Metroid Prime Varia Suit
polycounter lvl 14
Hey Everyone! It's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm back now and working on something I've wanted to for a long time. I'm making a high def version of the Varia Suit from my favorite game, Metroid Prime. This is the first time I've ever made a fully-armored character, and although mistakes have been made and I didn't do things quite the way I should have, I'm really happy with how this is turning out.
One thing I know I need to work on is bringing up the polycount! I'm always trying to keep things as low poly as possible, but now am realizing that's not as necessary these days. That's why some areas of this are more dense than others... Anyway, all that's left to do now is the texturing!
Low-poly with normals and AO (16089 Tris)
High-Poly (Zbrush)
Wireframe
One thing I know I need to work on is bringing up the polycount! I'm always trying to keep things as low poly as possible, but now am realizing that's not as necessary these days. That's why some areas of this are more dense than others... Anyway, all that's left to do now is the texturing!
Low-poly with normals and AO (16089 Tris)
High-Poly (Zbrush)
Wireframe
Replies
I have a WIP of her ship in my portfolio, we should do a collabo :P
Here's what I mean. The legs are longer and slimmer, making the suit look more feminine.
You know what, I actually followed the proportions of the original model exactly, I found a model sheet and used it as my reference. So I think it's just perspective that is making the legs look long in the image you attached. I'd change mine if I wasn't sure, but I am!
You're right, the proportions are the same. But I think the official marketing material has been overpainted, or the model may have been adjusted. I remember that the model looked chunkier in cutscenes or the scan database than on the cover art.
I also have the First4Figures statue, and the proportions are the same too, it's just posed in an extreme way.
Maybe you should rig her up and do some poses as well. I hope I'll be able to get an ingame version of the ship done soon!
@Roxxor - That was a design decision I made cause I thought it looked better. Sorry if it bugs you, but I think I'm going to keep it!
@garriola - Yea, there is a bit of pinching, I wasn't able to figure out how to fix it! Hopefully it won't be too noticeable once it's finished.
Thanks for the comments!
Overall, the model looks like it could use a few more triangles to get rid of waviness in the cuts and grooves. Many of the edges/bevels are too sharp/tight and don't really read as well as they could when baked to the normal map. You also have a few things missing that were in the original, but I believe you already mentioned those.
Can't wait to see this finished!
I'll go ahead and start a WIP thread this weekend.
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2135215&postcount=11
in this post the colors felt really nice, even if the specularity/gloss maps were absent. it feels very true to the character. whereas your current iteration seems a bit washed out, and the post process is kind of killing it.
to be honest id prefer to see the simple/clean look over random scratches/dirt all over the place. what might help give some interest is some reflections in the metal like this http://wallpaperus.org/wallpapers/09/237/metroid-samus-1920x1080-wallpaper-2426099.jpg
And here is my texture map for anyone interested (I resized it from a 2048 to 1024 so it wasn't so big here)
http://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/character-lighting
I would have to agree with BobtheGreatII, I think the model presents better with a clean texture... but that's just personal preference, as I usually make stuff a bit cleaner for my own stuff.
Keep it up!
For example, you can see how the wear on this bronze is not grey and the specular is not white.
BobtheGreatII - I don't know if I want to present a perfectly clean model. I'll see if I can make the scratches seem more realistic, but I like the idea of it being a bit worn/weathered. As for the pose, I get what you're saying, but I really like this pose. It was taken from a Dark Samus pose http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080204044508/metroid/images/7/77/Dark_Samus_MP3.jpg, and although it might not seem to make sense, I think of it like she just acquired the Varia Suit and is checking it out.
LRoy - I hadn't thought about changing the specular color, I'll try what you suggested and see if I can differentiate between materials better. Thanks!
I always assumed her suit to be painted metal and not plastic. It seems you have a greyscale spec map and all the color painted down to the diffuse. The texture looks very nice, but in the rendering it doesn't seem all that realistic. I also agree with the previous comments about the weathering. A few carefully placed, bold and readable damage areas are better than the uniform, noisy, soft scratching you have right now.
I'm just looking for a high quality model sheet of the Varia Suit, with like t-pose of front and side views, but I can't find one...
Can you tell me what did you use to make yours please ?