Design updates and real-time demos will follow shortly, so check back often!

This is the base polygon model done in maya.  Normal maps were created for the character in Zbrush, and this is what they look like when rendered in maya:

Thanks to digital tutors for the tips in zbrush.  Painted model to follow shortly.

The project is an interactive virtools project that plays like a first person videogame. I wanted to make the whole experience to be symbolic of my college experience..having a dream and finding out how to make it a reality..or even simply the search for what I love.

Here is a link to a few slides proposing the idea before it was developed

The person in control, using an xbox 360 controller with a typical first-person setup, started out in a dark and dingy hallway..no end in sight..only doors to the left and right.

The object is simple: Walk from the beginning to the end..the hallway takes around 5 minutes to walk straight to the end from the starting point..along the way, images fly at the user trying to turn them around and confuse them and sounds entice the user to open the doors along the way and investigate. If the user walks through the door, they’ve strayed from the path to their goal and are thrown in a purgatory of sorts..

They have to crawl their way back on track following sounds and visual cues to lead them in the right direction. Once close to the end of the hall, a white light indicates they’ve almost reached their goal. When they make it to the end of the hall, they’re transported to a colorful and serene landscape full of life..

After a few moments to walk around and take in the sights and sounds, the user is transported back to the beginning of the hall…once a dream is attained life doesn’t stand still…there are other dreams to follow…always a new path to tread.

I’ve begun testing a program I’ve been tweaking which I hope will result in a fully functional 3d representation of the original super mario bros. which appeared on the NES.  I’m doing everything myself (character modelling, sound effects/scoring, interface, game setup/scripting), so it may take some time, and it’s sure taking a ton of energy, but I’m really excited about the possibilities of developing on my own terms and making something that’s really stellar.

I’ll be updating the site with progress on the game…anything from character models to background design to complete level demos, so keep your eyes peeled for new music and progress reports.

I spoke about some of the projects that I was currently working on, and I explained my process in generating ideas and what it means to me to create art.

You can check out the interview on Chicago Public Radio’s website:

http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=23079

or you can listen right here

This is the mid-term assignment for my AD406 Compositing class for the Spring 2008 semester of my senior year at the University of Illinois in Chicago. It was a group effort. Yu Li came up with an idea of an ant trying to avoid being crushed, and that planted a seed in my head that eventually led to the Chef movie.

Kevin O’Neill gives a spectacular performance as the crazed chef who is obsessed with his tomatoes.

Dave Mathews, along with Yu Li, developed the 3d model of the kitchen in which the chef exists.

I played the piano track to the scene and completed most of the compositing in After Effects CS3.

If you’d like to see an early sketch I made of how I wanted the scenes rendered, you can check out the demo for the project found here.

Here is a cross-section of rendered images taken from a scene I modeled in Maya version 7 during the fall semester (Maya 1 class) of my junior year at the University of Illinois at Chicago.