Nova Villanueva - Beginning 3D Game Assets Development Pipeline: Learn to Integrate from Maya to Unity

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You look around into a vast open space. It is hard to see through the dense blanket of fog. Suddenly, a loud thump startles you. The noise gets louder as something approaches, closer and closer. A large yellow mech appears in the near distance. As it walks closer to you, you start to see that it is covered in scratches, perhaps battle scars, and various signs of wear and tear appear along its edges. Its long, dark shadow looms over you. You press Escape.

Then, you go and press Play again and look around into a vast open space. It is hard to see through the dense blanket of fog. Silence lingers. A large yellow mech appears in the near distance. As it walks closer, you notice its operation buttons are distorted and its scratches and edge wear are misaligned. It is unclear what material it is even made out of. However, its long dark shadow begins to loom over you. You press Escape.

You press Play again and look around into a vast open space. This time the air is crisp and clear. A large gray mech appears in the distance. It walks in your direction. Its long, dark shadow looms over you. You press Escape.

You press Play again and look around into a vast open space. A small, default game engine character model appears in the distance. It looks as though it is walking in place. Its walking programming is not yet complete. You press Escape.

Now you are back to square one. Where it all began. An idea, a concept, a dream.

With a computer in front of you, a mouse, and a keyboard, you set out to embark on a journey. A journey where you take the tools in your arsenal and learn to build the worlds and characters you imagine, where others can play and experience. For example, a mech roaming through a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

In this scenario, the tools are the skills youll acquire in this book as well as the literal hardware and 3D software tools themselves! Use this book as a guide to help you gain an understanding of industry standard 3D programs. The book will teach you how to create these virtual stories in a production environment.

Maya , Substance 3D Painter , and Unity are massive programs that can take years to master. However, if you keep focused on unleashing your creative self first, the rest will follow. It is not about being an expert designer, nor reaching that alluring master status. Rather, it is about being open to learning, growing, and evolving with software, technology, and your passion for the craft. This will truly help you expand your skillset as a successful 3D artist.

Im eternally grateful to Natalie Asport, an AAA 3D artist and NYU professor. Without her joining me to finish this book, it wouldnt have been completed until 2077. Her second voice was what this book needed.

Secondly, special thanks to my long-time supportive friend Flo.

To Frank Lantz, Naomi Clark, Eric Zimmerman, and Bennett Foddy, professors at the NYU Game Center, who enriched my game-design process with iterative design thinking tools while I was a graduate student there. These legendary four colleagues have inspired me and will continue to do so.

This book was completely written through the pandemic, so I also need to thank my doctor, Dr.Oksana Levieva. She treated me even when regular doctor visits outside of COVID symptoms were sparse, which I greatly appreciate.

Lastly, I want to thank Delano Athias, an instructor at Pluralsight, who taught me over a decade topics from rigging to Unity. Back then, the company was called Digital Tutors and I bought their CDs. Delano taught me to see beyond memorizing tutorials and taught me in-depth tools that I can utilize to create anything.