Obj. from TurboSquid

The character PEG has been created by myself however props included in the 'play' animation have been downloaded from TurboSquid, these include;

Evaluation

Though I completed all tasks I originally set out to do I am disappointed I was unable to texture the model.  After spending a considerable amount of time trying to pelt map the character I felt I had to move on and work on the animating.

It would have been great to have completed these textures as the end product doesn't have the aesthetic look I had intended.

I am pleased with the animations and felt scripting the controls benefited the end product.  As I knew the parameters of the model I could animate smoothly without complications.

The fact the character doesn't move as organically as human movement, I feel benefits and enhances it's personality greatly.

PEG Play

PEG Walk Through

PEG welcome with backing

PEG Welcome

PEG Sitting

PEG SittingOverlap

Original Sitting Reference Material

Orginal reference footage of cross-legged sitting

Cross Legged to Side Sit

In my original designs (refer to PEG Paper Work) I wanted the character to sit cross legged on the the floor.  However after testing this I found there was too much overlapping and consequently the final sitting animation has the character side sit.

PEG WrongAnswer

Negative Response

Though the majority of the game has little to do with answering a correct answer there are a couple of basic games that do incorporate a competative element.

These include, spot the difference and pairs

This reaction has to be the most sensitive of all the motions.  Show too much negativity and discouragement maybe given, too little and the player may not understand they have the wrong answer.

The way inwhich I want to approach this is to let the gamer know their answer is wrong however encourage them to try again.

"That's good however..."

I don't believe the audience should be under the impression everything they do is correct as making a mistake is as important as getting the right answer.

PEG Celebration

Celebrations Research

The sort of celebrations the research focuses on is that of onlookers.  Sports and events are therefore appropriate.

• People watching their team win
• Celebrations at family weddings
• Parent experiencing the achievements of a child eg. first time riding a bike

These activities encapsulate the emotion I want to incorporate into the PEG character.  They are not the achievements of the people celebrating yet the rewards are great.

Emotions to be shown

• Pride
• Happiness
• Joy 

What must also be considered is the age of the audience.  You wouldn't for example show them a drunk football supporter  celebrating for the gamers achievements in being able to spot the difference.  It would probably scare them.  Instead a more contained form of celebration musty be considered.

Celebrations

One of the key roles the character must play in the game is to show encouragement and celebration at the players achievements.  This is particularly important because of the age of the player.  PEG must always be engaging, showing an apparent rapport with the user.

Therefore any achieve by the user must appear to be of equal merit to the character.  As PEG is the guide in the game it should be a group/team celebration.

This is why celebrations within team sports shall be researched and imitated.

PEG Walk

PEG WalkingDemo

Walking Reference: Source Youtube

Walking Reference Material: Video Source

Considerations: This is only a side profile so side movements can not be observed as well as the fact that the character I'm animating is not intended to be human, rather a robot.  Therefore a less organic flow to the movement must be considered.

Walking Reference Material: Image

 

Source: http://www.aibmaya.com/walk-cycles/

Orginal source Ricard Williams, The Animator's Survival Kit. A manual of methods, principles and formulas for classic, computer, games, stop motion and internet animators. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Animators-Survival-Kit-Richard-Williams/dp/0571238343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295254250&sr=8-1

PEG Demo Moves

This is a very basic test done to determine if all the foot controls were working. 

What was established from this test was that the hands needed a rig, due to the nature of the rotations and the head, mouth joint was inadequate.  Resulting in a hand rig and a change in the head (shown in screen shot below).

Screen Print: Reaction Manager

 

Image showing the Reaction Manager programming for both feet, hands and face.  The scoll bar to the right has created using simular coding as listed below using MaxScript.

Coding Created of Character

Below is the foot coding for the plates moving each leg and foot.  Taking this template I then coded the hands and face.

ma = attributes FootControls
(
    parameters FootP rollout: FootR--put in attribute holders of the supporting controller
    (
        Banking type: #float ui: (BankingSp, BankingSl)
        RollU type: #float ui: (RollUSp, RollUSl)
        ToeSpin type: #float ui: (ToeSpinSp, ToeSpinSl)
        HeelSpin type: #float ui: (HeelSpinSp, HeelSpinSl)
        HeelUp type: #float ui: (HeelUpSp, HeelUpSl)
        Tweak type: #float ui: (TweakSp, TweakSl)
        Swivel type: #float ui: (SwivelSp, SwivelSl)
    )
    rollout FootR "Foot Controls"
    (
        button ResetBtn "Reset All"
       
        spinner BankingSp "Banking" range: [-1,1,0]
        slider BankingSl "" range: [-1,1,0]
       
        spinner RollUSp "RollU" range: [0,1,0]
        slider RollUSl "" range: [0,1,0]
       
        spinner ToeSpinSp "Spin Toes" range: [-1,1,0]
        slider ToeSpinSl "" range: [-1,1,0]
       
        spinner HeelSpinSp "Spin Heel" range: [-1,1,0]
        slider HeelSpinSl "" range: [-1,1,0]
       
        spinner HeelUpSp "Raise Toe" range: [0,1,0]
        slider HeelUpSl "" range: [0,1,0]
       
        spinner TweakSp "Tweak Toes" range: [-1,1,0]
        slider TweakSl "" range: [-1,1,0]
       
        spinner SwivelSp "Swivel Knees" range: [-1,1,0]
        slider SwivelSl "" range: [-1,1,0]
   
    on ResetBtn pressed do
    (
            BankingSp.value = 0
            RollUSp.value = 0
            ToeSpinSp.value = 0
            HeelSpinSp.value = 0
            HeelUpSp.value = 0
            TweakSp.value = 0
            SwivelSp.value = 0
    )
)

)
custAttributes.add $.modifiers [1] ma
$.modifiers[1].name = "Foot Controls"

Screen Print: PEG Mesh

Screen Print: Character Development

 

Wire Frame of PEG Character

After constructing the basic shape of PEG I used the tutorials listed below to help create a simple rigging system. 

Tutorials

 Link: 3DTotal Tutorials: Rigging

01_Hierarchy.flv

This tutorial gives an overview of the skills covered as well as how to add keys and create hierarchy.  While following this video it became clear that understanding the hierarchy of key character elements is vital.  For example to move an ankle is to move the entire leg.  

02_IK controls.flv

IK controls involves the helpers being attached and linked at strategic places enabling jointed movement to occur in the feet and legs.  I also applied this technique to the arms however had to take this IK's off for some animations as the links were too restricting.

03_ScriptedControllers.flv

After finishing the IK's I created scroll bars for the feet and hands which then would be linked to reaction controllers.

04_WiringControls.flv

These controllers proved to be difficult, particularly for the hands.  With fixed rotations and changable positions the fingers movements are not completely representation of human motion.

Consideration of character and weight

Link to video: <http://vimeo.com/10642673>

I like the consideration of weight in the animation however the lack of character is very noticable.  PEG must have character to engage it's young audience.  Quirks and repetitive motions such as tilting the head or scratching a knee may add this greater sense of character.

Robots (2005)

Source of Inspiration: Robots (2005)

Movement
Organic yet robotic, something to look into when animating PEG.  What I enjoy about this animation is that it incorporates enough human characteristics to allow the audience to involve and associate with the characters yet also appreciate the limitations of the mechanical entities. 

While looking at human movement as inspiration for my animation I aim to incorporate mechanical elements that suggest movement is not as organic and simple.  

Colouring and Lighting: The film looks appealing for all ages.  PEG should appeal to children as young as 3 years but also have elements that parents can relate to

PEG Concept Design

 

A sketch of the character PEG

PEG

3D Character for a Children's Game
For more detail refer to PEG Game Concept Paper Work

For this module I aim to create and animate a 3D model of the character PEG I have designed for a children's game.  

• Actions this character must perform include:
• Walking Sequence
• Celebrating (integral to character, gamer interaction)
• A negative response (in terms of a wrong answer given)
• Sitting
• Waiting

Before developing the characters movements I aim to create the character from scratch inputting parameters and controls as it evolves.