The Game Artist's Guide to Maya (Paperback)

by Michael McKinley (Author)
Key Phrases: planar mapping, personal site, modeling module, Texture Editor, Channel Box, Edit Polygons (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Brought to you from Maya Press, here's the only official guide to creating 3D game art and animations with Maya. Written by a production artist at a leading game company, this book uses a real-world, tutorial approach to teach you everything from modeling, texturing, and animation, to special effects techniques used to create cutting edge games. The CD features a fully functioning version of the Maya Personal Learning Edition as well as models, textures, animations, motion studies, and other files to support the book's tutorials. It's ideal for artists looking to break into the field, and students and "modders" who build game content.

From the Back Cover
The Definitive Resource for Up-and-Coming 3D Game Artists

Alias' award-winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software continues to lead the industry in technological innovation and is being adopted by more and more console and computer game developers. The Game Artist's Guide to Maya is an official introduction to creating 3D game art and animations with Maya, brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Alias and Sybex. Written by a production artist at a prominent game company, this detailed book focuses on the skills real game artists use daily to create stunning characters and environments.

By following the discussions and tutorials, you'll bring a concept through the entire game art development pipeline, learning everything from modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation, to special effects. You'll also glean insights from industry professionals and see how Maya has been used in popular games. If you're a 3D game artist, or looking to become one, this book will help you master the skills and techniques you'll need to excel in the competitive games industry.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

Create a game model using a concept image as your guide

Model with predetermined real-time polycount limitations in mind

View martial arts videos on the book's CD to animate your character more realistically

Prepare a model for texturing with UV mapping and layout techniques

Create different kinds of textures

Master the rigging process, from setting up a skeleton to preparing blend shapes

Practice techniques for creating animation clips to work with in the Trax Editor

Use particle effects, such as sprites and animated geometry, to add pizzazz to your model

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (January 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782143768
• ISBN-13: 978-0782143768
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,144 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The GAME ARTIST'S part of the title is IMPORTANT!, April 19, 2005

By	Jason Greenwood (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I got this book, as well as Game Character Development in Maya, at the same time, so it made it a little easier to review this book in comparison.
I am just starting out with Maya, taking courses on 3DBuzz, playing with the PLE version of Maya, so I really should have read the title of this book a few times to let it sink in. This is a book for CURRENT GAME ARTISTS. This is NOT really a book for people just starting out with Maya. The author does not explain a lot of what he's doing as far as theory goes, because he's assuming that you already KNOW the theory, and are just moving your skills to Maya. This is not a bad thing, of course, but caveat emptor for the n00b like myself you buys this assuming your going to be led by the hand. For those people, I highly recommend the previously mentioned 'Game Character Development in Maya'.
I'm NOT knocking this book!!! It seems like a really good one for the audience it's intended for, and I'll probably put it on my bookshelf until I get good enough to see what the author is trying to say. I just wanted to throw this out for those, like myself, that might be thinking it's a beginner's guide, which it surely isn't.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard stuff made easy!, January 27, 2005

By	Mikkel Fausing (Denmark) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First of all, this is a great book. I read it cover-to-cover twice within the first 24 hours. Now don't get the title wrong, 3D modelling will never be easy, and no book can ever make it so. What a book can do, and this book does very well, is to get you started.

After the first chapter, which is a very interesting and useful tour around the "what's" and "how's" of the games industry, the book goes on to describe every step in the creation of a game character, from the initial concepts are made to the textured, animated model is finished and ready for the game. The book is built around a tutorial for a fantasy creature, but with comments on each step in general included where this is different from the character the book deals with.

Being a novice modeller myself, I had several "so THAT'S how they do that" experiences while reading through the book, but I'm sure even experienced modellers would learn something. The first chapter on how to get a job in the games industry and what to expect once you have it is worth the price by itself.

A basic knowledge of Maya is required to get the full benefit of this book, but using the built-in videos of the free "personal learning" edition included with the book as well as free tutorials from sites mentioned in the book will give you these skills in no time.

As I said at the beginning, no book can ever make this area easy, but difficult to master does not mean it can't be relatively easy to get started, and if you (like me) have a dream to one day become a modeller, I can't recommend this book enough.

Now go buy it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Character Artists Guide to Maya., November 8, 2005

By	Phopo (Canada) - See all my reviews

I've read the book through and I have to say it certainly hit its demographic; those who wish to extend their basic Maya skills to game art in all aspects (up to and including tips on simply getting a job as a game artist) should buy this book. If you're attempting to learn Maya or 3D altogether than you might as well pass on this book.

About the only point lacking in this book is its narrow scope -- no mention of particle effects not directly associated with the model, no mention of Sub-D modelling, etc. That critique mentioned, he had a topic to cover -- and what was on topic was covered thoroughly.

If you wish to pick up a book about learning to develop game art with polycount a concern, specifically modelling humanoid creatures, this book is for you -- and as a bonus you'll learn to have a respectible reel to demonstrate your added talents. If you don't know Maya, take that first step first -- then pick up this book, its a fairly light load (1-2 days read) so the benefits won't take too much time out of your day.

Rated 4 out of 5.

Pros:

>It is very detailed in its explainations (with illustrations)
>Sidebar interviews and profiles act as built-in study-breaks making you not need to stop reading
>The narrow demographic gives the reader exactly what he wishes without confusing him with stuff he either knows or doesn't care about knowing.
>Inside knowledge of the game industry is shared, including reel making.

Cons:

>Again, narrow demographic may have this book in the hands of many who it doesn't belong. Know what you buy.