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What a decade of advancements in interactive game technology—to think that only 10 to 15 years ago we
were pushing the envelope with car models for PC games that could today run glitch-free in many mobile
phone games. We’re certainly experiencing an exciting era in game development! However, this neverrelenting
progression in games technology has a double-edged-sword effect.
Sure, we can now achieve spectacular-looking in-game graphics that almost rival 3D movie content, but
at exorbitant costs in time, artist resources, and money. The vehicle models that took 1 week to produce 10
years ago now often take 6 or more weeks to produce. One only need look at the seemingly never-ending
delays in the release of GT5 to understand how the eye-candy aspect of game design has spiraled to almost
out-of-control levels.
We’re almost at the plateau where movie content crosses over into game applications. Although they are still
vastly different mediums and still require totally different approaches, we are seeing more artists jumping
ship and switching between the mediums without too much difficulty.
To me, one of the most rewarding challenges of creating vehicles for real-time applications has been in using
the least amount of geometry to achieve the best possible effect . . . optimization and balance being the critical
areas of the design with the desired outcome to produce clean, refined meshes that look pleasing
in-game. The advent of bump maps and, more important normal maps has helped add fine detail to models
instead of using geometry or relying on texture maps to simulate details. Material shaders, specular maps,
ambient occlusion, and advances in lighting technology help provide more realistic-looking metals, rubber,
plastics, and glass and in many instances have replaced the use of a diffuse texture map altogether.
Modeling aids such as CAD, 3D scanned data, and digitized data can remove much of the guesswork from
modeling and help produce very accurate models, although at the expense of removing much of the creative
or artistic challenge, and thus making the modeling process a more sterile experience.
As for vehicle artists themselves, what makes them so passionate about wanting to create digital vehicles?
From my own personal experience, it was my love of cars, motorsports, racing games, and art that prompted
me to look into 3D modeling apps and teach myself how to model vehicles. |