On testbuilds

Wargarbl.

Bleargh.

Ough.

Video 3: Horizontal Banding

Video 3: Horizontal Banding

This is pretty much my whole deal when it comes to layouts. It's a simple concept, but it's not endorsed by everyone, so I figure it's worth elaborating a little upon.

A thought occurred while watching this: every instance of the word "design" should be replaced with...something. I don't know. Not design. I don't design anything, I just unfold it. Like I (and many trolls) said, I'm not really doing any work here.

Here are the pictures promised in this video:





So here's the thing about thing about the little FPS counter. My webcam is actually a Playstation Eye, for the PS3. I'm using some software to get it running on a PC, and the viewer has a little FPS counter you can't get rid of. The way I'm capturing these videos is with external programs that are basically just watching the screen where the video feedback comes in. In the first video, I was using Fraps, which is great. For the second, however, I wanted to switch back and forth from live video to shots of the PDOs, and I didn't want to have to record several different clips. So I used Camtasia Recorder and set it to watch the same spot, where I put all the stuff I was going to be using under the same 640x480 window. Problem is, Camtasia doesn't seem to like capturing live video at the proper framerate, so while the FPS counter says 30, and on my monitor, I saw 30 FPS, the video you see is only about 15. However, it jumps back to 30 when it's over the PDOs. No idea why.

Apologies again, as for some unknown reason, the music started to go horribly horribly wrong at about the 16:30 mark. I had to split the video there and continue the rest without music. Sorry, from 16:30 forward, it's just you, me, and some paper toys. I'd say it was because I was using Camtasia instead of Fraps, but I used Camtasia for the Cloud WIP video, and that worked fine for four whole hours...

Oh well.

Edit: Apologies, yet again, as I didn't realize how loud the music was in this one until after I had it uploaded. In the process of fixing the busted music, I accidentally turned up the working music in the first section. If you're actually trying to listen to me (and I have no idea why you would) it may be a little difficult.



I'm still looking for testbuilders fr the various Goblin poses, and I've got a few PDOs ready for mockup. I'll spend the rest of the weekend working on getting as much laid out as I can. I've also talked to Zen, the proprietor of FFXIDats.com who will hopefully get some of her people in on this deal. So if you want to get in on the custom texture contest, you'll have some interesting competition.



Also going to try to get Red XIII edited and laid out some time in the near future. I'd like this Goblin thing to go on in the background while business continues as usual.

Anyway, contact me if you want in on any testbuilding, want some weapon textures to play with, have any requests you'd like to make, wanna show me your knockers, whatever. I'm metaphorically open for business.



Oh and I've already claimed the Bugbear testbuild for myself. Deal with it.



nyahnyah-nyahnyah-nyah-nyah, haha-haha-ha-ha (18:10)

Testbuilders Wanted! (inquire within)

If you check regularly, make sure you don't overlook the EDITS (scroll down)

I'm not sure I made this clear yesterday, or if it's just that no one's interested, but:

I'M LOOKING FOR TESTBUILDERS

Thought I'd just make another post to re-emphasize this.
The Goblin Pack Project is probably the most labor intensive thing I've undertaken, and for the sake of time, monotony, and my overworked brain, I could really use some helping hands.


I PREFER THAT YOU BE ABLE TO:

Build on 110lb (200gsm) cardstock

Build a fairly detailed, 20cm (8in) tall model without folding

Take pictures of your work (even a cell phone camera will do)

Work at a decent pace (not as important as the previous requirements)


However, I'm not interviewing people for a job here, so if you'd like to tag along and can't access any cardstock, or don't feel you're up to the task of no-fold, or don't have a camera, don't worry. I'll take all the help I can possibly get.




Here's the plan: I'm going to be breaking Goblins down into their constituent components so that I can produce lots and lots (seriously, lots) of PDOs, which will contain each little part of a Goblin (or Moblin) in various poses and permutations. I'll be leaving the finished PDOs "texture change" open, and include all the textures you could possibly want (including some from Fleyon's Goblin Pack), so you can apply any texture to any part to create a completely customized Goblin. Mix and match parts, textures, whatever.




Thankfully, Goblinguy chose a nice scale for his original model (to which all this is an homage, of course). The model is quite detailed, but at 20cm (8in) it's not excessively difficult, which is good news as far as I'm concerned (I think it's obvious by now that I've never been one to challenge myself with tiny little models). I do want to do the Bugbear at the same scale. It's much...much larger, and about as detailed (if not moreso), but a necessary complement, I think.

As for the bit about the camera: I don't intend for you to take shots for instructions or anything, I just need to be able to see how it turned out, or where you're running into trouble. I realize it's really best if the designer testbuilds all his own stuff, but honestly, it'd take me months of working every day to get a project of this size knocked out all on my own.


So, if you're interested in helping out, please contact me by email, instant message, carrier pigeon, smoke signal, or semaphore.

email: Mr.Klownes@gmail.com
AIM: Mister Klownes
MSN: Kaizo107@hotmail.com
Yahoo: Kaizo107





EDIT:

I forgot to mention last night, please, I'd love any suggestions on which weapons to include. I'm thinking of treating this as an excuse to just do layouts for every weapon anyone could possibly want. Just post suggestions in the comments, if you like. Remember that most of the weapons have multiple textures, and the more common a mesh, the more permutations it'll satisfy. Of course, the unique weapons are always the coolest looking...but yeah, I'll probably do those anyway, just because I want to. Keep in mind as well, weapons can get pretty detailed, and though the scale isn't tiny by any means, some of the more intricate weapons could wind up pretty tough to build.


EDIT 2:



Project Goblin Pack Custom Texture Contest!

As is my usual method, I like to customize models I'm building for myself, and I thought, what with all the hype I'm trying to pack into this project, it might be fun to have a little contest. So here's the deal: I supply you with the raw materials, and you make them into something great. The pack below contains all the main model types of the release, as well as the original textures. You modify the textures, apply them to the model to get an idea of how they'll look when finished, and submit them here. The best of the lot will go into the final release as another customization option when building your own little Goblin.

As you can see above, I've already tried a bit of texture editing. Is it the same, boring, purple crap I'm always guilty of? Yes! But it's also something completely new and unique. Imagine what you could do if you actually had talent or imagination (unlike yours truly). The result could be spectacular.

So go for it already.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zwwfjummimz


Also: if you want to try customizing a weapon and don't have access to the raw goodies, shoot me and email and I'll get you set up. Just gotta promise to share the end result.




(pfffahahahahahaha)

Project Goblin Pack Tester's Zone

Alright builders, this is something of a private link. Not that anyone willing to look all the way back on the archive couldn't find it...but yeah. Point is, it's out of the way.

This is going to be our little staging area. I've sent you all the link to this page (hurr), and I'll continually update it with all necessary information, starting with the master list, and who's claimed which build.

This pack contains screenshots of all the various permutations. Use it to choose which parts you'd like to test.

http://www.mediafire.com/?fdmzrqyo0ju

As you finish up your tests, I'll post finished pictures, just for funsies. You all have my contact information, so send me emails or instant messages whenever you run into trouble, think an edit should be made, or are finished and want to get your progress posted.

I've applied a custom texture to all the models to cut down on ink consumption, but still give a good approximation of how the finished texture should look. If you're really wanting to build the model "for keeps" go ahead and download the texture pack for the custom texture contest.



MASTER LIST:
GRANDE LISTE:
LISTA GRANDE:

(If you can stand the monotony and repetition, I would love it if one person could tackle all the hands, one person all the arms, etc. There are enough bodies that everyone can take at least one. If you would rather make one complete model, that's fine. Just pick the parts from the list, and send me an email with your selection. I'll send PDOs out to individuals so as not to post a lot of extra clutter. If a part isn't listed, it's because it is so similar to another listed part as to be unnecessary to include.

I'll post the name of the individual who claimed the testbuild next to the parts they've claimed. If you really want to make one of parts already claimed, that's fine, but for the purposes of testing, I'd really rather get each one done before doing any repeats. Also I'm going to be claiming some of the more critical elements for myself, as I just can't in good conscience not build them.


Arms

2-Handed Battle - left and right - Dennis
1-Handed Battle - right - Dennis
Cast - left and right - Geberel (left) Dennis (right)
Casting - left - Dennis
Defeated - left - Nat
Dig - right - Amanda
Guard - left - Amanda
Stab - left
Swing - right - Geberel
Vanilla - left and right - Nat (right)

Bodies

Battle - Dennis
Defeated - Nat
Dig - Amanda
Guard - Denny
Stab - Vivi
Swing - Geberel
Vanilla - Kaizo

Ears

Casting - left and right
Defeated - left and right - Nat
Guard - left and right
Vanilla - left and right

Hands

Cast - right
Casting - left
Defeated - left - Nat
Swing - left and right - Geberel
Vanilla - left

Heads

Mercenary - Kaizo
Vanilla - Kaizo

Necks
(these are just rings, they need to be tested WITH heads, so wait on claiming any of these until I've got some instructions ready for building the heads.)

Casting
Defeated - Nat
Guard
Vanilla - Geberel

Packs

Mercenary - Kaizo
Steam - Kaizo
Treasure - Kaizo
Vanilla - Kaizo

Bugbear - Kaizo


(Sorry for leaving you with nothing but the boring crap. Like I said, if you really WANT to make something already claimed, that's fine. For the heads and packs, I need to make proper instructions before I even get them out to testers.)