Target 8 Done!!

I have now completed implementing a trigger and matinee sequence. To achieve this I used my prototype level and created a simple door model that opens and closes; activated by a trigger the player touches which then plays a matinee sequence of the door shuting. When the player does not touch the trigger the door again opens.

Target 7 Done!!

For this target I created a simple panel in 3DS Max and the texture for the uvw map in Adobe Photoshop and applied to the model in Max; then I exported the model in the .ASE format.

Then opening the texture created in PhotoShop in CrazyBump I exported a diffuse, normal and specularity map in .TGA format to be imported into UDK.

I imported the mesh and textures into UDK and made a material for the panel and applied it to the model.

Then I put my mesh into my prototype level and duplicated it along one of the walls of the room.

Target 6 Done!!

Before I can import my textures into UDK I found out they must be in .tga format (which can store extra alpha channel) and 32 bit.
Also the textures must be equal to the power of two:
16 x 16, 32 x 32, 64 x 64, 128 x 128, 256 x 256, 512 x 512, 1024 x 1024.

Once the textures were imported into UDK I created my own material in the material editor; pluging in diffuse texture into the diffuse connector; normal texture into normal connector; specularity could be plugged into the specularity to make the material look polished under a light source.

Target 5 Done!!

I have learned not only how to create texture maps with Crazy Bump software; I also what they are used.
Diffuse = colour image
Specularity = light affect on texture
Normals = bumping image to give texture

Target 4 Done!!

I have finished my three room prototype and I learned how to edit my brushes in geometry mode using the split tool to create a bay window effect in one of the rooms.

Target 3 Done!!

I have found a solution to create a flash light with vertical rotation for my project. First add a light to the level by right clicking in the perspective view on the floor near the PlayerStart; form the menu select Add Actor; then Add Light (Point). With the light still selected right click and from the menu select Convert Light; then SpotLights; then SpotlightMovable.
Now rotate SpotLightMovable to face the same way as the PlayerStart and raise it to the correct height; while still selected right click on the Spotlight Movable to bring up the Spotlight Movable’s Properties window. Expand Light Component and expand SpotLightComponent and change the outer cone angle properties to replicate a flashlight.
Now fire up kismet with the SpotLightMovable still selected; right click in the grey area; from the menu select New Event; then Level Loaded and that node appears.
Again right click in the grey area; from the menu select New Action; then Actor; then Get Location and Rotation and that node appears.
Again right click in the grey area; from the menu select New Action; then Actor; then Set Actor Location and that node appears.
Connect the Beginning of level of Level Loaded node to the In of Get Location and Rotation node.
Connect the Out of Get Location and Rotation node to the In of Set Actor Location node.
Connect the Out of Set Actor Location node to the In of Get Location and Rotation node.
Now right click on the Target of Set Actor Location node and from the menu select New Object Var Using SpotLightMovable_0.
Again right click in the grey area; from the menu select New Variable; then Player; then Player and that node appears. With the node still selected in the properties window under SeqVar_Player uncheck All Players.
Connect the Target of Get Location and Rotation node to the Player variable node.
Connect the Location of Set Actor Location node to the Player variable node.
Now right click on the Rotation Vector of the Get Location and Rotation node and from the menu select Create New Vector Variable. With the node still selected in the properties window under SeqVar_Vetor; then Vect Value change X to 0.001.
Connect the Rotation of Set Actor Location node to the Vector Variable node.
Finally right click on the Out of Set Actor Location node and from the menu select Set Active Delay; a dialog box that appears; type 0.001 and click Ok.

“A loop has been created which determines how frequently (0.001) the location and rotation of the player is updated which allows a smooth sync between flashlight and player”.
Excellent we have a flashlight that follows the player and also looks up and down.

http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=745061&highlight=flashlight

Target 2 Done!!

I have finished my plans for all three floors of the house.

Target 1 Done!!

I have completed my game story prologue:

It was a cold and wet night; which you’d expect for late October. Nathan and his friends had decided to walk down to the old pub in town and play some pool; it was an excuse really to get drunk as the group often did.
Nearing the old pub they always passed the big old house behind the wall which seemed to go on forever. The house itself seemed to peer over the wall and look at them as they walked passed with those dark tormenting glazed eyes. It had been empty for many years now; boarded up and left to rot.
Many times, Nathan and his friends had talked and made up stories about that house; “it’s the English Amityville” they had once claimed. The group had always been curious of what was in there and how they would love to have a look around; this night was no exception. Reaching the end of the wall they all notice that where some of the wall had collapsed years ago and a metal fence had been erected in its place; was now partly torn down.
Without a word spoken they all knew what each other was thinking but too scared to say; it was their chance to satisfy their curiosity. With a node and a smile Nathan led the group through the hole in the fence; navigating through the overgrown brambles and weeds they reached the house. The house was a lot bigger then they had imagined it to be from the other side of the wall. It was strange and scary to be stood in the shadow of the house that they made so many stories of; a feeling of unease settled across the group.
Like a silent funeral precession the group began to circle the perimeter of the house; the only noises were the cracking and snapping of dead weeds that they stood on. The groups fear subsided; they began to feel disappointed. They released there was no way of getting in to the house at first; due to the metal shutters that had been riveted to the windows. Still they carried on with their perimeter check and as they turned the last corner; they noticed one of the shutters had been wrenched and bent away from a small window which was broken. The group couldn’t believe their luck; someone had given them the perfect entry point. They all gathered around the window to get a peak of what was inside but it was hard to see due to the darkness.
The group began to challenge one another to go inside but none of them would; after all the stories they made up about the house; they were too afraid. Feeling beaten by their own imagination they decided to leave the grounds the same way they had come in; hastily they went back to the original plan; play some pool and get drunk at the old pub.

Later, in the safety of the old warm cosy pub; Nathan began to taunt the others “your all a bunch of big girly girls” he declared; “I would have gone in”. Not happy with his five pints of Guinness Dutch courage; one of his friends retaliates “ok, tomorrow night you go in and stay the night, Mr Brave Heart”. The group agreed which left Nathan with no option but to accept the challenge. So over a few games of pool and more beer; the group began to give him conditions of the dare. First they wanted proof that he has been around the full house; so he must take pictures of every single room in the house with his mobile phone. The group then told him that he couldn’t take any beer with him and was only allowed a torch and sleeping bag as well as his mobile phone. The group decided to meet at eleven o’clock the next night and walk Nathan to the house; then making sure that Nathan went in the window that they would meet him at the next morning.

For Nathan eleven o’clock had come to quick and as agree his friends had arrived to escort him to the house behind the wall. Nathan nervously checked his phone which was fully charged; he then put his freshly bought batteries into his torch and checked it. With a deep breath Nathan pulled on his big winter jacket; placing his torch and mobile phone in his pockets. He picked up his sleeping bag and told his parents he was going to be sleeping out; his mother always wanted to know what he was doing so she could drop the bolts in place if he wasn’t going to be back on a night.
The group began the walk that Nathan had been dreading all day; he was scared and wanted to back out of the dare but he knew his friends would really rib him for a decade if he did such a thing.
Before Nathan knew it he was at the hole in the fence but this time he was the last one through it; in fact he wanted to just turn around and run away screaming.
The group retraced their steps from the previous night and arrived at the window; Nathan took a deep breath and climbed up on to the window sill. He crouched down then looking at his friends he smiled nervously; then looking through the gap to make sure nothing was waiting to get him as soon as he climbed through the window. “Here I go then guys” announced Nathan as he climbs through the window into the dark room; he was in and terrified. The group stared at Nathan through the window wondering whether it was such a good idea to leave him here alone; then they shrugged the idea off; he’ll be fine they all thought. Nathan felt miles away from safety; just stood on the other side of the window as he reached into his pocket for his torch; he then switched it on to flush the room with light and survey the area; no bad things. The group agree to meet Nathan at this window at seven o’clock sharp in the morning; if you need help use your mobile phone they told Nathan before saying goodbye and walking away.
Nathan stood fixed to the spot; he listened to the fading footsteps of his friends and the cracking weeds under foot; then there was nothing. Nathan was now alone in the house; he began to swing his torch light in to the darkness around him; as if to ward of any evil entity in the area. Calm yourself down Nathan thought to his self; make a plan. First Nathan decided where he should sleep and he thought it better to sleep near his escape route would be best. He throw his sleeping bag onto the floor a few feet away from the window and the unrolled it; he sat on the sleeping bag and thought about what he should do next.
Nathan sat for a while listening; there was an eerie silence in the house which was unsettling to him so he began to make a plan for the night ahead. He thought if he quickly went around the house to get his pictures then he could come back to his sleeping bag; snuggle up and wait for his friend to come back in the morning.
Nathan nervously stood up and thought to his self; ok let’s get this done then I can sleep the rest of the night away. He fumbled in his pocket for his mobile phone and using his torch; set the phone to camera; he was ready.

Targets set for October - November

1 Create story prologue.
2 Create map of house (all three floors).
3 Find flashlight tutorial with vertical rotation solution.
4 Build a three room prototype (for UDK learning and scale).
5 Learn how to make textures (CrazyBump software).
6 Learn how to import texture into UDK and create materials(for UDK learning).
7 Learn how to import static meshes and textures into UDK ( for UDK learing).
8 Learn how to implement a trigger and matinee sequence ( for UDK learing).