2019: Pips Pets Post #1- New Year & New Friends

2018 was a big year for me, a lot happened and I feel I grew a lot as a person.

I want to become much more active and consistent on blogger, I know taking time away gets me out of the rhythm so to challenge myself I want to post every other day showcasing a different animal and a little about them, this will bring me back to blogger consistently, as well as highlighting my passion, plus I feel help keep me consistent in blogging my work process too. 

To start the year off, I have two new animals! In December a friend from school reached out to me, her brother needed to re-home 2 reptiles as he will shortly be moving to Norway, and long story short, new years day I drove over and picked up a high red amelanistic corn snake, keeping the name of Ragnar, and a hypo leopard gecko, renamed to Bobby. Welcome to the zoo crew friends! 

Ragnar is 9 and a little overweight, so will be getting plenty of exercise once hes had his settling in period, as well as having his feeds spaced out. 

 

 Bobby is 7 and has had a tough life, shes very small and has a stunted tail, either a birth/growth  defect or she has dropped her tail at some point in the past and it never properly regrew. She also has lost portions of a lot of her toes, this happens when husbandry isnt correct and the gecko is unable to shed properly, leading to a build up of skin around certain areas, most commonly eyecaps, tail and toe tips, which in time if left untreated will lead to cutting off of blood supply and eventually losing toes etc. She only has one claw left in total, and as such has difficulty gripping and climbing. 

Minor Project: Environment Modelling #2

I'm getting back into the swing of things now, recovering from being away sick and back to working on my scene between story-boarding etc.

I realised I had overlooked a few things with modelling quite a few elements initially, I had used a single component for certain items that when textured just wouldn't work, eg the wardrobes, so had to go back over and remodel in separate sections. I also hadn't taken into account smoothing on a lot of items, so had to go back in and add edge loops and extra geometry to ensure my objects held their shape correctly. 

I plan to post now on each object I model, especially the vivariums, but as of now Ill just do a complete update on my scene so far, plus I do have some process shots of the wardrobe door and my window frame modelling, both of which were quite geometry-heavy items and a little tricky to get right. 

Window Frame Process - I made sure to keep smoothing my model as I went to avoid any hiccups later on, scaling and ensuring everything was spaced evenly was a large part of this element. 

A lot of my previously modelled items were like this as I hadn't thought about geometry, so here's my process of going back over this particular element to ensure it holds properly once smoothed. 

 As this object was so geometry heavy, and not too dissimilar to my door, instead of modelling a whole new object for the door I simply duplicated a wardrobe door, then first got rid of the bottom half, filled the hole and reattached vertexes, then deleted the back, mirrored and combined edges, ensuing geometry was correct to create the indentation on both sides for the room door. 

Components so far, all with correct geometry.

Minor Project: Basic Storyflow

I need to find the balance in my animation, between the "point and click" game element, and how this also drives the story and presents the idea as a whole.
The premise is that Twink the corn snake has got out, and the player needs to find her, by exploring the room and finding where she could be.
End result animation will be presented as if a cut together of different stages of the game - present it as an advert for the game, with demo animations of play.

Have a voiceover (me) on the between scenes. Provide a bridge between them as if explaining the game as it goes. The factfile is a key asset, I keep a factfile myself in real life with handy go-to information about the care for my animals, ecerything from optimal heat settings to safe and unsafe food lists, as well as feeding and shedding records, its all in there. I believe something like this is vital for anyone in the hobby and feel it would also be a great way to bring the education element to the game, as well as a "collection" system, as a lot of games are driven by having collection elements, especially iOS/android "relaxation" games which is what this is marketed similarly to. 

bold - voiceover
italics - fact file entry/achievement popup (on screen text) 
underlined - camera/shot direction
"quotation" - character line
>something - scene action/setting


Story flow:

>Open to shot of the room from the doorway Title scene, Find TwinkleToes header appears over the scene. begin button below. 
Find Twinkletoes, the new point and click adventure game! Click begin

Welcome to the reptile room, Twink the corn snake has escaped, Camera pans to Twinks empty viv, and its your job to help find her, she could be anywhere! 
>Presented with fact file, middle screen item, on item base background This is your reptile fact file, explore the room to discover facts about each animal and their care. Completing fact collections will help you to understand the animals, unlock clues from them, and find Twink. 
>fact file goes and sits in top right corner. 

Pans back to room view, voice over at the same time
You should explore and ask around the rest of the animals - lets find that snake!”

>Day, base room set. 

Zoom to Boots the hognose."Explore to find out facts and clues" 
>She is moving towards the burrow hole. "go away, I dont know you!"
>Click on the substrate, opens journal fact popup 
Western hognoses come from North America and are burrowing snakes. Their especially developed upturned nose scale is where they get their name and their burrowing skills. 
>Popup appears, Success! You've found a creature care fact! Keep exploring to find out everything you can and be the best reptile wrangler around! 
>popup closes, back to Boots viv view. 
Careful though, you cant just dive straight in, >click "ask about Twink" Boots flips and plays dead. ...like with any animal, you need to understand it first! 
>journal popup - Hognose snakes are generally docile and rarely attack, they are however drama queens and prefer to play dead if they feel threatened. 

Click different areas to explore around the room, and investigate to find hidden items and secrets that can help you later on- 
click bug box, morio worm (zoomed) appears on base background,  congrats, youve found a morio worm! Worm entered to fact file. worm image goes to top right file. 

Zoom to
"Some animals you'll have to tempt out first using items you collect around the room" 
Basil: "I am fire, I am death, I am..." >Click give worm "ooh is that a worm?" >Shoots out his cave and snaps worm from tongs. >Popup - Skinks LOVE food, especially juicy bugs.

The more you explore and learn, the more you'll unlock to explore later
Wardrobe, first stage >Open wardrobe doors, pull out drawer and see shirts, >transition, open wardrobe doors and see racks.

Learn about different ways of keeping different animals, and how to meet their needs.
Ball python rack >popup "ball pythons are burrowing animals and live in termite mounds, they like dark small spaces 
Transition to gecko viv, >popup gargoyle geckos come from the great forests of New Caledonia, provide them a tall vivarium with plenty of foliage and light! 
>click a branch, >popup "make sure you have plenty of vertical climbing branches!"

Some animals are masters of disguise and dont like to be found, or are simply unsocial outside of their species. 
pan through leaves at Georgie 
>click eye "go away, I'll bite you!" just treat all animals with respect and listen to what they tell you Georgie "barks"

Find out about special animals, why not everyone is quite the same...
cut to Spyro, >click head,  journal popup, "this bearded dragon is deformed due to inbreeding, always check your reptiles are from a reputable and trusted breeder, don't support bad breeders!

And how different genes can effect more than just patterns
ball python rack >Lunar spiralling , journal popup, certain genetics can cause neurological problems in ball pythons. Click here to find out all about Lunar's genetics

Other animals you'll need to visit at different times, 
zoom to Stevie the leopard gecko 
>bright, zoom to Stevie sleeping in cave, >just smiley head.
>Popup Tip: come back later when its darker, maybe Stevie will talk then.
-flash transition-
>Time change, afternoon, Stevie is out and by food bowl
Help out the creatures and they'll return the favour!
>fill bowl "Thanks man! I saw Twink digging in the terrarium earlier!"

Explore the world around you, and watch it change and evolve as your knowledge grows.
Pan around room >changes from first to last stage in centre split. 

17/10/18 - 5 Minute Moom

Minor Project - Environment Modelling #1 - Base Cabinets & Desk

I decided just to use my sketch of the side view as the orthograph, as it was pretty clear and defined, so I really didn't need to waste time "prettying" it up in Photoshop when its fine as it is.

I wanted to make sure everything was kept to scale, to be an accurate representation of my room, Initially I tried playing around in Maya for a bit to try see if there was a way I could set measurement values so I could simply type values into the scale boxes to set object sizes, to make sure everything was the right size and to set my orthographs correctly so the width/depth/height ratios weren't distorted, leading to an odd looking model. However this wasn't working quite how I wanted, so in the end I just used the grid as units of measurements, my room us 5.5m wide and 3.75m deep, so I set the orthograph to fit to 11 grid blocks wide and 8.5 deep, keeping the ratio correct. I also then scaled the height in this way before upturning the side orthograph so I know my objects will be the right height, and matched the room edges with the base ortho. 

Initial modelling process. I'm keeping lots of separate layers as I go as I know this will make things easier for me to to isolate and change objects in the future when it gets to fine tuning, for now I just need to focus on blocking. A lot of very minor details I will be adding through texturing. 

Minor Project: Room Environment Designs

The environment will be driven by the animals, it will change around you as you "the player" explores and discovers more around the room. The set number of changes/scenes I need will be decided by my characters featured, but I need the key start and end designs for the room, and can decide exactly what changes when later on.

Here are my initial room layout plans, I measured and drew everything exactly, so I know when I use use these as my orthographs everything will be to correct scale. I started with the top view, and also made a really quick sketch just after to get down a bunch of my "final stage" ideas, which Ill use as a base in photoshop to draw up a proper version. 

I then went over it in Photoshop to map out the key areas, and colour code furniture vs animals, so this is a really clear orthograph to use as my base for the whole room. 

Next I mapped out the desk side of my room, as this is the most complicated/busy side, and I have to begin somewhere. 

Minor Project: Character List & Reference Images (Meet the Zoo Crew)

After my chat with Phil I have a clearer view of how to proceed, the first thing I need to do is decide on a character list, as although my project is environment based and model-heavy, my characters are driving the environment changes, so key. 

However to stop my characters becoming mundane and falling into a flat "rinse and repeat" with meeting each one, I need to give each of them a personality, as this will add interest, which is perfect for my younger targeted audience, and will allow me to explore more options re: script writing and voice-over artists. Luckily I already feel as though each of my animals does have a personality of their own, so I just need to decide my selection of 3-5 individuals that will display a wide range of character traits. I've put together a quick list of a few of my animals and the traits that suit them. 

Meet the Zoo by Pip on Scribd

Another thing I want to take into consideration is I want this projects' outcome to be educational to those watching/experiencing my project, but not just on the husbandry front re:what sort of environment they need and what they like to eat. A few of my animals are rescue animals, taken in from less than ideal situations and brought back up to health/just made to feel comfortable by me and will not be bred. I would like to feature a few of these in my film to highlight the issues surrounding irresponsible petcare, breeding, and improper husbandry. One last aspect is what time the animals are active, all the bearded dragons and skinks are active the most during the day, and have set day/night cycles with UV and heat lights to help with body temp regulation etc. Similarly Buddy the Terrapin likes to bask and swim in the sun. Others like Stevie the leopard gecko are crepuscular, meaning they are mostly active in the late afternoon/early evening, and then a lot of the arboreal geckos, crested, gargoyle and tokay, are primarily nocturnal, coming out in the late evening/when light fades. So when choosing my characters I need to take into account they are driving the environment, so need a selection that require time to pass in the film. 

1. Boots 
2. Basil
3. Spyro
4. Pluto/Lunar
5. Stevie
6. Georgie
7. Cresteds/Gargoyles

Initially I was thinking just 4 or 5, but now Im considering a few more to give a better rounded view of my animals, and to fit with the time progression too. Modelling wise - all the snakes will be able to have very basic models, same rig, just change the size and texture, add a little nose upturn for the hognose. This is similar with the arboreal geckos, tokay crested and gargoyle, they can all have very similar model shapes, and add the details and define the species primarily with textures. 

Now on to designs! 

Minor Project: Schedule and Submission Inventory

Minor Submission Plan and Inventory by Pip on Scribd

Minor Project - Soundscape

I need a background soundscape for my "game" animation. Many of my stylistic influences and similar games currently out on the market have these backing tracks and it helps tie the whole experience together. It needs to be simple, relaxing, basic sweet background noise, something soothing and calming. I plan to design this myself.

It doesn't necessarily need to follow a specific tune, nothing that can be too catchy or recognisable. When working, if without music on, I often find myself humming random tunes, making up the melodies as I go. I want to create something similar for my short. Ill need to look into what software I can use to do this, I don't need multiple instruments or any complicated layerings, the simpler and calmer the better. 

These are a few influences of whats already out there, to see the direction/style I'm interested in. 

Minor Project: Room Reference Images

These are my reference images of my room/where my animals are located as a base for my models. I dont have all my animals in my room due to space mainly, but its also better for others to be away from places with a lot of people always around. eg the ball pythons like below. In my animation models I plan to have the final stage with all the animals (and possibly more) in the room as they take over the furniture and the environment changes. 

My ball pythons are kept in the spare room/ my brothers old room (along with lots of spare vivs and reptile equipment). My main adults are in a rack system, but I do have some overflow too. I only plan on keeping 6 long term, to focus on specific genes for breeding, and want to upgrade these into 3ft vivs for each of them, but need time & money first. 

Hallway leading to my room/zoo. In here we have a yellow belly slider, hamster and 2 bearded dragons. 

Multi tier mansion for Mr.Nibbs, the russian dwarf hamster. 

3.5ft tank with Buddy the Yellow Belly Slider, he will be upgraded to a 4ft x 2.5ft x 2ft downstairs soon as we can find a suitable stand for it. 

Two Bearded Dragon enclosures, both 4ft wide. Top is Charlie and bottom is Spyro. 

Welcome to the zoo.

Couple of panos to show the layout of the main workspace end of my room. I'm currently in the process of upgrading in size some of my gargoyle gecko enclosures, just need to put together the bioactives setups and move them in.

My skink wall, 4ft vivariums stacked, top going down is Dilly - Merauke, Herb - Irian Jaya, Basil - Silver Tanimbar.

Stevie - Leopard Gecko

3ft vivarium housing three Tokay Geckos (and Norman)

African Clawed Frogs

Boots (Bootlace) the Western Hognose

Left - Sun Beetles, isopods and springtails, Right - GALS (giant african land snails)

Gargoyle gecko enclosure that once housed 3 hatchlings, now just one juvenile thats being upgraded again to a larger enclosure.

Small vivarium housing Petrie, the runt gargoyle gecko. 

 

+5ft tall adapted display uni, housing two adult gargoyle geckos (breeding pair)

4ft viv, Twinks home

Twink wondering whats going on.

Back end of the room.

 Pano views

My younger brothers room is where the three crested geckos are, the 2 females are mine and the single male I got for him as a birthday present this year.