Environment ideas- Quick sketches

These are hardly legible but to me I know what I meant! I found my favourite idea was an alter with mayan like influences inside an ice cave. I also liked the windy stone stairs going up a snowy mountain reaching a temple. Though I think I will go with the alter idea.

Ice cave entrance with pillars and steps:

 The alter idea:

Sci Fi laboratories:

 Windy stairs:

Misc Reference Photos-

All Images - Editorial Staff, Heart Touching Magical Snowy Landscapes, 21/12/2012, http://oddstuffmagazine.com/heart-touching-magical-snowy-landscapes.html

Wider landscapes for the environment theme- Frozen Planet

Martin Leggett, Arctic sea-ice loss lets Pacific sea-life into Atlantic, 26/06/11, http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/arctic-sea-ice-loss-lets-pacific-sea-life-atlantic/1076/

unknown, His Dark Materials: Northern Lights in Google Earth, http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/northernlights.html

Photo reference from the media:

unknown, ice cave lab, 20/01/11, http://alexchu.cghub.com/images/page:2/

unknown, red faction armageddon art and pictures, http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/rfa-ice-cave4.html

unknown, red faction armageddon art and pictures, http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/rfa-ice-cave3.html

Luke, Ice Cave Environment - Uncharted Inspired - Building an environment, 19/10/11,  http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90102

Unknown, the ice cave, http://uncharted.wikia.com/wiki/The_Ice_Cave

Lorl, 20/08/09, Uncharted 2's Ice Cave Is Beautiful, http://www.wearetheinternetz.com/2009/08/20/uncharted-2s-ice-cave-is-beautiful-boring/

These screen shots from various games give e a better idea for what is possible with my theme, Frozen Planet. I could go more sci fi or more fantasy, changing the environment completely to my last two projects.

Photo research for the environment design project:

JezzBean, Its as cold as ice, unknown, http://jezzbean.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/its-as-cold-as-ice/01-ice-cave-rhone-glacier/

Jak, 27/11/09, Awesome Antarctica, http://sv-maitreya.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/awesome-antarctica.html

tkcollier, 24/2012, Spectacular Caves In Swiss Glacier, http://terryorisms.com/2012/11/24/spectacular-ice-caves-in-a-swiss-glacier/

unknown, Ice Cave, http://imgur.com/gallery/eNAWJ

These are all real photos, for my environment, I may make something really different to what Ive been sticking to previously with my Level Design. I had a totally different game idea for the first project, so it would make sense to start fresh with something new for this project. So next I will look at reference from the media, Ice caves are a really good idea as they create an amazing back drop in any environment.

Interior Reference to Laboratories:

http://sarahjaynesimmonsxb3001.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/photo-reference-interior.html

Above is the link to the photo reference for my level design of interiors of abandoned labs and asylums.

PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT DESIGN AND 3D MODELLING- Environment research 1:

Margeret Munro, Telescope to be mounted in Nunavut’s high Arctic, 16/04/11,http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/1604998_telescope_to_be_mounted_in_nunavuts_high_arctic/

unknown,  Buildings on the Barrow Arctic Sceince Consortium (BASC) campus,  Buildings on the Barrow Arctic Sceince Consortium (BASC) campus

unknown, Dutch research laboratory in Antarctica, http://www.nwo.nl/en/research-and-results/cases/dutch-research-laboratory-in-antarctica.html

unknown, http://www.gi.alaska.edu/book/export/html/65

unknown, The New South Pole Station, http://www.southpolestation.com/newpole/newpole.html

unknown, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, http://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/

unknown, http://pole.uchicago.edu/news/news_2006-12-01.html

These images are of laboratories in various arctic locations such as the South Pole - which seems to have many laboratories as when I searched the North Pole no laboratories showed and I am not sure why this is.
A notable design in all images is the basic look of each building. These buildings are not for anything that requires a grand design such as parliament houses or town halls. They have a basic function and must be practical because of their function and surroundings.

My Level:

References for Models and Materials Used in Game:

Materials:
Various Floors Throughout Level:
CrackSoldier,11/08/2012, http://browse.deviantart.com/art/Stone-Floor-Texture-320492256

Static Meshes:
Bed and Matress:
unknown, http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/furniture/bed/12-1-0-4426
Couch:
unknown, http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/furniture/sofa_chair/12-1-0-3943
Table and Chair:
unknown, http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/furniture/chair_and_table/12-1-0-3723
Small Crate:
unknown, http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/furniture/rustic_crate/12-1-0-3464
Sink:
unknown, http://thefree3dmodels.com/stuff/accessories/sink/21-1-0-4445
Knives:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/kitchen-knives-3ds-free/650628
Key:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/key-keyholder-max-free/246564
Crowbar:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/free-crowbar-3d-model/641578
Chemistry Set:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/chemistry-set-3d-model/511591
Syringe:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/cartoon-injector-3ds-free/411969
Large Grave:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/free-grave-gravestone-3d-model/312315
Small Grave:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/free-3ds-model-halloween-headstone/689759
Cabinet:
unknown, http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/free-sideboard-3d-model/558818

(VERY late) update:

I always like to keep the Blog updated but i've been so incredibly busy making the level I totally forgot which is annoying.
So whilst making the level I came up against problems at every turn.
The most annoying thing would be spending an entire day on the level and getting no further as whatever I wanted working wouldn't work.
SO - I had to change how things had to be done, take things out and change things around...
BUT now my level is finished and considering a few weeks ago I knew less than nothing about UDK i'm pretty pleased with it.
Feels good.

Update:

I havent been able to do work n the week as I needed to download a different version of UDK and I wasn't able to do that till the saturday (today) Ive spent the entire day learning how to make doors open and close and when I finally seemed to get it, doors kept going wrong, but some worked even though I was doing the exact same thing, then when I closed UDK to have some tea and opened it back up after all my doors had gone. So I tried to put some back and it took hours just to try to get 4 to work. So i've decided on Sunday i'm leaving the doors and trying to do the puzzles. The puzzles will be as simple as I can get so I can get them right and try to do the doors as i'm now really behind.

Update:

I could just right AAAGH for about 200 posts but instead i'll just say that my levels is done, (the basic one anyway, theres nothing in it yet) as Ben said to get at least that done by Monday.
Let me tell you its been a nightmare! Not the making of the level itself, but getting to that bit, this week has been a very hard one and i'm pretty proud of myself at getting this done as i've never made anything in UDK in my life. Yes its messy and oddly sized but I don't care, i'm proud of it! Now, just to get it to stop breaking when I try to go downstairs :/