This is a copy of a post I originally made on Unity Connect, but as it is shutting down as of February 2021, I have reposted here.
My name is Elliott Ayling, and I’m a software engineer by trade. Feeling inspired by the Neon challenge and its submissions, as well as sci-fi and cyberpunk in general, I thought I’d give some environment design a go. Having no real experience on the art side of things, I relied entirely on the asset store for all my models, materials, and various other bits and bobs (full list below). I wanted to be as creative as possible within the confines of the models I could find on the asset store, without having to worry about scripting or code. Knowing the final product was going to be a recorded video, I also didn’t worry too much about optimisation outside of getting my bake times down. I’ve used Unity in the past for various coding projects, but they’ve never had a focus on the art, so this really was a great learning opportunity for me. Enough so that I restarted 3 times as I felt I could do it again, but better, with all the new knowledge I had gained. I had a lot of fun making this in my spare time, and already have lots of ideas for future projects I would like to try. But I think the next one will be on a smaller scale. I definitely learnt a lot about the art side of production, especially when it comes to lighting.
Screenshots
Making Of
The only non asset store model here is the building on the left which eventually became the diner. I made using this the newly free ProBuilder.
One of the first things I added into the scene was the volumetric fog, and the post processing effects. The fog really adds a lot of atmosphere to the scene, as you can see here:
The post processing effects are also vital to the final scene as you can see in this comparison:
The feature at the rear seen here, is just the Luminaris Starship from the asset store, with some pipes from the Pipes Kit layered over it. Both free and fantastic. The light is just a standard emissive.
Assets List
Free Space Ships– The ships flying overhead.
Industrial Storage Tanks – Tanks next to and behind the railroad cabin.
Low poly combat drone- The final drone seen in the video.
MicroSplat Puddles, Streams, Lava & Wetness – For the puddles and wetness on the terrain.
Modular City Alley Pack– For the lower buildings and a lot of the props and assets around the scene, including the Chinese lanterns and some of the signage. Really great asset for modular building.
Move Motion Free Pack – For the walking animations.
Neon Signs Asset Pack– Can’t have a neon city without neon signs.
Old Fund– For the entire back wall, and courtyard, as well as a lot of the props around the scene (including the old car). I found this set difficult to use modularly, but it’s fantastically made.
Railway Tank 15-1427 (Soviet Locomotives)
Renderpeople Free Rigged Models
Sci-Fi Scout Drone– The drone that we chase in the video.
VolumetricLighting – For the fog, point, tube, and area lights.
SlightlyMad/VolumetricLights – For the spot lights.
Various public domain sounds from freesound.org.