I want to make a game with large open ended spaces packed with content, but I’m having trouble figuring out how to make large levels. Is World Machine all that I need to make something on the scope of this? Can UE4 landscape/foliage tool do this? Are there good tutorials that can help me? How do I make all the textures for all the 3d models? Do I use photographs of stuff and build in the texture using GIMP or ZBrush or something? Thanks in advance.
For the landscape you can either use world machine or the ue4 landscape tool (for the tool you need a little bit of experience till you can creae awesome landscapes). When you create an open world map, make sure to:
-use level streaming
-culling
-good LOD’s
-plan your map carefully (many hills and stuff that block the view of the player)
-low poly meshes
-…
Textures -> you can create them with your camera (as long as you have a good camera) - then import it into gimp or photoshop and edit it (e.g remove shadows, make them seamless,…). The maps (normal, specular,…) can be generated in photoshop/gimp or you bake the from a high poly mesh.
To get the texture on the mesh, you have to uv map it in a 3d program.
I’d recommend using procedurally generated heightmaps or real world data over the landscape tool as it is much faster. I use the landscape tool to tweak the imported heightmap.
Would the camera on my Nokia Lumia 925 be good enough?
Main camera: 8.7 MP
Camera Focus Type: Auto focus with two-stage capture key
Camera digital zoom: 4 x
Camera optics: 6-lens optics
Stabilization: Optical image stabilization
Sensor size: 1/3 inch
Camera F number/aperture: f/2.0
Camera focal length: 26 mm
Camera Flash Type: Dual-LED Flash
Camera features: Auto and Manual Exposure, Auto and Manual White Balance settings, Automatic photo upload to web services, Backside-illuminated image sensor, Exposure Compensation, Face recognition, Full resolution photo and video upload, Full Screen Viewfinder, Geotagging, Landscape orientation, PureView, Still Image Editor, Touch focus, True 16:9 sensor
Camera minimum focus range: 8 cm
You can create textures with every camera, but I personally recommend you a SLR-camera -> high resolution, many settings to change, you can take pictures in a RAW file format, manual focus,…
e.g I use my for my textures
Dont know how the gopro is, but take a look at this thread: ://www.polycount/forum/showthread.php?t=124530
But as I said, you can create textures with every camera -> it just needs a good resolution depending on the type of game that you want to create
First thing you need to worry about is getting things working. You can upgrade your textures later if needed. Textures can be downloaded off the internet to get you started. If you want to know if the camera you have, or in fact any hardware/software is up to the job just try it.
