Product Description
The Definitive Resource for Up-and-Coming 3D Game Artists Alias' award-winning Maya 3D animation and effects software continues to lead the industry in technological innovation and is being adopted by more and more console and computer game developers. The Game Artist's Guide to Maya is an official introduction to creating 3D game art and animations with Maya, brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Alias and Sybex. Written by a production artist at a prominent game company, this detailed book focuses on the skills real game artists use daily to create stunning characters and environments. By following the discussions and tutorials, you'll bring a concept through the entire game art development pipeline, learning everything from modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation, to special effects. You'll also glean insights from industry professionals and see how Maya has been used in popular games. If you're a 3D game artist, or looking to become one, this book will help you master the skills and techniques you'll need to excel in the competitive games industry. Inside, you'll learn how to: - Create a game model using a concept image as your guide
- Model with predetermined real-time polycount limitations in mind
- View martial arts videos on the book's CD to animate your character more realistically
- Prepare a model for texturing with UV mapping and layout techniques
- Create different kinds of textures
- Master the rigging process, from setting up a skeleton to preparing blend shapes
- Practice techniques for creating animation clips to work with in the Trax Editor
- Use particle effects, such as sprites and animated geometry, to add pizzazz to your model
|
The Game Artist's Guide to Maya
- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Sybex; 2005-01-21
- Label: Sybex
- Studio: Sybex
- ISBN: 0782143768
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 9 reviews
- Sales Rank in Books: #79714
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Game Artist's Guide to Maya 2008-04-06
Comment: I think is an awesome book, it has taught me a lot about polygons in a game character for design purposes, over all great find and loved it! This book has helped me with my game design class in College. Creating games, and having fun now! Thanks Loved It!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not what I was hoping for 2008-02-06
Comment: Reading the reviews for this book I knew that it would not be an easy ride but this book is just poorly written.
I have been using 3d programs for over 7 years and decided to buy this book to better learn maya and gain an understanding of games characters.
Its teaches very little because as you do the tutorials you start to realize he often uses different methods to what he instructs you too do. Often the book skips big areas and even maya features with vague sentences that explain nothing
Saying all this I have still picked up a few valuable tips from this book and as much as it could be improved I still don't think it was a waste of money but a revision is desperately needed. This book with a little extra work could easily be indispensable.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Game Artist's Guide to Maya 2006-11-11
Comment: Very comprehensive book on character animation.
McKinley explains every step of the character development and its animation.
Could do a bit more on animation itself. He doesn't talk about environment either.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Character Artists Guide to Maya. 2005-11-09
Comment: I've read the book through and I have to say it certainly hit its demographic; those who wish to extend their basic Maya skills to game art in all aspects (up to and including tips on simply getting a job as a game artist) should buy this book. If you're attempting to learn Maya or 3D altogether than you might as well pass on this book.
About the only point lacking in this book is its narrow scope -- no mention of particle effects not directly associated with the model, no mention of Sub-D modelling, etc. That critique mentioned, he had a topic to cover -- and what was on topic was covered thoroughly.
If you wish to pick up a book about learning to develop game art with polycount a concern, specifically modelling humanoid creatures, this book is for you -- and as a bonus you'll learn to have a respectible reel to demonstrate your added talents. If you don't know Maya, take that first step first -- then pick up this book, its a fairly light load (1-2 days read) so the benefits won't take too much time out of your day.
Rated 4 out of 5.
Pros:
>It is very detailed in its explainations (with illustrations)
>Sidebar interviews and profiles act as built-in study-breaks making you not need to stop reading
>The narrow demographic gives the reader exactly what he wishes without confusing him with stuff he either knows or doesn't care about knowing.
>Inside knowledge of the game industry is shared, including reel making.
Cons:
>Again, narrow demographic may have this book in the hands of many who it doesn't belong. Know what you buy.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: THIS IS AWESOME 2005-11-08
Comment: this book is really helpful to those advanced or noobs in maya(im the noob) and the instructions are very detailed, 10/10!!!
|
The Game Artist's Guide to Maya
Enlarge View