Michael Bao - Digital Collaboration Studio

Polished Fabrication Contribution

2009-06-19T15:51:00.015+10:00

As we began our team work I soon found myself in a role not discussed or assigned to me by my team mates formally. I slowly progressed into a project manager. Not because I had any more capable skills then my team mates, but because it was needed for a team manager to delegate roles and define what responsibilities were going to progress the project further. As the project continued I found I had to spend a lot of time on my own working out what was needed during the next immediate week so that our team didn’t become stagnant or inactive. I was constantly assigning tasks, creating suitable times for team meetings and managing work and overlooking project developments and quality assurance.
I did not mind doing this although it was very time consuming and labour intensive, because it showed me how to tackle these sorts of skills. Working effectively with my team and not labeling myself as anyone other than an equal team member was an important skill I learnt. My contributions to Team Urbans was a regular task and my team mates worked diligently throughout the process without any in house conflict.

Even though having a team mate residing in Perth, we were able to work together as a unit effectively and efficiently. It must be said that at times it was frustrating not to have face to face contact with Gordon and having to continually transfer large files across the country through upload softwares. But Gordon and I began to bridge some successfully effective communication skills. It was sometimes apparent that email, msn and txting were not nearly effective enough to communicate particular ideas. During the last few weeks of the fabrication, we were constantly speaking to each other about issues of the design over the phone.

Now that it’s done and dusted, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed working with my team on this Crysis adventure and would to thank them for teaching me some valuable business collaborative skills. I would also like to thank my tutors for an overall crazy and challenging course. But my utmost respect and gratitude go out to all my class mates, who helped, collaborated and endured as a group our "all nighters" in labs and ordering take out food at godly hours of the night.
We really did portray the true essence of this course. By constantly assisting each other, and supporting anyone who wanted help, I felt we epitomised exactly what a collaborative studio represents.

My contribution to Team Urbans Final Polished Fabrication:

Manage and organise team
Write team Polished Fabrication Plan
Team blog (95% of all contributions were mine)
Work out new design – (research, sketches, modelling in 3dsmax etc.)
Modelling building in 3dsmax (Working along with Pui Pui)
Recreate Sun/light fixture animation in max then Crysis
Create sarcophagus in Sketchup
Source and export gargoyles from max
Create vegetation for model
Export all components of the model into Crysis
Research relevant custom materials
Develop textures for model inside Crysis
Internal Lighting
Record videos for trailers
Research music and other trailer precedents for presentation videos
Create Information/presentation boards using max and Crysis
Assist Jo in creating Presentation Vidoes
Capture "stunning images"

The Cenotaph Images

2009-06-19T15:50:00.017+10:00

Final Polished Map Fabrication - File Fronted Level

2009-06-19T15:50:00.015+10:00

http://files.filefront.com/Cenotaphzip/;13908894;/fileinfo.html

If you would like to place our map into the Crysis editor:

Place the "Objects" folder in: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Game
Place the "Levels" files in: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Game\Levels
Launch map called Urbans2.cry

Final Polished Map Fabrication - Trailer and Extended Trailer

2009-06-19T15:50:00.014+10:00

Final Polished Map Fabrication

2009-06-19T15:49:00.002+10:00

Our final “polished” fabrication of The Cenotaph has finally come to fruition. A progress of constant assessment and development has enabled our team to produce a combined and cohesive environment and structure. This stage of our design has produced a product that has based itself upon closely depicting the intent of the original architect Boullee’s design. He’s simple drawings and plans have been scrutinised with much debate and we believe our interpretation of he’s Cenotaph has been upheld and honoured with much effort and caution.

Through continuous design re-evaluations we’ve managed to realise our basic outcomes and design goals that we set out to achieve from day one. We understood that the emphasis of our project would eb directed to our basic design of the building, because essentially this is the hero of the fabrication. Its size, design and context have all contributed to effectively create a classic and elegant building. The buildings context as a monument, a landmark and also a place to honour one Sir Isaac Newton has encouraged us to push for a design that depicts and illustrate such a structure. We’ve incorporated elements that have merged to relate and complement each other.
Examples of this can be seen in :

the buildings overall elegant design (including structural vegetation, textures, shape, lighting and scale)
the emphasis of a spectacular light display (holes in the dome ceiling, generating stars, our sun/light feature and virtual night sky)
our theme of a graceful memorial resting place for Isaac Newton (sarcophagus, light display, monument)
Our environment context (Set in a significant place in Regents park, London.) This location portrays and demonstrates a series of divergent worlds. A huge classical landmark in the centre of a central business district, a parkland that encroaches into a populous city and a virtual night sky that is create inside during the day.

Up until now Boullee’s vision has forever been left unrealised, leaving this pivotal work in the imagination of all those who admire it. Here we have tried, at least in part, to realise this buildings virtually in a contemporary context so that it might finally have a life in the virtual world even if currently, it is still practically impossible to realise physically. We’ve illustrated this productively using Crysis as our paintbrush/pencil. We hope that with our design, we’ve encapsulated what was intended by Etienne Louis Boullee but also push the boundaries of what a real time environment can be.

Capturing Video for Trailers

2009-06-19T15:48:00.012+10:00

Collaboratively, Gordon and I decided to split up some of the video capturing so that we could have a wide range of videos to choose from when editing.
We spoke about who was capturing what and we succesfully split up alot of the workload. Because Gordon would have to send large avi's to Sydney, it was very time consuming for him upload and so we evetually decided that some videos would have to be re-recorded by me. I also used a plugin called real lifesis that worked with the Crysis editor to accentuate terrific samples of some "time of day" settings.

I used a combination of recording techniques to capture our video clips. I used Crysis camera's and assigning paths to them. I also used a screen recorder much like a more advanced version of fraps called "Snag It". I recorded a total of 7 videos:

bridge/water scene
circular ending shot
exterior sunset
interior light and sky display (in presentation room)
lake exterior shots
zoom out from building to landscape
character looking out from upper tier to surrounding environment

Team Blog

2009-06-19T15:48:00.008+10:00

Added to team blog:

Design Progression
Team Meeting
Project Issues & Amendments
Exporting and Texturing
Project Progress
Final Polished Map Fabrication
Final Polished Map Fabrication - Final Images
Final Polished Map Fabrication - File Fronted Level
Final Polished Map Fabrication - Trailer and Extended Trailer

Project Progress - Model

2009-06-16T15:39:00.004+10:00

Final images of complete model that has yet to be placed in our evironment map

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Information Boards

2009-06-16T15:35:00.003+10:00

This process was creating the information boards that will be eventually displayed and placed in our upper presentation room. I found it was easier to manouver and create the boards in max and so this was how I started. The boards were created in max then imported into Crysis.

One issue I found during my process of texturing each board with an image, was that because they were exported as a group as 1 item. The Crysis material editor would assign the same texture to all of the boards. So to solve this I had to delete every board but one and copy them in Crysis.

Fig 1.) The circle of presentation boards

Fig 2.) Finding suitable images to be placed on the boards as custom textures - Here changing the jpeg to dds and defined pixel ratios.

Fig 1.) Applying the image as a texture in Crysis

Applying our Textures to the Building

2009-06-16T15:23:00.006+10:00

Applying our textures again in the Crysis editor. We've chosen to use a number of different textures that would keep with the classic theme of the building whist giving a feeling of ambience inside. The textures choosen were from a mass of examples found thought archtexture catalogues and internet images. We came upon these textures as a group. My task in applying the right texture was time consuming and frustrating as most textures would not work with the main face of the building.

Because of the buildings scale it was vital to use a texture that would define and illustrate the buildings sheer size, whilst still achieving a old style look. I found as some textures would look terrific from a far. As you get right up close to the wall it would look unappealing. And this would sometimes would be the case vice versa. It was difficult to find the perfect texture that both looked realistic up close and from a distance.

Even at high spec's, the textures would distort and create a grainy and inferior texture. We also used a lot of Bump maps giving the texture a realistic feel and look. After many modifications, we came upon these textures and I believe they work with the design exteriorly and interiorly.

Fig 1.) First design of a sandstone block material that we felt looked terrifc up-close

Fig 2.) The jpeg of this material sourced from http://www.cgtextures.com/

Fig 3.) Modifying the image to black and white and then inverting the two, so that it could be used in the textures Bumpmap settings. By applying a "diffuse map" together with a "bump map", one can achieve quite a visually realistic look. All of the white coloured areas extrude much like material made from stone

Fig 4.) A screen shot illustrating how the texture did not look as good from a distance (as like many other textures I tried)

Fig 5.) A camparitive look of the sandstone block texture with a person.

Fig 6.) Perspective of all exterior textures

Fig 7.) Texture of archway dome into the building

Fig 8.) Staircase and walls

Fig 9.) Main room, Sarcophagus and platfroms

Fig 10.) Ceiling texture

Fig 11.) Sun/Light Texture

Fig 12.) Interior room texture with applied interior lighting

Fig 13.) Circular platform textures

Fig 14.) View below of interior textures

Fig 15.) Dome texture

Fig 16.) Front elevation without cast shadows on to show the true colour of each texture

Vegetation - Trees & Grass/Shrub

2009-06-16T15:10:00.007+10:00

The buildings vegetation had to all be recreated. Our last fabrication displayed the on site plants as hedges. We've now researched that the plants should be in fact pine or cedar trees. There were no such tree in Crysis and I also tried to export a 3ds max tree into Crysis, but the export failed as there were to many face and objects errors to allow for successful exportation.

I began to designing our trees but editing some of the existing vegetation entities in the Crysis library. I used three different objects to create this:

a mid sized forest tree (seen in fig 1. on the left) that I scaled to suit a shape of a pine tree. Widing the base and shaping the tree to a smaller point
a small bush (seen in fig 1. in the middle) that I used to fill out the mid sized forest tree. Giving it a thicker look.
A fallen log (seen in fig 1. on the right) that I scaled to resemble a tree truck

With these 3 items I merged the to assemble my tree, I then group the items as a singular tree.

Fig 1.) The 3 different geom entities I used to create my pine tree

Fig 1.) "Copy instance" the individual trees to create a line of trees

Fig 1.) Using the lines of tress to then shape a circle of trees

Fig 1.) Then grouping those lines of tree to one item. So that they can easily maneuvered

Fig 1.) Starting the same process of the second tier

Fig 1.) The 3rd tier of trees

Fig 1.) The trees now applied to there positions

Fig 1.) Creating some sort of grass or earth so that the trees dont look as if there coming out of concrete planters themselves

Fig 1.) Using the same process as the trees to create a circular shape of the planters

Fig 1.) The trees and grass as viewed from gameplay

Project Issues & Amendments

2009-06-16T14:17:00.004+10:00

During me and Pui Pui's development of the new model. A few obstacles had occured once they had been placed into Crysis. Some functionality issues had developed and so we made a note of these, so that they can be recreated in 3ds max, and then re-exported in Crysis.

Here are those issues:

Bottom slab underneath slopes need redoing as they do not match in size with the models shape - diameter
The entrance stairs are too big. The steps are far too big for the Crysis character to travel up
The railing on the circular platfrom are too high. Compared to the character, the railing is almost triple in height. Unabling anyone on the platfrom to view downstairs.
Some elements such as the information boards and railings need to be broken up into smaller components because they cannot be exported successfully. Also with the information boards, they need be individual elements because they will have individual images displayed on them.
The sun/light feature needs to be reimported. It did not work as an animation, but only as a still object. Using a recently found animation tutorial video. This should be easy to do.
The lion statues need re-exporting. Crysis refuses to import the item as there are many degenerate faces, and multiple item errors. One solution could be, split the statue in halves by cutting it in max using boolean cut. Then reassembling the halves in Crysis.

Exporting into Crysis

2009-06-10T12:42:00.005+10:00

Exporting the components were much more efficient this time as I knew exactly how to do it and what steps I had to take before I started.

Fig 1.) All of the max components were imported separately into Crysis

Fig 2.) Re-assembling all of the components to a common point of origin

Music Research For Videos

2009-06-09T19:12:00.006+10:00

We need to find a piece of music to overlay into our final videos. There is need for a number of possible tracks so we can play an edit with it when the video is developed. With a range of choices we should be able to work with a piece of music that will not only help portray the overall design but also encourage an emotive feeling that is within context of our projects environment. During last semesters "Digital Computation Studio", I learnt to construct various videos and discovered music's role in promoting an animated video and that it was essential that the music work in cohesion with the narrative story.

I've looked through my own collection of music and also found some good examples on youtube.com. These tracks are a preliminary list i've put together which I believe have the potential to work really well in our particular videos.

Ian Brown - F.E.A.R
Moby - Porcelain
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Mozart - Requiem
Ludwig Van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
Pachelbel - Canon in D Major
Carl Orff - O Fortuna
Richard Strauss - Sprach Zarathustra (2001 A Space Odyssey Opening)

Sun/Light Feature Animation

2009-06-05T23:13:00.027+10:00

Watch SDK Video Tut Animation Export in Educational View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Found this terrifc video tutorial on how to create an animated object in 3ds max, then continue to export it into Crysis. I subsequently used this tutorial to create our sun/light feature

Sun/light feature animation created in 3ds Max

Sun/light feature exported to our Crysis Environment

Fig 1.) Exported object as an animation entity

Fig 1.) Create a script using flow graphs

Fig 1.) Resulting sun/light animation

Small video clip of sun animation in Crysis environment

Gargoyle - 3ds Max

2009-06-05T22:51:00.007+10:00

Two gargoyles are needed to be place on the buildings main platform. Purposefully placed overlooking the main stair entrance. We decided to use a lion statue instead of a traditional looking gargoyle, as we thought the lion would be more in theme with the british context of the building. Isaac newton was english, the building is situated in Regents Park London and a lion is well known to be a traditional emblem of England. Featured of their Royal coat of arms and a popular mascot of the country.

A lion statue would also accentuate the overall look of the building, a classical style building that exudes a place of stature and prominence.

To export the model into max, many face and polygon errors occured when exporting. In solving this I cut the model in half, length ways in max to minimise the faces being exported. I continued to export the two halves separately and re-assembled them in Crysis.

This model was obtained from http://www.evermotion.com/ - Archmodels (2006) Vol. 34 Model 36

Fig 1.) Evermotion Catalogue

Fig 2.) Front View of Statue

Fig 3.) Lion Statue Perspective in 3ds Max

Fig .) Lion Statue exported into out model and Crysis environment

Sarcophagus - Sketchup

2009-06-05T22:50:00.009+10:00

Fig 1.) Modelling the embossed letters into the stone sarcophagus

Fig 2.) The sarcophagus tomb and insribed message of Sir Isaac Newton

Fig 3.) Modelling the sarcophagus body from Sketchup

Fig 4.) Trying to implement a detailing feature to the top face of the sarcophagus

Fig 5.) Draft ideas for how the sarcophagus will be positioned on a platform in our building

Fig 6.) Changing the previous golden cross feature to a bust of Isaac Newton (inspired by Star Wars - Han Solo frozen in carbonite and Death Mask - A cast of the face of Sir Isaac Newton that was made at his death in 1727)

Fig 7.) Han Solo frozen in carbonite

Fig 8.) Sir Isaac Newton's death mask on display in a London exhibition

Fig 9.) Exporting the model into 3dsmax so that we can then export to Crysis

Fig 10.) Sarcophagus in Crysis

Fig 9.) Applying a white marble texture in Crysis

Specialisation

2009-06-05T21:32:00.004+10:00

Contacting a Crysis expert that has been writing Crysis tutorials and placing them to Crymod and youtube.
Magrith and have been commicating and exchanging ideas of how to create this video in crysis. He said he will get back to when he and his team shall try find some solution in the editor.

So far it looks like it is very difficult to complete my specialisation. Without encoding some c++ into the software or mod, it doesnt seem like this experiment is possible.
I will wait upon some updates from my Crysis contacts, but time is of the essence. The tutorials through our class wiki are soon due. So i've emailed my tutors on my investigations.

I've come to the conclusion that there is no solution to this issue of an in-game video in Crysis. That at this current time, it is not possible to actively create a playable video inside of Crysis. My evaluation of my outcomes have also concluded that because the initial stages of developing a video in Crysis was unsuccessful, my advanced outcomes are also unachievable. This investigative exercise has proven what stages of experimentation and methods of research were carried out, so that future developments can progress from these findings.

I've posted up my results of my investigations in further detail on the class wiki.

Project Progress

2009-06-05T21:16:00.004+10:00

Pui Pui and myself worked on again remodelling the model in max. In this stage we are trying to incoporate all the aspects discussed in our recent meeting with Jeremy, Graham and Stephen Peter. Particular concentration in modelling an inner dome - resulting in a complete sphere and a inner staircase that would be in fact placed in between the domw and exterior wall. The issues in this woking session are designing the elements that would now redefine the similarities of what Boullee created in his few drawing pictures/plans

Fig 1.) Other half of the dome that will now recreate a complete sphere

Fig 2.) Creating another wall around the dome, so to cover a gap between the exterior wall and dome

Fig 3.) Creating this inner curve wall in wireframe

Fig 4.) stairs and plant holder edited

Fig 5.) Our entry opening had to be edited to now illustrate a semicircle (mirroring that of Boullee's pictures)

Fig 6.) A placed foundation slab underneath the main structure

Fig 7.) Creating a tunnel from the main entrance to the inner main room

Fig 8.) Editing the tunnel to also cut an opning to our staircase

Fig 9.) Creating our pyramid stairs

Fig 10.) Bending our pyramid stairs to contour the shape of of the dome

Fig 11.) Again fixing our pyramid stairs because it was not the right shape

Fig 12.) Different perspectives of how we shaped the pyramid stairs

Fig 13.) Current look of our model

Team Meeting

2009-06-05T15:53:00.003+10:00

Today, Pui Pui and I met up in labs at 12pm to work on our design.
In yesterday's studio class, our group had had a meeting with Jeremy, Graham and Stephen Peter. We discussed our intentions for completing our final stages of the assignment and how our our team was progressing. During this meeting alot of design issues were debated and resulted in some design changes. Careful comparisons with the 3 images obtained by original architect Boullee allowed our tutors to outline what steps we had to take to improve our design.

Pui Pui and I began working through this issues systematically and drew up a plan on how to start. Once we pinpointed all the vital points put before us by our tutors, we proceeded to develop them in 3ds max. We worked deligently throughout the day and sorted out all the design improvements. It was about 8pm when we concluded our team meeting and broke down all the components of the model, so that the next stage of exporting it into crysis could be initiated. We plan to again meet next tuesday, where we will start the crysis fabrication.

Later that evening I stayed on in labs to work our our team blogs and also updated my own individual blog. I also managed to manufacture some other elements of the design such as the sarcophagus and the gargoyles from sketchup during this time.

Specialisation Progress

2009-06-04T22:35:00.008+10:00

After a few responses from my forum posts. A few responses from the www.incrysis.com forums told me

“There's software that will convert video to animated gif but I'd think that you'd first want see if it's even possible to embed a photo or an animated gif inside Crysis. You would think that that would be possible since there are lots of displays and consoles in Crysis that have animation. In fact, the only thing that I know of that's not animated in Crysis is the sun. Nothing stands still, not even the leaves and shadows.”

I then tried to find out about animated Gifs and there application to Crysis. If these animated gifs have the capacity for creating a simple moving texture and it was possible to further develop the concept to possibly a video.

Converting a video into an animated gif

Firstly you can have to find a short video to convert (4 seconds is preferable as this is its limitations)
You need Adobe Image Ready & TMPGEnc which can be downloaded for free on their website TMPGEnc.net
Start by opening up your video file in TMPGEnc
Go to File>Output to File>Sequence BMP/PPMTGA/JPG File
Create an individual folder for this sequence – Name it whatever you like. It will now render each individual frame into a bitmap image
Now open up Adobe Image Ready
Go to File>Import>Folder as Frames and open up the folder you just created. It will then begin to import these images frames as an animated gif sequence
Now resize the image pixels to whichever you desire through Image>Adjustments>New Size
Go to File>Save Optimized As
Then save your animated gif file
Reopen your gif and it should then animate

Applying an animated gif as a custom texture in Crysis however did not work. In crysis you have to convert all custom textures to Direct Draw Surfaces (.dds) files for its application in the Crysis material editor. When an animated gif is converted to dds it loses its ability to animate.

Some of my reponses in the Crysis forums got me some great modder contacts. Im now currently communicating with Ruben Steinbacher from Crytek who told me.

“we are working on a similar thingie for our mod...it needs some c++ coding and I believe we finally found the places where to look for...contact me on my MSN/ICQ/AIM...whatever messenger you have”

Currently exhanging emails with him for more information

Team Blog

2009-06-04T22:35:00.006+10:00

Added to team blog:

Specialisations
Team Meeting
Project Progress
Redesigning model in 3ds max

Project Progress

2009-06-04T22:33:00.015+10:00

Pui Pui and I met in labs to work on our improved building desing in max. We broke down all of the components needed to be recreated or modified and the new objects to be modelled also. We used the old max file to start and found that some elements could be saved and reused, but that other elements just werent needed or that modelling some items from the start would just be more efficient.

Here are some of the screenshots in which we took during this meetings progress.

Fig 1.) Recreating the circular outer level 2 platform

Fig 2.) Cutting an opening on this platfrom using boolean so that the staircase has an entry to level 2

Fig 3.) Starting to develop a spiral staircase inside. Working our probable tread, rise and width dimensions

Fig 4.) Arraying the one stair component to create a stair case

Fig 5.) Some perspective wireframes of these stairs using "array"

Fig 6.) Working our how to create a railing that would support users of the staircase - array using cylinders

Fig 7.) Choosing a different approach to the staircase railing. Creating a full staircase barrier that would also cover the underside of the stairs

Fig 8.) Creating a plane then editing its shape using polyedits and vertexedits to follw the shape of the spiralling staircase

Fig 9.) A cohesive staircase and protective barrier

Fig 10.) Deleting vertex feature

Fig 11.) An example found through internet catalogues of a balustrade we would like to recreate for our circular presentation room platform

Fig 12.) Creating our balustrade and cutting holes in the concrete as shown in our sourced internet picture - The railing is cut using an array of boolean cuts

Fig 13.) Boolean cuts in progress

Fig 14.)Creating the circular platfrom and then placing the balustrade on it

Fig 15.) Creating curved Information boards that will be placed against the walls of the circular platform

Fig 16.) Front elevation showing a arched (semicircle) opening to get into the inner circular platform

Week 12 Studio Class

2009-06-04T22:33:00.012+10:00

This weeks guest speaker was Russell Lowe. We know that Russell's interest is utilising real time engines in creating architecture and in this presentation he showed us what he was currently working on.

He's current project was a hospital that required a visualisation of how a hospital machine carries patients in and out of bed. With this project he was able to concluded the need for more space in this room for the apparatus to work successfully.

One other project he was creating with the help of former graduates of Architectural Computing was a bar/display space designed in Sydney that illustrates and represents the effect of global warming and in particular the threat of a scenario where a climate that increases water levels. Crysis was used for this particular design and he was impressed by the editor capability to design visually accurate water and various animated compoments with ease.

Russell instilled in us the potential for these engines in architecture and beyond. What we are doing currently in our fabrications are a great example to what is available to companies and clients currently and how its use could revolutionise future developments into these concepts.

Sketch Plans

2009-06-02T15:08:00.004+10:00

These are some of the new improved sketch ideas I've drawn up that incorporate the discussed design elements in our last group meeting. Emphasis on finding a plausible solution for a presentation room inside the dome on a suspended platform.

Issues of this is how to get up to this platform. Is it better to have an elevator or stairs? How would one travel and use the layout of the building effectively without ditracting from the buildings aesthetics and other important features eg. light feature, night sky, appreciating size of building, incorporating exterior platform etc.

Fig 1.) Sketch of proposed design

Fig 2.) Sketch of proposed design

Fig 3.) Sketch of FINAL proposed design

Team Meeting

2009-06-02T14:45:00.007+10:00

In studio class this week, our team discussed with our tutors the progress of our project. During this meeting we went through what we were doing at this present time and what we planned to do in the last 2 weeks of the assignment. Our project has a heavy importance on our design. Unlike the other teams, our piece of architecture functions much like monument and an attraction rather than a building of business or commercial use. The direction of our design must therefore accurately represent what the original architect Boullee was trying to portray. Every element must be scrutinsed so that the context and essence of the building can be represented successfully.The meeting outlined how our design could improve in particular areas. Some very productive feedback was given to our team and we noted down every point. Inspired to work on it as soon as possible. Pui Pui and myself arranged to meet the following day to start working on the improved design modifications.

Some of the key features that needed to be addressed in our design were:

Create the main Cenotaph entrance stairs
Reduce planter boxes on all floors
Create slab underneath building
Reduce wdiths of angled slopes
Create inner half of dometo result in a full sphere
Create Pyramid stairs on first level platform
Change entrance opening (semicircle shape)
Create entrance opening in pyramid stairs
Change texture of "wooden rafters"
Develop correct texture/materials

Team Fabrication Plan

2009-05-29T18:49:00.012+10:00

This is the new Team Fabrication Plan of Team Urbans. This plan's purpose is to further enhance our model and environment from the last assignment. Our process for development will be based upon:

critiques from "Final Fabrication"
implementation of explored specialisations
defining areas we believe will polish our Crysis environments to a level of high detail, functionality and a believable level of immersion

Weaknesses

Textures on building
Water elements
Lighting interior
AI
Model improvements
Sun/light fixture
Surrounding vegetation
Interactivity
Surrounding buildings

Collaborative Specialisations

programming, skinning, etc.
custom animated models (people, vehicles etc)
advanced AI
analysis
cut scenes
custom materials and textures {Team Urbans – Pui Pui}
elevators, escalators etc
on screen overlays (text, information, etc.)
weather controls
cutscenes, staged walkthroughs, etc.
traffic control
advanced sound
custom mini map
custom lighting interactivity
advanced water
advanced textures
video (materials, web, etc.) {Team Urbans – Michael}
custom characters (change Default, etc.) {Team Urbans – Joanne}
advanced elevators (movers, escalators, etc.)
advanced player movement (teleportation, flying, etc.)
custom vegetation
advanced environments {Team Urbans – Gordon}

Expected Level of Resolution

Surrounding terrain reduction
Complete environment modelling
Add more AI
Exterior Lighting modelling
Interior video
Exterior video
Video editing
Complete final model design
Textures and applied materials
Create sun/light animation
Complete team blog
Explore specialisations

Individual Tasks

Michael:

Manage and organise team
Write Team Fabrication Plan
Update, management and team blog
Work out new design – (research, sketches, modelling in 3dsmax etc.)
Modelling building in 3dsmax (Working with Pui Pui)
Recreate Sun/light fixture animation in max then Crysis
Create sarcophagus in Sketchup
Create gargoyles in Sketchup
Create vegetation for model
Export all components of the model into Crysis
Research relevant custom materials
Develop textures for model inside Crysis
Internal Lighting
Develop Crysis surrounding buildings
Record internal videos
Research music and other trailer precedents for presentation videos
Create Information/presentation boards inside model
Capture "stunning images"

Joanne:

Assist model improvements
work on presentation plan
Create and edit trailer videos
Create and edit extended videos

Gordon:

Finish surrounding buildings
Get objects onto a better layer structure
Add AI groups to streets, paths and Cenotaph
Add traffic to roads
Add invisible barrier to a 500m radius around our working area, delete unseen stuff outside it to reduce polys
Fix sounds that appear to be broken
Fix the lake
Import more European looking trees
Look at putting a boat on the lake
Adding cameras and cut scenes (some at Dusk)
Populate park with benches, get AI to sit down
Add an underground cave leading to "the real tomb"

Pui Pui:

Recreate model in max
entrance stairs, pyramid stairs, interior stairs
Reduce planter boxes
Create slab underneath building
Create inner half of sphere
Pyramid stairs on first level platform
change entrance opening (semicircle shape)
Circular platform
Railings for platfrom
Entrance opening in pyramid stairs
Display board shapes
Split 3ds max model into individual components for exporting

Timeline and Schedule of Work Outcomes

Team Urbans has outlined a proposed timeline and scheduled tasks. Tasks are delegated to each memeber of the group and a specified timeframe for their tasks are needed for further development of the project.

By week 9:

Recreate all components of the model inside 3ds max
Start refining surrounding buildings
learn how to export from 3dsmax to Crysis more efficiently

By week 10:

Export all components of model to Crysis
Develop landscape and terrain
Start texturing model in Crysis
Develop environment (roads, street signs, buildings, curbs)

By week 11:

Model and Crysis environment complete with all textures
Finish developing vegetation and natural environment
Exterior lighting
Light animation
Create statues and sarcophagus in Sketchup
Dome lighting and texture - for virtual sky
Recreate river/lake

By week 12:

Interior lighting
Frap videos so we can make 2 videos
Develop AI
Develop images for information boards
Make information boards
Develop a presentation plan

By week 13:

Refine all elements of Crysis environment
Start editing trailer video
Create extended video
Capture 10 stunning images
Complete team blog

Specialisation Progress

2009-05-29T18:48:00.008+10:00

I have to find out how to place or create an in-game video inside of Crysis. Something like a media screen/tv screen which one can apply an external video file to. This should result in a playable video file inside of the Crysis game. My specialisation is important as all of the team will be implimenting there video trailers to their level in their presentations.

I searched through the internet for any such tutorial or any related information but there was nothing out there on it in the Crysis forums, tutorials and associated Crysis websites.

I then searched through the Crysis object libraries and downloadable internet objects for Crysis interactive screens.

I then embarked on asking questions about this sort of experimentation inside the Crysis forums. I posted questions in www.incrysis.com and www.crymod.com forums. Asking if anyone had ever seen a mod or level created that had an example of a video being played in game play mode. Most responses came back explaining that noone has ever seen it done before.

Week 11 Studio Class

2009-05-29T18:48:00.007+10:00

An excursion to iCinema Centre in UNSW. We were invited to explore the Interactive Cinema Research during this weeks studio class. In this outing our presenter showed us what was the iCinema used for, displaying for us some projects involving digital interactivity.

In a exerpt from the iCinema website http://www.icinema.unsw.edu.au/index.html, here is what the this study is all about,

"It brings together researchers and postgraduate students in new media, aesthetics, cinematic theory, multimedia design, computer science, cognitive science, software/hardware engineering and mining virtual reality.The iCinema research program focuses on research into digital interactivity for benchmark applications across the arts, culture and industry. In particular, it is focused on the way the digital can be used to imagine new ways of living in the contemporary world, redefining how we seek recreation and learning, and the way we work and do business.”

Team Meeting

2009-05-29T18:47:00.003+10:00

Myself, Pui Pui and Jo met to discuss a plan to organise regular team meetings. As Gordon lives in Perth will we try work around this and correspond with what we are doing through constant emails.

At the meeting we wrote down each others availability, so that some individual members have the opppurtunity to met with other individual memebers at convenient times. For eg. Pui Pui and I are re-designing the model in max, we can decide to meet together without Jo, leaving her to do other work if needed.

Jo: works everyday except wednesday where she has class till 6 (So meeting with her can only occur after working hours)

Pui Pui: is available most days that she doesnt have class. Her classes are on thurday, monday and friday. She is available during afternoon and nights on most days and she lives close to campus if members want to meet quickly for a session.

Michael: is available on tuesday, wednesday, thursday night, friday and saturday night.

Gordon: available thursday night until his flight times. Always subject to emails during work times as he is constantly checking it.

We decided that Michael and Pui Pui should try meet every tuesday day till 10am till 6pm and saturday night at 7.30pm
Michael, Pui Pui & Jo will meet on wednesday and thursday nights.
Michael and Gordon will convene with correpondance emails
Team Meeting with all members will still take place in thursday's studio class.

Week 10 Studio Class

2009-05-29T18:16:00.004+10:00

Andrew Wallace, a recent FBE graduate working for LCA (Lara Caldera Architects) was this weeks guest lecture.

He has used several real-time engines to develop projects. Crysis is something he's explored extensively and he uses ArchiCAD first to create the model structure, then exports these mulitple components into the Crysis engine. He showed us one particular project that was entered into a competition called the Greentech 'Eco House of the Future' competition. In this competition he created a model that was developed for a childrens school in Africa. The design came second and he oulined how he used Crysis as an additional component to the entry.

Andrew explained to us the potential of using gaming engines like Unreal and Crysis in Architectural firms and their potential to encourage new clients to explore them.

Team Blog

2009-05-21T20:46:00.003+10:00

Added to team blog:

Team Plan for Polished Fabrication
Team Urbans Meeting with Class Tutors
Areas of improvement for Team Fabrication

Chosen Speciality Outcomes - Video (Materials, Web, etc.)

2009-05-21T20:28:00.004+10:00

Easy Outcomes -
Import a video into Crysis. The video should either be assigned as a texture or if there is such a thing, an interactive screen that can be constructed for video presenting purposes.

Medium Outcomes -
Creating a video with "control functions".

Being able to stop/start/skip to different videos during gameplay
The controls should either be activated either with keyboard shortcuts or by control levers/buttons activated inside Crysis.

Hard Outcomes -

Interactive videos/materials that animate and change on a texture/screen/wall
Lighting controls to adjust surrounding lighting in the vicinity, to allow for optimal video viewing at particular times of the day

(Submitted these outcomes to ARCH1392 emustore folder)

Team Urbans Meeting with Class Tutors

2009-05-20T11:46:00.004+10:00

During this week in studio class our group got together to discuss what was needed during these next two weeks of work. Specific roles were delegated and we wrote down individual tasks for all team members.
Also during this time. We engaged with a meeting with Jeremy and Graham to outline what were our ideas in further progressing the project. We told them that at the time of submitting final fabrications, were knew as a group, their was a lot of potential for further improvements. At this point in time we have an established design and environment. However the design has many flaws. We have now the opportunity to refine them again and efficiently recreate what is neccessary.
The tasks of researching how to do everything has been done eg. learning to export and texture.
So progression should be easier for us now. It is also our intent to redefine our environment map. Currently the map has many errors and its has to be condensed to fundamental components that needed so that the file can run smoothly in Crysis.

Week 9 Studio Class

2009-05-18T23:46:00.001+10:00

Shilo McClean was week 9’s guest speaker. Author of the book Digital Storytelling: the narrative power of visual effects in film (MIT Press, 2007), and a renown writer, lecturer and specialist in the field of digital visual effects in the film industry.
Shilo explored the use and development of digital computer graphics as a storytelling tool. After showcasing a collage of various films, which used effective digital visual effects. The class was enthralled to find out what this woman was all about. She went on to explain how computer graphics that have largely derived and progressed through the gaming industry, has now over the past decades shaped and revolutionized the way film makers tell a story.
Not only has it impacted greatly on filmmaking, but using computer graphics has also enhanced other fields and professions. Its use as a way of communicating succinct and important information quickly, to those who may know little of its surrounding circumstance. One great example she used was how Spike Lee used a generated computer animation to describe in a documentary, an analysis of how weather patterns can transform and result in something called
“Hurricane Katrina.”

The relationship between narrative and visual effects was once known to hinder and destroy a good story, but now that computer graphics and technology has boomed and excelled, there is now a synergy that allows digital visual effects to add innovative nuances and in some cases, function as the key tool to portray a story. Shilo was once told in a script writing class “..if you cant capture it on film, you cant write it in a script”

She explained the various types of effects used in film making and how each technique distinguishes itself from another.
There was:

Fantastical effects
Surrealist effects
New traditionalist
Hyperrealist
Hybrid-real

The importance in utilising computer effects in a context where it is suitable, is fundamental to a successful narrative collaboration.

How all this ties into what this course is all about, is we are using software’s that exemplify digital visual effects. Crysis, 3dsmax and the multitude of other programs we are using, mirror that of the real world. We’re trying to create a story and create realistic 3d images or environments. Because we are somewhat the pioneers of this technology in architecture, it’s our role to collaborate and fully explore its potential and capabilities. A quote from Shilo that I found typifies these concepts was, “..collaborative space still needs to be developed and the contribution, the experience can offer human creativity and its shared meanings.”

Class Wiki

2009-05-13T16:08:00.007+10:00

Added to wiki:

Created a new page in CryEngine Development/Tutorials called 'Using Paint.net to format custom images to .dds files'
Added content and images to this page
Created a new section in CryEngine Development/Custom Content/Importing to Sandbox 2/3dsmax to Crysis called 'Step by Step Process on How to Export from 3dsmax to Crysis'
Added content and images to this section
Edited other classmates posts

Class Wiki

2009-05-12T23:56:00.005+10:00

Added to wiki:

topics of collaboration ('intent' and 'management')
reformatted all the topics and its contents into a consistant design layout
edited some other posts

Team Blog

2009-05-12T13:37:00.003+10:00

Added to team blog:

Project Progress - Final Design
Final Fabrication
Assignment 2 - Final Fabrication (600 words)
Final Video 1 (Re-edit)

Assignment 2 Contributions

2009-05-11T21:24:00.003+10:00

My contribution to Team Urbans Final Fabrication:

Team blog manager and contributor
Designed team logo
Organiser of team meetings and tasks/responsibilities
Research into finding further information of the original design
Organising team correspondence with Gordon
Developing the draft designs in ArchiCAD
Wrote team Fabrication Plan
Wrote team timeline
Research surrounding natural environment and vegetation
Researching suitable textures and materials for building
Exported full model from 3dsmax to Crysis
Finding and applying custom textures to model in Crysis
Creating mini dome and interior virtual solar system
Interior Lighting
Assisted in creating and modeling hedges/vegetation on building
Export light feature from 3dsmax to Crysis
Applied textures to light feature in Crysis
Designed interior platform
Created interior videos
Wrote 600 word fabrication
Constant updating of images, videos and processes in team blog

Peer Review - Strengths & Weaknesses

2009-05-11T20:42:00.008+10:00

Team Digilism

Strengths - Strong design elements. Alot of detail in the structure and geometry of the building. Also surrounding buildings looked terrific. They had great textures and detail, giving the environment a complete look. Looked like a real cityscape.

Weaknesses - More work and development needs to be placed into the buildings interior. The exterior structure took precedents and not much focus was placed on the interior spaces. I understand the building is quite large and there would be alot of storeys and detail in every level, but maybe you could focus on just a few levels and detail them well.

Team Orange

Strengths - Great aesthetic design. Illuminating white texture and use of 'time of day' light environment really accentuates the the building well. Both daylight and night features look amazing.

Weaknesses - Not sure if its intentional, but surrounding buildings height levels differ greatly from the design. Looks somewhat inproportionate. Interior spaces could have more purposeful design elements, rather than just placing furniture to portray the spaces' function.

Team E-volve

Strengths - Noticed that alot of work had been developed in the detail of interior textures. Incoporating a nice design. Really liked you presentation. Strong use of a storytelling narrative in your video to introduce the designs purpose.

Weaknesses - Because of buildings position underground. We couldn't grasp the scale and overall shape of the building. Maybe you could capture and present some images of the plans in sctions of when you first developed it above ground.

Team Omega

Strengths - Extremely detailed environment and design. Felt as though you really researched and kept true to the original concepts and design. When you constrasted some images from the original architect and the your own screen captures, I couldnt tell the difference between the two.

Weaknesses - Not too many weaknesses I could point out. A truly commendable effort. If anything, the surrounding buildings textured simply in a greyscale material could have possibly been textured to further to really support your design.

Team Atlar

Strengths - Awesome use of water in Crysis. Really developed some unique and difficult features underwater. Great use of interactive elements in Crysis i.e. elevators, sliding doors etc.

Weaknesses - Lighting and textures underwater could be fixed. The reflections of the water still shadow inside your interior spaces. Adjacent island could be further developed. The buildings, roads, vegetation and A.I.'s could really complete your design environment.

Final Presentations

2009-05-11T20:17:00.001+10:00

Week 8 was the time for all of the studio teams to present their final fabrications and for our studio tutors to choose 2 of the designs for our next progressive assignment. As each team presented, I was impressed by each groups final designs and noticed how much work had progressed since we started Crysis. It was evident in all of the presentations that we had all gained some very advanced skills using a whole range of different programs in order to develop each project. Like most groups we had undergone some serious problem solving issues in various aspects of our design and found that many groups and individuals had actually collaborated together in order to find solutions and more efficient ways to using the Crysis Editor.

The presentations from all teams were well presented, using videos, powerpoint slides, images and accounts on their teams processes to outline to everyone to what made their design tick. Some groups approached the presentations in several manners, some as a recruitment drive, an advertisement, a production process and even a sales pitch. But what everyone did do was summarize the methods they used in developing their project and also what sort of particular elements needed work or improvements for their design to progress.

At the end of all the presentations, Jeremy, Graham, Stephen and Russell concluded that they decided to amend the final assignment to instead allow each group to further work on each design. They were so pleased with the standard of work, and felt that as a class we could benefit from advancing each project, rather than collaborating on only 2.
So now the next assignment will be for each group to continue working on their Crysis models and by the end of the course present their complete works again.

Week 8 Studio Class

2009-05-11T20:12:00.003+10:00

This week’s guest speaker was Dr. Deo Prasad. His expertise were in, sustainable development. Dr. Prasad spoke about how sustainability in the field of design relates closely to that of its surrounding environment. “The interconnection and interdependence of both built and natural systems.”
He outlined how this involves our course, by explaining that for emergent sustainable designs, we must look to collaborate with all aspects of the process and every player involved that has any impact or influence.
As Dr. Prasad puts it, there is a need for “…global collaboration for a sustainable future.”

In his presentation, Dr. Prasad gave us various examples of flourishing sustainable design systems seen over the years in places like Stockholm, Shanghai and Sydney. These programs involve designing in harmony with human activity whilst considering environmental impacts to all areas surrounding its site. Most often than not, these places are situated at the edges or outskirts of central business districts. They have large spaces of land and because the city encroaches on to the outer environments, they have the ability to development smart designs that incorporate urban precincts with natural environments.

Another aspect Dr. Prasad discussed that I found interesting was the idea that built environments are part of functioning ecosystems. That the challenge is not just conservation, but instead, achieving an optimal balance and efficiency in “ecocities”.
Improving the health of ecosystems in urban areas during building development can enhance services such as storm water retention and treatment and therefore improve other sustainable issues and overall environmental quality.
Some possible solutions could be, embracing ecological dynamics as an approach for life cycle design. Another could be, relying on built environments rather than natural environments for our resources.

For all these concepts to function, there must be a system of collaboration. From users to architects, local governments, international bodies and protocols. They all must be dependent on each other to initiate a process of problem solving. Starting from grass root programs to international charters and political summits, everyone has a role to play in their specified region. In doing this, a constant stream of communication and strategic planning can be employed to all aspects of urban design in the built and natural environments.

Final Fabrication

2009-05-06T18:43:00.006+10:00

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600 word - Final Fabrication

The Cenotaph designed by Etienne-Louis Boullée has greatly influenced contemporary architects; he was a visionary French Neoclassicism designer, and so it is important to consider his intent in creating the Cenotaph. This design explores geometric forms that are used at such a scale, that the architectural boundaries are pushed to stamp a bold statement. Each element that is used in the design, help explore the importance of the environment it’s placed in.
The cenotaph’s purpose and intent is complimented by an array of simple elements, such as the importance of strategically placed trees counter parted with layered tiers, and the significance of texture and curvature. All ingredients that suggest a form of elegance and classism. Boullée promoted the idea of making architecture expressive of its purpose. The elements and techniques that the Cenotaph employs are dedicated to the English scientist Isaac Newton. Memorialising his work as a physicist and also immortalising his life and influence in life, in space.
The Cenotaph that has been re-created in Crysis explores a degree of movement of two worlds. A classic style building situated inside of a natural environment, that being Regents park London. The second being our virtual interior solar system.

Our intent was to contrast these two aspects of the design and hence create an impact. The initial impact, when one walks in view of the Cenotaph and appreciates the sheer size of the building in a natural setting and then, again as they enter the confines of the building. A captured virtual night sky/solar system. The building fully expresses itself in the daytime as one walks through the familiar park lands in sunlight, then dramatically enters a mystifying world of stars, comets and an illuminating sun globe. The atmosphere articulated through the internal space, outlines the buildings performance to create an interactive experience. The dome and sphere is a main focal point both as an exterior and interior element. The roofs punched holes allow for the sunlight to shine beams of light and reconstruct stars above you, immersing the public in this unrealistic world in such a normal setting.

The Cenotaph is placed in a milieu of significance, memorialising the fact that Isaac Newton himself is buried in London. Regents Park takes on a persona that helps to provoke a feeling of belonging and monumental importance in providing the utmost appropriate environment for this design.
The site is boarded by London itself. A skyline of the city can be seen from the Cenotaph. The cityscape encroaches into the park and the Cenotaph’s position in the heart of the park and also the heart of the city encourages for the building to paint a significant influence as an architectural piece.
The trees that are placed surrounding the building help to create a reference point for people to appreciate the impact and scale of the Cenotaph by to reference to appreciate helping ones eye capture the entirety of this structure, giving it a real sense of feel and impact. The natural vegetation of the site also form a sensation of peace and tranquillity that helps prepares people as they walk into the design. Inviting the public to explore the night experience inside.

The textures and form produces a design that unites classism with sophistication. The textures that were used are considered to be weathered natural materials with earthy tones providing a realism of the building once coming from the Earth.

Up until now Boullee’s vision has forever been left unrealised, leaving this pivitol work in the imagination of all those who admire it. Here we have tried, at least in part, to realise this building virtually in a contemporary context so that it might finally have a life in the virtual world if currently it is still practically impossible to realise physically.

Final Video 1

Final Video 2

Project Progress - Final Design

2009-05-06T11:05:00.002+10:00

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Team Blog

2009-05-06T10:21:00.007+10:00

Added to team blog:

Project Progress - Dome
Project Progress - Adding Custom Textures

Correspondence & Collaboration

2009-05-06T10:21:00.006+10:00

Gordon and myself have been keeping in good contact in order to achieve a similar outcome for our project. Emails, phone calls and msg's have kept team Urbans well communicated and so our collaborative process has been able to survive. I have sometimes relayed msg's to my team mates to Gordon and vice versa and although we havent seen much face to face contact, our project still has been able to exchange hands with the use of technology. File front and mediafire have been a huge advantage to us, as large files have had to be traded across the country. Our completed Cenotaph model had been completed in a different file and terrain, but file fronting a folder and all its textures, objects and extension files have made it easy for Gordon to import into our environment using layers.
We've found the collaborative process quite difficult at times, but can see with deligence and constant communication, it is possible and should be a asset in times when we might have to use it in our future professsional career.

Team Blog

2009-05-06T10:17:00.006+10:00

Added to team blog:

Team Meeting
Project Progress - Exporting from 3dsmax to Crysis

Team Meeting

2009-05-06T10:17:00.005+10:00

Team meeting held again at Red Centre. We started work at 5pm and worked on refining all the bugs in textures and objects magically disappearing everytime crysis is reloaded.
Pui Pui and I worked on the model textures, improving on most of the UV maps and used this time to really work on the internal space. We placed another platform on the inside of the building, designed and placed the oscillating light fixture and modified some of the tress surrounding the buildings slab tiers.
Jo continued working on our presentation and assisted us in some of the crysis development. She also started to collect more information and images so to generate our first video. She started working on the video using Sony Vegas.
Gordon emailed us throughout the night and explained what problems he was facing and how we were going to tackle each situation. Some of the probelms were; the vegetaion we sourced from 3dsmax were not importing or functioning properly in our crysis environment; the greebled buildings we created surrounding our parkland was using alot of processing memory and crashing the computer; and the some of the roads and detailed buildings Gordon developed was taking too much time so, we decided to limit of these buildings to exactly what we only needed.

Project Progress - Trees & Light Fixture

2009-05-06T10:16:00.013+10:00

Light Fixture

The light fixture is one component that was specified also by the original architect Boullee. It helps illustrate the virtual interior solar system. Some say its a tribute to Isaac Newtons work in astrophysics. The light fixture is centred in the centre of the sphere, much like that of the sun's position in the milkyways solar system. Illuminating the whole entirety of its confines. The heart and focal point of the building.
Pui Pui created the 2 elements in 3dsmax; a solid sphere and a sphere frame that holds it. From there I imported the 2 components separately and placed it in the centre of the dome.
We scaled it to a size large enough so that it impacts and draws attention to the solar system dome feature.

Fig 1.) Soild Sphere in 3dsmax

Fig 2.) Sphere frame in 3dsmax

Fig 3.) Both components imported into Crysis

The textures we used for this light feature was sourced from different sun textures found on the internet. I used the glowing golden sun as the texture for the framework and the intense red depiction of an actual sun as our texture fro our version of the sun.

Furthermore I tried to amplify our representation of the sun that we were able to create a moving texture. In Crysis the texture actually oscillates and looks as though molten lava is melding and bubbling inside the sphere itself.

Fig 4.) Texture used for framework

Fig 5.) An image of the sun that we tried to imitate

Fig 6.) The light fixture in Crysis

Fig 7.) Close up the light fixture

Fig 8.) The oscillating texture of the sun

Trees

The trees surrounding the building have a role to the design that allows it to cohesively relate to its site in the parklands. The trees/hedges have a uniform circular shape that accentuates the tall walls, but yet softens the harsh sizes of the walls by exhibiting a textural contrast from a hard, solid artificial material to a supple natural life form. The trees provide a simple and classical facet to the entire design and without it the building sticks out like a sore thumb in its natural surroundings.

I first tried to use an imported 3dsmax version of these trees, but the textures were lost and I was unable to detail the material back to its original state.

So I used Geom Entities. The reason for using these entities instead of normal entities is that entity vegetation anchors the plant to terrain, and I couldn't position the trees up into the buildings upper platforms. It will not allow for any movement other than its position on the ground.

Fig 9.) Hedges created in 3dsmax

Fig 10.) 3dsmax hedges imported into Crysis

Fig 11.) Geom Entity vegetation

Fig 12.) Hedges/trees on top platform

We actually lined the trees twice, meaning theres 2 set of trees on top of each other. The reason for this, is that 1 row of trees look sparse and it needed that thick vegetative look to enhance a wall of trees. You can see in the image below a row of trees being ready to be placed on top of the row of trees below it to create this look.

Fig 13.) Trees overlapping each other

Fig 14.) Circular tree perimeter around each tier of the building

Project Progress - Dome and Interiors

2009-05-06T10:16:00.010+10:00

We had to decide how to create a virtual solar system/night sky on the inside of the dome. The domes "punctured holes" were working but because of our light textures, it failed to create that impact of a night sky. We will try to create a voxel to block out some of the light, but light will still reflect off the white marble interiors.

Introducing the problem to my team mates, we decided to change the materials to allow for the dome to have a dark night-like hue, so that sunlight may fully accentuate a look like that of stars on the inside of the dome. We came up with a design pictured below, whicch seemed to work and still retain the look and concepts associated with the original design.

However when we continued on with the project, we realised that as we were placing the hedges that surround the tiers of the building, the blue slabs and dome hid the classical look of the circular hedges. The dark plants and the dark blue materials were far too similar and so the hedges were invisible to anyone. The hedges play an important role in the overall design and without them the building surely loses its integrity and exterior as a monumental piece of architecture. The hedges also importantly allow for the building to integrate with the surrounding parklife environment. Its as the building, wants to fuse into the natural location, yet still makes a statement with its size and structural shapes.

Fig 1.) Our draft design incorporating a dark coloured marble material

Fig 2.) Another image of this design concept

Fig 3.) The dark colour of the dome contrasting that to the bright lights illuminating through the holes

I then devised a plan to create another smaller dome inside of the larger dome. The dome would still have the same position holes to still allow for the sunlight to penetrate through the building, but permit for another texture to be allocated only to the interior face of the dome. Leaving the exterior of the building to retain its white marble material, we intended from the beginning. We had previosuly tried to have different textures of either side of the face, but because the sphere was group and exported together with some slabs, that would mean other materials would have these same material properties.

This seemed like the probable solution and so I went ahead and created this mini dome that would lie directly underneath the outer dome. I used the original sphere and copied and scaled it exactly to fit the outer dome in 3dsmax.

Fig 4.) Creating the mini dome in 3dsmax

Fig 5.) Shaping the dome exactly so that the holes align with the larger dome

During the process of exporting the 3dsmax mini dome to Crysis, my dome did not import correctly and the scale sizes were all wrong for some reason. This time Pui Pui tried and remodelled in 3dsmax and we imported and installed the new object successfully. These images below are the result of this work and how we then texturised the inner dome to a material mimicking that of a starry night. The photos also illustrate how the holes in the roof still allow for light penetration and hence depict stars in the sky.

Fig 6.) The mini dome

Fig 7.) Close up image of the aligned punctured holes

Fig 8.) How the applied texture of the dome really does represent a night sky effectively

Team Meeting

2009-05-05T13:07:00.004+10:00

We met again on Monday night to work on the design. Theres been alot of problems and issues whislt working and importing from crysis, so moday was purely a working in crysis might. Pui Pui and I worked on the model using 3dsmax and Crysis, while Jo worked on our presentation. She started a plan to present, powerpoint and saving images to create a video.
We also spoke to Gordon and worked out some environment bugs and what sort of headway had to be finished in regards to the surrounding buildings, vegetation and lighting in crysis.

Collaboration Topics - Intent & Management

2009-05-04T09:08:00.010+10:00

MANAGEMENT

“An organized body of knowledge” (Drucker 1988, p.7)

“ it is ‘management’ that determines what is needed and what has to be achieved” (Drucker 1988, p.7)

“Management is tasks. Management is a discipline. But management is also people. Every achievement of management is the achievement of a manager. Every failure is the failure of a manager. People manage, rather than ‘forces’ or ‘facts.’ The vision, dedication, and integrity of managers determine whether there is management or mismanagement.” (Drucker 1988, p.7)

“Management and managers are the specific need of all institutions, from the smallest to the largest. They are the specific organ of every institution. They are what holds it together and makes it work. None of our institutions could function without managers. And managers do their own job – they do not do it by delegation from the owner. The need for management does not arise just because the job has become to big for any one person to do alone.” (Drucker 1988, p.12)

Reference

Drucker P, 1988, Management, Heinemann Professional Publishing Ltd, London

INTENT

Strategic Intent is a term used by businesses and organisations to define for example a company's vision of what it wants to achieve in the long term. We can make use and utilise the term in our project of collaboration to illustrate the same sort of concepts needed for a design process to succeed.

Strategic intent is the immediate point of view of a long term future that a business would like to create. In other words a planned intent that describes how an organisation is going to realize its vision
Quoted from the book, “Competing for the Future” by Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahlad they outline that, “..since strategic intent provides a specific point of view of the future aspired, it conveys sense of direction. And since it provides an opportunity to explore new competitive possibilities, it conveys a sense of discovery and since it provides a goal for the company which people perceive as inherently worthwhile, it implies sense of destiny.”

Intent must convey a sense of direction, discovery, and opportunity that can be communicated effectively to all employees. Employing the term ‘intent’ in Digital Collaboration Studio allows for the class to clarify the context and outcomes involved in the project, focus on the planned strategies to be exercised and inspire the class by creating meaning and purpose in the assignments.
It should focus not on the immediate problems and obstacles in developing tasks, but rather on the opportunities gained and overall outcomes achieved.

Reference

Hamel, G & Prahlad, C.K. 1996, Competing for the Future, Harvard Business School Press Ltd, Boston

Project Progress - Custom Textures in Crysis

2009-05-04T09:05:00.003+10:00

Adding Custom Textures from Crysis

Because we exported from 3dsmax to Crysis, all of our existing textures were lost during the process. I had to start re-texturing from scratch through Crysis. I was determined to use our existing custom jpeg textures done in 3dsmax. And found some tutorials on how to use custom textures off Crymod and other various video links.
I trialed a few ways of doing but came unstuck, when trying to apply the jpeg/tiff image.
The process involves converting all my jpeg textures into dds files. As photoshop does not have the ability to do this, I downloaded a open source software called paint.net.
From there I converted the files and also resized the images 128x128 pixels.

Then from crysis, I opened "material editor" inside the view tab and selected the desired object to be materialised. After a few unsuccessful goes at linking my dds file image. I had discovered I had been assigning materials by selecting any default material then editing its features to what I wanted.

However once I did this, saved my work and opened up my crysis file again, all my work had been lost and the default texture would be applied, not my custom materials.
i then discovered the correct way in applying custom materials through a tutorial I found and from my classmate Eva.

Step 1.

Go to view
Open view plane > Material Editor
Select Add new item icon
Create a folder named "textures" inside your project folder, inside of crysis

eg. C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Game\Levels\Cenotaph\Textures

Save the new texture as a material file (*.mtl)
it should now appear in the hierachy menu on the left of the Material Editor

Fig 1.) Material Editor

Fig 2.) Creating a new .mtl item to assign materials

Step 2.

Locate any image file you wish to use
download a image editor like Paint.net (free software), photoshop will not work
open the image up in Paint.net
resize the image 128x128 pixels
save as a .dds (direct draw surface) file in the texture folder you create in the last step

Fig 3.) Using Paint.net program to resize and convert file

Fig 4.) Saving specifically to a .dds file and position it into a texture folder inside crysis

Step 3.

In crysis:

Select the object you want to materialise
click Assign Material to Selection icon in your Material Editor
select the new material file you just created in the hierachy menu
Go to Texture Maps inside the material editor
In Diffuse > open up the browser and assign your .dds file you created from Paint.net

From there you can assign a mulititude or different options and UV map looks.
In this material editor, many different properties could be modified and manipulated. It gave you a wide range of options to create a unique and innovative new texture, for eg:

bump map

glossy

opacity

sub surface

and many more

Because crysis' ability to control every facet of materials I felt as if we should take advantage of this and played with a few different designs. I came up with some striking new designs and discused it with my team. We came to a final design conclusion and these photos below illustrates the development of what we came up with so far.

Below are some screenshots of the processed i went through in developing a textured building.

Fig 5.) Assigning material

Fig 6.) Changing properties

Fig 7.) Changing UV tile maps

Fig 8.) Draft texture design one

Fig 9.) Draft texture design two

Fig 10.) Draft texture design three

Fig 11.) Finding sandstone image to use

Fig 12.) Importing texture to outer walls

Fig 13.) Interior Materials

Team Meeting

2009-05-01T18:34:00.003+10:00

Another team meeting was held in labs today. We had to resolve how we were going to export our model. We knew how to do it, but unfortunately we needed a version of 3dsmax other than 2009 to use our SDK plug-in.
I emailed Gordon on what the plan for the week was. We had called each other a few times during the week and promised to push our team to finish the model in crysis and have all the necessary files and textures files ready to file front to Gordon by sunday, so that he could place it into our environment.

We arranged another meeting the following sunday so that we could work on exporting, and trying to import everything into crysis.

Project Progress - Exporting From 3dsmax to Crysis

2009-05-01T18:33:00.009+10:00

Obstacles in exporting From 3dsmax to Crysis

After finishing our model in 3dsmax, we discovered the complications of importing into Crysis.
Some of the difficulties we ran into were:

Uni lab level 3 computers licence for 3dsmax no longer works
Uni lab level 2 computers runs 3dsmax 2009 which is the only version that wont export into crysis using a SDK plug-in
Rebecca's laptop for some reason refuses to accept the plug-in even though shes running max 9
Crysis does not like to import huge collection of objects
Crysis will not import textures assigned in 3dsmax
Some imported elements in crysis wll either be scaled down by a 3rd of the size or even mulitplied by 10 times the actual size
Crysis did not like importing our hedges created in 3dsmax (reason for this is because of its high detail and numerous compents - stems, leaves, textures, etc)

How to export from 3dsmax to Crysis

Step 1.

The first thing you have to do is split up your 3dsmax model into pieces, the reason for this is that crysis doesn't like many groups of objects being exported at once. I believe the number is roughly around 20 elements at once. So we divided the model into 3 main groups. The sphere, the base and the rafters. Then you rename each file and continue to export from there.

Fig 1.) "Base" in 3dsmax

Fig 2.) "Base" in Crysis

Fig 3.) "Sphere" in 3dsmax

Fig 4.) "Sphere" in Crysis

Fig 5.) "Rafters" in 3dsmax

Fig 6.) "Rafters" in Crysis

Step 2.

Make a new folder in the Crysis folders called "Objects"

eg. C:\Program files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Game\Objects

Step 3.

Because we had designed the model using 3dsmax 2009 in labs, for us to export to Crysis we had to first convert our max files into 3ds files, then import them, then save them as 3dsmax scene files, then save them as .cgf files. Below is a more concise process of what we did.

First install the SDK plug-in

Now in 3dsmax:

Select File > New
New Scene > Select New All
File > Import
3ds (3D Studio) import > Select 'completely replace...'
Save in C:\Program files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Game\Objects
Group all objects
Name it the same name you just saved it as
add selected
Export to Gemetry (*.cgf)
Export Nodes

Step 4.

In Crysis:

Create a terrain
Go to objects in your roll over menu (right hand side)
Select Brush
Your new object you just exported should be in the list
drag it into your terrain

Note: We discovered that everytime you make a new object (.cgf file). You have to close the crysis editor and reload the program for the object to appear in you brush list. (Unfortunately it does not refresh the list inside the program automatically)

From there we continued to export each group of elements and assigned the same coordinate points for all objects so that they would snap back to together in there original positions.

Team Blog

2009-05-01T18:33:00.008+10:00

Added to our team blog:

Project progress (studio discussion with Jeremy and Graham, team discussion)
Project progress (new design created in 3dsmax)
Project progress (tectures assigned to model using 3dsmax)
Week 7 Studio Class
Team Correspondence

Wiki

2009-05-01T18:33:00.003+10:00

Added to our class wiki:

brief descriptions for communication, records and culture
Amended my previous additions to this weeks collaboration topics

Week 7 Studio Class

2009-05-01T18:33:00.001+10:00

Dr John Barton from City Futures Research Centre UNSW was this weeks guest speaker. I have previously attended one of Jack's lectures before on Urbans development, and found the topics and innovations amazing and quite complex.

He started off explaining what he does for a living and how he's involved in the project UrbanIT Project 2030. Which is a project of collaboration involving many professionals inthe field of design and urban planning to develop and propose what should or could be constructed in the city of sydney in the next few decades.

He's focus was sydney's CBD and its adjacent suburbs. Jack displayed a video he presented in this project of a 3d model of sydney's cityscape and interactive sections of the city that could be built. It was a very cool video and he was also saying that it got some media coverage a few years ago.

The lecture went on to explain the techniques and information available to designers and planners on how digital frameworks support urban development. The players involved in these new systems:

local council
dept. of planning
developers
architects
etc.

All of these actors have to combine every amount of information; plans, data sets, research and ideas to successfully create a structure for urban design.

Their every involvement acts to facilitate the overall goal to create a cohesive and highly functional city. This in turn improves its use as a living environment and pushes for buildings to use other external factors in its design. A concept that will probably be more apparent in the years to come, as all this information may be one day systemised and easy accessible to those who need it.

Team Blog

2009-04-28T15:57:00.001+10:00

Added to our team blog:

Week 6 Studio Class
Project Progress
Progress Report
Project Progress - ArchiCAD Design Developments
Team Meeting

Team Meeting

2009-04-28T15:55:00.001+10:00

We managed to gather together in Studio Class for a much needed team meeting. As many us, are unable to get together face to face during the week. A group meeting was a great time for to us to outline some very important project issues. We’re lagging behind schedule because of some significant changes to the design and the environment.
Gordon and I were able to debate and discuss the issue of our design location. The process of using Google earth maps and height maps to model a life like environment in London’s central business district is coming along but after much discussion and research. We’ve decided as a group to relocate the design from Hyde Park to Regents Park. Only a few kilometers away, but a more meaningful and defining landscape in highlighting our design.

Fig 1.) Regents Park map obtained from Google Earth

The surrounding landscape elements in Regents Park suit the Cenotaph more appropriately and certain concepts such as:

A specified circular, flat plane already exists in the centre of Regents park fro the placement of our building

This circular space is conveniently large enough to fit our model. We’ve measured an estimated the size using Google earth and our floor plans

A lake contours around the west side of the building, accentuating a visual landscape at the top platforms of the Cenotaph. A much more defining water feature to our previous site

The natural plant life around the site/park contrast with the large scale Cenotaph and outer cityscape

The surrounding perimeter of buildings allows for a more urban look and also permits the viewing of these buildings inside of the Crysis skybox. The Hyde park buildings were so far and expanse that it was unable for viewing at the top of the Cenotaph

The roads surrounding the park outline the boundaries of our site and accentuate the difference contrast from cityscape to parkland and memorial

All these factors pushed us to progress working on the new site. Gordon and I discussed what sort of changes had to be made and he explained that the process would be an easy transaction as we already know what to do. It’s just a matter of repeating the things we’ve learnt to this new site. We’ve got an existing map of the new park and the site is smaller to work with, hopefully enabling us to further detail and push for greater design.

What need’s to be done now is researching natural environment models, completing the site, modeling the surrounding building and roads, finding tutorials to create lights inside of crisis and implementing our finished model into the environment inside of Crysis.

Week 6 Studio Class

2009-04-28T15:54:00.001+10:00

This weeks guest speaker was from UNSW School of Psychology. Tom Denson's talk explored the psychology of teams and how a group dynamic functions differently to that of individual work.
Tom gave us references to previous psychologists works and experiments in social psychology. He compared these social experiments to the everyday workplace and explained that group collaboration has their advantages as well as their disadvantages.

He illustrated how human behaviour is influenced by a majority and those around us. Conformity and public compliance is an overwhelming facet in human behaviour. The mentality to comply when pressured in a group is a very strong yet natural practice.
I found the talk very stimulating and relatable. Everyone has experienced a time when they've had to make a public decision within a group. Whether they have the ability to fight for what they believe is the right solution, or to "go with the flow" and support the group ideal is something everyone deals with diversely.

I thought Tom's presentation was successful in relating to our current group assignments and found the class entralled during his lecture on what they believe was key to social influence in the workplace. Group decision making and the process for efficient team work is fundamental to the outcomes we wish to achieve in this course and Tom Denson gave us a glimpse of what part of that is influenced by human psychology.

Team Blog

2009-04-22T22:00:00.001+10:00

I added to the Team Urbans blog. Revised our team weaknesses and strengths and added a new post "Team Fabrication".
The team fabrication outlines the expected level of resolution that our environment will reach, and detailing individual tasks that need to completed. A strategic plan for the projects progress.
A schedule of designated tasks for each member and the outcomes and goals we hope to achieve.

Webpaint

2009-04-22T21:59:00.000+10:00

Updated my week 5 sources, 'communication' and 'culture' to webpaint.
Also edited my last topic additions, 'records' and 'context' on webpaint.
Added all references to webpaint.

Wiki Research

2009-04-21T15:33:00.001+10:00

I decided to research and analyse wikipedia's web page on 'Personal computer game'. The topic I have chosen relates to our course as we are using a computer game engine to model our designs.

I had originally typed in wikipedia's search engine toolbar "computer game", but it then automatically redirected me to 'personal computer game.'
I searched again in simplier words; 'computer' and 'gaming' and found that computer games are categorised in various forms. That being, video games - games using a console; arcade games and in our case personal computer game - games using a personal computer.

Through quick category links highlighted in blue and wikipedia's search criteria webpage. Wikipedia illustrated how it wanted users to easily specify what exactly they wanted to search.

I quickly decided to analyse "personal computer game" as we are using PC's instead of consoles in this course.

My first impression of the webpage was the simple layout onto which the information was setup.
There is a permanent column of links, search toolbar and language menus on the left hand side of the page that continues to reside, wherever you navigate through the wikipedia website. Enabling a user to easily direct themselves throughout the website.

The design of the page is very simple, using a white background with black text to detail the written information. No other advertisements and colours are used except in pictures, so to keep the website less confusing and straightforward.

Above the heading 'Personal computer game', there are tabs that users can click that direct them to other features of this webpage.

Fig 1.) Webpage tab sections

'article' - the main content of information

'discussion board' - where people can add there thoughts on the topic in a forum like message board

'edit this page' - a sandbox where users can add and edit information to the main webpage

'history' - a statistical list of who edited what on this page and at what time they revised any information or comments

All of these options facilitate users to systematically add to the webpage. Allowing the constant collaborative process to function.

The first section of information below the heading is a quick definition and synopsis of the topic and below it, is table of contents. This table of contents catalogs all the information into a hierachy of data and also acts as a link to jump directly to that specified section of of the page.

Fig 2.) Wikipedia content box

The main body of text is broken up into chronological sections that are defined by easy to read content headings and subheadings. These are formatted with different font settings such as bold and various font sizes. Another example of how wikipedia has made it user friendly is the horizontal line that boxes certain information together and signifies a new section.

At each section of information, across from the heading, a link called '[edit]' directs you to the edit page where one can collaboratively insert there added information or if they wish to modify the existing information.

Fig 2.) Wikipedia edit link and text format

Throughout the whole webpage. Blue hyperlinks are used to direct readers to that specific words own webpage in wikipedia. A very handy tool to allow for that particular word to be researched and understood.

At the bottom of the webpage a section called 'References' outlines a list of what information was sourced from elsewhere, who it was sourced from and at what date was it retrieved. The references are linked to citations all throughout the written text using synchronised number indentations. An important feature of any website, in particular one that uses a collaborative information database. Ensuring references improve the quality of information and protect people from plagiarism.
This webpage from Wikipedia successfully illustrates how a collaborative wiki works and how the simple design elements function. The consistency of the website allows for users to efficiently understand how every webpage works and how each reader can contribute to the use of the website.

References

Wikipedia 2009, Wikipedia Foundation Inc., U.S., accessed 20 April 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer_game#cite_note-34

Project Progress

2009-04-21T14:07:00.001+10:00

Our project the cenotaph is coming along nicely but there are a few details in the design our group are still unsure of. Alot of the interior plans we have available are very unclear and do not showcase very much imformation. Along with some other items such as the top surrounding viewing platfrom and the cut away angles in the main walls.

We have only a few pictures and 3 plan sections of Boullee's work of the Cenotaph and we hope to gather more information from UNSW library or other libraries to enable us to progress in our design.

On thursay 17/04/09 I investigated to see if i could locate more information in books of Boullee's work on the Cenotaph. I managed to borrow 2 books, 1 from UNSW library and 1 from COFA library:

Etienne-Louis Boullee 1728-1799 Theoretician of Revolutionary Architecture by Jean Marie Perouse de Maontclos
Boullee by

Unfortunately the book by Perouse de Maontclos was all in French, but luckily my Dad is fluent and so was able to help out. Both books had some additional information and pictures of the Cenotaph but the information wasn't as plentiful as I had hoped. We're still pleased to have gathered some extra information of the Cenotaph as it will all help in understanding the architects original context of the project.

I was able to find 2 great pictures of the Cenotaph that someone had modelled in a program off the internet. The source didnt have any further information of the building but the pictures were great persepective shots, which helped myself and Jo work out some design problems in modelling it up in ArchiCAD.

Project Progress

2009-04-21T14:06:00.002+10:00

Further developmemt of the design in ArchiCAD. Using the preliminary design we are now refining certain elements of the building in particular the levels, walls and the entrance.

Team Meeting & Team Blog

2009-04-21T14:06:00.001+10:00

We had a team meeting on 12pm Wednesday 15/04/09 at Red centre to discuss tasks and project progression. We met in Lab 2 and outlined what had to be done by each team member during today and this following week. We split up all the work load and worked out how we were going to communicate with Gordon what neccessary files and duties he also had to do.
After a quick meeting we went about using this time together to work on the project in the labs.

Added to team Blog

Collaboration Topics - Culture & Communication

2009-04-15T13:47:00.001+10:00

CULTURE

"A welsh cultural theorist and a professor at Cambridge University by the name of Raymond Williams famously described culture as 'one of the two or three most complicated words in the english language' (Williams 1979, p.76)" (Milner & Browitt 2002, p.2).

In his book Keywords, Williams discussed the originality of the word culture as the tending or cultivation of something, in particular animals or crops.

"In his first major work, 'Culture & Society', he drew attention to four important kinds of meaning that attach to the word; 'an individual habit of mind; the state of intellectual development of a whole society; the arts; and the whole way of life of a group or people' (Williams 1963, p.16)." (Milner & Browitt 2002, p.2)

"Culture as referring to that entire range of institutions, artefacts and practices that make up our symbolic universe. In one or another of its meanings, the term will thus embrace: art, religion, science and sport, education and leisure. By convention however, it does not embrace the range of activities normally deemed either economic or political" (Milner & Browitt 2002, p.5).

Culture can be through viewed various definitions and is something everyone is affiliated with in all aspects of their lives. It is an essential element in any societies past or present and the true meaning of the word is constantly evolving and overlapping into relation with one another.

Reference

Milner, A & Browitt, J 2002, Contemporary Cultural Theory, 3rd edn, Allen & Unwin, Sydney

COMMUNICATION

"The study of the transfer of meaning" (Eunson 2007, p.4)

"Communication, as applied to human interaction includes:

body language or non-verbal communication
public speaking & presentation skills
jounalism or writing for the mass media
graphic coummunication
writing documents
website text, design
public relations
electronic messages" (Eunson 2007, p.2)

There has to be a clear separation of two very different meanings of communication and communications the plural.

"Communications (plural) as distinct from communication usually relates to the physics and mechanics of telecommunications systems such as telephone networks, satellites and the internet. A general definition gor these types of communications might be the study of the transfer of data" (Eunson 2007, p.5).

"The difference between singular and the plural usages of communication is to think of the plural encompassing the singular - that is, mechanical transmission enables the transfer of meaning or content" (Eunson 2007, p.5).

"The different types of communication can be represented in such categories:

intrapersonnel - communication that takes place within one person (thoughts, behaviour patterns, perceptions, accurate/distorted thinking, conscious/unconscious thinking, self-talk, affirmations)

interpersonal - communication that takes place between two people

group/team - communication that takes place between members of a work group, team or department, involving more than two people

workplace/organisational - communication that takes place among the group of groups that is an organisation or workplace

public/media - communication from inside the organisation to the outside world using public communication or public relations methods, and coming back the other way, the attention paid to the organisation by the media

intercultural - communication that takes place between people from different cultural/ethnic/religious/racial/national groups" (Eunson 2007, p.3-4).

Reference

Eunson, B 2007, Communication in the Workplace, John Wiley & Sons, Sydney

Week 5 Studio Class

2009-04-15T13:19:00.000+10:00

This weeks guest speaker was from Sosa labs. Neil Brown came and spoke about the way in which people in his field of work collaborate. An interesting and insightful presentation, as alot of his concepts and methods of communicating during a working project are quite similar to which our class and in particular our group is going through and researching.

Neil was saying that he works with the software Linux and is a programmer. He explained that Linux is a software much like windows, but a integral component of how it works is that it is constantly developing and evolving through the process of collaboration. Users inform programmers like Neil about problems and bugs and hence a process of fixing problems begins. Neil is part of a worldwide collaborative effort in running Linux.

Because Neil has to interface with people around the world whilst integrating with customers/users of Linx, most of the tools he uses to collaborate are predominately email, forums and other internet based communication programs. A unique system of collaboration not commonly used in the mainstream workplace. We're more known to collaborate face to face and discuss issues in team meetings rather than with short messages and bulletin boards.

I found the lecture quite motivating as our group has a unique obstacle in collaborating across from Perth to Sydney. We've found it difificult to exchange ideas and information with each other, but after Neils presentation its evident that professional businesses do communicate and manage in such schemes.

Strengths & Weaknesses & Team Logo

2009-04-09T12:20:00.001+10:00

Posted on our Team Journals 2 strengths, and 2 weaknesses of our Draft Fabrication as well as our class members.

I also designed a team logo in photoshop and uploaded it to our team blog

Wiki

2009-04-09T12:12:00.000+10:00

Allan gave me administrator rights to Webpaint.

I added to the class webpaint wiki. Posting the information gathered on my collaboration topics records and context.

Allan and I worked out a system for our class mates to add their references. We added a new reference page under "Topics of Collaboration" and posted both our references.

Week 4 Presentations

2009-04-09T11:00:00.000+10:00

In studio today guest speaker Michael Brand came and lectured on the issues of conflict resolution in the workplace. He ouline the various legal concepts and issues regarding the management of facing conflict in the workplace.

Second half of class was group presentations. Each group presented their first draft fabrication. Their were class discussions after each presentation and we were introduced to every teams concepts and progress learning the CryEngine.

Our team Urbans presented well and with use of images and videos, we were able to illustrate our initial stages of development and present of intentions for future progress.

Jeremy, Graham and Stephen Peter gave us feedback on our first fabrication and explained what was necessary for team urbans to develop in the next stages. We received some positive feedback and hope to heed their advice on certain ideas and strategies.

Assignment 1 Collaboration

2009-04-01T21:17:00.000+11:00

ArchiCAD modelling - Developing the building inside the ArchiCAD engine. Particular time and effort was out into created the sphere. Two solid dome were created and mirrored to obtain this large sphere solid.

3dsmax software was used to import into the CryEngine. A SDK plug-in was used to import the solids into crysis.

Virtual Worlds; Second Life, Sony at Home

2009-04-01T21:15:00.004+11:00

Second life and Sony at home are virtual 3d gaming worlds where users create avatars in which they can interact with other avatars. One can immerse themselves in a world where they can chat, play games, build spaces, and find communities and express individual ideas globally.

These immersive virtual spaces have penetrated mainstream society and for those who have access to a computer, using these virtual settings are particularly effective in replacing and extending the abilities of modern real-time collaboration systems.

This concept of virtuality in both these two programs, encourage the exploration of ideas through simulated communication. As they relate to a new digital experience, the shared virtual experience puts all users on an equal playing field. Race, sex, age and creeds are left behind for any variety of interactive collaboration to develop.

They are in fact, social systems, where any sort of interaction can occur. These networks allow for virtual relationships and encourage communication through IM chatting and VoIP.
Second Life and Sony at Home interactions can replace real meetings and collaboration to some extent. Besides benefits such as cost and time saving, there is another very important advantage. Being a public space creates opportunity for a wider range of participation and hence ideas. Innovative and additional solutions can result simply because of more participants.

What these programs lack however is its use in collaborating files and transferring of documents, fundamental in business collaboration. But their main advantage is there ability to enable online collaboration in forms of conferences, training and meetings. Collaborating simultaneously, that’s the key concept of such programs as SL and Playstation at Home.
Creating content, consuming content and communicating all at the same time. Mirroring how people like to interact and exchange ideas in the real world.

Fig 1.) Second Life

Fig 2.) Playstation at Home

Additional examples of Virtual Worlds:

The Sims
World of Warcraft
Handipoints
Nmc Virtual Worlds
Project Wonderland
CreativeVR

Assignment 1 Contributions

2009-04-01T21:15:00.003+11:00

In the process of developing our Draft Fabrication Environment my contribution has been in:

Tech testings in exportation into various programs
Collaborative design inputs in the dimensioning of our building inside ArchCad
Exporting building from ArchCad to 3dsmax
Working out how to export into CryEngine using a STK plug-in
Modifying design in 3dsmax - particularly grouping objects and components and also boolean unwanted objects in 3dsmax
Updating team blog as well as transferring content into new blog program "Blogger"
Writing 600 word description of our environment
Capturing Images highligjhting aspects of Draft Fabrication.

Team Meeting and Correspondence

2009-04-01T21:15:00.001+11:00

Working out how we would split up the workload and designating roles for all team members was covered in a team meeting today. We meet up in labs and made a plan on the processess needed to accomplish before thursday. Made sure we discussed through emails and SMS with Gordon over in Perth what our intentions were and how we were going to transfer information, files and ideas to him.

Class Wiki & Team Blog

2009-03-31T20:36:00.000+11:00

Joined our class wiki and added to team blog

Blog Change

2009-03-31T20:00:00.000+11:00

After a team discussion. We decided to change our individual and team blogs. Tumblr our previous blogger did not unable us to create a link feature on the side of our blogs and was not very user friendly. My individual blog was also Tumblr and I have also decided to swap blog's in favour of blogger.com. I have transferred all information to my current blog today http://michaelbaoarch1392.blogspot.com/

8 Areas of Inquiry

2009-03-31T19:28:00.000+11:00

To realise our project "Cenotaph" in the CryEngine. Our team must rigorously evaluate particular components and to tests if they are viable for future progress of the project.

Such inquiries as:

Can Crysis materials be punctured or hollowed to allow for the designs main feature holes in the roof be successful in illustrating a daytime skyline.
Constructing large scale designs in Crysis. The main feature of the building is a 147m diameter sphere.
Can we export from ArchiCAD to CryEngine.
Can we export from Microstation to CryEngine
Can we export from 3dsMax to CryEngine
Can we export from SketchUp to CryEngine
Can we export from Revit to CryEngine
Is it possible for lights to penetrate through materials to give that effect of stars in the roof?

Presenting Individual Unbuilt Architectures

2009-03-31T18:02:00.000+11:00

In our week 2 studio class we gathered in our teams and discussed and presented our individual ideas on unbuilt architecture. The meeting consisted of each member presenting their own research and why they thought it would be favourable to use in the project. Our discussions outlined the advantages and disadvantages of particular projects and if they were feasible in crysis and if they has potential for a great project.

After each case was summed up, we has settled on 2 projects. Étienne-Louis Boullée's memorial to Issac Newton the "Cenotaph" and Vladimir Tatlin's Tatlin's Tower.

Fig1.) Tatlin's Tower

Fig 2.) Memorial to Issac Newton the "Cenotaph"

After a consultation with tutors Jeremy and Graham, they gave us encouragement to pursue developing the memorial to Issac Newton. We discussed with them the possibilities of building such a large structure in crysis and the elements of shadow, lighting and enclosure. The benefits and key concepts of the Cenotaph were strong and the opportunity to build such an interesting design would incaptulate the investigation into virtual construction. We finally decided it was the right choice and that with Crysis we could take advantage its high power modelling capabilities, to construct an impressive structure as well as an environment.

Collaboration Topics - Records & Context

2009-03-31T17:00:00.000+11:00

RECORDS

To preserve the memory of, by committing to writing, to printing, to inscription, or the like; to make note of; to write or enter in a book or on parchment, for the purpose of preserving authentic evidence of; to register; to enroll; as, to record the proceedings of a court; to record historical events.

"The definition of record in the Australian Standard AS 4390-1996 reads:

'...recorded information, in any form, including data in computer systems, created or received and maintained by an organisation or person in the transaction of business or the conduct of affairs and kept as evidence of such activity' (Standards Australia 1996 pt.1 p.7, 4.21)" (Kennedy & Schauder 1998, p.5).

"Records may be in any form for example:

paper, microfilm or electronic

documents or files, maps, plans, drawings, photographs etc.

data from business systems, word processed documents, spreadsheets, electronic mail messages, digital images

audio or video

handwritten documents

loosely structured records such as correspondence or highly structured records such as forms" (Kennedy & Schauder 1998, p.5,6).

"Records can be categorised in a number of different ways. Commonly recognised categories include:

Administrative records - procedures documentation, forms and correspondence. Eg. staff manuals, rosters, logging of property maintenance jobs etc.

Accounting records - reports, forms and related customer billing records

Project records - correspondence, notes, project development documentation

Case files - client records, personnel records, insurance, contacts etc" (Kennedy & Schauder 1998, p.6).

Reference

Kennedy, J & Schauder, C 1998, Records Management, Addison Wesley Longman Australia Pty Ltd, South Melbourne.

CONTEXT

"Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity. An entity is a person, place, or object that is considered relevant to the interaction between a user and an application, including the user and applications themselves" (Dey 2001 p.3).

"Context is the environment or situation" (Dey 2001 p.3).

"Adam Schilit claims that the important aspects of context are: where you are, who you are with, and what resources are nearby" (Dey 2001 p.3).

"J. Pascoe defines context to be the subset of physical and conceptual states of interest to a particular entity" (Dey 2001 p.3).

"Context is all about the whole situation relevant to an application and its set of users. We cannot enumerate which aspects of all situations are important, as this will change from situation to situation" (Dey 2001 p.3).

"If a piece of information can be used to characterize the situation of a participant in an interaction, then that information is context" (Dey 2001 p.4).

Reference

Dey, A.K 2001, 'Understand and Using Context', Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, vol. 5, no. 1, February, pp.4-7.

Week 1

2009-03-31T14:48:00.000+11:00

Introduction

12th March - Digital Collaboratoin Studio class number one, consisted of allocating teams and introducing the assignment.
Our first meeting as group meant we had to decide on a collaborative team name.
We came up with team URBANS!
The team members are:

Myself

Gordan Davies

Joanne Vella

Rebecca Pui Pui Yeung

During our meeting we've found that one of our members resides in Perth. Gordan is orignally from Perth and moved to Sydney to complete Architectural Computing at UNSW. He currently works for a mining company in Perth and now resides there also. He travels to uni every Thursday for Arch1392 Studio and then flys back home the very same night. The difficulty in face to face group meetings will be an obstacle for all of us, but we will strive to manage our collaborative skills and communicate our processes electronically over the internet.

In Depth Basic Tutorial

Worked through all the Crysis tutorials from the Incrysis website.

http://incrysis.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=11847&p=1

Fig 1.) M1

Fig 2.) Helicopter

Fig 3.) In game

Fig 4.) Flow Graph

Fig 5.) Solids

Fig 6.) Flatten Terrain

Fig 7.) M2

Fig 8.) Adding AI

Fig 9.) Roads

Fig 10.) Prefab

Fig 11.) Placing guardhouse on a terrain

Fig 12.) Voxels Cave

Fig 13.) Time of Day

Fig 14.) Voxels

Unbuilt Architecture Research

1.) The 7th Proposal by John Joseph

The 7th Proposal, an innovative, unsolicited design for the World Trade Center Complex, is being offered as an alternative to the proposals recently submitted in New York City. John Joseph Teressi, a visionary architectural designer residing in Los Angeles, believes the entire World Trade Center site should be a memorial and “an affirmation of the human spirit’s ability to rise, through tragedy, to a higher level. At the same time, of course, the site must be economically feasible and provide for office space and residential and commercial activities.”
The 7th Proposal’s World Trade Center site consists of: Victory Plaza with three towers on a 7-story commercial and residential triangular base; Freedom Plaza, an office, commercial and hotel complex; Rally Center -Children’s Exposition and Creativity Center; the Memorial Museum and Chapel of Wings, plus a design for the Marriott Hotel. The footprints of the Twin Towers are lakes, connected by a Memorial Bridge, which contains an atrium and botanical gardens. Hovering ten feet above the lakes are stained-glass rings that send rainbows of light over the cascading water. Parkland includes a great variety of flowers and trees with an amphitheatre, and a Maze of Memories with a large globe fountain, surrounded by a bronze Ring of Names.
The 7th Proposal was conceived when Teressi read about the public rejection of the six original proposals. He began to envision a site which would simultaneously honor those lost and provide an inspiration for future generations. “Buildings sculpt space in very specific ways, and people resonate to that fact much more than we realize.

2.) Underwater Archaeological Museum by Jacques Rougerie

French architect Jacques Rougerie's underwater archealogical museum of alexandria in Egypt.
The concepts of underwater and surface inside water can be accentuated beautifully using crysis. The modelling engine allows for visually appealing realistic water. Something unusual and unseen in reality and our modern day architecture.