IZation Labs

Normal mapping is quite possibly THE coolest thing I have ever done in Blender. I absolutely love it. I just can’t describe how awesome it is. But I did come up with a decent way to help one visualize it.

Imagine you have a regular piece of white printer paper as well as a pencil at your disposal. You sit down and scratch out a decent, well shaded drawing of whatever you like, say, a house, for example. Now, that well shaded house has light and dark sections that make it look much more realistic than if it were just a two tone sketch, right?

Now imagine that when you hold the paper in front of your face and turn it left and right, the shading changes! As if it were a 3d object, the ‘lighting’ of the scene you scribbled on paper magically changes, and it’s only a drawing, on a flat piece of paper! I know it’s not perfect, but that is in a sense a good visual way to describe what Normal Mapping can accomplish, at least in the case I am describing.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

This video depicts a flat plane. Four corners, and a image mapped to it. That’s it. There is no high level of physical detail, no bumps to make the light shine differently. But it sure looks like it, doesn’t it.

Here’s the blend file if you want to see for yourself, or play around with normal mapping. The texture and tutorial I followed to get the concept down can be found at tutorialsforblender.com

–Lace

I’m writing this at 12:50 in the morning, and I need to be up in 7 hours for work, so I’ll try to keep it short and sweet.

The newest build of WNBG is working for both Mac and Windows now. Primary updates include a scrolling cautionary opening, an audio test, and some UV Mapping tests on background textures. I’m getting close to the point where I need to start coding in python to keep up with the game logic. I’ve got a good friend of mine who should be able to give me a jump start, though. Make sure to leave your constructive criticism and comments below the post!

(Don’t forget to right click and save.)

05-04-2009

Mac Build — [Build 0.2]

5.7 MB

Windows Build — [Build 0.2]

8.1 MB

–Lace

I finally started doing some reading, and some playing around with the Blender3D Game Engine, and this is the output of a few hours worth of learning experience. This Game is Alpha. Pre-pre-release. Read, “were this an actual attempt, the game would probably never be shown to the public on this level”, so no need to tear it apart, it’s a work in progress. I’ve already learned a lot, and I hope to have a nice little game developed when it’s all over.

The game is being produced under the codename WNBG. At this point, there is only one rule. Knock down the green one! Post your comments on bugs (there will be tons) and constructive criticism in the comment section of this post.

(Make sure to right click and save.)

05-01-2009

Mac Build — [Build 01]

8.8 MB

Windows Build — Not up yet

?

Blend File [Build 01]

3.4 MB

– Lace