hidden places spec

1. Assignment brief
Qualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production – Games
Design
Unit number and title L3 Unit 68 3D Environments – Partial
Start date 1st
December 2014
Deadline 6th
March 2015
Assessor name Harry Arnold
Assignment title HA11 – Hidden Places
The purpose of this assignment is for you to:
Be able to devise a 3D environment
Be able to create a 3D environment following industry practice
Scenario
Manchester-based games developer, Slide, is keen to recruit a select team of dynamic teenage 3D designers. As part of the
recruitment process you will originate, develop and produce an original 3D sandbox environment and first-person prototype using
a 3D game engine or first-person flythrough using 3D animation software, ready to be viewed and explored by the development
studio. This is your opportunity to show off both your creative and technical abilities. The target audience for the concept
should be 12+, male and female and so adult and violent themes should be restricted. The size or scope of your environment will
be determined by the concept. Camerawork, lighting and texturing will also play an important part in this assignment.
This assignment also feeds off the HA4 assignment, 3D The Basics, which should provide inspirational research and the first
learning outcome of this unit.
Work to be Submitted
Setting research
Design pack and legal and ethical check
Environment model
Exported models and surfaces/UV maps
Game engine environment and executable file
Production log and evaluation
Tasks Grading
Criteria

2. Mapping
There is additional guidance that you will need to follow posted to Unit 68’s Moodle course and all
evidence produced by you must be posted to your blog. Where you use the web to carry out your research make sure that you have
cited all sources.
Task 1
Choose one of the following settings:
Post-apocalyptic modern city
Medieval settlement
Space station
Underwater settlement
Collect together a wide range of visual aids and research about your chosen setting. Present your findings on your blog
so that you can easily work from them. This is where you will generate ideas and give yourself essential reference
material to work from. Ensure that you are meeting the requirements of the brief from the start. Remember to cite all
sources.
You must consider the timescale available and plan your project accordingly.
Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought-through ideas for a 3D environment showing creativity
and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 68
P2, M2, D2
Task 2
Plan out your environment carefully by producing a design pack. This will need to include a map of your game
environment and details of each element to be created. You may want to use a combination of hand and computer-
generated 2D and 3D sketches, diagrams, photographs and texture samples. Remember to design your environment
using a modular approach wherever possible. Adaptable modules will allow you more flexibility and more fluid gameplay
within the game engine or LightWave’s animation application Layout.
Ensure that you have carried out a legal and ethical check of your proposal and provided appropriate evidence of this.
Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought-through ideas for a 3D environment showing creativity
and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 68
P2, M2, D2
Task 3
Use your design pack to build your environment within NewTek Modeler. Pay careful attention the specification required
by this assignment i.e. that the resulting environment will need to function within a 3D game engine or within
LightWave’s animation application Layout. The distinction is that one will be real-time and the other non-real-time
rendered. Make sure that you save your files by date and incrementally. Ensure that you surface elements as you work
(photographic and preset textures can be applied later, but you may wish to experiment by previewing your work within
NewTek Layout). Record the whole of your production process within a production log that can be posted to your blog at
the end of the assignment. You may need to source additional reference imagery and textures as the modelling
progresses.
Remember that you are trying to create a 3D environment to a technical quality that reflects near-professional
standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional
expectations.
Unit 68
P3, M3, D3
Task 4
Once completed, prepare your model for export, considering both the meshes and surfaces/UV maps. This may involve
rationalising and simplifying your models. Record the whole of your production process within your production log.
Remember that you are trying to create a 3D environment to a technical quality that reflects near-professional
standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional
expectations.
Unit 68
P3, M3, D3
Task 5
Construct your environment within the 3D game engine, load in the relevant textures and experiment with the lighting
needed for the environment. Record the whole of your production process within your production log.
OR
Construct your environment within NewTek’s Layout, load in the relevant textures and experiment with the lighting
needed for the environment. Record the whole of your production process within your production log.
Remember that you are trying to create a 3D environment to a technical quality that reflects near-professional
standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional
expectations.
Unit 68
P3, M3, D3

3. Task 6
Publish your game environment prototype as an executable file that can be explored. Include
screen shots of the completed game environment prototype on your blog. You may also want
to include some captured footage. Record the whole of your production process within your production log.
OR
Render your flythrough sequence as an uncompressed AVI file, upload this to YouTube and publish it on your blog.
Record the whole of your production process within your production log.
Remember that you are trying to create a 3D environment to a technical quality that reflects near-professional
standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional
expectations.
Unit 68
P3, M3, D3
Task 7
Gain feedback by allowing gamers to explore or view your environment and write an evaluation of your project. Use
your blog posts to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your design process. Try to establish whether or not your
finished product has achieved the aim of the project. Take into consideration anything said by interested parties.
Remember that you are trying to create a 3D environment to a technical quality that reflects near-professional
standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional
expectations.
Unit 68
P3, M3, D3
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Assessor
Signature Date

4. Signature Date
Unit 68 3D Environments
P1 summarise accurately theory and
applications of 3D with some
appropriate use of subject
terminology.
[IE]
M1 explain theory and applications of
3D with reference to detailed
illustrative examples and with
generally correct use of subject
terminology.
D1 comprehensively explain theory
and applications of 3D with elucidated
examples and consistently using
subject terminology correctly.
P2 generate outline ideas for 3D
environment working within
appropriate conventions and with
some assistance.
[CT; SM]
M2 generate detailed ideas for 3D
environment showing some
imagination and with only occasional
assistance.
D2 generate thoroughly thought
through ideas for 3D environment
showing creativity and flair and
working independently to professional
expectations.
P3 create 3D environment following
industry practice, working within
appropriate conventions and with
some assistance.
[CT; SM; RL]
M3 create 3D environment to a good
technical standard following industry
practice, showing some imagination
and with only occasional assistance.
D3 create 3D environment to a
technical quality that reflects near-
professional standards following
industry practice, showing creativity
and flair and working independently
to professional expectations.
:PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal,
learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrate
effective application of the referenced elesments of the skills.