Thanks!

Well, the current/ongoing plan is to finish all my modeling in C4D, UVMap many but not all things (like the walls, floor, seats, etc.), then export as an OBJ.

Create textures for above mentioned "main things".

Bring it into Poser, size to fit a basic character, and then create simple shaders for the rest of the objects - like the girders, handrails, ceiling supports, etc. Things that most people wouldn't care if it didn't have a custom texture.

Set up some lights for a basic configuration, possibly a panoramic sky (though I'm still figuring out all of this in Poser - I'm currently sucking at it!) so you can see clouds through the sky-lights (or windows, depending on how you look at it - which will be a basic glass texture in Poser as well).

THEN, export everything FROM Poser - both the finished OBJ file as well as the Poser scene file/setup. If it works like any other 3D program I've used, you can set up the whole scene altogether and anyone else can simply load it and play. This leaves it ready for sale and use with Poser.

For a while I started trying to tackle it all at once when the model isn't even done to my satisfaction yet - so I've pulled back and am still in C4D until I finish THAT part of this project.

Poser, I'm finding, is almost like trying to learn a different language. They really have their own way of doing things - dials instead of basic gizmos kinda thing. Rather than a single scene file, it's a SET of "runtime" folders with parts in them.

And yeah - last import in P8, everything was a vibrant RED!! Cuz THAT'S realistic!

There's going to be a LOT more head-scratching by the time I get through with this.

-Lew

Okay, got tired of visually trying to figure out which piece I was working on, so I put the missing rail post back in (thanks for that IsaoShi!) and gave everything a basic wash of colors so I can better see what I'm doing.

If IBL seems to be the popular way to generally light, I should start pooling my panoramic skies and put one in for a lighting map/texture. I'll see what I can do to come up with something, and some interior lights, to give a good starting point where someone can take off with and play.

Yes, more to learn - I think I'm close to being done with the actual modeling now. little things here and there and that should be it.

Thanks for your patience!

-Lew

Oh crap - you're right!

[and then he dives back into C4D, muttering cuss-words under his breath]

Doors on all 4 sides of the upper stadium - you can now get in and out of the place. A 3-light fixture is above each, but I think it looks kinda dumb so I'm most likely gonna make new ones - should go fairly fast since I have a handful of designs I'm working on.

Doors below in the arena that I'm finally happy with as well as lights above them.

Reduced the number of wall beams seemed cluttered and unnecessary, and it lowered the poly count - of course I then upped it with the doors and lights, but hey, here we are...

Added some temp basic textures for the lights and monitors just to highlight where they were and how they would separate.

Work is picking up big-time so I'm bouncing back and forth between C4D and learning some Poser to make it all work.

-Lew

Ah - I was looking at the Library Palette! Totally missed the Light Controls where the icon means "Create Light", then the tabs - yeah, I know - you already know this stuff...

Carry on!

-Lew

So near as I can figure out/find out/look up Poser hasn't got simple "Omni" or "Spotlight" type of lights... Just presets of a type of setup, ideas of "sidelight" kinda thing - do I have that right?

I realize this is a direct question that should really be in a new thread, but here we are...

Yes, I'm having fun learning a new system of thinking about lights.

And wow - yeah, 3200% seems pretty right as far as an import size! Still waiting for a client check to arrive and then I'l be getting Spanki's plugin and UVMapper Pro. I figure I'll just map everything - the rafters and such will all roughly be the same thing anyway, so they can just be part of 1 giant image map.

The seat rows I'll actually wanna paint as rough lived-in (or I guess "seated-in huh?) with striping on them, as well as the floors in front of them.

I think the monitors will all be separate images as well, with templates provided (or you can just change the original image supplied) so you can create your own monitor images - whether it's player profiles, or scores, ads, etc.

Still need doors for the seating area.

-Lew

That's okay with me for a while - my copy of Vue isn't working at home right now - argh!!

This is kind of what I was thinking. Not many universal options for a large arena - too specific maybe. Well, still gonna finish it and move onto the other ideas.

Gots more ler'nin ta doo - I'll be back!

-Lew

Okay, while I'm getting up to speed and refining this, lemme ask a general question.

This is a LARGE arena - the "playing floor" is roughly 95 feet long - the seating is large - 6 rows deep around this thing. To populate it might very well take around 1,000 characters, and also include whomever, or whatever, is actually playing some form of game below.

Is this something that would even be used - thinking realistically?. Is this too limited and difficult a setting, or do you think it might have numerous uses?

I'm basically trying to gauge the possible responses and figure out settings/scenes to model that would be fun to use in the future - a mile-long space port may be a cool IDEA, but populating that thing with characters and ships and odds-and-ends would be a nightmare for a computer to handle and the user would get too frustrated - and my name would start to be associated with "difficult to use models" - get it?

And the next thing I'm thinking of doing is a Vegas-style somewhat large hotel room with a bizarre hottub and fireplace - so it would be more accessible for normal use and situations - and not need a cast of thousands to fill it.

I like a lot of room to play, but trying to find that manageable size others might enjoy as well is a little tricky so far.

-Lew

Okay, I now have P8 and am learning the few things I think I need to cover - material basics, sizing, the lighting system - I MIGHT start to dive into the rigging, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Right now the basics of the first 3 might be just the edge of my brain's capacity.

I hate the door I came up with, so I'm changing it, and also adding light cans based on a warehouse gallery I went through recently.

Once I can do some more tweaks, at least have "zones" set up, I'll have a more usable model to upload and you guys can play with it.

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this - it's been a pretty cool learning experience so far!

-Lew

Ah - cool! Thanks!

Congrats to the winners!
Can't wait to see the new topic!
-Lew