Creating WC 4 movie style effects... how hard !?

B

Bapman

Spaceman
Was just tweaking with 3DS MAX and MAYA and suddenly it hit me.
The game is over 10 years old... and so are effects and CGI [regardless how great they look evern now] used in them.
Sssooo how hard IS it to create that quality effects nowadays but a normal guy !?
Let's say a fan like me or any other !?
PLUS
Has anyone managed to get their hands on the original models or animations files used for the effects in WC 4 videos !?
Just wondering... 'cause if we could get those... a fan WC 3 and 4 movie could have a much more ambitous setting.

Well... was just wondering so decided to post my thoughts.
 
well.. difficult is relative.


to create similar effects as those used in WCIII and IV would be easier today than it was when they were originally concieved of, however creating 3d graphics and effects has and never will be a matter of ease. And to produce effects like those in 2006 you'd be taking a rather large step back, so from an animator's perspective, it'd be more sensible to go with currently adapted standards.

and you are going to be hard pressed to find someone capable of doing so who is not fully engrossed in his own very lucrative career.


That said, there ARE a few wonderful people working on very impressive projects with their own blood sweat and tears. I suggest you look to the projects sections of this forum to see what can be and is being done.
 
Jet engines have been around for sixty years, but that doesn't mean we can all build our own jet fighters.

The time makes the process easier in terms of what a computer does... but the level of artistry remains the same whether the scene can be generated in thirty seconds on a cheap laptop or several days on a dedicated rendering machine. There's certainly a community of people who do WC4-quality (and well beyond) CGI cutscenes as a hobby... but it isn't something that modern software makes easy for everyone. You need to learn the art first.
 
I know I need to... that's why I was asking for...
Where can one learn about these... I mean if I had already learned the art then I wont need to ask how to do it.

I dont have luxury of going to any school or any place where I can learn it... so I have rely on online lessons and guides.

I mean I know the basic modelling and rough animation BUT I wanted to learn to do the higher things but I cant seem to find any lessons on them without paying 100$.
PLUS
To make matters worse... I can't learn from books... yeah its some problem I have I need to see how things to learn them... as in I got a video on how to use 3DS MAX n MAYA and that's I learned them.
I had a book on MAYA before and it was totally useless for me.
But all of these work on the basic levels. I needed lessons and instructions on advanced stuff.
and that's what I was wondering whether ppl who do them have like their ideas, styles and methods posted anywhere for ppl to see and learn.
 
I strongly suggest going to an animation school as it's the best way to fuse both the technical and artistic aspects of 3D animation together, as you mentioned, learning by doing things the right way... you also need to get a good grasp of all the basics - and then specialise in the discipline you're interested in.

If it is the time factor of full-time study which you cannot spare - then it's probably time for a reality check. Modelling, texturing, rigging, lighting, effects, animating, compositing etc. are all very labour-intensive tasks, even with the latest tools - just look at the credits of any animated movie and the size of the teams involved.

A relatively simple showreel like this is worth at least two months' full time work for one person.

How do I know? Been there, done that, couldn't keep up...
 
The sad truth is that there is no easy way to learn to do any of this stuff.. unless you excel at self-learning, school is really your only option.
 
Bapman, Both NinjaLA and Mincemeat are both correct...learning 3d for the "normal" guy is a long and difficult process. Yes 10+ years may have passed but like Loaf mentioned, the processes and tools may have become refined but it still takes the same amount of skill and dedication. You mentioned you have both Maya and 3d Studio Max...both programs are excellent choices for your 3d needs. My suggestion would be to select one and dedicate yourself to learning that one. Splitting between two will just make it more difficult for yourself initially. Learn one program until you're really comfortable with it and then consider learning the other.

The next step is start teaching yourself (This assuming you don't go to school somewhere to learn 3d), there are numerous wonderful tutorials on the web on how to do just about anything in 3d MAX. You can google 3d MAX tutorials and find dozens of great, well-written, step-by-step tutorials. I suggest you go and start doing a few of the basic ones. They might not be tutorials on how to design super neat spaceships and things that you want to do right now but they'll show you how things work and give you an understanding that forms the foundation of the neat stuff you want to get to. I will say this though, I "taught" myself 3d using this method and I know that it's clearly not as effecive as going to a university and learning there. There are still several things that I don't grasp about 3d that I really should...basic core things. So there's my advice, take it for what it's worth.
 
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