Back into the fray!

So after a week of taking it easy and playing way to much starcraft 2. I am debating on what to start on next.

Ive narrowed it down to a few things

1. Make an awesome single player experience in gears of war showing level in stages of blue box and finished level.
2. Spend some time learning Lua
3. Learn Google Sketchup
4. Learn Hammer editor.

Still debating on what Im going to do at the moment. Im leaning towards a gears of war level. at moment.

Note: Added a few more final shots of my Dm-Waterfall level

Dm-Waterfall Beta

So Ive finished a basic beta of the level.

Here are some pics of the map. The biggest issue I have so far is the lighting which I prob need to improve on any tips would be much appreciated.

Plus any other tips on what you think would make the level any better are appreciated.

I think the main things that need improving is
1. Lighting
2. Filling the area around the map on the side opposite the cliff
3. Wish waterfall was a bit more dynamic as the scrolling texture looks a bit boring.
4.Inside of the church looks a bit bare wouldn't mind filling it up a bit more but dont know what with.

Note: Also redid the front of the church to something more orginal :)

Foilage Madness

Only got a few couple of hours in today. So didnt get a lot done.

I worked on adding foilage around the place. (Not sure If I went a bit overboard)
Covered parts of the church with hanging plants to help break it up a bit. Thinks it makes it look a lot more real.

I also fixed the grid water issue(turned out to just be the texture I was using) I also added a bunch of lily pads in the water :).

Did bit of work on one of the stair cases and chucked in some basic lights.

Replaced the walkway with a static mesh walkway that just luckily had to be in UDK.

Im getting closer to finishing I just need to fix up a couple of underground passages and finish off the stair cases then Im onto setting up lighting properly and going to start adding polish to level overall to try to bring it up to the standard of the front of the church.

Dm- Waterfall

So did a few hours work on level today.

I focused on the side of the church, some light props for interior of prop also made a start on the underground tunnel and did the underground cave section that players can jump down into.

I also tidied up the waterfall and added cliff wall on either side and some statues on top and added some basic props to the courtyard.

Think its starting to turn out really well. Just need to work out why the water has that grid pattern on it. :P

Plus that light beam in the cave is a bit intense

Dm- Waterfall - Church

So spent a few hours today fixing up a lot of minor things.

I started building the front of the church. got idea of design from images of hourences UDK tutorial.
Think it suits the front of the church very well.

Biggest issue Im having at moment is my computer is starting to chug a fair amount in the editor and getting a lot of crashes which kind of sucks :(

Im trying to this level finished by the end of the week so I can get started on the summer 11 day challenge on world of level design :)

Dm Waterfall - Terrain and Static Mesh

So after a couple of days break to finish Starcraft 2 I got back into my level today.

I did a bit more work on the terrain I still have a lot of work to do with it like smoothing it out a lot more and adding the proper cliff edges.
Also need to add a better grass texture and some foilage.

I started chucking some basic textures on some areas in the level and started working on the interior of the church.

I still have aloooooot of work to do but figured Id post a few images on how things are looking at the moment.

Biggest problem Im having at the moment is issues getting the terrain looking how I want plus UDK seems to have a very limited amount of non industrial textures.



Outside courtyard of the church. Still needs alot of work its looking very bare at the moment.
Biggest problem I had in this area was trying to make room for the hole that goes down to the area below.
Problem I had was it would only let me delete large sections of the terrain map.



Decided to put a cool see through window at the top of the church because I think it looks cool.
Plus gives players a little bit of a tactical advantage to see if there are players in courtyard.

the underground tunnel. Really needs some trim




Interior church so far. Still needs a lot of work and texture work


Downstairs in the church





View from tunnel behind waterfall :P