Project Management

Working on a large environment project often involves managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and resources simultaneously, so I decided to make use of a powerful tool to manage my environment project and my time effectively. Trello is a web-based project management tool that uses a card-based system to help users organise tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate with team members. It is an excellent choice for individuals and small teams looking to streamline their projects.

In the initial stages of my project, I was struggling a little bit to wrap my head around all the components, tasks, and responsibilities. Trello allowed me to create boards, lists, and cards to break down the project into manageable pieces. Each card represented a specific task or goal, and I could easily drag and drop them into different lists to prioritise and track progress. Below, there are some screenshots of my project setup in Trello.

File Organisation

One aspect in project management that I believe is important is how files and folders are organised, especially in the game editor. Having an organised outliner in Unreal Engine helps maintain clarity and efficiency while building levels. When I start new projects, I usually create separate folders to include assets, blueprints, lighting, volumes, etc., to facilitate accessibility throughout the development process. 

Project Backups

Data loss may have a great impact on development as it means losing important project files which leads to project delays or even worse, not meeting deadlines. In addition to having my project files saved locally on my laptop, I adopted a backup strategy that includes regular backups to an external hard drive as well as cloud storage on Google Drive. This way I can prevent some potential risks such as hardware fail, data corruption, or accidental deletion of files.  

Tools Exploration

For this project I am going to use a variety of tools and software that are commonly used by environment artists in the game industry. This selection is also based on my skills and personal preferences. From my previous experiences and projects, I believe I have become proficient with this range of tools and software that are essential for environment creation and game development and I am comfortable using them to bring my ideas to life. However, I am also open to learning and using new ones if the project requires it. The tools that I’m going to use in this project are listed below.

3D Modelling and Sculpting:

• Autodesk Maya for modelling.

• Zbrush is ideal for high-detail sculpting and modelling of organic shapes.

• RizomUV is a UV mapping software that I would like to try, as it is praised for efficiency and speed when it comes to unwrapping 3D models.

Texturing and materials:

• Substance Painter for creating detailed textures and materials for my 3D models.

• Substance Designer for creating procedural / tileable materials.

• Quixel Mixer is a great tool for blending and customising materials.

Level design / world building:

• Unreal Engine is the game engine that I will be using to build my environment.

Lighting and Rendering:

• Unreal Engine also offers real-time dynamic lighting and advanced rendering capabilities. It also works great with PBR.

Post-processing / Visual effects:

• While most of the post-processing and visual effects are possible in Unreal Engine, I will probably make use of Adobe After Effects for compositing and further enhance the final look of my environment.