A competition for complete novices

[shadowmonkey]

Hi alls I joined this site about two weeks ago.I have never used zbrush before.
I was wondering if there was a way for hosting a competition for novices and junior members such as myself?
This would be a good oportunity for us newbies to learn from you vetrans out there.No prizes involved just a simple exercise comp that is set and taylored for us newbies.

my work. http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran_woods/sets/72157609456521343/

[Hearshotkid02]

That sounds like a good idea to me. I too have little experience when it comes to 3D, and DW4 is looking really intimidating to me lol. I really like the sound of a 'newbie comp' though it does kinda sound like this could be one in the same as the mini-comps that normally get held. Yeah, you compete against some experts and pros in mini-comps, but the subject matter is usually manageable for most levels of experience.

And btw, your work looks real nice. If you weren't posting saying you weren't experienced, I wouldn't have guessed it at all.

[Blenderhead]

Just join the mini's. The next one will be after Dominance War. But there is no reason to not enter Dominance War, plenty of newbies do it every year. It will be my first year too. Just learn a lot and do your best, that's all that most of us can hope for. :)

[shadowmonkey]

Hearshotkid02 Hi oops about the 3D I meant to put ZBrush 3D and Charater modeling.My portfolio work is what I have done profesionaly for the two years the high rez buildings I have learnt myself I come from an animation background so all game art skillz have recently been learnt.Just want to clear that up and not come across as blagging.
The reason I was thinking of a newbs comp is like you I look at DW4 and brick it.
I though it would be a good idea for people like myself and other who do not at this time fully understand the pipe line from say 3d max to zbrush and back for rendering.Maybe the comp could just be for now a model created in any 3d package and then detailed in zbrush with no textures?
I would have also loved to enter the mini comp Street Fighter as its my all time fave.

[shadowmonkey]

Blenderhead do you or other build a basic obj. in say maya or max then bring in to Zbrush?or do you create from scratch in zbrush?this is where I get confused on how people do things?

[Hearshotkid02]

That really depends on what you feel more comfortable doing. I'd say if you don't know ZBrush well, make a base in whatever 3D package you use, unwrap it, then export an OBJ and bring it into ZBrush.

There are more than plenty of tutorials you can find on the web on ZBrush. There also an AMAZING book that a teacher of mine recommended for a class, and I can't remember it now :( It came with a DVD with lessons and covered just about everything you could possibly need to know to get on your feet in ZBrush... I think they author was Scott Spencer, I could be remembering wrong there though.

Yay google! http://www.amazon.com/ZBrush-Character-Creation-Advanced-Sculpting/dp/047024996X Look into getting this book. My teacher had it as the recommended reading for a ZBrush class my school ran for a few quarters. It helped myself, as well as the kids I know who got it tremendously. I'm sure some other people could point you at some other helpful tutorials/readings as well.

[seven]

I took a look at your stuff. It's not bad. I don't think you should be too worried. I say try out DW. You may not finish but that's ok. It's a learning experience and the feedback you will get from people will only help you improve. Also, if you want to be in the game industry you will be competing against seasoned pros.

Entering novice competitions (if there is such a thing, the pros tend to come out of the woodwork for a lot of comps) won't allow you to learn as much as competing with them. My reasoning is this... When you go to school you learn from someone who has been there, or closer to the point you may want to get to than you are currently. You can't learn too much from a novice.

Look at the threads of people that compete in DW and pay close attention to what they are doing. Ask questions. Post your entry and ask for feedback. I'm sure you'll find that you will learn much more by competing in a large scale comp like DW. Good luck.

[shadowmonkey]

Hearshotkid02 thanks ive seen that scott spencer book, had a flic and I think ur right about it being a good book to have.

seven thanks im glad you like my stuff always trying to learn as we all are.I get what you mean about entering with the vetrans and your right in all that you have said.I wont be entering the comp,but this afternoon I had moment of inspireation for my own project :) so will post up W.I.P wish me luck and lot of energon :)

[Gavin]

The thing with that idea, as great of a gesture as it may be, is that by surrounding yourself with equally talented people (novices, as you say) you're really only setting your bar to be a little better than novice...or the best of the novices. I'd highly recommend competing in dominance War even with the knowledge that you're not going to win. In fact, I think that's the best mentality to take on the whole competition anyway: to learn and have fun. You'll learn so much more and be driven to really push your own limits when you're shoulder to shoulder with more experienced people.

Edit> Should have read seven's post :(

[Bertmac]

All right before i start rambling
let me say that i was just thinking out loud, no thought thru concepts here.

But maybe there shouldn't be any mini comp
but more of a rendezvous every week( several days)
So lets say with DW4
we make this simple pipeline, like
1 brainstorming
2 concept art
3 base modeling
4 zbrusging
5 blabla
in these sections of the pipeline you will have the time to post your work ( one or 2 pics) and let other people C&C on it.

i think it will generate more comments and questions all collected in one thread, and also there will be some kind of timeline (deadline) to hold on to.

Of course you will still need to do your personal threads.

blabla
i should stop thinking out loud