Rectifying Common Physics Problem in Your Game Development

There are games that use physics engines to help things in the game move and react. The use of a physics engine can add immersion as well as emergent game play, but at the same time, if not used appropriately, can result in game-breaking issues. This blog discusses about the ways to determine and rectify the common physics problems in 3D game development with Unity 3D.

Common Mistakes and Ways to Fix Them

Following are the common physics mistakes often seen in game development. The ways used for fixing these issues have also been discussed:

• Inappropriate Scale:

In majority of the games, players assume that the scale of the world is related to Earth’s scale. Suppose, in a game, an enemy is falling from a height. The players would expect the foe to come down at the same rate as he would if he falls in reality on earth. If the speed of falling is too slow or fast, it may detract from the immersion, specifically if the one falling is human-sized. 

• Use a RigidBody As Well As a Character Controller:

The game developer assumes that a Character Controller is required for controlling their avatar. But the players want the avatar to be influenced by gravity and similar things in the environment. The issue is that a Character Controller is created for more traditional controls as seen in first person shooter. Gravity and certain physical forces affect a RigidBody. You need to select a Character Controller if you wish to have complete control over the way a player moves. Again, if you wish your character to be moved by a Physics engine, you need to use a RigidBody. In including a RigidBody to a character, you may wish to restrict rotation so that the player does not tumble. 

• Objects Rolling Constantly:

Suppose, you are developing a golf game. In this instance, you may find that the golf ball is not stopping and rolling constantly until it finds a hole. In reality, the glass blades on a golf course offers rolling resistance and slow down the ball. However, in Unity, you need to use artificial stopping forces to stop the ball. Using angular drag may be helpful in this case.

• Objects with No Bounciness:

All the objects bounce following an impact. However, the internal, default physics material of Unity does not have bounce. There will be no bounce until you apply physics material to the things showcased in your scene with a bounciness value more than 0. This problem can be rectified with the creation and assignment of your own default physics material in the Physics Manager.

Keep in mind the above mentioned suggestions during 3D game development with Unity 3D.

Creating Motion Graphic Projects on a Budget

When there is talk of motion graphics or videos in any media project, clients immediately begin to worry about escalating budgets. However, if you are able to channel some of your learnings from your student days when you pursued your motion graphic design diploma in Singapore you already know that there are a number of ways to create great animation and videos for your clients without having to burn a hole in their pockets.

 

Processing is an extensive part of creating a good motion graphics design and perhaps the costliest aspect of the project. Here are a few ways in which you can help your client save money and deliver great results on a shoestring.

·         Keeping it Simple

The simpler your motion graphics design, the faster and cheaper it will be to create, and more often than not, the better it will look. Leverage your creative sense to come up with great ideas on how to make the simplest of iterations as against doodling on your PC. Doodling often adds to the complexity of the project, and before you know it, you will have crossed your client’s budget.

·         Repurposing from your Library

As a motion graphics designer it is always beneficial to create a library of some of your best ideas, illustration techniques and designs. So when you are working on a budget or working against a strict deadline all you need to do is repurpose something you have already invested significant time on. There will hundreds if not thousands of amazing designs, concepts and treatments that may have been discarded by other clients but work extremely well for your current project. It is always good to save all your experiments and versions.

·         Rely on your Inspirations

While plagiarising is a strict no-no in the world of design or any other creative field, there is nothing wrong in going back to some of your top inspirations every once in a while. This means that you save time in experimenting with concepts, giving you a chance to start on a strong and already successful foundation. Most often you will find that your end project will be completely different from the one you were inspired from in the first place. However, you saved significant time and thus money for your client.

·         Mixing Media

You will find that some elements are easier to create in real life than on a PC. If you feel that it is going to be cheaper to simply photograph or film certain aspects of your motion graphic design projects, go for it. You will also be able to bring a touch of realism into your assignment enhancing its overall quality.

Before you make any big decisions regarding the project in question, make sure you work closely with your client to understand his or her capacity to spend, the extent to which they are willing to push their budgets and their quality expectations. It will be your job to find the right balance between quality and cost to deliver what your client truly likes.

Specialized Graphic Design Jobs You Should Consider

Technological advancements, the growth of digital media and how audiences consume information has significantly transformed the graphic design industry. With a number of specialized job opportunities emerging, there is a lot you can do once you have graduated from your graphic design institute in Singapore.

 

While choosing to be a jack of all trades continues to be a viable career option, some additional study can make you a specialized designer that tends to earn more money and experience more professional growth. Here are some of the specialized design jobs you may want to consider –

 

·         Creative Services Manager

With about 3 years of experience under your belt, you will be able to get to this position. Here, you are primarily in-charge of being the middle person between the senior management and the creative department for the brand or company you work with. You will essentially be in charge of overseeing the entire project, making sure deadlines are met and budgets are not overshot. You are the one responsible in making sure the senior management team get quality results from an efficient creative team.

 

·         Email Marketing Designer

In this position, you will be responsible to design and execute highly engaging email communications for the promotion of the brands you work with and their offerings. You will be working closely with other designers, writers, marketing managers and user interface experts to make sure that the brands marketing communication objectives are met with. In addition to understanding the principles of design, you will also need to have sufficient knowledge in UX/UI, HTML and CSS.

 

·         Flash Developer/Designer

As a Flash Developer, you will be creative interactive online content including games, advertisements, websites and other web based applications. You will also be in-charge of testing, implementing and maintaining dynamic website elements using tools such as Action script and Flash. As a Flash Developer you will need proficiency with JavaScript, CSS, HTML, XML and other web languages and software.

 

·         Information Architect

As an information architect, you will help clients define their website content and design strategy. You will need to analyse your target audience and assess their needs to improve the overall user experience on any website. You will be expected to make use of process maps, wire frames and mock-ups to define the intended user experience to the decision makers who could be your employers or clients.

 

·         Mobile Designers

As a mobile designer, you will be designing content and functionality for smartphones and tablets. By working closely with cross functional teams, you should be able to create effective, compelling and interactive experiences for mobile users. In addition to aesthetics, you will also have to account for the functional aspects of design. You will need to develop proficiency for various programming languages used across various mobile OS.

 

In addition to this, you can also consider developing the skill-sets required to being a presentation specialist. Designers with an interest in marketing strategy find this career option to be rather promising. Other great design jobs include UX and UI designers, who are responsible to create easy to use, captivating experiences for audiences. These jobs require in-depth understanding of graphic design among other things.