3D Game Animation For Dummies

Introduction 1

Part I: Creating 3D Content for Games 5

Chapter 1: Getting Started with 3D Game Animation 7

Chapter 2: Game and Art Design, and Creating Storyboards 19

Chapter 3: Starting with Traditional Animation Basics 29

Part II: Creating Interfaces, Modeling Scenery, and Texturing Backgrounds 39

Chapter 4: Creating Game User Interfaces 41

Chapter 5: Modeling Scenery and Props 59

Chapter 6: Adding Details with Materials 87

Chapter 7: Mapping Textures 97

Chapter 8: Creating Effective Lighting 115

Part III: Designing, Modeling, and Animating Game Characters 131

Chapter 9: Techniques for Modeling Characters 133

Chapter 10: Discovering the Basics of 3D Animation 173

Chapter 11: Animating Characters 193

Chapter 12: Animating Facial Movements 209

Chapter 13: Automating Reactions with Dynamics 217

Part IV: Animating Game Cut Scenes 227

Chapter 14: Animating Scene Elements 229

Chapter 15: Animating with Particles 241

Chapter 16: Rendering an Animation 253

Part V: The Part of Tens 265

Chapter 17: Ten Types of Tools Used by Game Companies 267

Chapter 18: Ten Creative Jobs in the Animation Industry 279

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Land a Job as a 3D Game Animator 287

Appendix A: Using Game Engine Tools 305

Appendix B: Glossary of Animation Terms 337

Appendix C: Directory of Animation Schools 351

Index 355