*Closed*

[Bricejohnson]

Position filled, no longer available.

DME is currently looking for a Maya character model expert. We are currently working on a video game that uses the quake III engine but have run into issues.

#1 Models were moved over from max. When they were moved over we lost the textures. It was easy to apply the texture when there is only one per model but I was not able to figure out how to get multiple textures on one model working.

#2 The models need to be cleaned up. If you look at the image when we export it into the game you can see it has lots of elements and vertices. Not sure why, the models were not like that in max I assume it’s just a setting issue again that needs to be tweaked a little.

#3 Of course our animator didn’t spot any of these issues to begin with so they are all rigged and weighted. So if making any changes causes that to go away it needs to be reapplied.

#4 This is just a after thought and if someone doesn’t know how to do it that’s fine but we need to get the models so they hold guns, if anyone know how to do that with the Quake III engine that’s great, if not I’ll research it after.

I’m offering 150-200 dollars for around 25 models. And looking for them to be finished asap.

[o'dium]

200 bucks to fix 25 models...? Yeah good luck with that.

[^misantropia^]

$200 is a fair bit of money in some parts of the world. Just look at rentacoder.com.

[Bricejohnson]

I was just going based off $20.00 an hour. So that would be 10 hours worth of work.

I hope a maya expert could be able to reapply an already applied texture and use tweaking functions to make sure the verticies are connected to each other with 45 mins per model.

[Hipshot]

If I could I would, $200 is still money in.

[obsidian]

Why the move to Maya?

(I use Max, lol)

[Kat]

I was just going based off $20.00 an hour. So that would be 10 hours worth of work.

I hope a maya expert could be able to reapply an already applied texture and use tweaking functions to make sure the verticies are connected to each other with 45 mins per model.

You are totally underestimating the amount of work you're asking to be done here... reducing the polycount of models to MD3/Quake 3 numbers? (c.under 1000 per model?) is no mean feat as it more often than not breaks weighting, UVWmaps and causes a whole host of other problems the inexperienced artist is going to stumble across, you'd be lucky if you got two models out of ten hours.

I have to agree with o'dium on this and say that you'd be more likely to be paying $200 per model for the kind of skills you're actually asking after to fix the issues you have right now - you certainly won't get an "expert" for that (unless they're from China where as currency exchange backs up what ^misantropia^ said.

[Noruen]

I regret I have no such good skill in Maya, because... 200 dollars is a LOT (for me). There you can see how some professions are over-paid. Yes, it is a lot of work, but it is a free project. Im surpsrised they offer so much money.

Every mapper spend a long time on map-development without any rewards...

[Anthem]

Every mapper spend a long time on map-development without any rewards...

I would have to disagree. The personal achievement of completing a map is a reward in itself. Plus, becoming familiar with a program such as Radiant may be helpful to display works on a resume if one is attempting to get a job in graphic or game design.

Monetary rewards are only a drop in the bucket.

[FRA_ChaosLegion]

I would have to disagree. The personal achievement of completing a map is a reward in itself. Plus, becoming familiar with a program such as Radiant may be helpful to display works on a resume if one is attempting to get a job in graphic or game design.

Monetary rewards are only a drop in the bucket.

Amen.

I always feel relieved but a great sense of accomplishment when I finish a map.

Michael
ShadowZombie

[Noruen]

Doesn't we separate unseparable? To be somebody who helped with creating of some mod is not personal reward?

[4days]

happy birthday Noruen

[Anthem]

To be somebody who helped with creating of some mod is not personal reward?

Perhaps, but I was only referencing the mapping portion, as you will note from my quote above.

[Bliccer]

Imo, this is a good amount. I helped A LOT of people doing their maps or fixed some stuff. Of course you get a big thank you from the mapper himself... that's cool, but since I worked on a "for free" basis I have to agree Noruen that 200 dollars is much. Still... I can't model... yet. Sorry
I would do it, though.
You can say that it's selling yourself. But Anthem if you think for free and helping is enough for your own satisfactory, then do it for free... 200 Bucks is imo more than I ever will get for community work (since I won't get any lvl design job in the game industry).

[Anthem]

You guys are misunderstanding what I said. xD I am simply saying that mapping isn't reward-less.

[fKd]

i kinda is, but hell its fun..ish in a rut right now, not sure when it will end. waiting for review
:/

[Eraser]

The question here is if the work is done for a commercial project. If it's for a mod that's made by volunteers, then a $200 reward is a lot.

If it's a commercial product that's made by a company that pays it's employees, then $200 isn't a whole lot.

[^misantropia^]

Commercial but with precious little funding. That $200 is probably coming out of the OP's pocket.

[Anthem]

Try looking for people at these two sites ( http://www.fpsbanana.com/ or http://www.polycount.com/ ). Those sites have a larger congregation of modelers that may be able to help you.

[fKd]

yeah polycount would be my bet for success as well, lots a pros hang out there.

[obsidian]

Maybe also try at CGTalk. They are general computer graphics artists from across many industries, from gaming to film to product design to 2D concept art. Just make sure you post in the appropriate subforum, they have a lot of categories.

[obsidian]

As far as $200 goes, it depends on how you look at it...

"We're working on an indie game, but we need someone who can help us with a few things and we will be eternally grateful. Here's a $200 incentive from my own pocket as a thank you."

(Wow! $200 is a lot. I'd love to help.)

"We're working on a commercial game and we are interested in hiring a professional Maya modeler under contract for the sum of $200."

(WTF? That's slave labour! I can get paid more working at McD's)

I think the intention was the former, but in an effort to sound more "professional" it may have been interpreted as the latter.

[Anthem]

Indeed. Sometimes the connotation of what you say is the main selling point of what you want. I don't think it's unrealistic to look for help from more experienced modelers with just $200 dollars; there are some really nice people after all. But as obsidian said, wording it differently to help the readers understand that you need a favor and you are willing to give $200 dollars to attain that favor would probably increase the probability of your success. Definitely check out the sites we posted, they will be crammed with people who would be able to help.

[Anthem]

Congrats on finding someone to fill the position. Good luck with your future development.