This module requires that students use their previous prop and environment art workflow methodologies to create a small diorama to demonstrate worlding building based on real world, concept art and/or fictional universes as reference while also ensuring that it is suitable for video game implementation.



Students will research and consider the following skills / areas:

Preproduction/research

Asset creation

Attention to detail

Storytelling/worldbuilding

In-engine implementation

Complementary skills which could include VFX, Animation

Lighting and presentation

Alternative asset pipelines

Assessment Component 1 - (Learning Outcomes 1,2,3)

Project Artifact weighted at 80% consisting of:

You will create or be given a brief to create a small diorama to demonstrate visual storytelling and worlding building based on real world, concept art and/or fictional universes reference. The diorama will be completed using advanced techniques including but not limited to; the 3D asset pipeline, material creation, attention to minor details, in engine implementation, optimisation, storytelling/worldbuilding.



Assessment Component 2:

Reflective Log weighted at 20% consisting of:

You are expected to keep a record of development for the assessment. Your development log should include discussions on the development methods and techniques used with direct reference to your own work. This will also include a final reflection summarising the production process and critically evaluates the final piece.

1x 1hr Theory Lecture

1x 2hr Tutorial

1x 3hr Workshop

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the underlying concepts and principles related to world-building, storytelling, and 3D asset creation.

University Learning Outcome

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Evaluate and interpret concepts and principles related to visual storytelling and demonstrate the ability to select appropriate approaches to solving problems related to the creation of a small environment in the form of a diorama.

University Learning Outcome

Analysis & Problem Solving

3. Implement industry standard workflows and skills within a structured and managed environment to improve the quality of the final project artefact, including attention to minor details, in-engine implementation, optimisation, and material creation.

University Learning Outcome

Application

4. Demonstrate qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment and/or further study, such as the ability to effectively communicate and reflect on the development process, maintain a development log, and produce a final report summarising the production process and critically evaluating the final project artefact.

University Learning Outcome

Reflection

Unreal Engine

Autodesk 3D Modelling Programs

ZBrush

Houdini

Marvellous Designer

Substance Suite

Adobe Photoshop

Video Editing Software

Wacom Tablets

Digital Academy Forum

Digital Academy Upload System

Freeman, M (2017), The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photographs, ISBN: 9781781574553

Harris, D, (2022), Making Videogames: The Art of Creating Digital Worlds Hardcover, ISBN-10 050002314X

Johansen Quijano, (2019) The Composition of Video Games: Narrative, Aesthetics, Rhetoric and Play (Studies in Gaming), ISBN-10 1476673934

Amy M. Green, (2017) Storytelling in Video Games: The Art of the Digital Narrative (Studies in Gaming), ISBN-10 9781476668765

This module covers the skills to produce a small-scale environment piece in the form of a diorama. You will learn to model and texture a variety of models/props for an in-engine scene which demonstrates a sense of worldbuilding and artistic direction.