Week 3:
4/03/20:
Depicted below are some screen shots of my progress setting up a particle system for the smoke material. This morning I launched Unreal and began to set up a particle system in order to test how the smoke material would look. To create a particle system, I imported the PNG of the smoke texture and created a new material with it, after that I then right clicked and created a new particle system. to add the material to the particle system I first had to click the “Required” tab inside of the system and set the material. Next I could then go into the “Spawn” tab which would allow me to set the spawn rate of the particles emitted.
After I had gotten the particle system to work, I then wrote down how to create it and then give it to Michael along with the smoke texture so that he had the means to use the smoke within our main level.
With the creation of this smoke effect, it can be used for a multitude of purposes. Since my group’s game takes place within a medieval time period, there will be a large quantity of fire lighting such as torches which would emit smoke – the particle emitter system could be used with these torches to produce smoke. Another way the smoke effect could be used when the player turns invisible either by consuming a potion or using magic.
5/03/20:
This morning I started the process of creating a mana flame effect that could potentially be used for an effect when magic is used, or for a mana UI (User Interface). I first started by trying to create an image withing Adobe Photoshop, however I believed that using a static image was too similar to what I did with the smoke effect. I tried to also photo-bash an image to create an effect, however I decided to try and make the flame using a different approach.
Later on, after I had tried experimenting with photo-bashing and drawing my own effects, I turned to using Adobe After Effects – a software capable of creating unique and interesting effects. this software is also used to edit video and also can be used to create unique VFX as previously stated. After I had downloaded after Effects, I then launched it and figured out that I could use a pen tool to create a vague flame shape and after that was done, I then took a look at the wide range of the effects that I could use to create a wavy and warped effect. Now that I added these effects to the flame I tested it by previewing it and I was content with what I had created. All that was left to be done was exporting the After Effects file into the media encoder extension so I can convert the file into a playable MP4. All’s there is left to do now is to import the file into Unreal Engine and set it up.
Now with the creation of this mana flame VFX, it opens up new doors of exploration. The effects can be used for things such as a man a User Interface for magic and overall VFX for when the player is using any magic in game – see concepts below.
6/03/20:
In continuation from yesterday, I have began to importing the MP4 file for the mana flame into Unreal Engine. The first steps to setting up this effect within UE4 was to create a new Media File Source which allows any gif or MP4 file to be played from the location the file is saved on your PC. The next step to make this video play I would need to create a Media Player that would allow me to play the media file – I could then drag the mana flame file onto an object in Unreal Engine and play it; However I would need to create a set of blue prints to get this to work. Below you will be included some evidence of these processes.
Unfortunately, throughout the duration of today I have experienced constant issues with getting the mana flame to work and play consistently. Whenever I attempt to play the Unreal level the flame effect does not appear and instead appears as a grey square, and then other times it would display the effect properly. I assumed that it was because every time that I played the level the media player was forcefully closed, however the blueprints that I set up should still be able to be played and displayed. I will keep trailing this to see if it will eventually work, however if it does not that I will move on to other tasks.
Links to mana flame demos via YouTube:
Nathan May Game Animation And VFX 