You should check out Peris' great tutorial here: http://www.brameulaers.com/tutorials/ge ... orial.html
I'm not sure if it exists in Zbrush, but in Mudbox there's a brush called scrape that cuts out hard edges, which works really good for stone. It usually works best to start with a beveled cube for a brick, with enough edge loops to keep the sharp edges when it's smoothed. That way you can work away from perfect edges, rather than towards, which is fairly hard in a sculpting program.
Here's a TF2 CTF map I've been working on. I finished the layout a while ago and now I'm going through and making everything as custom content. I still need to add more detail and finalize the textures for this room, then I'll move on to the rest.
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/forum_posts/ctf_lounge/ctf_lounge_1.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/forum_posts/ctf_lounge/ctf_lounge_2.jpg]
I'll make everything in black and white now to avoid rocking the mapcore boat 
Hmm, ouch, I just pulled that screen over to my other monitor, and it looked quite bad indeed. Macbook screens seem to magically make anything look good. I've overwritten that screen with something more neutral.
Actually they're just my unit test levels 
I was never happy with how the real level was put together....
I've added a few more work samples, again at http://%7boption%7d
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/downtownla_2_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/desert_1_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/prison_1_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/radartower_large.jpg]
Great stuff as always. It's been a real pleasure to work with you, I've learned so much from working with you over the last two years
I'd remove the home page and just put the portfolio as the first thing you see.
The company I worked for, Grin, has just shut down, so I'm now looking for work as an environment artist. I have 2 years of experience working as an environment artist on AAA titles for PC, Xbox 360 and the PS3. I also have 1.5 years experience in TV commercials.
I am proficient in next gen techniques, and I have a strong focus on making assets that look great and still work well with gameplay.
You can check out my portfolio and resume here: [email protected]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/vault_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/core_1_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/mine_3_large.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://simonbarsky.com/portfolio/arena_coalmine_1_large.jpg]
Looks great, but what ever happened to Storm of War? I can't handle playing IL2 with a gamepad controller 
Here's a TF2 arena map I've been working on for a couple months. It came from wanting to do something more with gameplay than I get to do at work where I am an environment artist. As such there's very few custom models/textures included, just the stove and walls for the log cabin. I've tested it out at work for 6-8 people and no major issues came up. Please let me know if you find a bug or just have any general feedback on it.
You can download it here:
http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_coalmine_b1.zip
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_coalmine_1_small.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_coalmine_2_small.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_coalmine_3_small.jpg]
It was quite easy for me to go from Canada to Sweden, both in paperwork and language/culture. I can imagine a move like that wouldn't be for everyone though, it can be really hard to start your life over from scratch, not knowing anyone at all in the country when you first arrive. I know that I wouldn't like to do it again anytime soon.
Thanks everyone. I work at Grin as an env artist.
It's arena mode, so the mirrored layout works best I think. I'm wanting to make something a bit smaller and more manageable, I've never actually finished a map before 
A TF2 arena map I've been working on. I've been wanting to do something with just gameplay, not making any assets, like I do all day at work. I'm still working on the first art pass, so there's not all the smaller details I'd like in yet. The layout is mirrored, with the players starting in log cabins, going towards some sort of mining building in the middle. We did a playtest at work and no major problems were found yet.
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_mountains/arena_mountains_130001.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_mountains/arena_mountains_130002.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://www.simonbarsky.com/arena_mountains/arena_mountains_130003.jpg]
I really enjoyed the demo, but when I tried out the full game at lunch today it was far too laggy to be fun I'm not sure what the story is there, I'll see what it's like after work, hopefully it was just something odd happening at the time.
Really beautiful pics I need to get back out and start taking some myself again.
12 Although I really can't see this applying in any real situation however...
I'm Simon, behind the crazy milkman.
I bought a Macbook when I was in Canada over christmas, and currently I'm using this thing to plug it in:
[Blocked Image: http://www.boxwave.com/images_bw/products/thumbnails/plug_adapter_euro_lg.jpg]
It works alright, but is somewhat inconvenient, especially as I share the adaptor with my camera battery charger and razor. I really wish there was some standard for this, as electronics in Canada are much cheaper than Sweden, so I could save some money buying stuff when I go back to visit.
I picked it up in a bargain bin at a supermarket for $9 I still haven't finished it though.....
