Madden 15 Houdini Head Tool

Madden 15 Crowds

Madden 13 Broadcasters

Madden 12 Fireworks

HandPoser (python)

Tool Details

Use Case: Character artist who is modeling and texturing the likeness of a game character needs to assign traits and export the asset for a Gen4 or Gen3 console game build.

Summary: I worked with a lead artist and Houdini specialist to develop the Houdini head tool, which manages hundreds of unique player and coach heads.

Production problems addressed:

- Takes raw ZBrush output and maps it to two sets of standard head topology, one for a Gen4 console build and one for a Gen3 console build

- Lets artist easily assign skintone, eye color, and iris/pupil size

- Allows for individual head placement and sizing while conforming to standard neck geometry, eye size and mouthbag geometry

- Uses Houdini's compositing tools to map the artist's Gen4 textures onto a Gen3 UV layout

- Drop down menu allows artists to select a character by name, updated in real time from the main asset database

- Batch tools allow technical artists to specify a list of heads to be processed at once