1. Connah Tilley
FMP Evaluation
Evaluation
For my FMP, my initial idea, I wanted to create a full 3D model of a new map, made from the
start, for Call of Duty, but after a short meeting with my project manager, I decided to base
my map on real life, and build it around the actual map of New York instead of creating a
fully new map created for the game storyline. I planned to build most of the 3D assets, and
use the more complicated models from a website online. I wanted to add textures, Sounds
and lights to give the map a much more realistic feel. Once complete I would create a short
fly through of the map to show what I had achieved and to show what the map looks and
feels like while walking around it, as if you were actually on call of duty, playing this map.
I started unsure about how to go about researching the project and deciding on my firm idea
of my map concept. I began researching the current maps call of duty, looking closely at the
things they do to make their maps realistic, and how they make their maps different from all
of the other games out there. I created a survey on a site called ‘Survey Monkey’ and
allowed my twitter followers, who are in the gaming audience, to fill them in and give me an
idea of what they would like to see in a new Call of Duty map. I received a wide range of
requests, but got a lot of replies about a New York map. Furthermore, people wanted to see
destroyed buildings and abandoned streets so I thought that a Map of an Abandoned New
York would appeal to the audience. I created another survey, narrowing down on my idea,
asking if and what they would like in a New York map.
This gave me lots of ideas, and gave me my map idea. I would create an abandoned New
York as I feel it would appeal to a lot of people, including myself as I am part of the audience
and wouldn’t limit the people that this map appealed towards. There isn’t a map like this on
the previous Call of Duty games, so it would be a new fresh idea. It would give players a
chance to see New York from a totally different perspective.
I began collecting images from films that have been set or based on New York being
destroyed, or an apocalyptic situation. I took inspiration from movies such as ‘I Am Legend’
and ‘Cloverfield’. These are films that show New York at its very darkest. That is my aim, to
create a map that shows New York in a totally different way. I found photos, and video clips
that related to the idea. It gave me lots of ideas, which I fed through my twitter followers to
separate the good ideas, from the not so good.
Once I had done that, I had one final meeting with my project manager to finalise all of my
ideas and get feedback. I had to think of budgets and wages, time, computer performance
and more before starting this project as a lot comes into the situation when building 3D
models of this size; issues arise and I have to have enough time and the right computer
specifications to deal with them. I was reassured about my idea, and began to produce it.
I started simply with the road guidelines; I build the roads in three segments, the start,
middle and ending. Once I had that done I was advised to start the main building of the start
first, then the end, while filling in the middle as I go. I added the start buildings and created
the gardens. I added Street lights and fire hydrants to give detail. I then moved towards
getting the mass of houses completed first. I build the houses, editing them as I go to suit the
position they were in. Once I had the main buildings I added background buildings to give
the area a populated look, and could then start adding smaller details like cars and trees.

2. Connah Tilley
FMP Evaluation
While doing the heavy modelling I came across a problem where the software I was using
would freeze and close down, so I had to keep re-opening it until it worked. It did this a lot
towards the end as lots of processing power was needed to create the map fully. I had to cut
a few corners when making the map for time reasons, so I think I could have worked faster
to avoid this. As it got closer to the deadline I had to cut more and more corners to finish the
map before the deadline. I couldn’t include textures like I planned, and I couldn’t put as much
detail in as I would have hoped because of time, and computer specs. I think if I had more
time I could have made the houses a lot more detailed and could have included textures to
give the map a realistic feeling, to make it look more like a map, rather than a prototype.
If i did it again, differently, I would do the research quicker so I could spend more time
building the map up, adding the detail I desired, as well as textures and rendering the final
piece out, even events in the flythrough that changed the course of the flythrough, to add a
bit more realistic element. I would also send my map to different people to get an idea of
what people think of it, and get their thoughts on it. I believe hardware and software
problems stopped me from hitting my desired level of completion on my map, software
freezing and closing was a constant problem, but gradually got worse as I built the map up
towards the end. As well as that, the time we had in the computer rooms was also limited for
space and I couldn’t spend the full time I wanted to develop the map.
I believe that I hit my target audience quite well on this project, as I have added all the ideas
that people gave me during the questionnaires into the map, from destroyed buildings, to
roads full of empty and burnt cars. I added a lot of time into adding small details too, like fire
hydrants, and bins outside houses for the picky people that like small details in maps. My
map was aimed at people aged 14+ of both ages, and I think my map has reached that goal.
The map isn’t too childish for anyone, yet isn’t restricted to people above a certain age, and I
think both genders can see, play, and enjoy this map equally.
I feel quite pleased with what I have accomplished during this project but am disappointed
that I couldn’t get the final piece rendered in time like I had planned. I have completed a 3D
model of a map of an abandoned New York, added small details and that is what I aimed to
do. I feel like I could have done more, like adding textures and sounds to the map, as well
as fully rendering it out for viewing, but time and computer specs stopped me from achieving
that goal. Although I had to cut some corners, I still feel like I have delivered what I set out to
complete, and have done enough to keep the map fresh, new and entertaining. Overall I
think this project has tested my capabilities on computers, as well as teaching me a lot. I
have completed what I set out to do, and I am pleased at what I have done and that I have
finished the map to such an extent that I have been able to do so.