3D Modelling, Animation & Game Design (NFQ Level 5)

3D Modelling
This course will teach you everything you need to know to get started designing, building and animating your characters in a rendered 3D environment. Using Blender, students will be shown how to build and texture props, sculpt characters and develop detailed environments for TV/Film.

3D Modelling [software: Blender]

Introduction to 3D Modelling

• Provide an introduction to 3D modeling including software, hardware, and industry applications
• The elements of the modeling software interface
• The use and manipulation of basic primitives including transforming, scaling and rotating

3D Modelling Techniques

• The use of different modeling techniques
• 3d modelling techniques (props, characters, environments)
• UV unwrapping & texturing
• Character rigging & design
• Rendering output Lighting a scene

Texturing

• Explain UVW mapping including texture coordinates, model geometry, and texture size
• Generate 2D textures using appropriate software
• Apply textures to 3D models

Learn the 12 principles of animation and apply them to your projects. Through the course, students will be guided through exercises that teach them the best timing, body mechanics, posing and framing practices in use today. You will be shown methods to build armatures (also known as 'rigs') to control the characters you design, as well as how to animate and operate a virtual camera in a 3D space.

Animation [software: Blender]

• Animation principles and process
• Idle, Movement & Combat actions
• World systems & Simulations (Particles, Fluid, Cloth)
• Camerawork

At the end of this module you will be able to:

• Understand animation principles
• Demonstrate animation within a 3D environment
• Explain the use of keyframes, lighting, and cameras as they relate to 3D animation

Students will develop a game prototype using their own assets in Unity. This short introduction will show you the basics of designing a level, scripting, game mechanics and the formal elements of game development. At the end, students will have the skills necessary to develop their own 3D interactive experiences.

Intro to Game Design [software: Unity]

• Exporting and Implementing models in Unity 3D
• Building a prototype in Unity3D using your own assets
• Coding/Scripting

At the end of this module you will be able to:

• Analyse a classic game to provide an understanding of the core game elements and how they work together.
• Develop a simple 2D and 3D game prototype using an industry standard game engine and any required middleware.
• Identify the different business models within the games industry.
• Describe the roles of the various game development specialisations.
• Develop graphics as animation, backgrounds & interfaces, as well as physics effects & particle systems, media technologies.