1. GAM 245: Game Development II
Lecture 2:
Iridel Game Engine and
Maya Models

2. Part I: Understanding The Iridel Game Engine2

3. Iridel: Evolving…
Before we do anything, please note a few very important points:
Iridel is designed to make it as easy as possible to create games using XNA.
However, it is a complex and evolving application.
Consequently, expect new versions to pop up on occasion.
During the quarter, new versions would only be introduced to fix serious problems.
Important feature upgrades will take place in between quarters.
The game engine itself is part of all examples I will give you.
In other words: any Visual Studio project I give you will also include the game engine.
Only when you create a new Iridel game from scratch (Assignments 4 and 5) will you need to be concerned with getting the latest version.
All upgrades will be provided to you through the Iridel Wiki:

4. Iridel Package The Iridel package you installed is composed of:
Project template (IridelGame <version number>.zip)
Used when you’ll need when creating a new Iridel game from scratch
Set up all the project folder structure
Includes the Iridel engine code in the project
Creates the basic ‘grid world’ game
See the wiki to learn how to create a new Iridel game.
Item templates (IridelGameObject and IridelScene)
Used when creating a new GameObject or Scene from scratch
See the wiki to learn how create a new GameObject or a new Scene.
Which lab to use?
All the necessary software for our class
can be found in the following labs:
CDM: rooms 634, 725, 801 and 819
LPC Student Center: rooms 363 and 364

5. Comparing Iridel with GameMaker
Here is a simple game you may remember from GAM 244:
This was the first ‘multi level’ game example
First level/room: the initial splash page
Second level/room: the main game play (single level here)
Third level/room: the final splash page
Initial Splash Page
Gameplay
(only one level here)
Final Splash Page 5

6. Comparing Iridel with GameMaker
This is what the Gamemaker Editor looked like for this game
Let’s focus on the resource window 6 6

7. Games in GameMaker In broad terms, creating a game in Gamemaker meant
Loading up external resources in the game engine
Creating objects
Objects have properties (variables)
Objects react to various events
Creating rooms (or levels)
Objects must exist in a room
Rooms set up the initial arrangement of objects
Controllers for game flow
Specific controllers made the game progress from one level to the next base on game data 7 7

8. Games in GameMaker … More specifically:
Resources must be loaded in GameMaker before being used
Game objects interact with user and each other to create the actual game.
Game objects exist in rooms (levels).
Only one level is active as any time
We used a Game Controller object (and often level controllers) to control the flow of the game.
SplashRoom
Room0
EndRoom
Game
Controller
Game
Controller
Game
Controller
Splash
controller
Ship
Bugs
Saucer …
End
controller 8 8

9. Games in Iridel
See also Iridel Game Engine on the Wiki
In creating Iridel, I tried to use the same ‘entities’ as with a Gamemaker
We still have game objects
Rooms are now called “scenes”
The Iridel controller deals with the game loop: specifically
Makes resources available to Scenes and GameObjects
Deals with Scene and GameObjects activation through the internal state manager
Global variables (Lives, Score, and anything else you might need)
Iridel Controller
Resource
Loading
Game State
Manager
Global
Variables
SplashRoom
Room0
EndRoom
Game
Controller
Game
Controller
Game
Controller
Splash
controller
Ship
Bugs
Saucer …
End
controller 9 9

10. Games in Iridel
See also Project Structure on the Wiki
Open a solution file for an Iridel game and consider the Solution Explorer window
Low level tools/dlls
Just ignore these for now
Resources
Resources must first be here before Iridel can load them
Game project
Iridel’s internal code.
In theory, you don’t need to look in there, but you can.
Iridel Resources and Global Variables.
These files are part of Iridel, but they contain game-specific data. You will modify these to fit your game
Iridel Tools
Various extensions students and I have made that can be useful
Game Components
This is the code you’ll be creating for your game

11. Games in Iridel See also Project Structure on the Wiki
These are the three areas you most need to focus on:
Asset, Global Variables and Game Code
Resources
Resources must first be here before Iridel can load them
Iridel Resources and Global Variables.
These files are part of Iridel, but they contain game-specific data. You will modify these to fit your game
Game Components
This is the code you’ll be creating for your game 11

12. Games in Iridel Let’s look more closely at the .cs files
‘Iridel Resources’ folder
GlobalVars.cs: Central location for global variables
IridelResources.cs: Iridel’s internal resource management
‘Game Component’ folder
The game example we have has two ‘scenes’ .
These are organized as subfolders purely for aesthetic reasons
Splash Page
SceneSplash.cs:
SplashControl.cs:
Main ‘game’ uses
SceneDemo.cs
DemoController
PlayerCam.cs (not in folder)
HUD.cs
Target.cs
Iridel Controller
Resource
Loading
Game State
Manager
Global
Variables
Scene Splash
Scene Demo
Splash
Control
Demo
Controller
Player
Cam
HUD
Target

13. General Comments on .cs Files
using <namespace> statements allow you to use various toolsets available in C# and XNA
Example:
namespace <name> is a way to group together C# entities.
The technical details are not important here
Normally, the namespace name will be ‘GameSpace’
class <name> creates a C# object
class <name> : <base object> create a specialization of <base object>
Examples: To create a new game object:
To create a new scene:
public/private determines whether variables/methods/classes are visible to other entities
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework;
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content;
using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Graphics;
using Iridel;
class HUD : GameObject
class Scene1 : Scene

14. Scene Example: SceneSplash.cs
Control
Implements a Scene (level)
- note the “ <name> : Scene” form
Initialize the scene
Scene paramaters are set here
Example: background color
All game objects declared here (using ‘new’)
In Gamemaker,
we simply placed objects in a room using the GUI
In Iridel,
we must list them manually here

15. Game Object Example: SplashControl.cs
Implements a Game Object
- note the “ <name> : GameObject” form
Local variables
- as needed
Operations
- GameObjects events and methods
Constructor
Initialize the object
Corresponds to GM’s creation event
Update
Corresponds to GM’s step event
Draw
Corresponds to GM’s draw event

16. Another Scene Example: SceneDemo.cs
Controller
Player
Cam
HUD
Target 16
Implements a Scene (level)
- note the “ <name> : Scene” form
Initialize the scene
Scene paramaters are set here
Example: background color
- All game objects declared here (using ‘new’)
In Gamemaker,
we simply placed objects in a room using the GUI
In Iridel,
we must list them manually here

17. Game Object Example: HUD.cs
Implements a Game Object
- note the “ <name> : GameObject” form
Local variables
- as needed
Operations
- GameObjects events and methods
Constructor
Initialize the object
Corresponds to GM’s creation event
Update
Corresponds to GM’s step event
Draw
Corresponds to GM’s draw event

18. Part II: Content Pipeline
GAM 245
Part II: Content Pipeline

19. Content Pipelines - theory
Content Pipeline: a set of tools, file formats, and procedures to create and use data in your game
To get a sense of what this means, lets consider the complete series of steps necessary to use a single image in last week’s HUD demo. 19

20. Example: Image Pipeline (Art side)‏
Images should be in .tga format
24 bit if solid, 32 bit if transparent
Images should be stored in the /dev/245/<name>/MyContent/Textures folder
Each project has its own folder under /dev/245/<name>
Example: Assignment1/FontAndImages
Each project folder has a ‘Textures’ folder
The project Textures folder holds links (not copies!) to the needed images.
File folder view
/dev/245/NAME
/MyContent
/texture
HUD-Orange-overlay.tga
Created using Paint.net
SVN Add
Project view
/FontAndImages
/Content
/Textures
HUD-Orange-overlay.tga
Added as link
In the code, we refers to it as “Textures/HUD-Orange-overlay” 20

21. Image Pipeline (code side: XNA)‏
Images are Imported and Processed by XNA
The importer reads the source file and converts it into a standard internal format‏
.tga --> internal texture format
The processor munges standard XNA data into game-specific data
allows data formats to be efficient and customized for your game
Importing and processing occur during build and not at runtime
This results in .xnb files (stored in the project’s bin folder)
Content Processors have runtime counterparts to read processed data and present it to the game
look at the properties of Textures/HUD-Orange-overlay.tga 21

22. Image Pipeline (code side: Iridel)‏
Loading (through Iridel): See LoadAllResources on the wiki
Note: This actually hides many intermediate operations, but the idea is the same
Drawing:
LoadTexture2D( "Overlay", "Textures/HUD-Orange-overlay“ );
Loads the processed content (.xnb) into the game and connects it to the variable
mOverlay = ResourceGetTexture2D( "Overlay“ );
<…>
// A SpriteBatch block is needed to display images and SpriteFonts
MainSpriteBatchBeginDefault();
// Draw images
MainSpriteBatch.Draw( mOverlay, new Vector2(0, 0), Color.White);
// close spritebatch block
MainSpriteBatchEnd();
Acts on the loaded content 22

23. Content Pipelines - theory
Content Pipeline: a set of tools, file formats, and procedures to create and use data in your game
documentation and best practices are necessary
The fewer the number of steps, the better
Automated is better than manual
When source files are modified, all intermediate and final files are rebuilt
Code example: operates like a makefile
Image example: changes to the .pdn in Pain.Net (or .psd file in Photoshop) requires you to rebuilt the final .tga used by the XNA environment (and place it in the proper location)
Usually setup to operate in one way
Typically setup by programmers who are under time pressure
Can be ‘brittle‘: the slightest change in procedure typically can cause major problems
Specific to one system and game
Presumably some sort of ‘standard’ develops over time for a given workgroup
Get one of a type of content through, then do exactly the same thing for all instances of that type 23

24. Pipeline for NumberIconWriter / SpriteWriter
Art Side
Image files in .tga has the character in a specific arrangement
Associated .txt file with the same name has the dimension data
Code Side
XNA:
Import both as link into DEV/245/<name>/MyContent/Fonts
Adjust the properties of the .txt file to be ‘none’ and ‘copy if newer’.
The image part has the same pipeline process as regular images
The txt file is set to be left alone until runtime.
Iridel:
The .txt file is processed when you initialize a new NumberAndIcon/SpriteWriter
Example:
When printing text/numbers, the relevant parts of the image are extracted and displayed on screen, one character at a time.
This is all done internally by the SpriteWriter/NumberIconWriter classes
All that is needed is to call the relevant method
mNumWriter = ResourceGetNumberFont( "Numbers“ );
mNumWriter.draw( 140, 25, Color.White, GlobalVars.Score, false );

25. FYI: Xbox360 Pipelines
Using Game Studio, the 360 pipelines follows from the PC pipeline
All data is created, built, processed on the PC
Final data is in a different fundamental format for the 360 compared to the PC
Using Visual Studio, we must create a separate project for the 360 version of the game
All final data is copied to the 360 during deployment
The paths setup in your VS project leads the program to your data 25

26. Part III: Simple Models in Maya
GAM 245
Part III: Simple Models in Maya

27. Getting Started With Maya
If you have the LAM book, it’s not a bad idea to go through their training steps
Practice with use their ‘Lessons’ at the beginning of the book
For the 2009 edition: LAM’s “lesson 01” chapter, p47-69
create a Great Hall with column and throne
For the previous edition: LAM’s “lesson 01" chapter, p40-61
create the garage, shelves, boxes, lamp
Skip all the NURB elements since we will only use polygon models.
Keep going with lessons 02, 03, 04. This will cover all the basics you’ll need.
Do not hide UI elements as requested by lesson 03 We don’t need the extra trouble!
I’ll cover the basic minimum you’ll need to make models for this class.
However, Maya is not easy.
It’ll take some time and practice to get comfortable
Create a test directory for your experimental Maya work
Keep your class directories clean
Experimental work should not be sent send to SVN
But you should keep copies of the various stages of your experiments
That way you have a way to go back to previous ‘steps’ in case something goes wrong… 27

28. Maya Introduction Resources
There are a number of online introduciton you can find
To get started, I recommend this one:
Maya 2009 Tutorial - Introduction and Basic Controls
Another interface intro:
Basic Introduction to the Maya 8 User Interface
Excellent video resource: Swinburne University of Technology
IMPORTANT!
You are NOT expected to produced expert-level models in this class!!!
I provide these resources only for those students interested in pushing their Maya work a bit beyond my examples.

29. Making a box in Maya 29

30. Models: General Info 3D Coordinates (RHS)‏
use your right hand
extend your thumb to your right, then pointer finger up, then middle finger toward you
thumb = X, pointer = Y, middle = Z
X is always red, Y is green, Z is blue
Always build your models in 000ZY form
000 means that the model's root (rotation / scaling / pivot) is at 0,0,0
Z means model is facing in positive Z
Y means Y is up for model
Units / Scaling
We need to chose a size correspondence between Maya and XNA spaces
one Maya unit = one unit in our game worlds
Note for blender user: you’ll need to significantly scale down your model while in blender 30

31. Maya: Preparing the Environment
Set the project folder
File > Project window
Enter location name and click ‘accept’
Setup Grid
Display > Grid []
one Maya unit = 1 foot
Set Polygons mode 31

32. Create Polygon Cube Use only polygons
Create > Polygon Primitives > Cube []
create a 1x1x1 cube
click this diagram to open the channel box
Use the Channel box to rename the cube to “box”
Also:
keys ‘4’ and ‘5’: to flip between shaded and wireframe 32

33. Move & Freeze Geometry 1. Move the cube up so it rests on the ground
2. Modify > Freeze Tranformations []
this 'bakes' the transform changes into the geometry
3. Notice channels have all been reset 33

34. Delete History and Save
1. Edit > Delete All By Type > History
this forces geometry into polygons and is very important
2. File > Save..
save your model in your
dev/245/NAME/MyContent/models
folder
you may need to create the models directory 34

35. SVN Add & Commit Save your work regularly
Use the same method as before to add/commit to SVN
The exact state (versions) of anything you commit can be retrieved with SVN -- remember this and add meaningful comments when you commit
1. right click on the new models folder and SVN > Add..
2. make sure the correct files are adding
3. you must now SVN > Commit to send the new files to the repository 35

36. Applying a Texture (Maya experts need to read this!)
Maya has the ability to create very complex and elaborate textures!
marble, image mappings, wood grains, etc.
Almost all these CANNOT be used by a game engine (any game engine)
Typically, the most you can expect is
Applying a solid color
Applying a texture on a model
Think of this as wrapping a square image onto a model
HOWEVER, there is a way to use those great Maya textures: Baking!
Specifically:
In Maya, create a fancy texture of your choice on your models
When done, save the texture to a single image file (baking)
Change the model so that it applies the image file to itself instead of your initial texture.
How can we bake a fancy texture to a file?
Using Maya’s 3D paint tool 36

37. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 1: Preparing the 3D Paint Tool
You may also wish to read Read about the 3D Paint Tool in LAM,
Select the object you wish to texture
Warning: Omitting this step is the most common mistake to make
Change the top menu from ‘Polygon’ mode to ‘Rendering’ mode.
Select Texturing/3D Paint Tool/ []
From the panel on the right, scroll down to the ‘File Texture’ section
Make sure that ‘Attribute to paint’ is set to ‘color’
Click ‘Assign/Edit Texture’
Select a size (1024x1024 is a good one to start for now)
Image format must be Targa (tga).
Click ‘Assign/Edit textures’ 37 37 37

38. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 2: Creating a Texture
Maya expert may now chose to create a fancy texture and move on to Step 3.
For us non-expert, we will simply ‘paint’ our texture.
From the side panel, scroll up to ‘Color’ and select a color.
Moving the mouse over the object, you can paint the object
You may also change the brush size and other attributes using the side panel
Don’t forget to pain all sides of the model, including the underside!
For this exercise, make sure you draw a texture where you can recognize the model’s orientation. For example: 38 38 38

39. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 3: Saving/Baking a Texture
Whether the texture was painted on or created through some other way, we are now ready to save its appearance on the model to a file.
Bring back the side panel for the 3D Paint tool
Scroll to the ‘File Texture’ section
Click on ‘Save Texture’
Maya will now save this image into the main Maya Project folder under the ‘3DPaintTextures/<model name>’ folder
IMPORTANT: At this point, you saved the
image but the model is NOT using it! 39 39 39

40. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 4: Using the Saved Textures
Since the only way XNA can texture a model is by applying a texture image to it, we must make sure that this is what Maya is currently doing.
Furthermore, this must be done in a way that will also work with XNA
Locate the image file you save in the previous step and copy it into your MyContent\Models folder.
Yes, in the Models folder since this image will be tightly linked to the model
In Maya, open the hyper-shade view
Create a new Lambert render node and double-click on it
Click the black and white square to the right of the ‘Color’ slider
From the render node menu, select ‘file’
On the right, select your newly copied MyContent/Models/<image name>
At this point, you have a render node ready to apply the image file onto your model.
Select the model
Move the mouse over the render node and right-PRESS (not right-click) You will see a context menu appear.
Select ‘Assign Material to Selection’
Voila! You finally have a model textured using the image file you created. 40 40 40

41. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 4: Using the Saved Textures
Since the only way XNA can texture a model is by applying a texture image to it, we must make sure that this is what Maya is currently doing.
Furthermore, this must be done in a way that will also work with XNA
Locate the image file you save in the previous step and copy it into your MyContent\Models folder.
Yes, in the Models folder since this image will be tightly linked to the model
In Maya, open the hyper-shade view
Create a new Lambert render node and double-click on it
Click the black and white square to the right of the ‘Color’ slider
From the render node menu, select ‘file’
On the right, select your newly copied MyContent/Models/<image name>
At this point, you have a render node ready to apply the image file onto your model.
Select the model
Move the mouse over the render node and right-PRESS (not right-click) You will see a context menu appear.
Select ‘Assign Material to Selection’
Voila! You finally have a model textured using the image file you created.
Models Using Multiple Shapes
In most cases, your models will be composed of more than one primitive shape.
A render node can be applied to multiple primitives
If you need multiple textures, then you will need to repeat “Step 1” through “Step 4” for each texture!!! 41 41 41

42. Using the 3D paint tool: Step 5: Exporting your Model
To get our models into the game, they must be exported into the FBX format
EDIT > Delete All By Type > History
Save the .ma file into MyContent/Models
Select the model and click on File/Export Selection
Make SURE to EXPORT INTO THE MyContent/Models
The fbx file MUST be in the same folder as the image file(s)
Type in the correct name for your model
Select the fbx file type
That’s it! You finally have something XNA can use! 42 42 42

43. Done with the 'Art' Side of the model pipeline
Right click on dev/245/NAME and SVN Commit.
Make sure only the files you have changed are committed.
All the new files you created
Any files you modified
(now is the time to double check that you are in fact adding the work you've done to the repository)‏
The .ma, .fbx, and .tga should all be going up to the repository 43

44. Part IV: XNA/Iridel Model Pipeline
GAM 245
Part IV: XNA/Iridel Model Pipeline

45. Using Models in Iridel 45

46. Model Pipeline (XNA side)‏
Maya Work:
Save texture to image file using 3D Paint Tool
Copy those image files to your MyContent/Models folder
For each image file, create a render node to apply those image files to the models
Export as fbx into MyContent/Models directly
File folder view
/dev/student/NAME
/MyContent
/Models
box.ma
box.tga
box.fbx
Maya: save
Maya: contortions
Find the .tga
Move and rename it
New render nodes in Maya
Maya: export
Export the .fbx HERE!!!
GS Project view
Added as link Visual Studio
/ModelExample
Content
/Models
box.fbx
Only fbx
Not the textures 46

47. Model Pipeline (XNA side)‏ Adding box.fbx As Link
in the Solution Explorer:
right click on the models folder and
select Add Existing Item..
IMPORTANT:
navigate up to your dev/ac/NAME/content/models folder
Change the “Files of type” drop down list at the bottom of the dialog box to “Content Pipeline Files”
Highlight (do not outright double click it) box.fbx
To Add:
Click on the down arrow on the right side of the Add button, and
Add As Link: this leaves the original file in place
Do not add the box.tga 47

48. Common Problem Rename your Maya folder
Given how complex the art side pipeline is, it very easy to make mistakes. By far the most common one is that incorrectly set the render node to the image file in your MyContent/Models folder
The best way to test this:
Load the .fbx in the solution
Rename your Maya folder
Build.
Visual Studio will attempt to conver the fbx (and all associated image files).
If no error occur, your did well.
If errors occur, read carefully the error message: it will indicate which texture image is ‘not found’ due to the render node looking for it in a folder other than the MyContent/Models folder.
If this is the case, than go back to Maya and fix the render node.
Re-export the fbx
Repeat until no errors  48 48 48

49. Model Pipeline (XNA side) Importer and Processor for Models‏
look at the properties of models/box.fbx
This time, the importer and processor are completely different from the .tga files we used previously
Thankfully however: XNA does have importer/processors for .fbx. This is not always the case (for example: Animated models, terrain files, etc). 49

50. Model Pipeline (Iridel side)‏ Target.cs (simplified)
Loading
(in IridelResources.cs)
LoadModel("Target", "Models/Target");
Using it in a Target.cs
public class Target : GameObject {
...
public Target() : base()
ObjectModel = CreateModelGeo("Target"); }
public override void update() {...}
public override void draw()
ObjectModel.draw();
All GameObject have a built-in variable called ObjectModel.
Simply initialize with a model preloaded as an Iridel Resource using CreateModelGeo
To make the model visible, simply call the draw method of the ObjectModel. 50

51. Model Pipeline (Iridel side)‏ In Pre-Iridel times…
Loading
ct is ContentManager
Model mModel; // model
Matrix mMatWorld; // scale * rotation * translation
Matrix[] mMatBones; // bone matrices (structure of the model)
mModel = ct.Load<Model>("models/box");
mMatBones = new Matrix[mModel.Bones.Count];
mModel.CopyAbsoluteBoneTransformsTo(mMatBones);
Drawing
public void draw(ref GraphicsDeviceManager gfx, ref Matrix matProj, ref Matrix matView)‏ {
foreach (ModelMesh mesh in mModel.Meshes)‏
foreach (BasicEffect effect in mesh.Effects)‏
effect.World = mMatBones[mesh.ParentBone.Index] * mMatWorld;
effect.View = matView;
effect.Projection = matProj;
effect.EnableDefaultLighting();
effect.CommitChanges();
} // foreach effect
mesh.Draw();
} // foreach mesh
} // draw()‏ 51 51

52. Testing the Box Model
You can easily test your box model by replacing the target model in the code:
In the Resource Loading stage
Replace “models/Target” with
And build/run
This allows you to test that
The model loads correctly and all the texture file are accessible
The model looks good (XNA does not always apply textures as nicely as Maya)
The model’s scale is right
// Models
LoadModel("Target", "Models/Target“ );
// Models
LoadModel("Target", "Models/box“ );
Once you know everything is good, you know you can use this model correctly in the rest of your game

53. SVN Commit Close Game Studio
(to make sure you've save all your files and all the project files)‏
SVN Commit.. from your root directory (dev/245/NAME)‏ 53

54. Programming References
Iridel
The Wiki is being constantly being updated.
if you see errors, problems, etc.
Most Iridel methods have the tool-tip set up. You can also look at the Iridel code files
Online Books
find C# books at the University Libraries. 54

55. Part V: Subversion notes
GAM 245
Part V: Subversion notes 55

56. Add & Commit
When you SVN > Add files, they are sent to the repository when you do the next commit
Uncheck the “Show unversioned files” box to show only files that have been added to SVN
Do not rename / delete the file until you commit it! 56

57. Keep It Clean
The rule is to only add and commit “source” files and project files. This means:
Source files are files you author
.tga .ma .fbx .cs .txt
Project files are used by the tools
.sln .csproj
Do Not Add / Do Not Commit
bin/ , obj/, .svn/
Deleting:
Right click on the folder you want to delete, SVN > delete
Will take effect next commit 57

58. New Updates and Renaming
Getting a new copy: If you would like to pull down a 'fresh' copy of the work you have already done and committed. You should:
rename (or delete) the current directory and
SVN Update from one level up.
IMPORTANT: Be careful! because you will lose any local work in the current directory
Renaming files: After a file is committed, you may rename it.
How? SVN > Rename
Do not try to rename a file after SVN > Add and before your commit it.
that is, after you Add, you must commit before making changes 58

59. Part VI: Naming Conventions
GAM 245
Part VI: Naming Conventions 59 59

60. What’s in a Name? Quite a lot actually…
Any project will invariably have many types of entities that must be named:
Variables, functions, classes, packages, etc
Sprites, images, fonts, etc
Sound effects, music, etc
Problems occur when more than one content creator work with the same content
The sprite’s filename gets changed unbeknownst to the programmer
The functions of a class don’t follow the expected naming format
Content created through other applications will have varying naming formats
Naming conventions are always a source of contention on large projects.
One group wants names that closely reflect the content and
Another group wants performance and functionality. 60

61. What’s in a Name? Quite a lot actually…
As the number of assets grows, organization and identification of the assets weighs heavier in a determination.
Descriptive names provide:
An important channel of communication and
Aid in efficient development.
There is a huge efficiency and time savings realized when all assets have internal names that match their files names.
Examples:
GameObject class versus file name
Resource key name versus font name
Maya transform node versus Model name versus .fbx name
This enables programmers and artists to talk about the right entity and
Track down specific assets easily.
A direct corollary: Using only alpha/numeric characters when creating names is ‘safer’.
Simplicity in parsing names formed this way (both for humans and compilers) 61

62. Creating a name CHARACTER SETS RULES GUIDELINES Alpha := [a-zA-Z]
Underscore := [_]
Digit := [0-9]
RULES
Start with Alpha or Underscore
All characters are Alpha or Digit
GUIDELINES
Consistent use of abbreviations
Consistent use of case
Uppercase for internal words (ie: constants and such)
Underscore begins system identifiers
Numbers at the end for versions
Scope: outside-in.
Example: SrcHeight, SrcX and NOT XSrc or heightsrc 62

63. Other Considerations FILE SYSTEMS MAYA:
Linux / Unix is case sensitive, PC is not case sensitive
Spaces and special characters in file names and paths are problematic
Design resources to work across all platforms if possible
MAYA:
Name of model in the transform node
keep all node names unique to avoid |Maya-paths
Maya adds numbers at the end of duplicated names
But those numbers are hidden from you in Maya and only appear when you export the model… This can cause confusion. 63

64. 64