For this week, I got all the characters created and optimized in Maya. I then used a plugin called Collada . It allows you to export 3D models so they can be imported into flash using Papervision as a DAE file. It has come in very handy for 3D objects that are not cubes or other primitive polygons (which is what papervision provides). It also brings in any basic lambert texture that has been placed onto the 3D object in maya (another nice feature).
Once the characters were imported, I put them onto different 3D display holders (called character A, B, C, and D) and put them on their own sides of the cube. I also used papervision’s rotate methods (roll and yaw) to rotate the 3D objects. Papervision is also aware that in 3D space, the user is going to need to operate in the z direction, so they provide a function where you can move objects in the z direction (simply objectName.z+=n), which I used as well.
The example can be found here:
http://thefourmation.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cube_v3.swf
The characters have all been finalized and given different clothing (just to distinguish them from one another). Below is a render of all 4 of them.
And finally, the entire group and sat for a good hour and a half atleast and just talked about the level. We decided to basically scrap the first 2 sequences believing that they did not have enough head tracking. We decided to stick with the forest, desert, castle, and urban themes for the sides, but now they each have different tasks to complete. Each side initially starts with their own task. Once they complete this task, they are then able to help an adjacent side complete a new task. Here is the sequence so far. There are still some gaps in between that will easily be filled in.
Side A: Urban Environment, Crank item
Side B: Forest Environment, Axe item
Side C: Castle Environment, Shovel item
Side D: Desert Environment, Bomb item
Side A has an urban setting with buildings and streets, there is also a station where they have the means to use their crank. This station will operate a crane on side D (desert), however, side A’s first task is to load batteries into the crane power station to get it operational. Side D has remote control bombs, however they first have to be gathered then passed to side C. Side D can contol these bombs from their side. The bombs will blow a path allowing side C to dig dirt and transport it to a catapult. Side C will have to aim the catapult (with crossairs) on side B to try and fill in the holes of side B. Filling in these holes will provide a path for B to cut down trees on their side. Once the trees are cut, they can move them to side A. They then can place them on side A as a bridge access for side A to move from building to building.
For next week, I would like to have the level finalized with everything in perfect sequence of how its to be completed. I would also like to get shadows working inside papervision. Some examples do exist online, but our group will have to decide if the shadows cost us too much processing power since they’ll be constantly changing in real time.