I am working on some new cool Roblox ideas and today I thought, hey, let’s peel back the curtain on my creative process how I am building my Roblox Characters for my Roblox Games.
But please keep in mind, those mini-models are not sophisticated high-detailed meshes. They are part of the iconic traditional Roblox Game Design.
It’s all about fun, creating things fast and keeping the wheel spinning. I’m all about creating a space where everyone – yes, everyone – can easily craft their own avatars and jump straight into the Roblox fun.
No need for anything extreme flashy displays or grandeur here. Just a humble abode where simplicity rules and the good times flow effortlessly.
Creating Roblox Avatars
Creating Roblox Avatars or let’s better say, the blocky iconic Roblox characters, isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s a passion and a lot of fun. It’s about bringing something new and exciting into the Roblox universe. And why Snake Plissken, you ask?
Because who doesn’t love an action-packed, iconic character with a touch of badassery? It’s all about adding that unique flair to the game, making it more engaging and, frankly, more awesome.
The Toolbox: Blender For Roblox, My Sidekick
Now, let’s talk tools. Blender is my sidekick through all this. Yes, I mainly use Blender for Roblox Models. Why? It’s free, bursting with features, and honestly, it’s like the Swiss Army knife of 3D modeling. Whether it’s sculpting, texturing, or animating, Blender’s got my back.
And the best part? It’s accessible to everyone, which means you can jump into this world of creation anytime, anywhere.
Inspiration Strikes: The Spark That Lit The Fire
The journey to creating Snake Plissken started with a simple spark of inspiration. Watching “Escape from New York” again, I thought, “Hey, why not bring a slice of this action into Roblox?”
Mixing the old-school cool with Roblox’s unique style sounded like a challenge I was ready to tackle. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to play as Snake Plissken in a game?
The Vision: Blending Worlds
My goal? To blend the gritty, resilient spirit of Snake with the playful, blocky charm of Roblox. It’s about striking the perfect balance between detail and simplicity, ensuring that the character feels at home in the Roblox world while still standing out.
Let’s Get This Party Started
So, here we are, at the beginning of a thrilling journey. From sourcing reference images to the first stroke in Blender, every step is a piece of the puzzle, leading to the creation of something truly special.
It’s not just about making a character; it’s about crafting a story, an experience, and most importantly, a bit of fun for everyone who steps into the game.
Blender: Bringing Snake Plissken to Life
I’m excited to share a slice of my world with you—specifically, how I bring my Yodel Mini Characters to life using Blender. Why Blender, you ask? Simple: it’s packed with cool features, and did I mention it’s free? That’s like the ultimate combo for a 3D modeling enthusiast like myself.
This weekend, I dove into a project that’s been buzzing in my head for a while: modeling Snake Plissken, the legendary hero from “Escape from New York”. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of classic action hero vibe in their Roblox game, right?
The Starting Line: Reference Images And Inspirations
Before I even touched Blender, I gathered a bunch of reference images. Getting the look and feel just right is crucial, especially for an iconic character like Snake. While jamming to some epic film scores, I got into the zone—the perfect blend of inspiration and aspiration.
And, of course, my undying love for the blocky, charismatic Roblox Boy played a huge role in shaping Snake’s final look. There’s just something about those miniature characteristics that gets me every time.
And that’s why I much rather create also the iconic stylized Robloxian look vs. photoreal human characters.
The Blender Magic: Modeling Step By Step
Armed with references and a clear vision, I fired up Blender and got to work. Here’s a peek into my process:
- Starting Simple: I began using the Roblox Boy 3D Model as a Template.
- Adding Character: Slowly, I introduced more specific elements—Snake’s iconic eye patch, his rugged outfit, and that unmistakable hairstyle. The Boots, his black shirt, the watch with the ticker and the wristband with the tracker button.
- Refining Details: With the model taking shape, I zoomed in on the finer details, ensuring every part was just as I envisioned, staying true to Snake’s character and the Roblox aesthetic. So yes, the model is still a low-poly model, on purpose no extreme realistic details.
Why I Love This Process
Modeling in Blender isn’t just about creating something cool; it’s a journey. From the initial idea to the final touches, every step is a blend of creativity, technical skill, and passion. And when you’re doing it for a character as cool as Snake Plissken, it feels less like work and more like play.
I hope sharing my process inspires you to tackle your own projects with enthusiasm and curiosity. Remember, it’s not just about the end product; it’s about enjoying the ride and learning along the way.
ZBrush: Let’s do some details
After shaping Snake Plissken in Blender, it’s time to crank up some basic details. So yes, some Zbrush Sculpting doesn’t hurt, for example when sculpting the hair.
ZBrush: The Detailing Dynamo
ZBrush might seem daunting at first glance, but it’s my secret weapon for sculpting and using high-resolution meshes. It’s where Snake Plissken got his hair. lol; Think of ZBrush as the stage where you could add to your model a ton of details.
My Simple Process:
- Starting with a Base: I import some parts from my Blender model into ZBrush. The Head and the shirt was enough for me.
- Adding Hair: I started with a Sphere for the Hair. I used the Move Brush to bring the Ooverall form and shape of the hair into place.
- Fine-Tuning for some Realism: I dynameshed the low-poly sphere. Then I used the Standard Brush to make some rough brush strokes. Once I was done with the Hair shape and a few brush-strokes, I used ZRemesher to create again a low-poly mesh. I used the Zmodeler Brush to identify Ploygroups and finally I used Zbrush UV Master to create my UV Layout.
Why ZBrush Rocks
ZBrush allows for an unparalleled level of detail, which is crucial for some characters like Snake Plissken. It’s not just about making a character look super real; for example, just the blobby shape of his hair helps to add an important style element from this character. Players should somehow recognize Snake.
How I texture my Roblox Yodel Models
Texturing In Substance Painter
I use various tools to create my texture maps. Photoshop, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Marmoset Toolbag, Substance Sampler. You name it. For this task I used mainly Substance Painter.
It allows me to bake the Head and the Hair from my High-Fidelty Sculpts in Zbrush. For the Head I added some bumps that helps to break-up the surface.
The texturing process is pretty straight forward. I create paint layers, use different brushes, masks, etc. I create Fill Layers and add what ever I feel like. I utilize the baked mesh maps, but in general, I keep it very simple.
Rigging and Skinning with Mixamo: Breathing Life into Snake Plissken
After detailing our hero in ZBrush, the next step is to get him moving. To get this job done, I used Mixamo for Rigging and Animation.
Quick And Easy Rigging With Mixamo
- Uploading to Mixamo: First, I upload the optimized Snake Plissken model to Mixamo. It’s straightforward—just a drag and drop away from starting.
- Auto-Rigging Magic: Mixamo’s auto-rigging does the heavy lifting, mapping out a skeleton that matches Snake’s proportions. It’s like watching your character get ready to jump off the screen.
- Choosing Animations: Mixamo isn’t just about rigging; it’s also a treasure trove of animations. I select animations that fit Snake’s personality, from stealthy sneaks to combat moves, ensuring they align with his iconic character.
Why Mixamo Is Pretty Cool
- Efficiency: Rigging and skinning manually can take hours. Mixamo compresses this into minutes, freeing up time for more creative endeavors.
- Accessibility: It’s user-friendly, even for those new to 3D animation, making character animation accessible to all levels of creators.
Prepping and importing to my Roblox Game
With Snake Plissken rigged and loaded with animations, the final step is importing him into Roblox Studio. And for that, I just used the 3D Importer from the Avatar Tab of Roblox Studio.
Check out my Roblox Yodel Experience
So yeah, if you want to see this little guy in action, check out my Roblox Yodelwood Experience. Explore PBR-Materials, interactive features, Ad Portals, etc. And please knock on my door and say hello, perhaps I’ll see you soon as my neighbor. Cheers
