Legends of Equestria - Forum

News => General News => Artist Showcases => Topic started by: Ellowee on 2013 Jul 20, 07:24:55

Title: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Ellowee on 2013 Jul 20, 07:24:55
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great time with the open server weekend!
I'm sure you all saw our beautiful new pony models. The 3D modeler responsible for these models has always been SteveLynx. He told me that he followed these 6 simple steps to create the models:

Quote from: SteveLynx

  • Checking pics from the show for reference

  • Trying to match those with the view-angles of different reference-pics

  • Trying to copy those in 3D

  • Checking with the team

  • Applying wished changes

  • Repeat step 4-5 until step 4 doesn't have anything negative to report anymore.


Let's look at the development of the pony models so far. First, here's the front part of the pony!

(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/201/3/8/pony1_by_faikie-d6eakxs.png)


As the model evolves, the face becomes more and more rounded and ears begin to perk up more. The muzzle also becomes more well-defined with the newer versions. SteveLynx's work on the muzzle and the ears can be seen much more clearly in profile view.

(http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/201/5/8/pony2_by_faikie-d6eakxp.png)


We also notice that the shape of the body has changed. The first 3 models have a very arched back and the fourth doesn't arch at all. The most recent model comes with a nice balance between the two! 

Lastly, let's look at a 3/4 view. Here we can see the development of the head itself. The first few models have a very large, flat forehead and as the models progress we see that the head becomes more rounded. 

(http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/201/6/1/pony3_by_faikie-d6eakxn.png)


Quote from: SteveLynxThe most difficult part of the pony was the head, since there's no real connection between side- and front-view and since the ponies are shadeless there's not even fake-3d you could use as reference


SteveLynx has done some amazing work on these models, and he deserves loads of praise. He plans to continue his 3D modeling work with Legends of Equestria and aspires to one day make a perfect 3D pony model that can be used by everyone. If you ever see SteveLynx on the forums, don't forget to tell him that he's awesome!

(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/201/7/b/pony_model_comparison_by_faikie-d6eakxt.png)
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Tiger on 2013 Jul 20, 08:59:57
Dang, that's a really good job Steve did  :] Huge improvement from the first model too!

This makes me wish I could 3d model
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Tommy73103 on 2013 Jul 20, 09:15:27
Really nicely-done!
the last model is perfect! can't wait to check it out with the game relase, keep working like this and i'm sure the game will be spectacular!!!!
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Cerebrate on 2013 Jul 20, 17:19:58
To those curious what the changes might be between 3 and 5.5 besides the modeled eye surface, there were various loops added to the legs to improve rigging deformation, as well as improving the general position of bones in the rig.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Billow Pillow on 2013 Jul 20, 18:08:50
Brilliant work! 1.5 is kinda freaky though.  lol
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Dragnmastralex on 2013 Jul 20, 18:51:26
keep at it... still need a good stallion body that doesn't' look so... like a mare.
larger chest like shining armor.

and for Celestia sake fix the coding in the character creation every time I tried to go to it during the open weekend any changes I made to the model crashed the game with specific errors.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: MintyMints on 2013 Jul 20, 20:28:32
Speaking of someone else who's recently trying her hand at modeling ponies, holy cow is it nice to see how other artists tackle the issue of the eyes. It is no exaggeration to say that the head is the most difficult. Fantastic job.

Kinda looks like the ears in the most recent one aren't part of the same mesh like they are in the earlier ones. Not sure if that's what's going on, or if it's just some weird way it rendered. Not saying that it's bad to have it be a separate mesh, just wondering if that's really what it is.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Liska on 2013 Jul 20, 20:38:30
Quote from: MintyMints on 2013 Jul 20, 20:28:32Kinda looks like the ears in the most recent one aren't part of the same mesh like they are in the earlier ones.

Yes, the ears are a different object. I'm pretty sure it was to make animating them drooping down when sad easier.
(http://i.imgur.com/cX9nAPQ.png)
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Tekner on 2013 Jul 21, 14:54:50
Quote from: Dragnmastralex on 2013 Jul 20, 18:51:26
\and for Celestia sake fix the coding in the character creation every time I tried to go to it during the open weekend any changes I made to the model crashed the game with specific errors.
It's kind of hard to do that when we've never heard of that bug before and I can't find any reports of it anywhere. It sounds like an issue with your computer specifically.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: FanofRainbowDash on 2013 Jul 21, 17:02:51
Quote from: Tekner on 2013 Jul 21, 14:54:50
Quote from: Dragnmastralex on 2013 Jul 20, 18:51:26
\and for Celestia sake fix the coding in the character creation every time I tried to go to it during the open weekend any changes I made to the model crashed the game with specific errors.
It's kind of hard to do that when we've never heard of that bug before and I can't find any reports of it anywhere. It sounds like an issue with your computer specifically.
I think Tekner's right. I didn't have that problem when I played. My problem was when I push f12 I get the BSOD! The problem was my video card or chipset wasn't compatible with DirectX 9. ono
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Sylvermoon on 2013 Jul 21, 20:44:23
Amazing O: I have no words just amazing.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: phirenor on 2013 Jul 22, 15:55:22
Wow, thats really impressive. When i tried to model pony in the first time - i faced the same head  problem. I got no idea how to make shape like this. This is as close, as i can get:

Lowpoly Model (1177 faces) (http://p3d.in/LVAJd)

P.s. SteveLynx, you're awesome! :D
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Rainbowe on 2013 Jul 24, 13:03:34
Nice to see such huge improvement, keep it up!  *-*
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: GoldenTerrabyte on 2013 Jul 27, 13:38:32
Also, how are models with stallion faces coming along?
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Dragnmastralex on 2013 Jul 28, 16:41:07
Quote from: Tekner on 2013 Jul 21, 14:54:50
Quote from: Dragnmastralex on 2013 Jul 20, 18:51:26
\and for Celestia sake fix the coding in the character creation every time I tried to go to it during the open weekend any changes I made to the model crashed the game with specific errors.
It's kind of hard to do that when we've never heard of that bug before and I can't find any reports of it anywhere. It sounds like an issue with your computer specifically.


I tried on 2 different computers one with windows 7 and the other with windows XP both couldn't get past the character creations screen it would crash at different points but always involving the cutie mark selection when I changed to Stallion body.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Filly Celestia on 2013 Jul 31, 11:22:02
Wow the latest model looks so smooth  ^-^ you can easily see the improvement
1.5 from the side looks scary  ono
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Weatherboy1 on 2014 Jul 08, 14:45:09
It's been so long since there is been a showcase
So lonely
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Nightshade Star on 2015 May 03, 14:49:37
That is really awesome! Keep up the great work! :)
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: ben8757 on 2015 May 24, 12:32:46
 DD: why cant i download the game can you tell me whyt
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Naura on 2015 May 24, 12:34:42
Quote from: ben8757 on 2015 May 24, 12:32:46
DD: why cant i download the game can you tell me whyt

*Sigh* :l
Wrong thread to ask, read the FAQ.
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: MLP_BlackNight on 2017 Nov 30, 22:00:33
Are you the owner
Title: Re: Evolution of the Pony Model
Post by: Asriel on 2018 Jan 01, 11:00:12
@MLP_BlackNight
Quote from: MLP_BlackNight on 2017 Nov 30, 22:00:33Are you the owner

Ellowee is the mascot for Legends of Equestria. The pony that is the face of LoE. And if you say them together, "Ellowee" sounds like "LoE."

I think the person that made Ellowee might be the main person that started the project, but an MMO like this takes a lot of work from a lot of people, so just giving credit to one person as the "owner" doesn't really do justice to all of them.

That might be why we only see "Ellowee" and not the person behind her in all the announcements.