Last year Prefabrica brand was split in four divisions - IMAGE for textures, SOUND for sound effects, CODE for programming solutions, and most important one - MESH for 3D model resources. Why "MESH" in March 2010? Well, technically every 3D object is a mesh, including sculpted prims of course. So, where's the big difference one might ask. It's actually not as big as it might seem, but from our point of view mesh import brings:
- the end of models created exclusively for SL - we now can use the work we've been doing for our other games and projects in SL (and vice versa). This was not possible with models made of sculpted prims - and you will see the fruits of this possibility very soon in our stores.
- improvement of workflow, as polygon mesh models are easier to texture due to custom UV maps and multiple faces. Also the 3D creative process itself is a bit easier now.
- rather smaller improvement of the quality of the 3D content. Actually there's few things polygon mesh allows that couldn't have been done with sculpties as well. The best old fashioned sculpted content looks as good as the mesh content to the end user in most cases.
- avatar appearance - here of course the biggest changes are awaited. Mesh objects can be rigged to move along with the skeleton and many see the posibilities here. However, the limitations are still present. Are you thinking about a mesh skirt? Well, probably forget about your own shape then. The thing is that the skirt (or other clothes) will adjust to a wider pelvis as the joint distance is in play, but not to a larger butt, as it doesn't affect the joints. So prepare for your belly to go through the mesh shirt, your breasts to stick through your mesh jacket and so on. Have a try yourself - we've prepared a free rigged mesh t-shirt model in the PREFABRICA mainstore. So knowing the limits and counting with them, mesh will be very helpful in some applications where sculpties couldn't compete - like sleeves and alike. However, if you're thinking complete avatars, mesh is a blessing. We've prepared first two full mesh avies: the Flufee and Yobee creatures in Dirty Lynx - and I really love the way they look and behave. (See the videos - Flufee and Yobee on YouTube) This opens up the door really and I'm looking forward to see what comes out of this.- generally - I think there's not going to be any influx of free 3D content from the internet to SL. The amount of work and skills needed for a good performing mesh model is still about the same as before. It's only opening the doors to the new means of creation - which is a positive by all means :)
What we're up to in the nearest future "meshwise":
- we'll be releasing at least five new mesh cars in Prefabrica very soon. The Corse GP racing track will be full of them I'm sure.
- we have scheduled first mesh fullperm prefabs for release in the coming week. Sci-fi vehicles anyone? Motorbikes? The packaging is in progress now.
- taking advantage of our proved download system, we are going to provide full source downloads for all our mesh prefabs. You can get the .obj, .dae and .psd for the mesh t-shirt now in the Prefabrica mainstore.
- Dirty Lynx will continue the new avatars line and we also have some more apparel coming. Mesh in game too here.
Posts
