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Geek Culture / What would make this river scene better?

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Fallout
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 19:04 Edited at: 19th Dec 2009 19:05
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Hopefully I won't annoy anyone by starting a second thread on this stuff, but the last one was really valuable. Some ideas were suggested that I wouldn't have thought of myself (even when looking at reference pictures), and they made a big difference to how the last scene turned out.

So now I am playing around with rivers, and making them feel right.

So my question, as before, is what would make this scene better? What would enhance the river scene feeling, and bring it life? As before, no ideas are too technical ... I just won't implement them if they scare me too much.

Thanks for your help guys.



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Fallout
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 19:08
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Attached is a video of the river animating in it's current form.

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lazerus
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 19:24
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Dont not take any of this as agro. I mean it in the best of terms.

I suggest that you look at a real river for this, as a geography student i can tell you that the river walls are wrong for the speed that you have shown, the flow is not realistic but it seems to work. A river flows like a wave, that's what casues a meander. From what i can tell you have the right depth, though since it looks like a upper middle course river, the stones should be large to medium >smoothed, So the bed shouldnt be flat and should also have larger rocks visable above the surface. These naturally distrupt the flow and start a meander. The water will preference a side and erode it quiker// I also noticed thier are no slit beds, if you could post a picture of the full rivers path i could show you where they would be expected. Slip off slopes spit's and some othe natural features are missing aswell. But as it is im sligthly tierd so ill help some more later. Im sure someone else will mention the vegatation. But ill cover the physical workings first.

Sorry if this is over the top, ive had it drilled into since i took it, and have sat four exams on this area. So its a autonomus reaction to spoy faults ^_^


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Phaelax
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 19:46
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The river doesn't really look like it's flowing, but it still looks cool and I doubt anyone playing the game would nit-pick about it unless they were really paying attention.

I'm still amused at seeing a grim reaper in such a peaceful-looking setting just as the last image.


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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 20:03
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TRUST ME with this:

- Have rocks in the river pointing out. I know that isnt super accurate for a lower course river, but...

- From the rocks, have a series of 'splash' plains work there way downstream, like white foam. Does that make sense?

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Fallout
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 20:18
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@lazerus

No problem. All criticism is welcomed. There's no way I can get this to look very realistic with the amount of time I can put into it, but if I can identify the key players that'll make it seem better, then that'll do for me.

Once I've done more than the straight river portion, I'll post up a new screenie.

Quote: "The river doesn't really look like it's flowing,"


I agree. It looks like an animation, but I'm going to struggle to make it look very convincing. Hopefully if I add the right elements, I can detract from that and make it seem decent.

Quote: "From the rocks, have a series of 'splash' plains work there way downstream, like white foam. Does that make sense?"


Yep, basically a particle system for disturbed water. Sounds like it's worth a try mate. I'll give that a bash.

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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 20:49
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Maybe a willow leaning over the water at the river's edge? Or a ruined pier or something, just to add some variety to the riverside.

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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 20:58 Edited at: 19th Dec 2009 20:59
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Darth Kiwi had the same suggestions as I.

You definitely need a ruined pier, and perhaps even some remains of an old boat on the bank of the river. Maybe a couple of trees close to (but not over) the river, except for the willow previously mentioned, as that needs to hang over the water a bit.

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jasonhtml
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 21:09
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more vegetation! especially right on the water's edge. most rivers have lots of tall grass, trees overhanging above the water, and some kelp underwater would be neat.

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Keo C
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 23:40
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Your river looks more like a canal, I think if you would give the river more rocks and twists it would look better.


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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 19th Dec 2009 23:43 Edited at: 19th Dec 2009 23:43
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Fallout - this isnt the particle thing I was talking about, but check out the end of this video - I think I nailed the river thing pretty well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6LSacD4uNU&feature=channel

NEAR THE END! Take not of embankments, rocks etc

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Bozzy
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Posted: 20th Dec 2009 01:58
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Megan Fox in the water... also, possibly more differences in the bed (with angles etc etc) then as the water touches the sides, add some effects for the river touching the sides.

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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 20th Dec 2009 02:05
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A lower course river would have banks with rocks etc on them because it isnt moving fast enough to keep rocks moving with traction. Work on the geometry of the river, the banks, and then work on making it look like it's moving.

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gbark
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Posted: 20th Dec 2009 05:00
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Quote: "Megan Fox in the water... also, possibly more differences in the bed"

I support this.

As for the scene, I'd recommend having the edges banked, instead of the water being "dug in" as it is, and I'd also recommend changing the bed of the river so that it's hilly (and a little deeper) as opposed to being completely flat. To be honest, it looks more like a man-made pool than a naturally occurring river at the moment.

Other than that, I'd also add some more vegetation that you might expect to see near a river, such as reeds.
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BearCDP
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Posted: 20th Dec 2009 08:33
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Random debris floating down periodicall would make it seem more natural as well. Kinda similar to the squirrel thing, but I feel that adding randomness like this is one of th ebest ways tomake something seem more natural.

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Zarok
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Posted: 22nd Dec 2009 01:09
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The river is way to straight! and it seams all the same thickness, prehaps one of those tiny waterfulls, when it dips due to rocks! Needs some trees in that scene though =P prehaps evergreen?

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