News From the Frontier

The Old West project is progressing, and I'm hopeful of having at least the first of three planned setpieces from the overall environment completed within the next two weeks.  The Saloon is the first major setpiece, and it's coming along.  There are still a half a billion small prop items needed for decorating the interior, and probably the facade of a building or two across the street.  In addition, a ton of work remains on getting the lighting correct.

However, I'm pretty excited to say that this has turned into a three way collaboration, and so I'm doubly excited on the prospects for this series of environments.  Designer and iPhone programmer Dustin Zagumny has been providing a ton of valuable input regarding the composition of the scene, particularly in his zany taste for non-emo-crybaby Steampunk elements in Old West design.  The Steampunk time travel wristwatch he designed, and which I modeled earlier this year, were a major impetus for the creation of this scene to begin with, and am planning to work in more subtle Steampunk-themed items into the project.

Additionally, character modeler and animator Aaron Jones has agreed to provide a detailed gunslinger character that I will be working into the setting.  The screenshots before Aaron moved the character into zbrush are nothing short of terrific.  I'm hopeful of luring Aaron into more character/environment collaborations, based on what I've seen so far with this one.  Add in Dustin's uncanny ability to design peculiar and unique mechanical devices, and I forsee some very interesting things coming in the future.

Anyway, here's the latest shot of the Saloon with tables, chairs, and a lonely spittoon added for detail.  As usual, the lighting is a work in progress, so take that part of it with a grain of salt.

Be back later with more!