Lookout Tower Using Old Train Carriage

[Reece]

Here is my take on the Lookout Tower which I modelled over the weekend. I thought I'd see what it would look like with a train carriage as the central pillar.

This is a high-poly model which I would create a low-poly version from.







I'm sure it could use some more variation in the use of scavenged objects but I am aware of the limitations with regard to the tri-count and texture size.

I would appreciate some feedback on whether this is along the right track for the lookout tower?

Cheers,
Reece

[McDougle]

This looks awesome!

Maybe you can add some concrete pillars or broken ticket machines to fixate that epic monstrosity of a tower!

[Inca]

Looks great!

[Reece]

Thanks for your comments

Yeah...I'll play with the bracing of the structure in the next update. I think it could use some variation. I like the idea of a concrete pillar support beam.

[GodComplex]

That looks gorgeous. If I had to make a suggestion, I'd put sandbags up top. Being up that high kinda makes you exposed to unfriendlys. Being on watch kinda makes you a prime target and all that.

[Crocapaw]

Nice work and so fast! I feel like batch 4 just went up and your already done a high poly. I'm looking forward to seeing the next update.

[Drool]

Perhaps a couple more support struts. Buses aren't exactly balanced for that sort of thing.

[Reece]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will add sandbags and a seat from the train to the platform. You need somewhere to sit while on duty. I'll also see what I can do to re-configure the supports to simplify them but make them feel substantial.

[Reece]

This is a progress update.

I have started the process of converting my high poly model to its low poly version. It is at this time when I really feel the limitation of 3000 tris! I have had to re-configure the model to reduce the tri count. I am still not there yet as this version has 3553 tris. So I need to lose 553

I have yet to do the texturing however there is some normal mapping done on the canopy and train body and bogies.

This is what the low poly version looks like so far.





I think the bracing reads better than before with a distinct silhouette. It helps that they take less tris.

I also plan on using two materials in Unity3d. One using the transparency cutout diffuse/bump/spec shader and the other a regular diffuse/bump/spec shader.

Your feedback and critiques are much appreciated.

[Reece]

A couple of other questions for you.

The turntable scene from the previous batch doesn't quite work for the tower asset. The camera is a bit too low and cuts off the top of the tower if you place the tower in the centre. Can we raise the camera in our submission to Unity? Or should I scale the tower down to fit? I believe the tower is the correct height given the reference showing the cutout character.

Also, the canopy is shading the top platform from the test scene light so it is a little hard to see what's under the roof. Is that how it will be in-game? If so I was thinking of creating some holes in the canopy to let some light in. What do you think?

Cheers

[Tets]

superb

[Reece]

Update time

Here is my completed lookout tower. The tri count is 2997:





Here is a reduced size colour map:



I created the texture map at 4096x4096 pixels and scaled it down to the 2048x2048 required size.

I hope to submit to the Asset store soon

[Martisimus]

Hey, that's looking pretty good, nice work. I hope that mine will turn as good as well, fingers crossed

[Inca]

Looks very good!

[Boredom]

That looks absolutely brilliant. You've managed to retain all of the high-poly details in the low-poly model, which is impressive. I also really like the train car texture with the realistic rust.

Well done.

[Reece]

Thanks for the nice comments . I have now submitted it to the Unity3d Asset Store.

Cheers

[Reece]

Yay. http://u3d.as/content/trac-games/train-lookout-tower

[Wile]

Wow, gotta say that really nice looking!