3D Game Animation For Dummies

ISBN-13: 9780764587894 / Angielski / Miękka / 2005 / 416 str.

Kelly L. Murdock

Opis

* For readers intrigued by 3D video games as a hobby or a potential career, this book offers an introduction to the world of 3D game animation and provides step-by-step instructions on creating storyboards, scenery, characters, and even software
* Cover topics such as working with 3D coordinates, keyframing, NURBS modeling, lighting, rigging, skinning, particle effects, and more
* Video game sales exceeded the movie industry's box office draw last year by $1 billion

Spis treści

Introduction 1

Part I: Creating 3D Content for Games 5

Chapter 1: Getting Started with 3D Game Animation 7

Chapter 2: Game and Art Design, and Creating Storyboards 19

Chapter 3: Starting with Traditional Animation Basics 29

Part II: Creating Interfaces, Modeling Scenery, and Texturing Backgrounds 39

Chapter 4: Creating Game User Interfaces 41

Chapter 5: Modeling Scenery and Props 59

Chapter 6: Adding Details with Materials 87

Chapter 7: Mapping Textures 97

Chapter 8: Creating Effective Lighting 115

Part III: Designing, Modeling, and Animating Game Characters 131

Chapter 9: Techniques for Modeling Characters 133

Chapter 10: Discovering the Basics of 3D Animation 173

Chapter 11: Animating Characters 193

Chapter 12: Animating Facial Movements 209

Chapter 13: Automating Reactions with Dynamics 217

Part IV: Animating Game Cut Scenes 227

Chapter 14: Animating Scene Elements 229

Chapter 15: Animating with Particles 241

Chapter 16: Rendering an Animation 253

Part V: The Part of Tens 265

Chapter 17: Ten Types of Tools Used by Game Companies 267

Chapter 18: Ten Creative Jobs in the Animation Industry 279

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Land a Job as a 3D Game Animator 287

Appendix A: Using Game Engine Tools 305

Appendix B: Glossary of Animation Terms 337

Appendix C: Directory of Animation Schools 351

Index 355

O autorze

Kelly L. Murdock has written about computer topics ranging from multimedia to JavaScript. He has also created 3D models for feature films and worked as a freelance 3D artist.

Blurb

Gain the skills that will get you into game design

Bring fantasy creatures and settings to life, and launch a lucrative career

There′s gold in them thar games, and here′s your mining kit! Find out how to design, model, and animate characters, give your settings detail and dimension, create a storyboard, add dialogue, produce special effects, plan a game, and more. You′ll even get an overview of essential software, and tips for landing a job in the game industry.

Discover how to

• Create realistic motion
• Develop a game concept
• Model a complete character from scratch
• Add a skeleton rig to your character
• Find out how to use particles and dynamics
• Sync facial movements with soundtracks