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ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 5.02 - MAY 2000
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Oddworld Inhabitants: Weird Name, Great Game Game movie backgrounds at Oddworld are created using a computer-based matte painting process before the sets are created using computer graphics. These sets are then worked into the backgrounds.
"Sometimes these painted backgrounds are used in the movies as well as the game screens," explains Easley. "The paintings are done using Photoshop, then we add the 3D elements to give it depth and so that you can move about in the world." For example, if a scene shows a monorail moving into Necrum -- Necrum is a matte painting while the monorail is a 3D element created using 3D Studio Max. For animators who want to learn more about 3D Studio Max, McMillian New Riders Publishing has just released The 3D Studio Max3, Professional Animation Book written by Angie Jones and Sean Bonney with Brandon Davis, Sean Miller and Shane Olsen (ISBN 0-7357-0945-9 $49.99). The book, for intermediate to advanced users, provides an extensive, relatively easy to follow and understand, tutorial through the 3D Studio Max3 animation process. Through this book animators can learn how to use 3D Studio Max to create characters that walk and have facial expressions, and use lighting to create atmosphere. The book uses Jones’ creation, The Spicy Cricket (www.spicycricket.com), to teach modeling, materials, lighting, setup, animation, rendering and other necessary skills within its more than 600 pages. A Washington, DC-based freelance journalist, Jacquie enjoys writing about the electronic entertainment and edutainment mediums, including the Internet. She is a frequent contributor to the Washington Times and Krause Publication magazines. She has won the 1998 Certificate of Award granted by the Metropolitan Area Mass Media Committee of the American Association of University Women. Jacquie is a fan of animation and video games but admits to being unable to play them! |
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an e-mail to editor@awn.com.