In the sixth developer diary for our upcoming iOS-adventure Galaxy on Fire 2 – Supernova we gave you some additional insight into the conception of the most dangerous and destructive gunship in the universe – the legendary Bloodstar. Today we’d like to put that massive ‘n menacing battleship in the centre of the attention once again and tell you a bit more about how the 3D model of the Bloodstar was created. In the GOF universe this powerful vessel was constructed by the skilful craftsmen of a long-forgotten faction. In reality, however, it was brought to life by our Senior 3D Artist Matthias Kummer, who has not only supplied us with a lot of kick-ass “making of” footage of the Bloodstar, but also provided us with some very interesting information on how that ship has actually been created. If you always wondered which stages and phases a spaceship in Galaxy on Fire 2 had to go through before it was finally ready to burst from one star system to another on the display of your iPhone or iPad, here’s your ultimate step-by-step guide to designing a heavily armed gunship in 3D Studio Max! Enjoy!
Once the 3D model is ready, the textures are added in 3D Studio Max in order to make the Bloodstar, the most powerful gunship in GOF2 - Supernova for iPhone and iPad, complete.
According to Matthias, the earliest incarnation of the Bloodstar is nothing more than a simple, four-sided box. In accordance with the concept artwork, this box will then get more and more split-up into sections until the general outlines of the vessel’s hull are formed. Once this state is reached, the wings and weapons racks will be added in order to complete the so-called basic mesh. Next up, the more detailed parts – such as antennae or air shafts – will be designed and added to that mesh. If the basic form and shape of the object in the making are symmetric like the Bloodstar’s, the graphics artist working on it will not create the whole object at once, but only mould one half of it. Once that half is done, it can simply be mirrored in order to create the object as a whole. This procedure does not only save the graphics artist a lot of time, but it also helps him not to lose his head – at least for the time being.
The 3D model of the Bloodstar without textures. Once they've been added, the Bloodstar is ready to set your smartphone or tablet ablaze with its four primary weapons and four secondary weapons!
The next step after the creation of the 3D model is the so-called mapping, which is used in order to add two-dimensional images – the so-called textures – to the surfaces of a three-dimensional structure. In the course of this process, each part of the 3D model’s surface will be assigned to a respective part of the 2D texture set. Once this has been done, the texturing itself is the next thing to be done. The first step of this phase is the calculation of certain kinds of soft shadows, the so-called ambient occlusions (AO), by 3D Studio Max on the basis of the 3D model. This procedure leads to the creation of the so-called AO texture, which will later on be multiplied with the colour texture. The colour texture, on the other hand, consists of several layers, which are added to one another in Photoshop. Those layers include, among others, metallic structures and gaps ‘n scrapes, as well as different colours, shades and minor details. Once the AO textures and colour textures have been added to the basic mesh, the object of our desire – in this case the Bloodstar – is finished and ready to be integrated into the game!
The Bloodstar in HD for iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and the new iPad vs. The Bloodstar in SD for older iOS devices
For the HD version of the Bloodstar, the same 3D model has been used as for the SD version. However, in order to make the ship look even more impressive on the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and new iPad, additional normal and specular textures have been added. While the normal texture enhances the richness of detail of the vessel’s surface without splitting up the 3D model any further, the specular texture defines the parts of the object that are characterised by a distinctive metallic glow. How big a difference these additional two textures make, can be seen in the comparison above, which contrasts the SD version of the Bloodstar with its HD version.
If you’re not a graphics designer yourself and hence have a little difficulty imagining the sequence of events illustrated in the course of this little essay on 3D modelling, feel free to check out the video aboveto see with your own eyes, how a simple, four-sided box is turned into the most feared and dreaded battleship in the GOF universe step by step. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
The Bloodstar in action on the iPhone of our forum moderator Mark-C.
Well, fellow space pilots, we’ve come to the end of our seventh developer diary for Galaxy on Fire 2 – Supernova now. We hope you enjoyed the read and we would love to read your comments and find out what you think of the Bloodstar in general and its High Definition version in particular. Are you already looking forward to see it set the display of your latest-generation smartphone or tablet ablaze with its unrivalled firepower and unprecedented destructiveness? Keep your comments coming!
Tags: 3D Studio Max, add-on, App Store, Behind-The-Scenes, Bloodstar, dev diary, Developer Diary, Expansion Pack, Fishlabs, Galaxy on Fire 2, GOF2, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Official, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Shooter, Space, Supernova, textures, trader
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HINT
FOR ME I AM STOCKING UP ON LARGE CABINS FOR EVACUATIONS SO I CAN GET THEM ALL AT ONCE
I AM EPIC
@ tobi
Is this gator custom?
http://galaxyonfire.wikia.com/wiki/Supernova
Third picture
Thanks
@ ilikepie
I know, that’s what i wanted to say
@ not a noob
Yes that’s the one ! The former “headhunter”
@not a noob and drake
Um, I don’t think you mean the third pic. It probably used to be the 3rd but now it’s the 5th I think. The 15th is also a pic of it, the one drake linked earlier. Someone probably recently edited the wiki
@ tobi
Are you still off ?
We don’t recieve a lot of posts from you for the moment
@Drake: Sorry for the delay… I was quite busy in the last few days and hence I didn’t post an answer to your latest questions right away. But here we go now…
Yeah, the ships in the banner Rhinos on an evacuation mission. The footage I’ve been talking about is mostly concept artworks and a couple of screenshots. We haven’t leaked any video footage (such as a trailer or a gameplay video) yet and I don’t think we’ll do so before mid-August.
As for the Amboss, we’ve posted an early concept art on Facebook some time ago… back then, it was still called Cross. Unfortunately, you’ll still have to wait a little longer before the first in-game screenshots of the Amboss will be shown, because we’ve decided not to reveal all most wanted ships in all their glory at such an early point in time.
I don’t know whether the missile turrets are still bound to find their way into the game or have been dismissed in the meantime. I’ll check it out soon.
@Ilikepie: Not sure about it, but the stealth fighter from the press release does indeed look quite ghost-like to me. What do you think?
@ the idea about dropping unwanted cargo
I thought about this idea and there seems to be a flaw
If you were to drop your unwanted cargo the AUTOMATIC tractor beams would just pick it up again
You can get ride of the automatic tractor beams but I wouldn’t because I don’t care what cargo I pick up as long as can make money off of it and plus I usually have the Veteran mounted with three Rhonda Blackholes witch comes to 440t of cargo space.
For some reason, that dilemma never even occured to me.
Guess you gotta destroy that unwanted cargo then as soon as it gets dropped. Or maybe mark it in a special way that keeps the tranctor beam from picking it up again… Khador, any ideas? 
@ tobi
No problem , happy to have you back now
I am great with ideas!
Cargo Tracker
Tracks unwanted cargo dropped from cargo hold.
*must be installed with Cargo Dropper*
Cargo Dropper
Drops unwanted cargo from cargo hold.
*must be installed with CargoTracker*
@keono
Could benusefull but takes away 2 slots, wich i prefer using for other purposes
Or you could just combine the two into one for the sake of sanity???
Or you could just add a select & delete item tab to the cargo hold interface?
My idea would be that you just have the “drop” option next to each of your cargo and make it comme out of your ship line the mines do and the ennemi considerz it as Space waste.
And wy not making it usefull when being attacked by pirates.
When you drop it the Space waste takes the hits from enemy fire and works as a distraction aswell
Well, if I understand what you are saying, I believe the tractor beam would pick it up again. To add to my previous post, all of the drop and “remembering” stuff could be integrated into a new tractor beam.
Who’s khador jk
And maybe as a way of getting the pirates to stop attacking you you can drop a certain amount of your cargo
why does thew cargo have to be jettisonned? How about it is, well, processed into fuel for your ship.
Thanks for the comments
@Cre8r
The main thing that can be converted to fuel is flammable and biodegradable objects such as Baisic Food, Noble Gas, Water,
@Drake2504
That is a good idea but where would you put it.
Scientific News!
I just learned that shield are possible around a ship but only deflect them and right now the only thing known and invented is a gun called a Rail Gun.
@cre8r shipyards
That would be a good idea, but so far the ships have unlimited fuel
Ahh we need your help khador!
@ tony muller
Thats a good idea whats is name and price.
Personaly
I think adding the two Cargo Dropper and Cargo Tracker would make Galaxy on Fire 2
even more challenging and would add more choices.
I think maybe you could create a new tractor beam AB-5 Dropper and integrate dropping cargo into that one only, like the octopus one except you can drop cargo with it?
This is based on Tony’s idea above
@ keono
Just a “drop” button next to each cargo type in the cargo list while flying
Example -Space waste.
-drugs.
-…
-…
Thanks and does anybody know when supernova is coming out
@ keono
30th of august
@Drake2504
Thanks
Is there going to be ship blueprints in supernova, that would be sweet!
Thx
Is there going to be vossk battle cruisers in sd because the only picture is hd
Also is the level cap going to be raised so you can have higher then level 20 and better paying missions
@not a noob
The only difference between he and ad is graphics, everything else will be the same, including vossk battlecrusiers.
@Keono & Drake: I agree with Drake here. Personally, I wouldn’t waste two precious equipment slots just to be able to drop unwanted cargo. In that case I’d rather stick with the stuff I have on board and miss a cool item every now and then. Picking up some valuable item is pretty nice, of course, but in my opinion it’s not worth leaving out a shrinking unit, booster or armor plate, for example.
@Boom boom: Yes, I think that would be best. A simple “Get rid of it” button in the cargo menu… not very creative, but all the more effective and useful.
@Tony & Ilikepie: That’s not a bad idea either. One way or another, I would prefer it if I wouldn’t have to miss out on a while item slot (or two) in order to be able to dispose of unwanted cargo.
@Not a n00b: So far there are no plans for blueprints for ships, sorry. Only weapons and pieces of equipment.
As for the level you can reach in Supernova, I’m not entirely sure, but I think you’ll be able to reach more than level 20 in the new add-on.
And yes, as Ilikepie already said, the Vossk battle cruiser and all the other new ships, weapons, gadgets, etc will surely be available in all versions of the new expansion pack – SD, HD and Full HD. So no one will have to miss out on any of the cool new stuff!
Yeah I’d rather not use an equipment slot to have to drop cargo, and having the drop option in the cargo hold section would be great. I wouldn’t mind having it in a new tractor beam though since I always have one equipped anyway
Has a price been set yet
I think that when you jettison unwanted cargo it would either just completely delete of your ship meaning thet you would be able to regain it or, it would show up on your computer as space waste.
@ not a n00b, I think there are going to be vossk battle cruisers in the sd version because so far sd and hd versions are fairly the same without any big differences.But I hope that They make a higher level cap.Maybe 50?
Can’t wait for the next diary!!!!
@Sid
I don’t know but it does that to me sometimes too.
I hate it.
Tobi why does it do that.
It’s wierd.
@Not a n00b: No, the price hasn’t been set yet. Most likely, we’ll also not have a definite price affirmed before August.
@Sid: The next dev diary’s gonna be posted tomorrow and this time we’re gonna introduce some of the new pieces of equipment to you. We’re also gonna show some pretty kick-ass HD screenshots of the new items in action.
If you guys are curious, go ahead and already let us know what pieces of equipment you’d personally love to see in Supernova. Who knows, maybe our game designers and developers had similar ideas as you had and you’ll indeed find some of your desired gadgets in the final game…
@Keono: What exactly does happen to you, too? Sorry, I’m kinda confused and don’t know what exactly you’re referring to.
@ tobi
Sometimes the web page posts your comment a bunch of times for no apparent reason.
Q on the blue fyre as per the concept art work the primary weapon and a secondary weapon seem to be on a turret like apparatus. Does this mean that you can move the primary weapon
Q2 can you fly the stealth fighter?
C’mon Fishlabs. Get the latest Dev Diary online!
@Sid – I was wondering about being able to fly the stealth fighter as well. I asked thrice a few weeks ago, but Tobi didn’t say anything, so I figure it’s “secret” right now.