Monkey falls down hill (Tragic)
For this project i used mostly a combination of GeoGen and the Botania Blender addon to create some terrain. Once completed i stripped it down to something easier to run before converting it into a custom map in Gorilla Tag. I used NachoEngines Monkey MoCap mod/addon to record the movement for each monkey. For the moment when the yellow monkey falls. I aligned a separate yellow monkey up with the original which had a Rag Doll physics rig on it. I switched them out for the course of 1 frame through the ground to avoid too much visable motion blur and added a wind force before baking the simulation once i had something nice. This one was stressful because physics and stuff but over all it was fun to make. Im very happy with the way my environment turned out!
Hey everyone! Building custom content for Gorilla Tag has been an incredibly rewarding project for me, especially delving into the world of Blender and motion capture. After sharing my 'falling monkey' animation, I've had a lot of questions about the process, so I wanted to dive deeper into how you can start creating your own awesome Gorilla Tag maps and stunning animations. Getting Started: Gorilla Tag Models in Blender When you're looking to bring your ideas to life in Gorilla Tag, having a good understanding of Blender models is crucial. In my experience, the first step is often either creating simple, optimized models from scratch or utilizing existing community assets as a base. If you're building from zero, focus on low-poly designs to ensure smooth performance in VR – complex meshes can cause lag! I found that keeping the vertex count down is key. For texturing, often simple vertex painting is sufficient for the Gorilla Tag aesthetic, but you can also bake more complex textures if you want to push the visual boundaries. There are many online resources and communities where creators share basic Gorilla Tag character models or environmental assets that you can import into Blender to get a feel for the scale and style. From Blender Scene to Custom Gorilla Tag Map One of the most exciting parts is seeing your Blender creation come alive as a playable Gorilla Tag map. The process isn't always straightforward, but it's incredibly satisfying. After designing my terrain using tools like GeoGen and the Botania Blender addon for organic shapes and details, the next big hurdle is exporting it correctly. I usually export as an FBX file, paying close attention to scale – getting the proportions right for the Gorilla Tag world is crucial for player immersion. You'll need specific community tools or pipelines (often available on modding forums) to convert your Blender scene into the format Gorilla Tag can read. I've learned that collision meshes are vital; without them, players will just fall through your beautiful new map! Make sure your collisions are simple but accurate. Optimization is another big one: too many objects or high-poly models can really bog down performance, so constantly testing and simplifying is part of the game. For specific map types like a 'canyon map,' I found focusing on verticality and distinct pathways in Blender really helps define the play space. Thinking about how monkeys will navigate and interact with the environment from the beginning makes a huge difference. Diving Deeper into Monkey MoCap & Animation Motion capture, or MoCap, is what truly brings characters to life. For my 'falling monkey' animation, using NachoEngines Monkey MoCap mod was a game-changer. It allowed me to record movements directly, giving the animation a much more natural feel than keyframing every single limb. While NachoEngines is fantastic for in-game recording, there are other MoCap setups out there, from budget-friendly smartphone apps to more professional optical systems, that can be integrated with Blender. My biggest tip for realistic movement is to observe real-world physics closely. For the falling sequence, I had to be very deliberate with the ragdoll physics rig. Aligning the falling monkey with the original, then swapping them out in a single frame, was a small detail that made a huge visual impact by avoiding noticeable motion blur. Adding a subtle wind force before baking the simulation made the fall feel even more dynamic. Experimenting with different force fields and rigid body physics in Blender can lead to incredibly lifelike and dramatic animations. If you're thinking about creating a 'rotating map,' you could animate sections of your map in Blender, using MoCap for any character interactions on those moving parts, to create a truly dynamic and challenging environment for players. Final Thoughts and Encouragement Creating custom content for Gorilla Tag, whether it's a detailed map or a unique animation, is a journey of continuous learning and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new techniques, consult community guides, and most importantly, have fun with the process. Each project, despite its challenges, like the physics simulations I wrestled with, brings new skills and incredible satisfaction when you see your vision come to life. Happy creating!
