we work out the details!

[sake]

do the models have to be low poly models?

[mtmckinley]

not necessarily, although I do kinda prefer them. But, no, any model is fine.

[NoStr0m0]

By acting sequence do you mean an animation that can be used in a cutscene, or a cinematic moment or should it be strictly 'in-game'?

[mtmckinley]

I'm mainly referring to in-game sequences. Like a character throwing a grenade, for example. that's not exactly meant to constantly loop.

[NoStr0m0]

One more thing... Do particle FX count in an animation? Or are can they just be there so you get an idea of what it could look like after the FX guys mess with it?

In other words, let's presume I have a flamethrower tank... Do the flames have to be realistic, or just some quick particles?

[mtmckinley]

particles aren't really the focus. Placeholder stuff works, but if you have time to finesse them a bit, that'd be cool

[mtmckinley]

Everyone get their entries in! Be aware that there may be a delay in getting the signed books to the winners as they will be coming out of my own personal stash of my book... and I will have to wait until I get them. haha