Air Hockey Showdown
FX and Animation
In my Animation 3 class, we were tasked with using rigid bodies to create a realistic simulation of a carnival game supplemented by character animation.
One of my favorite games is air hockey, so I decided to create a moody arcade environment where two Stewart Rigs (courtesy of Animation Mentor) battle it out.
Stewart 1 is pretty confident when he hits the puck, but forgets that sometimes air hockey is a cruel game...
The Process
Concept
I began with choosing my game, storyboarding and doing research on the parts I would have to build. I researched the measurements of an air hockey table, pucks, mallets, etc.
Modeling, Texturing, Lighting
I then modeled the table, puck and mallets in Maya. I applied textures to the objects and environments to be reminiscent of the bright colors and crazy rugs found in arcades. I then added some neon lighting, and also changed the player's hair to match their mallets for an extra fun detail.
Simulation & Animation
This was my first time working with rigid bodies, so it was an interesting challenge to figure out what I needed to achieve a realistic effect.
This was a great exercise in learning to utilize active/passive key switches, constraints and rigid body physics to achieve the desired effect.
