- FREE COURSE
Get Started with Asset Creation for Games.
Join Ben Keeling, an industry expert known for his work on Star Wars, Halo, and Suicide Squad, currently serving as Lead Environment Artist at Respawn, for a transformative journey into the world of the gaming industry. Explore the evolution of video games and learn how to create detailed, realistic asset for games, beginning with your very own bot. And a chance to get personalized feedback throughout this process.
Studios That Hire Our Students
Did you know?
2M Jobs
The U.S. gaming industry supports over 2 million jobs, with a growth rate of 10% each year, offering a plethora of opportunities for aspiring game designers and developers.
A Hot Market
The emergence of AR/VR and the Metaverse is creating brand new industries, expanding the realm of possibilities for game developers and artists.
Multi Industry
Video game technology, such as real-time tech, is not just limited to gaming; it's used in industries like education, automotive design, architecture, and product development
$250 billion
The gaming industry has grown exponentially, from a $78.62 billion market in 2017 to a projected $250 billion in 2023, surpassing the combined size of the film and sports industries
And the Industry Wants Creative People Just Like You
In this evolving industry, Your Creativity Is in High Demand.
Did you know? According to PocketGamer, in 2023, 68% of UK games developers are suffering from skill shortages. with 22% struggling to fill vacancies in the art and design department.
Is gaming the right industry for you?
In this Free Course you’ll gain a gain a broad perspective of the gaming world, including its history, technology, and market dynamics.
Led by Ben Keeling, this course offers a unique blend of industry knowledge and practical 3D Prop modeling skills. Start with an exploration of the gaming industry’s past and present, then transition into hands-on learning with 3D asset modeling.
Learn about diverse career paths in the gaming industry, with a special focus on how 3D asset modeling opens doors to various roles.
Features
- Free Weekly Pre Recorded Content
- Personalized Homework Feedback (Limited)
- Pre-Recorded Q&A
- Lifetime Access
- Community & Virtual Classroom
Benefits
- Learn About the Gaming Industry
- Learn 3D Prop Modeling Using Blender
- Create a Portfolio Piece
- Gain Lifetime Likeminded Friends
Pre-Requisits
- Blender
- Unreal Engine 5
- Skill Level: Intermediate
Start Here for FREE:
Unlock the first 3 Weeks for FREE
Week 0 - Introduction To The Gaming Industry
Kick off the course with an immersive introduction to the gaming industry. Learn about its history, current trends, career paths, and more.
- Explore industry history, trends, and future.
- Understand the significance of your skills.
- Realize the potential impact of your creations in gaming industry.
Week 1 - Reference Gathering and Prop Blockout
This week we’ll explore creating a nature-inspired hard surface robot. We’ll start by collecting references and shaping our initial design into a greybox model.
- Art Bible
- Reference Ideas
- Reference Final
- Intro to Blender
- Blockout
- Recap & Homework
Week 2 - High Poly Leg
This week is all about the practical aspects of prop modelling. Elevate your skills in high poly modeling, focusing on the robot’s legs. By week’s end, you’ll have a detailed leg design to show off.
- Recap
- Mesh Adjustments
- High Poly Modelling Techniques
- High Poly Designing Techniques
- High Poly Workflow
- Recap & Homework
Week 3 - High Poly Head and Body
Conclude the course by mastering the final stages of the prop modelling process .Continue your high poly journey, this time concentrating on the robot’s head and body. You’ll finish with a fully designed robot, showcasing your growing expertise.
- Recap
- New Head Pieces
- Modelling Techniques
- Detailing the Head
- Recap & Homework
🔒 Continue Your Education:
Modeling is just one facet of the game pipeline and industry. To explore various aspects of the game industry and determine where you might find your preferred position, consider enrolling in the “Asset Creation for Games” course. This course extends beyond the realms of concept art and modeling, delving into topics such as real-time preparation, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and the process of bringing your character to life as your initial portfolio piece.
Week 4 - Nanite In-Game Mesh
Master Nanite technology for game meshes, starting with a foundational recap. Delve into Texel Density, Nanite Geometry optimization, and essential techniques in Unwrapping, Packing, and Baking. Conclude with a final recap and homework, honing your skills in efficient, high-quality game asset creation.
- Recap
- Nanite & Texel Density Guidelines
- Nanite Geo and Optimization
- Unwrapping
- Packing
- Baking
- Setting up Bakes
- Recap & Homework
Week 5 - Texturing
Enhance your skills in game asset texturing. Dive into Reference Gathering for realistic textures. Learn about Smart Material creation and detailing, followed by a hands-on assignment. Explore the techniques of Handpainting for unique textures. Conclude with a recap and homework, solidifying your texturing expertise.
- Recap
- Reference Gathering
- Smart Material
- Detailing Smart Material & Assignment
- Handpainting
- Recap & Homework
Week 6 - Rigging
This Week focuses on the fundamentals of character rigging. Progress to constructing Armatures and Basic Bones. Develop specialized rigs for legs, tendrils, and wings, ensuring versatile movement. Conclude with tidying up your rig, a final recap, and homework, cementing your rigging knowledge.
- Recap
- Armature & Basic Bones
- Leg Rig
- Tendril Rig
- Wing Rig
- Tidy up
- Recap & Homework
Week 7 - Animation
This is the week where you'll bring your Bot to life. Start with gathering references and brainstorm animation ideas. Learn to create poses using the Action Editor, then block out and finalize a Flying Animation. Perform test renders for your animation, and wrap up with a recap and homework to refine your animation skills.
- Recap
- Reference & Animation ideas
- Creating poses using Action Editor
- Blockout Flying Animation
- Finalise Flying Animation
- Test renders for Animation
- Recap & Homework
Week 8 - Presentation Week
Final Week, you'll learn how to showcase your work effectively. By setting up basic and complex scenes. Focus on Lighting setup for mood and clarity, followed by test renders and exporting final renders. Enhance your work with Post-Processing techniques. The week concludes with a final homework, polishing your presentation skills for your final portfolio piece.
- Recap
- Setting up Basic Scene
- Setting up Flower Scene
- Lighting Setup
- Test Renders & Exporting Final Rendrs
- Post Progress
- Recap & Final Homework
Ben Keeling
Ben is currently working as a Principal Environment Artist at Respawn the studio behind, massive hits such us Titanfall 2, and Apex Legends. He has worked on numerous environments on various AAA productions and projects for over decade. He’s worked on titles such as EA’s Need for Speed franchise, Sony’s VR worlds with PlayStation VR, Halo Wars 2, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. His work has been featured by Algorithmic Polycount, and CryEngine.
Curriculum
A preliminary journey into the gaming industry. This introductory week sets the stage for your learning adventure by providing a comprehensive overview of the gaming world. You’ll gain insights into the industry’s history, current trends, and future opportunities. This week also includes an orientation to the tools and technologies that are pivotal in game development and prop modeling. By understanding the broader context of the gaming industry, you’ll be better equipped to appreciate the significance of your skills and the potential impact of your creations in this dynamic field
1.A: Reference gathering and deciding on an idea
1.B: Blocking out your eco-bot
1.C: High poly techniques
1.D: Recap, homework and takeaways
2.A: Intro to texel density/breakdown of low poly
2.B: Low poly techniques & optimisation
2.C: Unwrapping techniques
2.D: Packing the UV’s
2.E: Setting up baking inside of Substance Painter
2:F: Recap, homework and takeaways
3.A: Reference gathering for texturing
3.B: Building Smart materials
3.C: Assign smart materials to different parts of the model
3.D: Hand painted details
3.E: Recap, homework and takeaways
4.A: Setting up scene for rendering
4.B: 3-point lighting setup
4.C: Test renders and polish to texturing
4.D: Save out final renders
4.E: Post process
4.F: Recap, homework and takeaways
