Mundane and non-weapon pieces are not the first things that jump to mind when we discuss 3D art and game art production. However, with a rising popularity of horror games, mind-bending cosmic mysteries, and a breaking of the traditional gaming mould in many ways, there’s plenty of reasons to keep these items in mind.
One of latest pieces created by our artists, it is one of several pieces created as training and exploration. While helpful in expanding our portfolio and diversity of assets and capabilities, these 3D models are fantastic for honing and training 3D art skills. Questions are raised, new methods and approaches can be developed, and the execution of feedback is just as important a skill as creating the art in the first place!
Why a 3D model of a typewriter?
Despite what we’ve said above, the question does still come up! Why did this artist decide on a typewriter as their next training piece?
The first answer is very simple. They wanted to try something new, test their mettle against something non-typical to arrive at a 3D artists desk. A typewriter is just an interesting piece of machinery, it’s surprisingly complex in its workings and is chock-full of details. As we’ve said before, details are the key to making 3D game art feel real, grounded, and alive in a game world.
Of course, there’s an endless number of items that also fit this description. So, why this one? Well, Alan Wake 2! A phenomenal thriller, supernatural horror experience based around the titular writer, Alan Wake. Our 3D artist had been looking for a bright and mechanically interesting object for the training project and they had picked up Alan Wake 2 only shortly after the search began. So, a typewriter became their focus.
Creating 3D game art
The typical pipeline was followed in creating 3D game art. Multiple visual sources were collected, different models of typewriters observed and studied, early sketches and explorations were done. The key, as many other game artists have said, is not just executing the 3D art well but also in understanding the mechanics of any functioning item you create. This helps to give you ideas and options for details, wear-and-tear, evidence of its existence in a real world and not simply a 3D model designed on a screen!
The tools used were Blender, ZBrush, Marmoset, and Substance Painter. Modeling and texturing proceeded as usual and once it was finished there were a few rounds of feedback and iterating which the artist felt resulted in a far stronger result.
Unique challenges of a typewriter 3D game model
The challenge, the 3D artist said, was in truly understanding the mechanism. How each letter on the typewriter fell, its place in the center of the corrector, the precise and unobstructive movement of each handle. There’s a full picture that develops as the mechanical precision is understood. The more information you have, the more questions get raised, the more you can learn. With knowledge comes a result of far higher quality.
The artist also said that it was important to understand what pattern is left by the typewriter’s use. Looking at how it is used by those familiar with it helped them to understand where you might find fingerprints most commonly, where would you find the metal or plastic components wearing down faster or showing signs of repeated use.
And lastly, a texturing challenge for our gaming 3D artist. The glossy plastic material for the typewriter’s shell is rarely found on weapons. Using it was a new experience and, according to the artist, a pleasure to work with.
Tips for 3D Artists working with the mundane
Our artist emphasized that to make a model truly realistic and believable, it must be able to work like the real object. The mechanism needs to be present, in some capacity!
They also said to never ignore the small details. To see the piece as a whole but also as the sum of many individual parts. Nothing is ever a clean piece, there’s pieces that interact with one another, rub off or grate on one another.
And lastly, get plenty of references! Swarm yourself with useful and high-quality references of your target. Then, our artist said, find some more!
If you’re interested in our art production services, please get in touch! We also offer a comprehensive array of gaming, tech, and entertainment services such as game VFX, full-cycle game development, game porting, video production, and much more. Talk to us today and let’s create magic!
