TRAIN SIM WORLD - VEGETATION

DESCRIPTION: Screenshots showcasing the vegetation assets/pipeline created for “Train Sim World”. Captured in engine (Unreal Engine). These assets have since been used across every subsequent release of the title.

Earlier screenshots of this work were also selected for a SpeedTree Artist Spotlight, found here: https://x.com/SpeedTreeInc/status/1110956910939918336

RELEASE PLATFORMS: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

TASKS:
- Responsible for establishing the full vegetation pipeline
- Collaborated with the Art Director and Lead Artist to define the visual direction, establish colour palettes and identify the types of vegetation required for each geographical location
- Created fully dynamic Master Materials that allowed for all weathers/seasons and also improved upon the default SpeedTree wind system
- Created a Blueprint Spline Generator to enable world builders to quickly place hedges and distant tree rows
- Setup all Foliage Asset Types and Volumes with optimal settings for shadows and LODs
- Created meshes, PBR textures, LODs/billboards, animations and collisions. (Base colour textures were sourced and edited)
- Benchmarked and profiled large-scale environments and established budgets that ensured everything remained performant whilst rendering vast areas of vegetation
- Created comprehensive pipeline documentation and provided training to two additional artists, enabling them to work alongside me to produce the remaining vegetation assets
- Reviewed vegetation assets throughout production and provided feedback to the team
- Worked hands-on when necessary to optimise, polish or modify assets to meet final production needs

SOFTWARE: 3ds Max, Photoshop, SpeedTree, Substance 3D Painter, Unreal Engine

CREDITS: I worked with some incredible artists on this project. Please check them out below:

Art Director
Derek Siddle

Lead Artist
Gray Poyda

Environment / Vegetation Artists
Gemma Craig - https://www.artstation.com/poly_pushr
Jess Van Der Tak - https://www.artstation.com/jessvdt3d