COMP 5620/6620 Conceptual Model 3D Game Creator Lei Chen Fangyang Shen Lacey Strange Volkan Ustun

Outline  Introduction  3D Game Studio as an educational tool  Overview of 3D Game Studio Software  Models Developed Models  Car rush  Ball throwing game  Cloud Other example Models  Weather models  Crane simulator  Web interface of the project

Introduction (1/2)  3D GameStudio provides: 3D engine Physics engine Level, terrain and model editors Built-in compiler for C script for modeling interactions C++ interfaces for external development

Introduction (2/2)  We are working to develop educational models for middle school students using a 3D game authoring tool -3D Game studio.  Another objective is to assess the capabilities of this tool for educational model development

3D GameStudio as an educational tool (1/2)  Strengths Eliminates the burden of coding 3D graphics for creating interactive and enjoyable models. Built-in C-script capabilities provide flexibility in game and interaction design (This is not provided in level editors eg. Unreal Tournament)

3D GameStudio as an educational tool (2/2)  Weaknesses Target audience is FPS or other type of game developers Documentation is not extensive Need to do coding for functional models Need to understand 3D graphics for any type of scene development Complicated tool for basic users

Level design Modeling Lighting Script programming (optional) Overview of 3D Game Studio (1/8)

Overview of 3D Game Studio (2/8) Level Design WED is the editor for creating the virtual worlds. The WED manual is divided into three parts.  Basics  Function (Menu and User Interface)  Map Design Example: A Basic Shooter

Overview of 3D Game Studio (3/8) Modeling Two ways to add models  to move or copy your own ".mdl " files into your project directory.  go to the Object menu and select Load Entity.

Overview of 3D Game Studio (4/8) Lighting  How impressive the level will look depends on the lighting.  Lights and shadows are an important feature and a powerful tool of GameStudio's A6 engine.  Tips Rarely use Pure White Lights. Use Soft Lights. Use a Basic Level Ambient. Try Not to Use Sunlight

Overview of 3D Game Studio (5/8) Script programming  C-Script Editor: to create your own scripts for 3D GameStudio.  SED: to provide syntax highlightning, code completion and other features.

Overview of 3D Game Studio (6/8) C-Script  has all features of a modern object oriented programming language.  a simplified version of the professional programming language C++.  C-Script Workshops will be very helpful for new programmer (on the GameStudio download page).

Overview of 3D Game Studio (7/8) SED  Menu.  Configuration.  User Interface.  Editing.  Network debugging.

Overview of 3D Game Studio (8/8) Detail Instructions and Further Assistance      

Developed models (1/15)  Car rush model

Car rush – Conceptual model (2/15)  This game is designed to let students have an basic idea of relationship among speed, gravity and friction.  Students are able to release vehicles from the top of a slop to the bottom. They can choose the surface material; slope angle and 4 different vehicles.  The game will measure the time while the vehicle moves down.  All settings and records will be saved in files.

Car rush – Conceptual model (3/15)  On-screen instructions are simple and explicit.  Student hits the start button to release a vehicle. Historical settings and records can be displayed also.

Toggle slope surfaces: ‘s’ Toggle slope angles: ‘a’ Toggle vehicles: ‘v’ Best Record: 2.76 S Start! Show History EXIT

Developed models (5/15)  Ball throwing game model

Ball throwing game – Conceptual model (6/15)  This game is designed to support the understanding of basic physics  Children would be able to draw relationships between the throw angle, throw speed and the distance.

Ball throwing game – Conceptual model (7/15)  Basic idea of the game is to hit several targets that are spread around the scene by throwing balls..  User will be able to determine the throw speed and throw angle of the ball.  Users will be able to move to either right or left, however, front/backward movements will be restricted.  A flyweight camera will be incorporated to move around the scene

Ball throwing game – Conceptual model (8/15)  Game will be composed of a single level where there are four targets  User need to hit each of the targets in order to complete the game.  Hints may be provided physics equations to calculate the point where the ball will hit the ground.  There will be some barriers in the scene that can obstruct the ball movement.

1 mile 0.5 mile 0.3 mile 1.2 mile Ball throwing game- User interface prototype

Ball throwing game – Scenario (10/15)  User starts the game.  User selects a target  User modifies the throw angle using “+” button to increase the angle and “-” button to decrease the angle.  User determines to throw speed using “up” to increase the speed and “down” to decrease speed.  User presses “enter” to throw the ball.  If the ball hits the target, target hit would be deleted from the scene.  If all targets are hit, a congratulation message will be shown and program will terminate. If there are targets left, user will select the next target and will try to hit it.

Developed models (11/15)  Cloud Model

Cloud Model – Conceptual Model (12/15)  The cloud model is designed to be an exploratory learning experience for middle school science students  With this model, the student will be able to learn about different types of clouds such as Cumulus clouds, Stratus clouds, Cirrus clouds, Cumulonimbus clouds, and Nimbostratus clouds  The student will also learn about different functions of clouds

Cloud Model – Conceptual Model (13/15)  The student will be able to Visually see the differences between different types of clouds  The student will feel like he or she is up in the sky exploring the clouds

Cloud Model – Conceptual Model (14/15)  To learn more about clouds, the student would simply select a cloud that he or she would like to learn more about  Information about that cloud would appear in the blue box at the bottom of the screen

Cumulus clouds are the puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton

Other example Models (1/5)  Weather models (tornado, flash & thunder)  Crane simulator

Tornado (2/5)

Flash & Thunder (3/5)

Crane (4/5)

Crane (5/5)  Control the 0.8 ton steel claw of a 240 ft.  Task is to grab items from the ground and place them elsewhere.  Realistic behavior of crane, cable and claw is controlled by a very short script using Gamestudio's physics engine.

Web interface of the project  Please visit for more information.