Monthly Overview - April 2010

[OnkelSam]

Welcome to our monthly overview!

It has been only three weeks ago since our last overview, but that does not keep us from producing a lot of work.
Chopin has joined our team as a concept artist, and has a lot of knowledge about the Chinese architecture and culture. He has been busy drawing concept art of the PLA headquarters and the core Tier buildings. We are not going to re-skin the current buildings in Company of Heroes, instead, we will build them completely from scratch, giving the PLA faction characteristic looks. Keep in mind that it is concept art, so it's not the final product, although it certainly is a very important guideline on designing new buildings.
The looks of the buildings are a mixture of both a typical Chinese building style, combined with an industrial look. The first building is the PLA Headquarters, the core building of the PLA faction. The Tier1 and Tier2 building follow a southern chinese style and are focused mostly on infantry training. In contrast the Tier 3 and Tier 4 building are more influenced by industrial looks, designed to produce heavy vehicles like the Type 96 Main Battle Tank. But have a look yourself:

http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Headquarters_thumb.png (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Headquarters.png)
http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier1_thumb.png (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier1.png)
http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier2_thumb.png (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier2.png)
http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier3_thumb.png (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier3.png)
http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier4_thumb.png (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/gallery/Tier4.png)

If you didn't do this already, you should have a look at the PLA tier layout (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com/index.php/mod/pla) on our homepage to get a better idea about the use of these individual buildings. If you want to discuss about our mod or give critique, don't hesitate to drop by on our Forums (http://blacksandstudio.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=240).

We sincerly hoped you have all enjoyed another of our monthly overviews. Our next overview will be on May the 29th. See you on moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com (http://moderncombat.blacksandstudio.com)

[Nubber]

awesome buildings... cant wait for the US ones

[Chopin]

awesome buildings... cant wait for the US ones

:p haha,I'll also think about the US ones......if needed.

[gamer_1001]

Well, the roof tiles are spot on, but the first three building is off.

The HQ is a bit thin, I presume that like the PLA of the old day, the HQ will be an old style village building in China with a radio van parked outside. So maybe the building should be wider and more flat?

The tier one building is strange, a Chinese double door with no court yard, and it is a box...most of the Chinese barracks are built like simple two story apartments. A more primitive version of this building (http://news.sctv.com/jsxw/200912/W020091209358269846265.jpg) may seem a bit more realistic.

The tier two building just look cartoony. A Chinese roof on a concrete bunker makes no sense what-so-ever. Maybe just use a concrete bunker? Or do we have something else in mind?

And the smoke stack on the tier 5 is unnecessary IMO.

[OnkelSam]

well, you have to keep in mind, that base buildings are never realistic houses of real life. look at the original CoH buildings of WM or PE. They have symbolic value, with some characteristic stuff on them, but compact. It's the symbolic value that is important, nothing else.
In addition, just remember, these are concept arts. The final result will not be a 1on1 copy of them. These drawings are there to inspire our modelers. They are partly overdrawn and too colourful. That's intended though.

[Hongjian]

Not bad at all.

The HQ is pretty good. I like the style of slight stalinist-classicism, combined with a traditional roof. Remembers me of the National People's Congress in small. Maybe add some Comm Equippment beside the building like in VCoH.

The tier 1 and tier 2 building looks somewhat too science-fiction. Maybe put some camo-net above the concrete-part, more ammo-crates and, which is by far the most important thing for chinese, some cooking equippment beside it. But everything in a compact and more militarist fashion.

[Chopin]

M....maybe next time I will make them look more confortable ,and add some ingame elements.

[nschofer13]

You should add some base guards, when nothing happens they are just chillin there and when the base is under attack they start shooting at the enemy, there should be like 3-4, but die easily, same for the americans