Game terrain/worlds

Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 1

This course will look at the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. We'll look at what makes a good model in Maya and why objects are modeled in the way they are.

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# 1 09-02-2004 , 07:23 PM

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Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: Ireland

Posts: 201

Eh, I was wondering how worlds/terrains are created for 3d games. Are they created in a 3d modeller and exported as a greyscale heightmap?
Then what about scenery placement? I suppose a level editor tool is needed for this purpose?
Just wondering how it's done in the industry.
Thanks.

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# 2 09-02-2004 , 08:06 PM

The Maya Mountain
Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 8,245

depends on the engine, I would imagine. Our engine generates a terrain plane which we can then paint height to like artisan.

-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

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# 3 09-02-2004 , 08:15 PM

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Yeah, depends mostly on the engine; wich file formats it accepts... I believe like some engines use .x and get vertx and mesh, while other (usually older) engines get use heightmask, imagemask (just an image) and an obect file. Isn't that right, Mike? user added image

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# 4 10-02-2004 , 12:33 AM

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Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: Ireland

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How do you the artists place scenery in your engine Mike?
Is the method you described above part of an in-house level editor?
Do you think Maya would be suitable for creating game terrain?

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