Galactic games!

Galacticuz

Or at least that's what I'd call my company.

I do a bit of everything, so to speak, though I do some things better than others. I animate, model and generally create stuff. My experience is mostly in 3D Studio Max, Game Maker and C#. I have work place experience as an animator, 3D modeler and script writer using Unity (mono-develop), Photoshop, Messiah, Maya, CrazyBump and 3D coat.

Here's a few things I have made at work and home:

3D work:








2D work:







And a game I actually managed to finish on my own:




Here is a model I made for a simulator:





And proof that I actually can design web pages...you know, if I really have to.

Elyaradine

Welcome! :)

Are you making games as a hobby, or are you looking to do it professionally? Is there are particular thing that you specialise in? Do you want feedback on your art?

Boysano

Really nice vehicles, makes me want to make a game for Discovery show "Gold Rush"...

GlacieredPyro

Boysano said:

Really nice vehicles, makes me want to make a game for Discovery show "Gold Rush"...

Agreed, they are very nice. And also that is something I have been thinking about long time.
I also love the bot designs.

Galacticuz

Elyaradine said:

Welcome! :)

Are you making games as a hobby, or are you looking to do it professionally? Is there are particular thing that you specialise in? Do you want feedback on your art?

I would very much like to get into the gaming industry yes. Unfortunately, I never got to enroll in any game related courses or have the type of experience most of these great game designers and developers do. I lack experience, but what I do have is a diploma in design (3D mostly) and animation, as well as certificates as a programmer.

The very idea that I even can get into the gaming industry never seemed like a reality for me, until three or four years ago. One of the reasons I wanted to learn programming was so I had a better chance at getting into the gaming scene (as well as have a fall back, if my career in animation never kicked off).

I try to assimilate as much theory that can be applied to games as I can in my spare time. Things like what makes us want to role play from both an immersion and mechanical view, what makes good history games (hint: it's a focus on "why" rather than when and where), what contributes to virtual sensations and proprioception through suspension of disbelief, etc.

I have started to master the basics of Unity 5 (the scripting is very modular) and have some experience using Game Maker.
My main strengths are in creating 3D content and 3D animation, programming/coding/scripting.
I would appreciate any feedback you guys wish to offer, flattering or critical.

Lastly, thanks. I always had a soft spot for robots.

Galacticuz

Something I'm working on as part of a project. Let me know what you guys think. (Edit: I did the GUI, the cars are all just for mock up purposes :P)

dislekcia

Just some quick feedback about your text selection and colouring choices: You've picked a very hard set of colours to read when placed on the backgrounds that you've picked. Even in your first screenshot with the red button, that text is nowhere near contrasty enough to stand out, despite sticking out of the rest of the UI like crazy (probably way too much).

The third screenshot's light blue impact on grey (that IS impact right? It looks a lot like impact) also really suffers in the contrast department. You can see it working a little better against the darker background lower down, but it's still really difficult to read.

Finally, the blue that you've picked for the onscreen UI elements is a very washed-out feeling sort of mid-range blue that doesn't do well against a lot of colours. I think it's probably suffering the most due to the rather washed-out colouring of the racing shot itself, but you really want your UI to stand out instead of blending together like it is at the moment. Try going massively neon yellow, just to see what that looks like?

petrc

Boysano said:

Really nice vehicles, makes me want to make a game for Discovery show "Gold Rush"...

Yes. You start of with a loan to buy some equipment. Then you dig forever and not find any gold. You then sell your equipment to try pay of the loan. Could be fun. :D

Galacticuz

dislekcia said:

Just some quick feedback about your text selection and colouring choices: You've picked a very hard set of colours to read when placed on the backgrounds that you've picked. Even in your first screenshot with the red button, that text is nowhere near contrasty enough to stand out, despite sticking out of the rest of the UI like crazy (probably way too much).

The third screenshot's light blue impact on grey (that IS impact right? It looks a lot like impact) also really suffers in the contrast department. You can see it working a little better against the darker background lower down, but it's still really difficult to read.

Finally, the blue that you've picked for the onscreen UI elements is a very washed-out feeling sort of mid-range blue that doesn't do well against a lot of colours. I think it's probably suffering the most due to the rather washed-out colouring of the racing shot itself, but you really want your UI to stand out instead of blending together like it is at the moment. Try going massively neon yellow, just to see what that looks like?

Thanks man, this is valuable insight. I think I know what the problem is with the first shot of the main menu screen. As for the readability of the in game shot, I think the UI elements might not be getting enough definition to make them stand out. It's not necessarily because they are blue, but that I didn't use that blue correctly to make the information stand out more. I'll try a few solutions, though the suggestion of neon yellow scares me a tad. My main theme is "Vodka" bar, with hues of blue, opaque white and vibrant cyan. But like I said, I'll try different solutions, including your one.

I'm using the technique of staring in the middle of the screen and see if I can still notice the UI elements. I just did that for a few screenshots of some better known games (Need for speed for example) and realized I can still notice the UI elements, where as in mine I sort of can't. I didn't realize that, thanks man!

Lastly, I don't know if you're the same dislekcia from NAG or not, but if you are, hey there!

dislekcia

Galacticuz said:

I'm using the technique of staring in the middle of the screen and see if I can still notice the UI elements. I just did that for a few screenshots of some better known games (Need for speed for example) and realized I can still notice the UI elements, where as in mine I sort of can't. I didn't realize that, thanks man!

That sounds like a useful technique for action-game UIs in general :)

Galacticuz said:

Lastly, I don't know if you're the same dislekcia from NAG or not, but if you are, hey there!

Yup. Hi :)

Galacticuz

Here is "Car Game GUI" attempt number 2. I hope the issues of readability is sorted out. This is my first attempt at designing a UI. I've only ever programmed a GUI before :P.




And here is something else I made. I calls it...the Killer Ant!



Let me know what you guys think and do not be afraid to be brutally honest ^^.

Galacticuz

Also, check out my online portfolio. I've been updating it somewhat: https://intertainment.carbonmade.com/

Galacticuz

Here's my giant, killer ant ready, fully textured


And a game I made, some 2 years ago I think, called "ACE".
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3eznyhj6rfpube7/ACE.exe?dl=0

petrc

nice! reminds me of starship troopers

Galacticuz

Thanks petrc. I did take inspiration from Star Ship Trooper's 'bug'. Just crossed over with a normal ant...sort of :P.

Galacticuz

I am slowly improving my old work, as i am looking for...err, work. Here is my "Rabbit Robot", cell shaded...sort of :P

Galacticuz

After talking to a former lecturer of mine about possible VR applications, the idea of using head tracking targeting systems, as used in the Apache Helicopter and even our own 'Rooi Valk' helicopter, came up. I then decided to model him an Attack helicopter, inspired and modeled after a Rooi Valk helicopter.

Galacticuz

Improved one of my older 'Mechs'.

Galacticuz

Galacticuz

It's been quite some time since I last posted here, been so busy doing working. I've done quite a bit of QA and game art at a local game company. I'm in between jobs again though. Here's what I've been up to since last I was here:

Indoor swimming



Scuba gear


Sci fi warmongering


Gun icons