#3D Animators needed!
31 messages in this thread
Wanted for immediate full-time position on-premises at downtown San Francisco
location.
Modeler/animator with heavy 3D Studio experience; knowledge of Premiere
for Mac or Windows and other video editing tools preferred. Good working
knowledge of IPAS routines and Alias Poweranimator for SGI would be
beneficial but not required.
We are working on an upcoming science-fiction CD-ROM title starring actress
Tia Carrere that involves live actors composited with organic 3D modeled
backgrounds. This is a project that pushes creative limits as well as the
current state of the art.
Fax resumes to: Mechadeus,
ATTN: Matthew Fleischman
415-243-8630
Matt:
If you need anyone to "digitize" Tia Carrere please let me know! :-}
Bob
I was lucky enough to be invited to see how they were shooting Tia against the
blue-screen composited 3DS backgrounds (using the Ultimatte to pull a clean
matte channel).
SCHWING!
She's got amazing skin tone. I told her that it was thrilling to see her
romping around in our little polygons.
The Mechadeus folks have a winner with this one… the visuals are awesome.
– G
Gary:
Tia is definitely a Babraham Lincoln. The next time my girlfriend catches me
oggling another woman I'm gonna use your line , "But honey, 'she's got amazing
skin tone'." :-}
Bob
Babraham Lincoln? She's a Babasaurus! I'd certainly be willing to do a little
dithering on the side.
Ian.
Ian:
Re: Tia Carrere
We're not worthy! We're not worthy! <G>
Bob
>>She's got amazing skin tone. I told her that it was thrilling to see her
romping >>around in our little polygons.
>>The Mechadeus folks have a winner with this one… the visuals are awesome.
>> – G
I really hope so. This is absolutely the best work I've ever seen, stuff that
I wouldn't have believed could have come from 3D Studio (or ANY 3D package) a
few months ago. This will probably be the killer app that will put 3DS & IPAS
on the desk of everyone who ever saw Terminator 2 and wanted a $100,000 SGI
box.
-MF
From the visuals point of view Mechadeus' Critical Path was excellent, as a
game it was a dud. If there isn't a game in the game then the visuals aren't
worth a hoot. I just did a review of Critical Path for Online Reviews and gave
it a "thumbs don't – don't waste your money" review summation.
Too many of these multimedia projects are nothing but visuals with no game at
all. Dracula Unleashed is another non-game game. I prefer games that comes from
the traditional game companies since these outfits produce something to play as
opposed to the new multimedia outfits which only produce something to look at
and to show your friends.
Judy
It seems that there is a problem in the Implementation of the amount Graphics
and sound that a CD rom allows. It seems that we have an influx of sound and
animation just because we can, and nobody knows how to mix the three and not
lose the original idea in the process. In the coming years with the studio in
every house philosophy I believe it will lower the quality of our media and the
need for talented people will never be more great, a position I now work for
and in the future will be happy to fill.
You are right that a lot of companies shovel in the fancy graphics and sound
simply because a CD-ROM makes that possible. But I still think some of the best
graphic-looking games are still coming from 2-D art. LANDS OF LORE from
Westwood stuidos have the best graphics of any CRPG out there – also excellent
are ARENA, and the KYRANDIA adventures also from Westwood. All of this stuff is
2D art and it would be hard to beat it with 3D art. The intro to LANDS OF LORE
is really outstanding. I think so many of the newer "Multimedia" companies are
pushing the graphics and sound because they have no real depth in the gaming
environment. I know that CRITICAL PATH costs about $60 and can be played in
under 1 Hour. For the price to match game play for that game it should be about
$15. The newer companies are having a very difficult time with game play —
they need to go back and play some games that are well thought of before they
try to create one.
Judy
>>The newer companies are having a very difficult time with game play — they
need to go >>back and play some games that are well thought of before they try
to create one.
There are also plenty of those same companies who are making CD ROMs for
entertainment but do not purport to be games. It is difficult for a small
company just starting out to compete
with the big budgets and huge programming staffs of the big game companies.
CD-ROM games are basically in their infancy, and the prime focus up until now
has been to push the envelope of the technology. This sounds like a whole lot
of other crap that newspapers like to spoon-feed us, but the current crop of
CD-ROM stuff out there are the first glimmerings of what is to come. As the
multimedia market matures, the products that can compete will survive and the
companies who are riding this first initial gee-whiz wave will dry up and die.
-MF
Since Critical Path was their first work, in a brand-new field, I'm sure
they'll be growing quite a bit over the next few years. I've seen an outline
of the storyline for their new game, and it's an order of magnitude more
complex than their first work (and I'm sure much simpler than their next one is
going to be).
Regardless, since I've never played a CD-ROM game (just looked at the pictures)
it's all moot to me.
– G
That may well be, Gary. On paper CRITICAL PATH can be made to look complex. The
game was simple ( 1 hour play max). I think most new companies should take the
time to play some highly acclaimed game to learn how to write the storyline and
integrate with graphics and sound. These new multimedia companies haven't a
clue. I they want to do an adventure game then they should sit down and play
all the Sierra and Westwood games they can buy – so they understand how to
integrate graphics, game play and storyline into something that is worth
buying. CRITICAL PATH cost about $60 – and had maybe 1 hour of game play. Most
Sierra games have many weeks/months of game play and puzzles in them.
You ought to take a look at some of the CD-ROM games out there. I believe MYST
uses 3D Studio quite a bit and is an excellent adventure game.
Judy
I think Myst was done on the Mac, but I've heard that the artist who created it
is now using 3DS.
– G
>>I think most new companies should take the time to play some highly acclaimed
game to >>learn how to write the storyline and integrate with graphics and
sound.
Hmmm. We never thought of that. But it's really not that simple.
The object of the multimedia game industry is to try new things in order to see
what can be done with the new medium. Video is not so easy to manipulate as
sprites are….yet. Myst is a good example of something that worked well, as
is Rebel Assault and some (very few) others.
Rebel Assault was a top seller, but was it really that good a game? Or was it
an excellent execution of a bad idea that could have sold on Star Wars fame
alone? Myst was a surprise to me, it was extremely elegant and the superb
graphics added to a story instead of covering its lack of one.
We DO play all the great new games quite a bit. When someone finds a good one
we'll fire it up and talk about why it works and how we could learn from it.
-MF
I Have Rebel Blah Blah and it stinks, If any wants it I'll sell it cheap.
REBEL ASSAULT was and is an outstanding game. It is the best thing that has
ever come out on CD-ROM in the action area. I love the game and so does just
about any other player. It is FUN and if a game isn't fun why should you play
it! Just for the graphics and video – I think Not! MYST is probably the top
CD-ROM Adventure Game. The Lands of Lore transfer to CD-ROM is excellent
althought it was not created for the CD-ROM so only voices were added. Bethesda
Softworks will have DAGGERFALL, a CD-ROM only CRPG coming ( it will use only 2D
art) but should be "best of breed" for CRPG's on a CD-ROM.
If I buy a CD-ROM game, I will only buy one from a major game company that has
a known trace record in Games. I won't buy a multi-media Cd-ROM game from a new
company since I know that there will be no real game value there.
Critical Path was a "freebie" to write a review on. It will be interesting to
see what Access does with Under a Killing Moon. But I won't be the first in
line to buy it. I will wait and see what other players say. It was really
player talk etc. and reviews, that made me decide no to buy The 7th Guest.
Judy
>>It was really player talk etc. and reviews, that made me decide no to buy The
7th Guest.
Yeah, and 7th Guest was one of the all-time best-selling CD ROMs ever. The
success of 7th Guest sent a lot of mixed signals to the small multimedia
companies, who tend to think that it defined how a CD should be done.
Personally, I saw the graphics, said "cool", then dropped it because it bored
the hell out of me. The new companies that have 'til now been freeloading on
the multimedia hype wave will soon either smarten up or fold, but the game
player will win in the end.
-MF
Technically the graphics were great for T7G. But I know that players
had a lot of trouble getting it to run ( although I have yet to see a
game come out that I don't see a message about "I can't get this game
to run").
While T7G had lots of puzzles (one in each room) there was no real
story there. There were puzzles for the sake of puzzles (it's
cheaper to buy GAMES magazine). Unfortunately the wrong companies are
perceived as setting the standard for CD-ROM games. But this is due
to the fact that the traditional game companies have been slow to
move to CD-ROM and often only use CD-ROM as a delivery medium ( i.e.
Origin).
WHile more and more game players are owning CD-ROM there is still a
disk-based market out there. The fact that a game is on CD-ROM does
not influence my purchasing decision. But these "multi-media"
companies are dumping a lot of trash on the game market. I think the
best CD-ROM only game is REBEL ASSAULT. I look for LucasArts THE DIG
to be a great game also. I haven't made up my mind about UNDER A
KILLING MOON. I will wait and see what other players say about it
after it comes out.
A lot of games pass through my hands both as a player, reviewer, and
beta tester. In some genres the quality is sinking fast although the
graphics are increasing. Adventure style games are really suffering
since that is where the multi-media companies are making their "big
push". Consequently the over-all quality of Adventure games is down.
The best adventure games are still coming from Sierra On-Line and
Legend Entertainment. Unless I am sent a review copy, there is no way
I will buy a game from a multi-media type company.
As I'm working on an animation for a CD intro, and you made the
comment
>> The best adventure games are still coming from Sierra On-line and
Legend Entertainment. <<
that I felt my efforts were well directed as the CD animation I'm
creating is for Legend Entertainment and is titled "Death Gate" based
on the novels of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
Glen Dahlgren, the author of this game, is in agreement with you,
about the quality of Adventure games being down. He has assured me
that while Legend Entertainment is entering the SVGA animation
domain, storyline and character are or primary importance. The
collaborative effort on this project is amazing and the storyline is
the primary force behind the whole process.
Just thought you might like to know, and that I appreciated your
comments, as I am working very hard on this project and its nice to
know the company you're working for is held in high regard.
BTW John Tissavary another forum regular is assisting with this
project.
>>From the visuals point of view Mechadeus' Critical Path was excellent, as a
game it was a >>dud.
Thank you for your raving reviews! :=( Seriously though, we have certainly
heard the criticism of Critical Path, and the next title something completely.
The interactivity issue has been more than addressed, and I feel that you will
give the next one a serious "thumbs do".
-MF
What game genre are you aiming for? CRPG, Adventure, Action/Arcade, War,
Strategy, Flight Sim, SPorts. Firt find out what makes the top titles in these
categories fun to play (check out CGW's top 100 list) and then find out how you
can enhance the experience with Video — if it is difficult to do sprites with
Video, then think about 2D sprites. Stop over to the GAMERS forum and check out
the games that people are talking about and playing. Buy and play some of the
titles and learn first hand why players are having fun with these games. Then
maybe you can make a game that players will have fun with too.
The word "interactive" when applied to a game usually connotes all video and no
game. We will see how Origin makes out with BioFOrge which they are labelling
an Interactive Movie.
Judy
Judy,
<< (check out CGW's top 100 list) >>
Which issue #?
jonas[adesk]
CGW (Computer Gaming World) has a top 100 list in each issue, I believe.
Dave
Dave,
<< CGW (Computer Gaming World) >>
And here I thought CGW was Computer Graphics World <g> …
AH! The source of confusion! Well, I get Computer GRAPHICS World free, but
have to buy Computer GAMING World, so that's how I differentiate them!<g>
Dave
>>The word "interactive" when applied to a game usually connotes all video and
no game.
True enough, but that will change as the technology gets better and the
designers get the clue.
>>We will see how Origin makes out with BioFOrge which they are labelling an
Interactive >>Movie.
We'll see. "Interactive movie", "virtual cinema" and all the other garbage
would-be game companies like to call their products usually mean "stay away" to
me. I can only speak for ourselves, but we have more than recognized the
interactivity problem and addressed it. People like to feel that they are
playing a role, not watching a small and chugging version of TV.
There are quite a few very interesting things that we have recently discovered
can be done with video, and they all have to do with enhancing interactivity.
You might even end up giving this title a good review.
By the way, who do you do reviews for?
-MF
Very well put. Couldn't have said it better myself! I used to review
for Strategy Plus, and am now doing some pieces for Online Reviews
and will be reviewing for CGW. However, since I beta test a great
deal for several companies it limits the games I can review because I
can hardly give an objective review to game I have been testing for
3-4 months!
Definately the words "interactive", "virtual reality" raise a red flag
for me. However, a lot of people are just now buying PC's and most
PC's now come with a CD-ROM drive. SO a lot of people are buying
these "multi-media" games ( or for that matter anything on CD-ROM). I
once saw a post by a game-player on Gamers, who said he was keeping
the CD-ROM of Dracula Unleashed just to show his friends the video
when they came over :-(.
I do a lot of war-gaming and I don't see them coming to CD-ROM anytime
soon.
>> Tia Carrer<<
Cool….Party-On Matt. <g>
Murph'
>>Cool….Party-On Matt. <g>
>>Murph'
Party on Murph.
But back to the original idea, any 3D Gods out there who need a forum for their
expression and the financing and resources to express it, let us know.
Again, fax resume to:
Matthew Fleischman
Mechadeus
415-243-8630
Thanks.
-MF
Matt,
>>need a forum for their expression and the financing and resources to express
it, let us know.<<
Now I think you've got Everyones Attention! <BG>
Seriously though, I'm located in Wisconsin and the Commute might get a little
tedious. Any Long Distance Assistance needed you could E-Mail me the Details.
Murph'