Avatar Movie (revised)

Adding Maps & Lighting

This is the final touch to really pull everything together. I wanted to create a dark atmosphere which was achieved using various spotlights. To get a sense of realism I added Thai logos on the ring and put posters around the entrances. The floor is just a laminate floor map which has been modified to fit the whole floor, same with the walls.

Building the Environment

Now the next test, building the environment... I wanted to create a large, impressive environment, something that anyone that didn't know 3D Max could appreciate. So instead of just creating a boxing ring I wanted to do a whole stadium.

Again this was a matter of putting together one piece at a time and trying to get hold of Roma for advice.

Building My Avatar

It's time to start building my avatar. Now this was a very daunting task as I felt I still new nothing about 3D Max and couldn't remember anything from the seminars. I began with a cylinder and started to pulling and pushing it into different shapes until I got something that resembles the body of my design. This took allot of time and a few attempts and a couple of days on I began to understand how manipulate the shape to get certain desired effects.

The next day came in to carry on what I started but disaster! My work wouldn't open, the software said it was corrupt! So I started it all over again, but this time a little quicker as I kinda had an idea of what I was doing. A few days into the modeling it happened again! A corrupt file! This was driving me crazy, I thought I would never get this done. I asked around to see if anyone else was having the same problems and this kind of this seemed to be quite common, so people were saving there work in lots of different places just in case. Once I started doing this I found I had less problems and assumed that my external hard drive had something wrong with it.

Now with that problem solved I could get on with modeling. I still didn't really know what I was doing, it was allot of trial and error and some guidance from Andy.

Learning 3D Studio Max: Squidy

Learning 3D Studio Max

The first thing we we're shown on 3D Max was how to create animated text. I found this relatively simple as it was just case of moving the text into different positions on different key frames on the time line.

Muay Thai fight Scene

This clip is from the movie Ong Bak staring Tony Jaa and demonstrates what can be achieved with years of dedication mastering this martial art.

3D Max Boxing Arena Example

This is an example I found on Google of what the ring might look like once built in 3D Studio Max.

Environment Inspiration

This is an example of a Thai Boxing arena, notice how it differs to a standard boxing arena. There is a bigger veriaty of colours and there are cubes on the corners of the ring with Thai logos.

Avatar Concepts

My first concept is based on the tribal inspiration. This look really interests me as it's so different to modern day fashion.


The next concept is based on my interest in martial arts, I've put together a dark looking mixed martial arts monster. I feel this look gives the impression of a dark, aggressive unapproachable character which isn't really me, but it looks cool though! I've put Marigold gloves on the character, inspired by a scene in the film Fight club. This is because I'm quit a tidy person and also adds some humour to the avatar.


This concept is a little more like me, as it fits my immature sense of humour, where as I would consider someone falling over funnier then a clever, witty joke.



As I've pretty much stopped doing Kung Fu now the Thai shorts and gloves are more relevant, I've also got the avatar wearing the same shorts and gloves that I wear when training.

The Look of Muay Thai

I have decided to make Thai Boxing the main theme for my avatar as this is a big part of my life. To become great at this martial art it requires allot of time and dedication, which affects how you eat, how often you train and what you do in the gym. As with other martial arts Muay Thai has great personality due to the style and colours of the fight wear, as well as the look of the fighting style. I want to capture this look within the avatar and the surrounding environment.

Tribal Influences

I've found more inspiration for my avatar in the form of tribal culture. I feel this way of life relates to me as I have good morals and value nature and the environment. I also have tribal tattoos around my arms for intimidation purposes when Thai Boxing, just like tribes do to intimidate their enemies. I find Thai Boxing has a tribal feel due to the colours and look of the fightwear and the general look of the fighting style.

Simpsons Avatar

While looking at examples of other peoples avatars on the web, I found alot of Simpsons avatars from the Simpsons movie website. It looked quite cool so I gave it a go and here's mine.

Identities Research

www.ideo.com discusses the way identity is utilised within business cards. The first business card, the hair card uses the concept of attaching a real hair from the owner so that the receiver can check the DNA and qualifications of the owner. Also the owner shows that they have self confidence.


This idea involves the notion of linking visual imagery of a meeting with a business card. Using the pinhole camera technique, the card takes a picture of the instance when the card is exchanged. This idea aids the receiver when trying to remember the person to whom gave them the card.


The Team Colours are a group of artists that have come together to create illustrations that express their love of colour.

Drunk Park (part of The Team Colours) creates amazing blue characters which I love. I think the bright blue mixed with quirky illustrations give a light hearted feel to the work, which everyone can appreciate. The designs created by Drunk Park have inspired me to create a light hearted avatar that doesn't necessarily conform to the normal look. This is only an idea and the finished article may be the exact opposite...

Second Life: Day 2

Today I thought about checking out Thai Boxing in this virtual world, as and I found this island dedicated to Everlast boxing. You can join and get in the ring and box with another avatar.

Second Life: Day 1

Today I decided to go and have a look at some art and randomly picked an island from the search list. I found my self on an island called Mission Viejo and below are some screen shots of the work.






As with any web orientated game there is also an opportunity for advertising ranging from company names floating over avatars heads to having a whole island dedicated to a company. The screen shot below is on an island dedicated to a graphic design company called FireWave Imaging.


So far I've noticed a few things on Second Life that discourage me from using it in my own time. The people who I've spoken to so far take the game very seriously, as if it really is another life where they can look and be the person they've always wanted to be. Many of the people also don't like to talk to me, due to the fact of the way my avatar looks.

I've noticed it's also very sex orientated, where as you can buy realistic looking skins to make beautiful looking women with realistic body parts in skimpy outfits. You can also create men with bulging muscles and penises so you can have sex with the women. Personally I think this is a little sad, especially due to the fact that you don't know who's operating the other avatar!

Second Life: Avatar Creation

Part of the new Identities brief is to create an avatar on the online virtual reality program Second Life and record a months progress exploring this environment.


Here I have created an avatar that resembles the characteristics of a socially unacceptable identity, to see the kind of reaction he gets in this virtual environment. I've called my avatar Bongalong Benior as I have always enjoyed the thought of having a comical name.

I've noticed so far that you can create just about any look for a character within this world, which also include buying ready made skins for relistic looking people or animals!

The Brief: Identities Project 1

Project 1 : The Second Self

The avatar, who am I & the alter ego
Explore the concepts of self identity through designing and modelling an avatar and a 3D computer generated environment for it. The lectures will cover the concepts encompassing identities and animation. The seminars will introduce you to various 3D animation and modelling techniques. The surgeries will add addition support for exploring the relationships between self identity and the design of your avatar.

A Diary of an Avatar
Create an avatar in online 3D environments, like Second Life and Virtual Doppelganger spend some time exploring the virtual environments and communication with the residents. Keep diary of at least four weeks of your Avatar’s experiences and screen shots and publish them on your journal between weeks 20 to 32.

The 2nd Self & Identities Progress Presentation
Make a 10 minute presentation about your design process that explains: your approach to research and the methods and concepts that you used to design and develop your avatar. The presentation should also include a short evaluation and a synopsis of your diary entries documenting your avatar’s progress in Second Life (or other similar virtual environment). It should also describe your design ideas and the techniques you have planned for Project 2- Navigating your Identity