Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Blocking-In Model

To start the project we will choose an object to model, gather reference, and create a initial, rough block-in of the model. The goal is to understand as much about the object as we can before we start modeling. This will likely be the lightest workload of the course, so make sure to take the extra time to check over the essentials module and make sure you have mastered the skills covered there. Later weeks will be much more time-consuming.

Week 2: Mid-Poly Block-In Model

In this module you will work to create the form of your model. This mid-poly block-in will not be textured, nor smoothed into a high resolution model. The goal is to create a mesh that is accurate to your reference that can become the starting point for your high and low poly models. This is often the most challenging part of the process.

Week 3: High-Poly Model

In this module you will take the low poly block in and generate a high polygon mesh that is accurate to the real world model as possible. We will be using a combination of sub division modeling and . The sky is the limit with poly counts, this model will never be UV unwrapped, it will just be used to generate texture maps for the game-ready version.

Week 4: Low-Poly Model

In this module you will take the mid-poly model from week 2 and reduce the geometry. This is the model we will be UV unwrapping and baking maps to. The goal for this model is to still achieve the silhouette of our object while using fewer vertices than the mid or high poly model.

Week 5: PBR Texturing

In this module you will take your low-poly model and add back the missing detail from the high-poly by baking texture maps. You will also use Substance Painter to add color, material, and micro-details not present in the high poly. This is where the model will start to become photo-real. The goal here is to take a well crafted model and use texture maps to bring it to life.

Week 6: Final Project and Presentation

This last week is set aside for you to spend more time polishing you model and going back to fix any issues that might have popped up during production. Often you will get to the end of a project and realize there were things you should have approached differently. Taking the feedback you received from the previous week's project, resubmit a final, portfolio ready version of your work. Our goal is to finish the course with the best possible looking final result.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Andrew Dennis, who are recognized for their work in game art

Develops 3D and game art skills, which are core skills for modern game development

Uses Maya, Zbrush, Marmoset, and Substance Painter extensively, which are industry-standard tools

Provides hands-on experience in creating a photo-real game prop

This course is aimed at students who have some knowledge in 3d and game art

Teaches software and that software has 1) newer versions available and 2) the version the course uses is older than 2022

Reviews summary

Praised 3d game prop design

Learners say this course covers 3D Game Prop Production skills from scratch, delivering engaging assignments and knowledgeable instructors. There is some mention of difficult exams, but students report learning a lot.

This is my first course about 3D Game Art and modeling.

"This is my first course about 3D Game Art and modeling. I am very glad that I have taken this course, it taught me lots of modeling, texturing, and presentation skills from scratch."

Learned a lot of new things thanks to this course.

"I was familiar with some of the aspects of game development but I still learned a ton of new things thanks to this course."

"Awsome course with very easy way of understanding highly recommended to those who want to learn 3d modelling for games and movies"

You are a very great teacher.

"You are a very great teacher, till now modeling was very difficult but I learned a lot from you, thank you, may Allah reward you for it."

The peer review system isn't useful.

"I really like the course however the peer review system isn't useful because most of the time it's just people giving full marks for everything without any criticisms to improve."

It is not easy and I had to look out for other tutorials.

"I liked a lot the course. It is not easy and I had to look out for other tutorials and resources to achieve the goals."

"It has complexity and allows you to get into all the process from low-poly modeling to texturize of the high poly model."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production with these activities:

Seek guidance from experienced game artists

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Connect with professionals in the field to gain valuable advice and insights.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Attend industry events and meetups.
Reach out to game artists on LinkedIn.

Practice modeling in Maya

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Review the basics of Maya to ensure you are prepared for the course.

Browse courses on 3D Modeling

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Open Maya and create a new scene.
Create a simple cube.
Extrude the cube to create a more complex shape.

Watch tutorials on Zbrush

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Learn the basics of Zbrush to prepare for the high-poly modeling module.

Browse courses on Zbrush

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Find a beginner's tutorial on Zbrush.
Follow the tutorial and create a simple model.
Experiment with different brushes and tools.

Five other activities

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Attend a game art conference

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Connect with like-minded individuals and learn about the latest trends in game art.

Browse courses on Networking

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Find a game art conference to attend.
Network with other attendees.
Attend workshops and presentations.

Read "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell

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Gain insights into the principles of game design to enhance your understanding of game art.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes.
Apply the concepts to your own game art projects.

Create a low-poly model of a simple object

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Practice creating a low-poly model that can be used in a game engine.

Browse courses on Low-Poly Modeling

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Choose a simple object to model.
Create a block-in model in Maya.
Reduce the geometry to create a low-poly model.
Export the model to a game engine.

Practice baking texture maps

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Develop your skills in baking texture maps to add detail to your models.

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Create a high-poly and low-poly model.
Use Substance Painter to bake texture maps.
Apply the texture maps to your model.

Contribute to an open-source game art project

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by collaborating on an open-source game art project.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open-source game art project to join.
Create a pull request with your contributions.
Review and provide feedback on other contributions.

Career center

Learners who complete Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

3D Modeler

3D Modelers are in charge of creating 3D models of objects, environments, and characters for a variety of industries, including video games, film, and animation. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production teaches the skills needed to create game-ready models suitable for use in modern game engines. This course will prepare you to work in a variety of 3D modeling roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Modeler

Game Artist

In a team setting, Game Artists are responsible for designing and creating 3D models of characters, environments, assets, and video game props. This course, Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production, teaches you to create a photo-real game asset that is suitable for use in modern game engines. This course will help you build a foundation for your career and prepare you to work on game development teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Environmental Artist

Environmental Artists focus on the scenery and environmental elements of video games and movies. They create 3D models of buildings, landscapes, and other objects to build out realistic in-game worlds. This course will help you develop essential skills and get you started building a portfolio suitable for working in the game industry as an Environmental Artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Artist

Texture Artist

Texture Artists create the textures that are applied to 3D models to give them realistic and detailed appearances. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production includes a module on PBR texturing, which is an industry-standard technique used in video game development. Taking this course will help you on your path to a successful career in game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Texture Artist

Character Artist

Character Artists design and model 3D characters for use in video games, film, and animation. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production teaches you to create game assets that are suitable for use in modern game engines. This will give you an advantage when seeking Character Artist roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Artist

Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for planning and designing the overall experience of a video game, including the gameplay, story, and characters. This course, Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production, may be useful to you as you design games and think about the 3D models that you will need to include in your games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Animator

Animators bring 3D models to life. They create animations for video games, movies, and other projects. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production includes a module on blocking in a model, which is a critical foundational step in animation. This course may be useful to you in your pursuit of an animation career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Rigger

Riggers prepare 3D models for animation by creating skeletons and joints that allow the models to move realistically. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful as you prepare for a career in rigging as it includes a module on blocking in a model, which is a critical foundational step for rigging.

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Technical Artist

Technical Artists bridge the gap between art and programming in the game development industry. They work to optimize game assets and ensure that they run smoothly on all platforms. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production can teach you skills that a Technical Artist may find useful, including how to create game-ready models and optimize them for performance.

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Concept Artist

Concept Artists create the initial visual concepts for video games, movies, and other projects. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful to you as you prepare for a career in concept art, as it will help you develop your understanding of 3D modeling and the creation of game assets.

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Lighting Artist

Lighting Artists are responsible for creating realistic and effective lighting in video games, movies, and other projects. While Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production does not teach lighting techniques, the skills you gain in this course will lay a strong foundation for a Lighting Artist role.

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Game QA Tester

Game QA Testers play video games to find and report bugs. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful to you as you prepare for a career in game testing, as it will help you develop a deep understanding of game development and the creation of game assets.

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Game Programmer

Game Programmers are responsible for writing the code that makes video games work. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful to you as you prepare for a career in game programming, as it will help you develop a deep understanding of game development and the creation of game assets.

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Game Producer

Game Producers are responsible for overseeing the development of video games, from concept to completion. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful to you as you prepare for a career in game production, as it will help you develop a deep understanding of game development and the creation of game assets.

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Game Writer

Game Writers are responsible for writing the stories, dialogue, and other text for video games. Current Gen 3D Game Prop Production may be useful to you as you prepare for a career in game writing, as it will help you develop a deep understanding of game development and the creation of game assets.

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