animation update

another arena animation preview

arena animation start preview

Robot with textures

The Arena

The Arena with lights.

The Arena without lights.

robot in house (no roof)

textures on the robot need to be adjusted to reduce render time even more if i want a speedy render. bump maps are looking on surfaces such as the brick and floor tiles on closer inspection.

Building set up so far

Generator (textures not finished)

bot update 4

bot update 3

Robot head 1

Steam test 2

Bot update 3

(just if your wondering... textures and colours aren't done yet.)

Steam test 1

http://youtu.be/ZBM8dRE18QE

robot update 2

Robot update

updated environment 2

I have removed the lights and changed the pieces on the outside that are less important to texture that takes up less render time. This differentiates the pieces watching and the ones playing. I have also take out the spot like to reduce reflections off the metallic textured surfaces.

This is the scene with a target spotlight on to make the scene more moody. Although this looks good, its quadruples the render time.

Robot leg with ik solver

Environment update

Already having a few problems with render time per frame due to the new material on the other chess peices containing raytrace on a multi surface object. Not to mention my idea of having a croud of chess peices watching the show... They don't add render time just from their material but from the amount of polys they collectively have.

Environment so far...

chess board

lighting shot of the chess board coming together.

Floor tiles

Steampunk floor development with photoshop. Later to be used on a bitmap for my environment.

Preliminary enviroment design

Chess

Steam Punk Chess Pieces

Character research

I like the idea of having a human looking robot with all the same features but completely robotic. I have been looking at different games and characters on there to give me inspiration.

I like the idea that my character lights up on being active. The other idea was that it didn't have the common perception of steam powered machinery with a chimney pipe but have the steam come from somewhere else like a mask.

This is a character from resistance: fall of man. I like the idea of my robot having a visible power source on its back that could also produce steam along with the face.

Metal is a big thing to consider about material. The texture has to be rough and look worn.

Steampunk

Steampunk is a science-fiction style created as a alternate history during the 19th century when steam was the predominate form of energy. It has been used in lots of different designs from concept art to fashion.

Steampunk is a really good style to make a robot really look like a like it is powered by itself. The movement of my bot must be quite clunky but deliberately clunky as if it is heavy and has come from the 1855.

I have a choice as steampunk style tends to be either American "Wild West" or British Victorian era. Both are very gritty but have the potential to be very different.

SteamPunk Chess Robot

Initial ideas of what this could involve by simply splitting up the words...

Steam - "The vapor into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air."

The way i need to use the steam in my project is to make it seem like steam is powering my robot. Steam power was an early form of energy in the evolution of machinery. Thinking about this, i need to give my robot a style that could relate. 

General perceptions of steam powered machinery consists of large cylinders, lots of cogs, wheels, and smoke coming out of the top.

The steam doesn't necessarily need to just relate to my robot but the environment too. I could have an old factory where the chess will be played. This will go along with the "punk" style too.

I've thought about really going over the top and attempt to make it look like the whole place has previously burnt down and is still smoking. This will give more atmosphere to the scene and make the viewer think why it could of happened, potentially relating to why the robot is playing chess and not humans.