{"id":1432,"date":"2025-07-14T17:17:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abdoubouam.com\/?p=1432"},"modified":"2025-07-14T17:19:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:19:25","slug":"devlog-week-81-82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abdoubouam.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/14\/devlog-week-81-82\/","title":{"rendered":"Devlog Week 81-82"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The past two weeks were productive. I’m still working on my portfolio and applying to jobs in addition to game development. Here’s what I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotary Hammer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I added another portfolio piece. I always wanted to make power tools because they have intricate shapes and designs. I tried once a long time ago but abandoned it because I was way in over my head. I spent a lot of time texturing and detailing it, I’m quite happy with the result. Check out the ArtStation post for more renders : https:\/\/www.artstation.com\/artwork\/Ez8VL2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Rotary Hammer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dream Stability <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I already had the concept of dream stability implemented a very long time ago, but now I made it super easy to control. Just add the dream controller to a level and set the stability value, and it will take care of adjusting the post-process effect and the distortions. Below is a test with in in the main world, where it’s normally not supposed to be used, but it looks trippy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dream Stability<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I need to fine tune the look and add support for sounds when I need to use it. But this will do for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Skeleton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When making the robot nodel I experimented a lot with the skeletons and rigs, and I ended up with about 5 different skeletons and rigs. I decided that the best course of action would be to adjust the Mannequinn rig and add the missing bones, like the ear antennae and the jaw. I did that, and retargeted the animations, so now it works fine and I don’t have any unnecessary assets. I can make animations for it without worrying about invalidating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facial Expressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the new skeleton, I made a few animations for facial expressions. The term is used loosely because it can also refer to nodding and similar things. The decision to add “dog ears” antennae was made a long time ago, to compensate for the lack of actual facial expressions. I’m taking inspiration from exaggerated animations from old WB and Disney cartoons and some stylized and expressive new ones.
Below is an example animation, from Blender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sad facial expression, rendered in Blender<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the animation exported I had to integrate it with the interaction system. I already had a “facial expression” interaction type that I didn’t properly implement yet, so I added the actual logic to it. If you interact with an NPC and you reach a facial expresison line (eg. `Facial Expresison, Happy<\/em>`), the interaction system will search the expressions data table for a row called Happy, and from there it will retreive the animation asset and the shader parameters used for the eye (eye size, open\/closed eyelids, random movement, use a custom animation…etc).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is an example from Unreal, with everything implemented and working properly. (Ignore the weight painting issues, I was still in the process of transitioning to the new skeleton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n