Check out http://www.3dmotive.com/downloads/ with video tutorials from $ 15.
We can use more modelers and texture artists for Asylum =]
Ok I assume there are ppl who do not wish to pay for anything, like me and so here is some help:
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/MaterialsCompendium.html
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/LightingReference.html
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/ShadowingReference.html
and now for 3dsMax(Unwrapping, bumping,):
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/23203-3dsmax-lightmap-small-tutorial
http://www.chrisalbeluhn.com/Normal_Map_Tutorial.html
http://www.chrisalbeluhn.com/Hydrant_Tutorial.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFx1p4PUanQ&feature=related
Oh and a good channel with loads of clear tutorials for UDK as a whole:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thenewboston
If I have more, I'll send but all the rest of it is easy ;P.
What are some things that need to be modeled or whatevs? I'd be interested in trying my hand at it. Considering I have a bit of books on Maya and whatnot and no real motivation to work through them without some kind of purpose (for some reason self-accomplishment doesn't register for me as a valid reward). I keep getting distracted by TF2 without proper motivation. :P
I'm interested in getting into animation though. Not that I think you'd let me play around with that stuff, but just a little insight on what I've been trying to accomplish.
In the end though, it seems like you should be a little more open with the things you want from people. I get that you guys don't want to give away all the surprises, as come reveal time there would be nothing to show, but it seems to be hampering the random passerby's interest if the biggest hint you can give is "really cool things to show soon" and a poll that has the few of us around picking between 5 things we'd be interested in giving feedback about. Be it finished, or not.
(This post sounds like a real downer in my head! Just getting some thoughts out there since it's been a while since I posted. ;))
The main problem I see is quality. I want to get AAA quality for almost all things, which is hard and only a relatively small amout of people can do that.
Maybe we can make a less-than-desired-quality map with assets created by newcomers to modeling/texturing and so on? Would be +1 for the amount of maps.
Cronky, you can set up a thread for brainstorming of a community-made map.
(PS: playing TF2 with the new Mann vs Machine mode is not a waste of time. I played it for like 6 hours yesterday xD. It's awesome!)
A community map is a REALLY good idea. Having an extra map at game launch would be great!
Frvge (or whoever knows), what is the requirements for AAA quality for Models/Textures/Animation? Also what stuff needs to be done for Asylum (or anything else)?
I ask because that's how you brought up this topic. "Want to help out? Learn 3d modeling/texturing/animation/UDK..." is the topic of this thread. Once I showed interest in learning stuff (or other people potentially learning stuff) you pushed off and said that a Community Map might be better suited to those same people you were trying to recruit at the start? If you want some kind of help, then you can't keep the people that want to do this in the dark. So again, what actually needs to be done?
Make this a contest or something!
Each week have 1 item you need to be modeled/textured/animated (nothing too complex so beginners can give it a shot. Or at least not always something complex.). Give the dimensions needed, preferred poly count(?), reference, etc. and let the community try their hand at making it. Prize being that they get a special... thank you or something in the credits of the final game or something (not sure if that's possible). Or if they show strong potential, invite those people to be a part of the team.
Throw it up on IndieDB and here, plus anywhere else you guys post, and link to the PS forums for official entries to be judged. Maybe make a whole new sub section in the Presentation area for this so it's not all cluttered. This could let the community know that the project is still alive, while also gathering those people who aren't ready to run full tilt into designing a map from scratch for a game that does not have a vague hint of a release date.
It's going to be hard to catch on at first because our community is so small, but if enough buzz gets put on it then more people might start coming in. More people means more potential AAA quality people that can help you with actually get this up and running.
...plus it gives us all here something to do while we wait for an update.