Progress report

Initially, I decided to make some silhouette's up for my gadgets using generic 'Steampunk' items and shapes. The end results are below, and although in some aspects there are victories, Alan and I both felt that the designs were forced and still didn't hold the logic and quality that I'm looking to achieve this time around





So it was back to the drawing board, and once again taking Alan's advice, I started to think a lot harder and with more clarity about what exactly the reason was for redesigning these gadgets. so to help me I decided to make a little check list for each gadget (3 of them - a mutual agreement that quality over quantity is going to be key here - positive decision) in my sketch pad. below is what was written down in my sketch pad, and is now blue tacked to one of my monitors to keep drumming into my head, what I'm supposed to be thinking about.

Proton Pack

KEYWORDS - Suck
Fire
Energy
Weapon

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - A trigger/firing element
A Power source
Something to show it's on
Something to show it's firing
An attachment from power to receiver
An element of mobility

MATERIALS - Copper, Brass, Metals, Woods, Wiring

MECHANICAL INSPIRATION - Funnel
Strong Lights
Gears
Gauge
Lever
Wheels
Cables
Pulleys


PKE Meter

KEYWORDS - Handheld
Search
Alert

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - Something to alert user of paranormal activity
Something to show a reading
Something to locate ghosts
Must be light enough to carry by oneself

MATERIALS - Wood, Brass, Copper, Glass, Leather, Wiring

MECHANICAL INSPIRATION - Compass
Gauge
Antenna
Bulbs
Bells
Cogs
Handles
Electrodes


The Ghost Trap

KEYWORDS - Suck
Contain
Capture

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - Something to draw in the ghost
something to transport it from suction device to container
Somewhere to hold the ghost
Something to show the trap is full or in use

MATERIALS - Brass, Glass, Piping, Wood, Gems

MECHANICAL INSPIRATION - Gramophone
Funnel
Vacuum
Jewelry box
Pipes
Cables
Lever
Crank

Now, it was once I began to think of the objects more as characters with stories and meanings of their own, that their logic began to take shape, and it is then that I reattempted some silhouettes using this logic and designer thinking.




These are the initial shape silhouette's for The Ghost Trap.



Above are the Shape blockouts for the PKE Meter



And Here are the results of the shape tests for the Proton Packs.

As you can see, these shapes alone are not enough, so I decided to try my hand at adding some detail in with gray tones. Personally, the actual imagery based outcome I don't like as I struggled with this technique, although it shows whats in my head, and after today, I can chose one of each gadget and design them in colour with each of their special components being more resolved and detailed/textured.







So, now I have more of an understanding of what I need to achieve, as mentioned before, I think the next step would be to design the intricate parts that are are only loosely drawn on these silhouettes, individually in colour and texture, and then put them together in a space, to see what my final piece would look like.

Technology Of The 1900's

Looking back at the last post, we know that to achieve a realistic yet striking design for this project, there must be some understanding of technology and mechanics of the period around the 1900s.

As mentioned, games like Bioshock have managed to 'devolve' items whilst making them still stand as aesthetically and ergonomically readable.



The cars used around the 1900 era are a good starting point to look at how mechanical technology worked back in this period.
as we can see, the actual design (as is the same for pretty much all vehicles from this era that I have looked at) is an attempt at elegance. the curves and minimalistic structure, lead us to believe that this was built not only for purpose but style as well.



Another good place to look would be the industrial sector during this time. A lot of factories were moving away from 'steam' and coal based mechanics and utilizing pulley systems, and other systems which were almost more manual but cheaper to run than earlier machines. again, minimalistic structures lead us to believe that technology in this era was once again trying to move towards, purpose and cost rather than effectiveness.



The sewing machine above shows that size was also an issue when creating machinery during this period. this is something to take into account when designing my gadgets, as although they are fictional, it could be too unrealistic to have the technology required in such a small place. for example, the PKE Meter, is a small handheld device, but perhaps in this case, it may require 2 people to operate?



Obvious design patterns and components are quite common with the technology I've been looking at. You will notice a lot of gear/pulley like mechanisms on equipment, also a lot of pipe work and valve work. A lot of machinery, by today's standards (even the heavy duty machinery) seems, for lack of a better word, flimsy, and connective structures were clearly not understood to the degree in which they are today. what I mean by this is bolt placement, edge connection, component attachments etc. all look as though they could be disassembled or broken with relative ease.



As well as this, one last thing it was obvious to notice, was that the materials used to construct certain machines, are by far different to today's materials. Wood and copper seem to be quite popular materials in comparison to today's plastics and steel blends.

This is a decent amount for me look at, and make some conclusions and decisions at what exactly I could be adding or taking away from the original ghostbuster designs in order to create my 1900's gadgets.

Style choice

When thinking logically about a choice of style regarding my revamped ghostbuster idea, it's probably important to take into account, that the original ghostbusters movies, and cartoon for that matter, are comedies.
Being comedies, it makes my decision about choice of style, a lot easier.



If you look at the proton pack, despite obviously having an iconic and thought out design, it is what some, myself included, would call an over the top design. The way it's features seem so 'out there' and almost unnecessary makes me think that going for a realistic technical approach, would quite possibly look flat and unexciting. However, were i to use an approach in which I created outlandish and wild looking guns, i feel that i could achievev a style of gadgetry that fits the ghostbuster world, without comprimising its design.


For example. The game bioshock, is set from any point during 1945 to 1960. Despite bioshock being set in this era quite obviously in the past, the game and its elements does not feel unevolved.





Look at the 2 crossbow above. Now despite being blatently from an earlier point in time, the top one (the one featured in bioshock) looks far more interesting and thought out in terms of design. The way the designer has utilized the obvious markers of early to mid 1900 technology, and incorporated that into his design effectivley for style and practicality, is something i will be trying to achieve with my designs.

What Gadgets Am I Going To Use?

Well before taking longer than Necessary to explain which elements i've chosen, it would be easier to say, every item form previous post, bar the ecto1 vehicle. The reason being, that I feel I could give each other item, an equal amount of time and effort, with regards to design, all the way down to modelling, texturing and rendering. However, I feel incorporating the Ecto1 response unit, could cause me to spend too much time on one feature leaving the rest looking poorly developed.

So to summarise, I will be using the original designs and mechanics of:

. The Proton Pack

. The Ghost Trap

. The PKE Meter

. Ecto Goggles

. The Ghost Containment Unit

Combined with the use of 1900's technology (both fictional and realistic) to create designs, that would work (or at least appear to), are visually striking, and look fit for use in a modern adaptation of a latter day Ghostbusters movie.

What Does A GhostBuster Use?

Obviously, the Ghostbusters have an incredible array of gadgetry, but what exactly do they use that stands out of the world of normal props or equipment.

The Proton Pack


'The Proton Pack is a fictional piece of particle accelerating machinery created by Egon Spengler and used by the Ghostbusters. It is their primary tool in the 1984 & 1989 Ghostbusters films for "busting" ghosts. It has a hand-held wand ("Neutrona Wand" as scripted by Dan Aykroyd) connected to a backpack-sized cyclotron. The theory is that it fires a 'semi-controlled' stream of protons that neutralizes the negatively charged electromagnetic radiation of a ghost allowing it to be held in the active stream.'


PKE Meter


The PKE Meter is a piece of equipment created at the Paranormal Lab at Columbia University . It was used to track ghosts and give readings of Psycho Kinetic Energy. The PKE Meter is what helped Egon to develop the theory of catching ghosts. It has antennas with lights that raise up and down tracing the level of PKE (Psycho Kinetic Energy).




We also have the variation of the PKE Meter used in 'The Real Ghostbusters' animated series. Personally I feel that this version leaves a lot more room to play with as its design seems slightly more obscure.

Ghost Trap


A piece of ghostbusting equipment almost as important as the proton pack in the Ghostbusters universe, the ghost trap was used for detaining and transporting "busted" ghosts until they could be safely stuffed into the Ecto Containment Unit. Believed by some to entrap the ghost with a laser containment field, precisely how the trap works was never fully explained in the films.


Ecto 1


The Ectomobiles are the standard form of transportation for the Ghostbusters. The car is a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura Duplex Limo-style End Loader painted white and red with white walled tires with chrome hubcaps. A Ferno-Washington Model 23 stretcher that has been modified holds the 4 proton packs inside for easy remove when needed. While never explained in the movies, the roof rack that contains various items that are believed to be radar, sensor mics, infrared, and a satellite microwave uplink.


Ecto Goggles


The Ecto Goggles allow the wearer to see invisible ghosts and visually track PKE valences. Primarily worn by Ray, both Egon and Venkman are briefly seen wearing them during the montage.


Ecto Containment Unit


The Ecto Containment Unit, is where the spirits and other supernatural entities are kept after being caught in a ghost trap device.

SO clearly there's a lot to choose from and after deciding the next answer, which is going to be my chosen style, perhaps that will allow me to decide which pieces would suit adapting the most.

Chosen Idea - More Details

So I've decided to go with The Ghostbusters idea and bring the technology seen in the movies and original animated series back to the 1900's era.

The first things I'll need to be looking at are:

1. What are the best pieces of Ghostbuster equiptment ?

2. What style would be the best way to approach this transformation ?

3. What was technology (and also fictional technology) like back in the 1900s ?

4. What would be an effective means of presenting these when finished ?

In the next few posts, I'll answer these questions, and see what exactly the answers to the could be...

Advances On Major Ideas

After my tutorial with Alan today, we decided to condense last weeks ideas into a more streamline trail of thought. The idea now stands at taking an existing narrative or world, and either devolving it, evolving it, or turning it into something else in some form.
below are a few of the ideas I've come up with, which meet this criteria, as well as interest me, and give me what I feel, a full range of ideas to work ahead with.
















Now obviously, all these 'splices' can be mixed and matched among each other,if they would lead to a more creative outcome etc. so feel free to make any suggestions. It's time to start getting into this! ...

The Lost Fleet Weapon Display

Sorry it's a little late guys, I've only recently got access back to my laptop and internet, so if anyone is interested in seeing my piece - here it is :)