2007 Autodesk Visualization Design Competition

[RoboJedi75]

It has been posted! The link below goes to the full information page:
http://firstbase.autodesk.com/?nd=first_competition_visualization

Theme for Visualization Design Competition

This year's theme is: Thinking Green.

Thinking Green.
Sustainable Design.
Environmentally Responsible.

It's called by many names, but it means one thing: caring about the planet we live on, and making sure that the things we create have as little negative impact on the Earth as possible.

It's about meeting our current needs without preventing future generations from meeting theirs.

It's about approaching the creative process with a respect for using resources efficiently.

And it's about each of us playing our part to do something that impacts all of us.

[k3`]

Hey Nate! Wow, four minutes ago. Have you been refreshing every few minutes? :P

[RoboJedi75]

Just about...:yikes:

[Testament-Doom]

Stumbled upon luck I suppose. Well, that scraps my original idea, oh well. now I have to think up of something cool. Meeting tomarrow then, yay.

[114Klutz]

Excellent....

We don't have to use the 3 sample prompts right?

[Testament-Doom]

No, they are just examples, guidelines to help you out, and good ones at that.

[BuddyB309]

YESS!!!!! MY ANIMATION TEAM WAS RIGHT ON TARGET!!!!! ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CHANGE THE VOICE OVER!!! :D :D :D IM SO HAPPY:D :D

If all goes well we should be completely finished by thursday! Whoo hoo!

[Testament-Doom]

Thursday? Oh boy, not using spare-time much? :).

But I do agree, helping with the robot is a big thing.. but I don't know mechanics so I'm just a computer wiz/3d animator. That said, I'm using all the time I have to make the animation. Green trees here we come!

[Psychoflood]

Oh wonderful, now on earth day the only thing i'll be thinking about is robots.

But of course, i already spend every day thinking about robots :rolleyes:

[BuddyB309]

We hope to be done by thursday. The our animation doesnt consist of any complex characters that we have to rig and texture. Its mainly basic geometric shapes but they are animated very well. So the animation itself looks really cool. We dont want to over crowed the frame so we decided to keep it that way. Also we did a lot[I] of planning and we all know exactly what is in each camera shot. So there is no time spent on stuff that the camera hardly sees saving quite a lot of time.
Also We've learned to be [I]fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen! ;)

[Drew]

We hope to be done by thursday. The our animation doesnt consist of any complex characters that we have to rig and texture. Its mainly basic geometric shapes but they are animated very well. So the animation itself looks really cool. We dont want to over crowed the frame so we decided to keep it that way. Also we did a lot[I] of planning and we all know exactly what is in each camera shot. So there is no time spent on stuff that the camera hardly sees saving quite a lot of time.
Also We've learned to be [I]fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen! ;)

I wish it was that easy for us. For the 4 years I have been on the team Me and another student are still the only people who know the software. With 4 other students who want to learn our mentors need to get their priorities straight. They keep putting our Students onto other jobs and not dedicating to animation. I know you all know but they dont understand how many hours we put into these animations because we work from day to night, night to day. Robotics time, to class time, to home time. They are always proud of our work but never conciderate when we need to teach other students. We are seniors this year and off to college in september. What happens when the animation students dont know the software? well i guess we will find out. Im really excited though HERE WE GO!!!

[Testament-Doom]

Seems you have a team dedicated to 3D studio max, I like that.

As for me on team 555... I'm really the only animator, heh. There are a couple of people interested this year, but they need lots of training, since they're fairly new to it. Most of the ideas and what to do is coming from me, so... what will it be, a mass of people working on specific parts of the project, or a main creator that does practically everything that has helpers to help him along if needed, with the main creator teaching his apprentances when neeeded? Seems to be a nice little twist here :). All in all, good luck. We're going to desgin the animation today. Always nice to have a bit of competition, no?

[spinmunky]

Also We've learned to be fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen! ;)

I wish we could do that.. sadly we can't because I'm the only animator! well there is another but he doesn't know that much of Max and he is always goofing off.

[BuddyB309]

I wish we could do that.. sadly we can't because I'm the only animator! well there is another but he doesn't know that much of Max and he is always goofing off.

It seems everyone seems to think we are top notch animation locked in a broom closet. Well, we dont have a team of top notch animators, I am the only one who know the program really well. The other animators know only the basics, I know im fast, and when someone is stuck on a problem i take the time to help them. Also that is why you have them do the same thing over again cause eventually, they will stop asking you for help cause they know what they are doing.

[RoboJedi75]

This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Yeah, it's an awesome setup. We tried that last year, and then one part fell... and the assembly line just dissolved.

I just wish my team had been able to get more experience in before now (most of my team is new/not-as-skilled members).

[Kevin Thorp]

One thing I've noticed when reviewing past winners is the best looking animations don't win. Autodesk is more concerned with the message.

So even if your team doesn't have a bunch of top-notch animators you can still win, if you have a great idea that fit's the "Think Green" theme.

[BuddyB309]

One thing I've noticed when reviewing past winners is the best looking animations don't win. Autodesk is more concerned with the message.

So even if your team doesn't have a bunch of top-notch animators you can still win, if you have a great idea that fit's the "Think Green" theme.

Thats why I liked it when they handed out regional awards, the best animators won the regionals and the best message won nationals.

[Testament-Doom]

Anyone up for best looking AND best message, hmm? :). A toughie to do, but maybe it can be done!

[BuddyB309]

Anyone up for best looking AND best message, hmm? :). A toughie to do, but maybe it can be done!


Yum, I smell the delicious smell of a challenge!

[Testament-Doom]

I can always sense which qualities an animation has on what sections and what they lack. Heard your completing your animation on thursday :). Sure we're competing a bit but if you want, you can show me the animation and I'll help you out on if you're missing anything or what points you need to work on, both technically and message quality. I do want to help ya know, heh. Let's see which one uf us animators has the potential for that best message and best quality for an animation, push it to the limit!

[BuddyB309]

This animation is good, we are just sticking to the look of our idea and for some reason our look is really easy and fast to make. If we really wanted to we could make something like this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7pTg4t2oc) That video was made solely by me in a period of two months inbettween everything else I had going on. So mainly I could only worked on it durring weekends.

[Testament-Doom]

Very nice work there! You're like me, but not really lazy and can get things done, lol. I usually work in-between things too, but really when I do something, like my art peices, they take a day to do. I mostly sit and play video games a lot, so I'm a pro gamer. If I wasn't distracted by other things like games 24/7, I'd be 2-3x smarter with 3ds max, and that's saying a lot, I mean every nook and cranny of that program! I gotta work my butt off if I want to get the animation done this year looking its best. If not, I still got another year ahead of me, I'm only a junior :P

I got some suggestions on the video there, but then you're gunna send your robot after me, and umm.. yeah, don't want that! ^^;;; Any other peices you got? I wanna check em out.

[BuddyB309]

Procrastination (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZYyoIFaLHM) and Trex on table (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxlr72b_2M4)

I am proud to announce........ahem......

RENDER NIGHT!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!! WE HAVE IT COMPLETELY FINISHED AND RIGHT ON SCHEDUALE!!!!

It should be completly done by tomorrow if all the computers run smoothly and none of them crash. Sadly, I'm not going to release it untill a couple of weeks go by, some teams are still comming up with ideas ;).

[BuddyB309]

Wow, I never thought we could do it in one week. I really highly advise people to use our set up. One computer crashed durring the rendering but the computer that was dedicated as the server picked up the job and finished it. Popo308 will give you the specs, he set up the system

Our animation is gorgeous, I cant stop watching it, I cant belive that how simple it is but how complicated it looks on screen. My team has decided to wait upon releaseing it to animation comunity. We still have to wait on the reply on the copyrights owner.

[Testament-Doom]

Heh, Well well well, I think you are just pleased with your team's animation, I like that :). It sounds as thought you've made the best animation ever, coming from your eyes.

As for me, I got some setup of my own, simple, basically it's all about the landscape, but we're going to just have like dramatic effects and all that. Armageddon here we come ;). I still gotta see if I should add a bit of a reasurring scene at the end, or end it as I imagine it.. that still needs to be debated. Oh this is going to be fun. Who will prevail? This year will be VEEERRYYY interesting.

[wt200999]

Wow, your guys finished already? I havent even started in 3ds max, only concept. You'll see though, the rookie team will come from behind!

Now for a serious question, there is only one person on the animation team, (possible another person) plus maybe some photoshop work. Would it be worth it for me to compete? I have a couple of years of 3ds max experiance, but mostly in gaming things, not animation so much. I kind of have got the hang of making a good looking scene too, but I dont know if I could do a whole animation. Would it be worth it? Thanks

[Efalunt]

Yes, you should compete. The way I look at it, the completed animation is a prize in and of itself... Besides, you've got nothing to lose (besides some sleep probably) and if nothing else, it's good practice for next year.

[Ryo Chiba]

Wow, your guys finished already? I havent even started in 3ds max, only concept. You'll see though, the rookie team will come from behind!

Now for a serious question, there is only one person on the animation team, (possible another person) plus maybe some photoshop work. Would it be worth it for me to compete? I have a couple of years of 3ds max experiance, but mostly in gaming things, not animation so much. I kind of have got the hang of making a good looking scene too, but I dont know if I could do a whole animation. Would it be worth it? Thanks

There was only one person on our animation team last year and our team won the regional AVA at the Buckeye regional. Last year was also our rookie year.

Being that one person, let me tell you: Yes, it is worth it.

[MrDeride]

Autodesk said nothing about which renderer could be used... so I'm guessing that V-Ray is allowed. I wouldn't be able to finish the animation without it... I have some insane materials that I've made within the past couple of years, including some very high-quality grass and leaf mats. I might release some after I finish my animation, if anyone thinks they could use them.

[k3`]

Yes, I think I could use the leaf/grass mats. Even if I couldn't it would still be interesting to look through them :)

[wt200999]

Thanks for the support, I'm definatly gonna do it then, I have some neat ideas in mind :yikes: