This is my first post to this project, so a bit of introduction is in order.
My name is Charles Allensworth, and I've worked as a game developer and modder for the last 3 years, and as a jackofalltrades artist for another three on that. I'm a member of the IGDA, though I forgot to pay my dues last year (whoops) as I was on sabbatical in New Mexico, studying wildlife and plants.
My first question is shader technology and if it were possible to graft this onto the current engine; I understand it's Quake 2(?); to implement cube maps, as well as some bump mapping, and even possibly normal or paralax mapping for those of us with fancy-shmancy video cards.
Would someone point me toward the direction of necessary 3DSMax plugins for creating models and exporting them. Also where should one post conceptual sketches, for the use by the team, mostly because I believe the plasma weapons appear to be flattering Bungie's fine work a bit too much.
Is there a master list of icons and illustrations that need to be completed? If so where might one look to find it, and who is the lead artist we send stuff to for review? Also, is there a styleguide for people to follow, so everything plays together, and person-x's artwork doesn't try to knock over percon-y's sandcastle, or even well established sancastles? There's never enough of those little flags, and seashells mashed along the ramparts, possibly with a moat of flaming diesel-fuel.
Regarding Visual Effects and the famous Gibbs system Quake fame, could someone point me towards the necessary resources for cooking up visual effects, as well as decals for things like bullet-holes, scorch marks, bloodspray, etc?
-Charlie
p.s. I seem to be labeled "cannon fooder", or is that fodder? Hm.....