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Introducing an advanced prototype of "No Way Out," a stylized top-down survival 3D game set in a post-apocalyptic setting. Our studio developed this AAA-level game prototype from scratch, encompassing everything from selecting the setting and refining mechanics to creating character models, environments, and props, as well as animation, Unreal Engine 5 game development, and media content production.
At RocketBrush Studio, we specialize in game art and development. Our team's expertise enables us to create 2D & 3D game art and develop various projects — from independent 2D games like The Unliving to AAA-level titles. When tackling such projects, we offer a comprehensive suite of services:
Our in-house project, "No Way Out," exemplifies our capabilities perfectly. Let's delve into more details about it.
"No Way Out" is an AAA-level game prototype, embodying the currently popular survival genre. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players are challenged to endure a landscape overrun by zombies. The game integrates mechanics like stealth and building, offering a comprehensive survival experience. Moreover, future updates will introduce weapon crafting, from primitive to advanced, alongside workbenches for tools, household items and weapon upgrades.
During the concept development phase for "No Way Out," we drew inspiration from several notable sources:
These inspirations helped forge "No Way Out" into a blend of survival and action mechanics set against a backdrop of civilization's remnants. But, unlike the projects mentioned above, our unique twist is the commitment to realism. "No Way Out" eschews traditional UI elements like health bars and ammo counts for a more immersive experience. Players won't find themselves highlighted against the backdrop, and the game encourages a learn-by-experience approach without explicit tutorials. The very title "No Way Out" mirrors the game's challenging nature.
For this project, we chose a semi-realistic style. Everything was crafted in 3D, with the game featuring a top-down perspective. We employed a full-cycle pipeline to create game elements, ranging from characters to props and environmental features like rocks and trees. Here’s a closer look at our process.
In the first step, we dived into high-poly modeling using ZBrush. This stage was about nailing down the right shapes and proportions, starting with basic geometrics like cubes and spheres for characters, trees, stones and environmental pieces. Once we got the basics in place, we cranked up the detail, gradually increasing the number of polygons and adding layers of complexity to our models.
After sculpting in ZBrush, we moved on to the retopology phase, using Blender and Maya to transform our high-poly sculpts into optimized meshes. This step is where we fine-tune the models, ensuring they're visually detailed and primed for animation and rigging. Carefully applying Maya's Quad Draw allowed us to create a custom topology. For example, as a result, the main character (we call him Biker for now) ended up having 11290 triangles.
Following retopology, our next move was into UV mapping, a crucial step for preparing models for texturing. This process ensures each model's surface is meticulously detailed, setting the stage for heightened realism. Precision in UV layout is key, as it guarantees textures appear seamless, significantly boosting the visual appeal of characters and environments.
Advancing to texture map baking, we leveraged Marmoset Toolbag to transfer the intricate details from our high to low-poly models. This step is crucial for giving our characters, props and environments their final, lifelike appearance, complete with realistic textures and shadows.
Next, we dove deep with Substance Painter to enrich the game world with PBR (Physically Based Rendering) semi-realistic textures. We crafted a unique texture set for each character, blending hand-painted textures, tiles and masks. Our choice to use the Metallic/Roughness workflow — incorporating BaseColor, Normal Map, Metallic, Roughness, Height, Emissive and Opacity Mask — aimed to achieve the most authentic visual effects.
Initially created in 4K resolution to preserve quality during adjustments, textures were later optimized to 1024px for seamless game engine integration, ensuring our characters and environments look stunning without compromising performance.
Finally, our focus shifted to animation. Utilizing Maya, we meticulously skinned, rigged and animated characters, props and environmental elements, ensuring that every movement was realistic and in tune with the game's post-apocalyptic narrative. This stage was about motion and adding depth and personality to the game world.
Also, Marmoset Toolbag was instrumental in presenting the assets, showing how they would interact within the game's environment.
With all game art components finalized, our next step was integrating them into a game engine and prototyping a game in Unreal Engine 5 — a powerful tool from Epic Games used for a diverse array of projects, from simple mobile games to complex AAA titles like Fortnite, Valorant, Sea of Thieves, among others.
The project assembly within Unreal Engine 5 involved meticulously integrating 3D models, ensuring their animations and textures were perfectly calibrated to work within the game’s environments and mechanics. This process required importing .fbx models, rigs, animations, materials and textures into the engine, adhering to strict file naming conventions to maintain organization and efficiency.
Beyond these technical steps, Unreal Engine 5's game development environment empowered our team to sculpt the game's atmosphere. Here, we fine-tuned lighting and shadows and dictated zombies' movement direction and behavior. The engine's robust toolset allowed for the creation of a cohesive, immersive world where every element, from the strategic placement of enemies to the environmental conditions, was meticulously crafted.
RocketBrush Studio is your go-to partner for full-spectrum game art and development services, covering everything from conceptual design to final engine integration. We craft immersive environments, detailed 2D and 3D characters, and engaging props, complemented by dynamic animation and seamless integration with leading game engines, such as Unreal Engine 5.
We adapt our approach to fit the specific needs of each project, aiming to provide visually impressive art and technically sound solutions that enhance the gaming experience while maintaining performance. Whether it's an indie or AAA project, we offer everything needed to bring your game concept to life.
Interested in partnering with us for game art development? Reach out to us at HELLO@ROCKETBRUSH.COM for inquiries or collaboration opportunities. Let's create something extraordinary together.
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