![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/3e0a8071-870a-45a7-95e8-c4d781a8e072_rw_1920.png?h=c514ed85bb2bb310591ece2a01c168e0)
Description
My friends asked me to help make 3D assets for a game inspired by Vampire Survivors. The game has a top-down view with the player's ship in the middle while enemy ships come toward the player.
My task was to create 3D low-poly models of various spaceships in different styles. Three main styles may be described as Classic, Robotic, and Alien. I had a lot of freedom in creating and interpreting concepts in this project, therefore I translated the meaning of those styles as follows:
Classic
Standard spaceships that come to mind when first imagining one. Those designs are inspired by existing spaceships or spaceships made by humankind from sci-fi movies.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/89468ffb-0ccd-43b2-bd42-1675e6ee1072_rw_1200.png?h=af5770403983ca39c86697e870bf29ef)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/c207aefc-09f6-4db6-acd9-b985681165f9_rw_1920.png?h=7edfc4232acc17e08c22f3b0e1e53383)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/f5b42812-0398-4f25-860a-cd2c75229fb8_rw_1200.png?h=f2ecb1ae01acf1b85397994579eef9af)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/80e6760c-7e71-4ab1-b374-6761c0b1216c_rw_1920.png?h=8d4178cd3ac4f3d5fe813182a5a7ef0c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/fd71ee10-cc7f-4201-a6ce-3ae21b06aee8_rw_1920.png?h=f3903efe878f4c612cb540d6ecb64ebb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/77a2947c-ceeb-4aab-b635-07a301c5d526_rw_1200.png?h=7247cfbd8f3b8abe5ec950623f1b506d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/4a9a7702-a597-4ab1-9b42-8d5852720b12_rw_1920.png?h=bf2532dbfaf2a1b24e486f8b19daf7a9)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/5f3fe011-f72c-4784-a6b9-a18812d2130e_rw_1200.png?h=40667f94a3d86d7edfcbe52ba9cbb01b)
Robotic
Those designs are inspired by mechanical gadgets and electronic appliances. Usually have hard lines and sharp edges.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/1c1998c9-d8bd-4df2-a17c-3a885ade73df_rw_1920.png?h=ca2468add98b03e33ff66c1a5ef1631e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/14618f71-2558-4456-8b39-1dfc7132406c_rw_1920.png?h=e6ff0abb234d9dbc6195fbaebd8a0f2e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/4fb9bcc8-33c3-43fa-9c14-0dd135957cf2_rw_1920.png?h=5146bf2c3f4b32c7fa8d3adcefec5b18)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/a8d30c1e-0d61-4409-a2e7-1297bb2f57c5_rw_1920.png?h=1978b487a836f449c4ebe8f937883d19)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/9ab0d3b3-5d3b-4dda-baec-4954a05fa1e3_rw_1920.png?h=f203629868f0c68104bc97eb60651521)
Alien
Inspired by crystal growths and gems. Combine sharpness and smooth form.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/69499964-efd7-42c4-85f0-96f34dbc85ed_rw_1920.png?h=fbcf9cbe302dbbbc04ec69cfd516093b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/30195610-0add-4d63-94fd-fecd5a1448fb_rw_1200.png?h=eaa1e9639351a79cf70cf87ee5167c61)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/c04fb035-3abf-4b0c-a103-86d4c9778fee_rw_1920.png?h=fb453b5a151de84e6d5a25fd23eebc13)
Process
Depending on the style I would look for references and combine them to a mood board.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/1d55f629-d6bb-405b-8f52-06657a93e9cd_rw_3840.png?h=723d833928b16e5aa2fe3c743d6160ee)
After the initial block-out, I refine and add details to the model. I use Blender software to make most of my models.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/0dfe2849-59b2-4328-8e9d-c0bcdf0ae456_rw_3840.png?h=5e6e8b77f9d66ce972f55916c78aedb7)
When the model is ready, I unwrap it in RizomUV. I find it much more convenient to use this software for this kind of work. For a set of ships that have variants, I combine them into one file and overlap relevant UV shells for better optimization and quality.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/0d9fa947-5495-47e9-b8ed-dd29802cd7f9_rw_3840.png?h=1a93ea511d77477493b6489dbf4fbd58)
To make the next step easier I paint parts of the model in vertex paint to create an ID map. Then I export the model in FBX format.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/3b146805-9dbc-4aa0-b553-99ed70051097_rw_3840.png?h=62cedd9556385e9fc35c29c007affb1b)
Finally, the last step in creating the model is to paint it. I bake ID and Ambient Occlusion maps in Substance Painter. Then I proceed painting the model by assigning materials to parts by using an ID map.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e57dcc98-11f2-46ec-9895-50186835f408/76be7e14-8c84-4449-b209-b7ce08f607ed_rw_1920.png?h=638d439e56f2b9c8c1a0232f3e107d85)
future development
As mentioned before this project is still a work in progress. I plan to add more models to existing styles and expand the variety to five styles in total. In addition, I will add models for pick-ups and upgrades.