Chapter 1: The Heart of 3D Environment Creation

Diving into the realm of 3D environment creation requires not just skill, but also passion. Your hands and graphics card will certainly do the heavy lifting, but it takes heart to truly excel.

For the past three years, I have been on a dedicated journey to enhance my time management abilities. While I have made significant strides, I still struggle with one major flaw—underestimating the time required to complete tasks. Despite my enthusiasm for discovering new creative techniques, I often find myself believing I can complete projects much quicker than is realistically possible.

As a newcomer to the 3D world, I find the experience incredibly exhilarating. Working with Unreal Engine, the same software utilized by top-tier game studios, adds to my excitement. Although I am still a beginner, the thought that I am using the same tools as developers behind anticipated games like Tales of the Arise is inspiring. This experience has also deepened my appreciation for the extensive computational knowledge needed to create even the simplest interactions within a 3D environment.

Determined to realize my vision for a shared dream project, I am committed to making it visually striking. To provide insight into the ideation and research that preceded the hands-on work, I’ve included some resources below. Creating seamless connections between walls can be surprisingly challenging.

This realization often makes me chuckle, but it’s true. I can position objects in 3D space, thinking they look fantastic from one angle, only to discover they are floating awkwardly when I rotate my view. I’ve had plenty of laughable moments, complete with facepalms.

While I find Unreal Engine's logistics more manageable compared to other 3D software or web applications, it still requires time and practice for a novice like me. I became familiar with Unreal Engine during a Motion Capture class last semester, but this is my first attempt at constructing an environment nearly from scratch.

After exploring TurboSquid, I found several stunning, albeit pricey, assets to create the Dream Clinic as a social VR environment. I managed to purchase a collection called Modular Sci-Fi Hospital during a sale on the UE Marketplace, but the visual style didn't align with my original vision.

This led to a major retexturing effort for nearly every object in the asset pack. Additionally, I am designing the entrance area using flat planes for the floors, ceilings, and walls, as the pre-existing rooms in the asset pack felt cramped and dark. My goal is to create a bright, welcoming space, especially since the nature of programmable dream technology can be intimidating for some patients.

Although I'm not yet where I want to be with this vision, I am gradually piecing together the environment. By modifying textures and utilizing components from the asset pack, I feel like I’m building with Legos. For example, I transformed the floor to a reflective white to evoke a fresh, clean atmosphere.

I’ve also constructed a wall of windows to give the entrance a modern architectural feel. The left side of the image above features windows that overlook other clinic levels, including various patient rooms and a research lab.

While I’m pleased with how the atrium-style waiting room is developing, it still requires furniture to bring it to life. It took a considerable amount of time to align everything perfectly, ensuring seamless integration between walls, floors, desks, and windows. In a way, I feel like I’m modeling within Unreal Engine, carefully arranging the pieces from the asset pack into cohesive rooms.

Currently, I have completed the entrance and one dream room. However, I need to expedite my workflow. Over the coming week, I plan to finish the waiting room, create a simple hallway with doors leading to patient rooms, and design two more dream rooms. The initial room will represent a patient with schizophrenia whose programmed dream is to experience peaceful, ordinary days devoid of hallucinations or voices.

While there’s still much to accomplish, I’m determined to dedicate a few hours each evening this week to finalize these components. I am optimistic that by committing to three hours of work per day, I can successfully bring this project to fruition.

Chapter 2: Learning Through Challenges

In this video, Andy Walsh discusses the process of creating 3D environment concepts while integrating mood and storytelling elements.

In this tutorial, viewers learn how to create hand-painted 3D environments, showcasing techniques that can enhance artistic expression within Unreal Engine.