Neo-Tokyo: Exponential Reality - Time Locked Garden

Specs: 3 X 3 M - 2048 X 2048 - Lumen - Nanite

GOAL - Refine production workflow of modularity kit as well as optimize in 3D asset modelling and learn technical process of texture creation through Substance Designer.

RESULT - Refined skills with topology in order to create detailed assets through minimal vertices as possible. Using what I learnt in Substance Designer to create illusion of Hard Surface details through use of Height maps, adjusting values in masks for variation in detail based on surface light as well as stencilling normals for specific details such as roof tiles and wood grains.

Back in October I took part in Artstation's Art Challenge called Neo Tokyo: Exponential Reality. Participating under Real-Time Environment Art, this was my first time taking part in the challenge as well this being my first project outside of my studies, the work is based on another Piece from another contestant, Yari Lute called Time Locked Garden. After submission I decided to put more time to my work and further polish before publishing, overall it has taken about 10 weeks to develop this project. To see my breakdown of the project during the challenge, link is provided

https://www.artstation.com/challenges/neo-tokyo/categories/185/submissions/82750

I wanted to focus on optimization for this project and so paid close attention towards my poly-count and be as frugal as possible with my modelling. I tried limiting the number of materials as possible through trim sheets I made during the competition using Substance Designer. I also took the time to familiarize myself with materials based on world position so as to avoid repetition with my tiles. As well as better understanding blueprints to enhance my modular kits.

This years theme is called Neo-Tokyo: Exponential Reality. An environmental interpretation of Tokyo, Japan set in CDProjektRed studio's Cyber Punk universe.

To save time I chose one of the concept works by artist Yari Lute, called Time-Locked Garden in the concept art category of the competition as reference to create my piece in the Real-Time Environment Art category. I also used reference during my recent trip to Japan over the summer specifically Asakusa temple as well as the temples in Kyoto especially Higashiyama Jisho-ji as inspiration to my design.

I used this competition as a chance to further refine my skills with trim sheets and my modelling skills in order to gain a better understanding of the workflow. All textures used in this project were created using Substance Designer.

Learning to create textures through node based links opened up a skillset I found to be very interesting. As well as coming up with ways to get desired results, such as generating randomized details for each section through the use of flood fill and RGBA split nodes in order to avoid repetition on the texture.

I also wanted to take the chance in further refining my ability in creating modular kits for my level as well as in creating consistency in the creation of my props using 1 trim sheet in order to optimise my level and save on data usage. Despite the use of Nanite making polycount redundant, I wanted to be mindful when it came to the number of vertices used in each model.

During development, I decided to also create a spline blueprint paired with a world position texture to avoid tiling on the wall surface.