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ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 5:34 am

I'm new to this forum. A friend of mine told me i should post here. Here's something i did working for my company ALIENWARE. It's something i'm working on for a short film.

it's abyss meets aliens meets a lot of coffee.

[ May 03, 2002: Message edited by: ALIENWARE-GABE ]
www.pixelmonkey.com

here's my stuff from a long long time ago. and i haven't updated this site in over a year. hopfeully it still works.

[ May 03, 2002: Message edited by: ALIENWARE-GABE ]

[ May 03, 2002: Message edited by: ALIENWARE-GABE ]

[ May 03, 2002: Message edited by: ALIENWARE-GABE ]

cheney · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 6:07 am

Why did you put that beveled alien head over the background image. That is horrible, remove it.

The background image is ok, except that its somewhat diffecult to make those glass/water people out.

Did you make the background, or did you just put the alien face on it?

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 8:04 am

no i did everything.
the head is there becasue it's part of the Alienware branding.

it's a desktop for customer's machines.

roundeye · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 9:20 am

wow, you work for alienware? thats so cool!!! i love this image, those aliens kick ass. i dont mind the beveling on the logo either.

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 9:41 am

Alienware is cool. we are all gamers here. Well, most of us.

There is a section on our main page alienware.com called the resricted area - it's the pulsing button next to suppot - it features all the desktops i've done and some UT (Unreal Tournament) game levels i've done.

AJ · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 6:16 pm

It's good. And so is the logo, but you should make it smaller and place it in a location that doesn't conflict with the other elements in the image.

pixelsoldier · Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 7:03 pm

Do you own an Alienware system? I've always wanted one, but can always manage to build one myself for half the price.

However, it doesn't look so space-like.

I want a green computer, damnit.

Ben Barker · Posted: Sat May 04, 2002 7:37 pm

What a coincidence. I was just looking at your stuff on the alienware website today, and wondering if you took part in artist's forums.

I think this is one of your better pieces. Here's a crit, though I sort of formed this opinion earlier, and it doesn't apply to only this piece.

You have good modeling skills, and the materials you create are interesting.
You seem to have training in graphic design, moreso than 3D, juding by the composition and the color choices of your work. For example, one of your stongest points is the shapes and contours you are able to create in the composition. Very designish, if that's a word. What I mean is, looking at your work I can instantly tell you are a designer doing 3D. That's a good thing for what you are trying to do here, better than the 3D artists who try to do design.

Having said that, some of your pieces are a bit cluttered. And while your materials are interesting, sometimes they are applied too uniformly throughout the image. This image is a good example. The latest renderers that make cool looking glass sculptures a simple business are also quickly making those types of images a clich�.

With more careful placement and variation of materials you could give it more contrast and make it more interesting. I think this shows not a lack of potential, but more a lack of extensive experience with 3D rendering. I'm not saying you're a novice, but with further practice to eliminate some of the reservations this piece shows, you could take your stuff to the next level.

Integrating 3D and design work is a pretty hard thing to do, but when it works it's a beautiful thing.

So, after that crit, you can speed up my order on that MJ-12 DDR right???

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Mon May 06, 2002 7:59 am

no i don't own an alienware machine. i was planning on getting one, but it's nothing i need so badly. besides we are coming out with a new case design so, i'm waiting for that. i work with three of them. one for regular photoshop, and game level design work, another for DV stuff and the third for 3d stuff.

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Mon May 06, 2002 8:28 am

I jumped into modeling thinking ["well if I can draw then I should be able to model"] after all, its drawing with a mouse. But, I'm learning more day after day.

I've never been one to follow the "good composition" ideology. I just place the camera down in a location and that's my window to work in, much like taking a photograph of an event without worrying if its balanced and flows well. I know, I know bad design habit, but what can you do?

I'm not that good at 3d overall. I learned it on my own, so there is a lot of info I'm missing out on. I can build well, but when it comes to texturing I don't know much about max and the material editor to put together a nice texture. I just use the defaults. but I also try making the defaults look as good or as real as real can be. not that I did that here with this piece or the others for that matter. I pumped them out in a short time. I suck at lighting too. I'm trying to understand the attenuation properties but it takes time and experimenting, which I don't have here at work. and I don't work at home. I game and study game art. that's what I do well at. I'm designing a level for UT with an "exclusive Alienware facility texture package" made entirely from scratch in Photoshop. it's hard but very fun and fulfilling.

i'll do my best to get the DDR out to you.

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Mon May 06, 2002 8:35 am

the alienhead was put there because i redesigned the logo for our laptops. and i thought it looked better than the plain one we currently have. but no one here liked it, saying it changed the alienware branding, (which is not true at all, but that's another whole new argument) so i placed it smack in the middle of some desktops so they would see it over and over and over again. marketing politics. i'm wearing them down slowly but surely.
plus it cast some interesting shadows.

Khaifin · Posted: Tue May 07, 2002 10:57 am

i like the picture
its a shame alienware is sucha ripoff :-\

[ May 07, 2002: Message edited by: Khaifin ]

weedhopper · Posted: Tue May 07, 2002 12:45 pm

Not to start a flame war, but Khaifin.. Do you actually OWN an Alienware box? I don't think you would be so quick to say they are a rip-off if you did. I own one, and would buy another one any day. Yeah, you pay premium prices, but it's for premium hardware, as well as premium construction and support.

Gabe- nice work, although the only crit I have is things seem to get lost a bit overall. Still nice though. Are you "married" to Max? In other words, have you tried LightWave 3D? The latest (7.5) is very intuitive, easily configured to fit your work methods and flow, and is extremely fast... Especially on my Aurora Area 51

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Thu May 09, 2002 5:31 am

a rip off of whom? not that it really matters to me or that i'm offended. clearly not. but, i'd like to know. we get a lot of mail saying that.

ALIENWARE-GABE · Posted: Thu May 09, 2002 5:37 am

for now i stick to max, because i know it. if i started a new program even though the principles are the same, the shortcuts are not. i've worked with maya and i can safely say it blows max away, but it was confusing to use, i've also used cinema 4d and i have to say it is the best texture editor i've worked with, but again it models clumsy. so i stick with max. its an all around decent program.

we have lightwave here but i haven't messed with it.

weedhopper · Posted: Thu May 09, 2002 8:12 am

Wow... if you have LW there, by all means, give it a try. Depending on the version you have (hopefully 6.0 or above), you will love the texture editor! Also the renderer & modeler are (in many's opinion) the best in the industry. BUT- I can relate to having to learn a new 3D App... whatever works for you! Keep it up!