Kinect Disneyland Adventures

Well, I finally got to play Kinect Disneyland Adventures (at Disneyland no less! lol) in Innoventions.  Aside from the confusion I had with how to move around, I was very impressed with the recreation.  I'll need to play it more at a friend's house, since I can't really afford Kinect lol, to get a better sense of how well they recreated the park.

However, without playing the game much it seems like the park is nearly spot on, but the interiors of the rides aren't there.  Luckily, for the VDP, there is still much to be created for a true 3D archive of the park.  However, if Disney does make a total recreation of the park before the VDP does I'll be just as happy.  Now if only I could make a deal with Disney to get those models...

FYI, the VDP plans to include former attractions as well.  Not sure if Disney will try for stuff like this too, but if they don't the VDP will have you covered.

All in all, I'm extremely happy they made the game.  It does put me a huge amount behind in recreating the park, but I'm very glad the actual Disney company has an interest in this too.  :)

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

More Photos and My Next Model

I recently visited Disneyland again and have some new photos to post to the Reference Gallery.

Also, an update on my next model.  I'm working on the Tomorrowland marble and its little area.

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

Up and Running, but Delaying the Opening

Well, the wikispaces site is finally up and running.  It's now ready for all to join!  :D

However, there is still a scarcity of models/textures (there's quite a few pictures though) so I'll try to make at least one model for each land category before I start spreading the word.  My main concern in telling everyone too soon is that they'll come on, be excited, check through the links, and find almost nothing.  Then they might stick with it, or (my fear stems from this) that they'll look at the site and think "Well, it was a good idea.  Maybe I'll check back later, but it doesn't seem very active".  And then that first impression could be disastrous for the site if no one ever came back, thinking the site wasn't going anywhere.

If I were to visit the site for the first time, my first action would probably be Models/Textures > Adventureland > Indiana Jones.  If I found NOTHING there I'd be a little discouraged.  So, that section will be my emphasis for early models.  Also, other main rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion, but I'll try to get at least one model for most sections.

It could take a while for me to get all that done, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run.

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

Switching to Wikispaces/Adding Pictures

I'm liking Wikispaces a lot so I'll be sticking with it.  However, at the moment everything's pretty blank.  There's a lot of temporary images for land categories, rides, etc.   Also, I haven't really messed around with the colors and settings of the wiki so I'll be getting to that soon.

Also... I just visited Disneyland!  :D  And I brought my camera, so I'll finally be uploading a lot of real Disneyland pictures to the site.

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

Possible New Website for the VDP

Due to bandwidth and file storage concerns I may be switching the main website from "Webs" to "Wikispaces".  Here are the pros and cons to each.


wikispaces.com

• PROS:  2 GB of storage, apparently unlimited bandwidth and data transfer (main reason to go with this), more freedom with profile pages, ability to upload any file type directly to the site (no need for alternative storage site)
• CONS:  10 MB max for each file (however, probably won't matter for .obj's), less freedom in the design and look of the site (actually... it looks like the same amount of freedom)

webs.com

• PROS:  more freedom in the design and look of the site, already set up functions for galleries, etc.
• CONS:  41.9 MB of storage, 500 MB of bandwidth (main reason not to go with this), the need to upload each file via link to other storage site (mediafire, megaupload, etc.)

I may keep the old webs site up just for reference or in case someone wants to adopt it who's willing to pay for more bandwidth.

Not sure if I'm going to switch over yet, but it's looking like a good place for the community.

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

2nd Model Posted

Hey everyone!  I decided today I would model the second model for the site and today I did.  Unfortunately, it's just a pair of standard Disneyland trash cans.  I know it's not the most exciting of models, but hey somebody had to do it.  :)

As always, I am still working on models and still waiting till I have enough models to make the site live.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?n7s6nu2t51ic24u

- Erik (VDP Moderator)

Site Updates

Well it's been a month since my last post.  I've been busy with other projects (I am a filmmaker too after all, and as such I've been writing scripts, working on videos, etc.), but I'm back with info on site updates.

NEW FEATURE:  RANDOM DISNEYLAND QUOTE GENERATOR

Yes, on the homepage of the VDP there is a now a section that will randomly generate a Disneyland quote whenever you open the page.  I invite you to refresh the page as many times as you like to see as many quotes as you can.  FYI, there are over 100!  (There is a secret to viewing all of them, but I'll leave that for you guys to figure out...)

Oh, and I had to do a lot of HTML editing by hand to get the quotes to work right, so if any of the quotes come up looking weird let me know and I'll fix it.

NEW FEATURE:  ARTIST / MODEL OF THE MONTH

In an attempt to make the site a more active community I've added a monthly recognition of great artists and models on the VDP.  Start pumping out those models and maybe you'll be an AotM someday!

MISC NEWS

I'm waiting to start spreading the news about the site till I have at least one model for every land in the park.  Not sure what I'll model for each land yet, but it'll probably be something simple since I'd like to get word out soon.

-Erik (VDP Moderator)

FIRST MODEL POSTED : )

Yep folks, the time has arrived.  The first model of the Virtual Disneyland Project has been submitted.  Not that it's the first model of Disneyland ever created, or the most epic of models, but it is nonetheless my first Disneyland model and the first to be posted on the site.  So, without further ado I invite you to download the first file.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?gzb97ne85h57gqd


However, I also invite you to navigate my site and find it there instead.  www.thevdp.webs.com


-Erik (VDP Moderator)

The Database

I've now added the database.  This is will be one long page (in table form) listing all the models / textures on the site, their creators, the amount of polygons, file size, and date of last update.  It is located in the sidebar under home.

If you feel we should add or delete a column category let me know.

-Erik (VDP Moderator)

UV Rule Changed

LONG POST ALERT:  Ultimately this post just says that you don't have to texture your object before posting it.  Read the whole thing if you'd like to know more.


Well, I'm back after about a month where all I had to do was texture the teacup.  And I don't even have a texture!  =0  Yet I did the model in a couple of days.  Obviously I'm more adept at modeling than texturing.  Which leads me to this announcement.

Note about UV mapping:

Originally I had posted in the rules section of the site that no model should be posted if it did not have a UV map.  The reason being if we posted a texture-less model it couldn't be considered the official model and would have to be reposted later when it did get a texture.

Well... seeing as how much the texturing process slowed down my creative juices I am cancelling that rule.  Ultimately I wanted the VDP to be a free-flowing, easy-going community of artists who could contribute whatever they want, when they want, and work off of others' work to create the best results.  This should in turn be a quick and fun way to use teamwork to tackle an almost impossible goal (total 3D recreation of Disneyland).  Now that I realize forcing a UV map to be created would only hinder this process I am allowing texture-less models to be posted.  Although, once we do get the textured model, the texture-less model may be deleted so we have a more official model on the site.

So feel free to model and post as much as you like and don't worry about making those UV's.  We'll try and get someone who actually likes making them to do it.

With that said I will soon post the first model of the VDP: a texture-less teacup.  Pretty epic start I know.  lol

-Erik (VDP Moderator)