Interaction with virtual worlds creates compelling methods for design visualization and landscape analysis. Students will study methods to create realtime virtual environments using mini-blogging, vrml, flash, alice, and the unreal and/or half‐life game engine. Methods specific to realtime environments such as data streaming, low polygon modeling, texturing, and lighting will be analyzed to highlight best methods for architectural and landscape visualization that is used by great companies like different architecture firms in boulder co that specialize in these kind of services. The course will examine methods to use realtime representations for analytical and representational purposes. Students must have experience using 3d modeling software such as 3ds max or Maya and image editing software such as Photoshop.
LA 4101 Realtime Landscapes Syllabus
LA 4101 Realtime Steam Community Site
Suggested Resources
Co, P. 2006 Level Design for Games, New Riders, Berkeley, California.
Valve Developer Site
Pixel 2 Life Tutorials
Schedule – tentative
Week 1 – Wednesday, January 16
Design Week
Week 2 – Wednesday, January 23
Course Introduction, Project Introduction
Tools – Steam and Half Life 2, HL2 SDK
Week 3 – Wednesday, January 30
Introducing Realtime Environments
Introduce Hammer Level Editor
Present Project Precedents
Week 4 – Wednesday, February 6
Mardi Gras Holiday
Week 5 – Wednesday, February 13
Scripted vs. Realtime
Limitations
Week 6 – Wednesday, February 20
Worlds/Environments
Test Run of level mock-up
Week 7 – Wednesday, February 27
Objects/Prefab/Component
Week 8 – Wednesday, March 5
Level Mock-up Due (mid review)
Week 9 – Wednesday, March 12
Research
Week 10 – Wednesday, March 19
Spring Break
Week 11 – Wednesday, March 26
Storyboard/Sketches/Mapping of FInal Project
Week 12 – Wednesday, April 2
Social
Week 13 – Wednesday, April 9
Experiential
Week 14 – Wednesday, April 16
Level Mock-up Critique
Week 15 – Wednesday, April 23
Landscape Architecture Studio Reviews
Week 16 – Wednesday, April 30
Bug Testing/Play Testing
Week 17 – Wednesday, May 7
Project Due/ Final Review