For the seamless game development process, you need a streamlined Animation workflow. It helps to create immersive and engaging experience among game tester and users. Autodesk’s latest webinar on the Animation in game development is focused on the said thing. 

Hosted by Alex Ferreira Simoes, the online training video will focus on the key elements of a successful animation pipeline. He will explore the software tools, techniques, and best practices. You will learn about game dev cheat codes. 

Generic Animation Pipeline in Game Development

Given below is the best practices for game development. It may vary as per the project budget, genre and complexity.

You can refer it as a guide or a framework. Do tweak it according to your game.

• This initial phase of pre-production involves defining the visual style of the game, characters and environments. This sets the foundation for all subsequent animation work.
• Once concept arts are finalized, 3D modelers create the gaming characters, props and environment assets. 
• As per the gaming level, texturing is applied.
• Rigging is done for all 3D gaming characters. It allows animators to control character movements and interactions.
• The process of Skinning and Weighting connects the 3D model’s surface to the underlying rig. It ensures that the model deforms correctly when the rig is animated.
• 3D Gameplay Animators use specialized software to bring the characters and objects to life. It is one of the most time consuming process, which needs to do done very meticulously.
• If budget allows, Motion Capture technology can be used to record the movements of real actors, providing a realistic basis for animation. This can significantly speed up the animation process for complex movements.
• Once the animations are complete and approved, they are imported into the game engine. Most widely used tools are Unity and Unreal Engine.
• The final stage of game development process involves testing the animations in the game environment. We need to identify all issues and correct them. This polishing process ensures the overall look and feel of the game is as per the vision of the Director.

Autodesk provides a suite of powerful 3D softwares that are widely used to create Animation in game development. They have robust features for keyframe animation and motion capture integration.

These includes:

• Maya: A leading 3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software. Maya provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating complex character animations, VFX and environments.
• 3ds Max: It is another popular 3D modeling and animation software. 3ds Max is also used for creating architectural visualizations, product designs and game assets. It offers a wide range of tools for creating detailed models and animations.
• MotionBuilder: It is a real time character animation software. It is specially designed for motion capture, keyframe animation, and virtual production. Due to it’s rea time nature, the results of the work immediately to speed up the animation process.

How to do Game Animation?

Creating high-quality game animations requires more than just technical skills. That’s where the animation pipeline comes in the picture. A well-defined pipeline ensures that animations are in line with the game’s overall art direction. 

It is the backbone of any game’s visual appeal. The animation pipeline and workflow involves a series of interconnected game level stages. It ranges from initial concept and character design to final rendering.

Some of the best practices for game animation are as follows:

• Storyboarding is must.
• Do lock the character movements and poses. This will help you create more realistic and engaging animations. 
• Focus on the key poses: Make sure these poses are strong and clear.
• Timing and spacing are very important for creating realistic and engaging animations.
• Anticipation is the preparation for an action. Follow-through is the continuation of an action after the main movement has stopped. It is also called as secondary animation. As an example – tail of an animal. 
• Optimize your animations by using LODs (Levels of Detail). It will help to reduce the complexity of animations.
• The final step in the animation pipeline is integrating the animations into the game engine. Both Unity and Unreal Engine offer robust system. 

Webinar: Animation in Game Development

Now, you had gone through thoroughly, let’s talk about the Autodesk Maya Animation webinar. You will learn about the detailed 3D Animation workflow in Maya for Gameplay Animators. 

Trainer: Alex Ferreira Simoes (Senior Gameplay Animator – Riot Games)

Date: 13^th March, Thursday

Time: 12.30 pm (SGT) | 3.30 pm (AEDT) | 10 am (IST)

Duration: 1 hour

Webinar link: Get registered for the webinar

Topics:

• Learn the art of hand-keyed animation in Maya
• Understanding and delivering the current demand of the gaming industry
• How to polish the final animation output
• Development of an optimized production pipeline in Maya and integrating them with game engines (Unity / Unreal Engine)
• Open Q&A session at the end

Alex will share industry standard tips and tricks for animation mastery in game development. You will learn about game dev cheat codes in the process.