Wouldn't it be an idea to open a pinned thread in which users could suggest things/ topics they would like to learn more about? There propably would be a huge variety of ideas and a course takes some time but it might be helpful for instructors to see if a large amount of users want to learn more about a specific topic. I for example would love to learn more about creating game assets (similar to the weapon course) or how to build an atual scene full of assets. Also a course on how to create an interior visualization and use textures and lighting to make it look as photorealistic as possible (similar to the architectual visualization course) would be awesome.
Just an idea on how the website could be improved.
jgonzalez I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool to learn how to make a fighting game? Something fast and fun like Smash Bros I mean 😄
It has everything:
You could teach us how to make one level, so the scope won't get to big (like with the FPS project). And then maybe also some lessons on how we could adjust things to add our own unique levels.
Or maybe this is a big project regardless of the amount of levels?
Anyway, could be fun 😊
ssmurfmier1985 A fighting game is something I've been trying to do in my spare time, but it's definitely tougher than it looks. Lots of quick actions combined with physics detection and animations that all need to work smoothly simultaneously. I'd really like to build a brawler type game like you mentioned. I'm fairly certain we've mentioned it a few times here and there through some CGCookie retreats so we'd be on board.
The toughest part would be building a really responsive character system, the rest is relatively easy but the meat and potatoes are the characters and if those don't feel great then it's not fun. Nonetheless it's something I'm looking into for my own personal projects as well, so if I manage to crack it then I'll definitely be doing a fighting game project for CGCookie as well.
jgonzalez Awesome! Yeah I was afraid the character response part would be challenging... Been watching lots of game animation videos lately (because that's where my passion lies) and it's really different from animating for movies. Player experience is the most important part, and also the most difficult to achieve. Let alone all the physics, responsiveness and other things that come into play when you press the button. Still, I'll be rooting for you to succeed 😄
Some inspirational videos, these are from an experienced game animator who is analyzing some of the game animation in Smash Bros:
In any case they're fun to watch 😊
ssmurfmier1985 It's also something I'd probably rely heavily on Wayne to help with on the animation side. Those are definitely some great resources you linked to. Making me want to really dig deep into fighting game mechanics now, hah! I've been working on a boxing game for the past year on and off but I may restart the process with a fresh approach and look into making a really responsive fighting system. I have some great fighting animations I can use, it's mostly about timing. As the videos mention, the movements are incredibly fast, so I'll need to juggle that with impact detection and inputs.
jgonzalez Glad I could inspire you! they made me excited too, that's why I brought it up 😄
I'm working towards going to iAnimate in two years or so and doing the Game Animation Workshops there (which will take at least another year), so that's far away still, but if by then you haven't been able to make a brawler game I'll be happy to help out with the animation side of things 😊
As for your boxing game, the same guy made a video anylizing the animation in 'punch out', which is a boxing game 😬
I would like a course on motion capture in blender. Something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QqIJbtE45A.
But I would like it if it could be full body motion capture rather than just face.
It would be helpful if the instructors can go through the process step by step.
How about a course on how to assemble a portfolio as told from the viewpoint of a hiring manager, possibly combined with a livestream where the pros go through one or two sample portfolios they really liked from some of the learners here?
I would love to have some more courses that are about creating an entire scene from scratch. The "How to model X" and "How to texture X" courses are nice, but I would personally have a course about the workflow for making a nature scene from scratch, or making a city scene from scratch, than about how to make one thing, because while the other courses are helpful and teach me a lot, I don't end up with a good-looking render in the end, and I end up having to find more courses to complete the shading, lighting, and rendering.
jgonzalez This probably is an animation heavy request again... and a huge amount of work... but I would really really like to learn how to create an awesome or even epic Boss Fight!
I want to learn everything from start to finish: Mechanim animation setup, C# coding (enhanced with Unity's visual scripting when it gets here?), UI design, creating a health system, how to use your environment in an interactive way (climbing? wall running? hiding?), useful shaders (shield?), special effects (particle systems?), adding music and sound effects, cinematic intro with Timeline & Cinemachine (like when you walk into a room, suddenly the door closes behind you, you look back startled, and then you spot this huge bad ass enemy boss, yikes! ancient example from Zelda Ocarina of Time, this one made a huge impression on me when I was young), special attacks, everything I'm forgetting (which is probably a lot), etc.
Please? 😇
I will gladly and instantly step over my coding fear and dive headfirst into learning C# if that means I get to learn from you how to create such an awesome boss fight! I mean, how cool is that??! 🤘🏻😎🔥
Totally worth it!
PS. with some optimization this awesome creature could be our boss, and this fellow could be our hero!
ssmurfmier1985 Something like that would be a course on it's own. Would be fun to tackle something like that, definitely would require plenty of animations. The most time consuming aspects would be getting characters like that game ready, which could probably be courses on their own as well. Retopology, texturing, rigging, animating then finally bringing it into Unity for use with Mecanim and game logic. It would definitely bring together a lot of concepts within game development.
aallworknoplay As in furniture/houses? Architecture is something we've discussed a few times, but we've been hesitant to get into. I would like to have a course or two on the subject, although the biggest obstacle is getting the assets made.
I haven't read all the back posts, but having done the grass and plant courses I'd like a tree course. One that works through the Sapling Generator and adds modeled twigs and leaves.
REQUEST:
I was wondering if we could see a low poly tutorial sometime in the future, cause I cant seem to find any online...
jgonzalez hi Jonathan, will you at some point do a course or a livestream series about the Visual Effect Graph? Because these examples look amazing! 😄
jgonzalez I also want to put in an official request for a:
Visual Scripting Game Programming Bootcamp
(everything that's in the Game Programming Bootcamp, but then done with Visual Scripting)
Whether it's with Bolt or Unitys own Visual Scripting system, I really really want to see this as a course. And this one can't come soon enough imo!!
After seeing what I saw in yesterday's stream, I think you can achieve almost anything with Visual Scripting (or certainly a lot of the things I want to do with it!), and the visual approach makes it perfect for Game Artist type of people who don't want to write code, but who still want to make games. It's so much easier to understand the logic, I love it!
I also think it could be a fast and amazing tool for prototyping stuff, which would also appeal to people who prefer traditional coding for the most part.
I'm hoping really really hard you'll do this course 😇🙏🏻
ssmurfmier1985 Funny you mention that as I've been talking with the developer on using Bolt for more visual scripting content in the future. I could definitely do a visual scripting bootcamp. My only concern is that I'd be using Bolt, so the project files would require members to purchase Bolt. If that's not an issue then I can definitely get that made. Unity's visual scripting will probably be out later this year, but as with a lot of their new tools they usually start off lacking then slowly get better over time. Bolt is fairly well made across the board.
jgonzalez For me that's not an issue, I would pay double!! Don't know about the other members of course... on the other hand you guys also have courses on Substance, which is also a paid program, so I see some possibilities here 😉 and there were some people yesterday in the stream that mentioned wanting to look more into Bolt.
Maybe the developer will give you a voucher or two so you can accompany the new course with a giveaway! 😃
ssmurfmier1985 I'll talk with them to see what they're willing to offer. I would like to have them as the "official visual scripting tool" we use here. They do offer bulk discounts but I'll see if they can provide a general discount for anyone here that wants to buy it.