In this video I continue painting the landscape and modifying the grassmaps in Houdini. We had trees growing in the lakes due to the weight maps so removed these by painting with new layers. Because I'm using Substrate materials in #UE5.3, some #quixel downloads had broken materials but we have mostly fixed this :)

I LOVE the Quixel trees they're making  I can't wait to use them in GeminiWoods any day now. These guys have just gone the full distance, this video is an inspiration for me .. the attention to detail and the love of trees just shines through.

Tried downloading some mythical creatures to replace the 3rd person mannequin but decided against it. I just can't find the character I want so I'll just fly around instead, now I know the scale of Geminiwoods is about right.

In this first installment I imported a 10km x 10km landscape created from Lidar data available on the defra website. The data was processed in #Houdini but this work has been documented elsewhere. I will cover the details of Houdini at a later date.

I then sculpt the lakes and use the Unreal Water plugin to create the first roughcut impressions of water bodies. The landscape uses World Partition and Substrate materials and Displacement AND Nanite which are all experimental at the moment and explain why i have had many of the problems that i have had over the years I'm sure :) Perseverance has however paid off.

Finally I added some materials to the landscapes. I should mention at this point my huge appreciation of Undini who just took my understanding of materials in Unreal to a new level. BIG thanks to #Undini. Sadly he appears not to have made any new videos recently but we live in hope :)

I had a LOT of problems with the water plugin over the years, the spline versions seem to damage the landscape material.  This can sometimes be repaired using a full build but not always... so I'm using the custom actor which is a simple plane. This sometimes means I have to build up the surrounding landscape to hide the edges of the plane that protrude beyond the lake but that's ok. 

In a digital age where online connections often surpass in-person interactions, fostering local community engagement has never been more critical. Here at GeminiWoods, we've taken an innovative approach to encourage this sense of local connection. We've turned to the world of video games, specifically, the popular game Fortnite, to blend the digital and physical world, giving birth to a project we're proud to call Fortnite Frome.

Fortnite, the brainchild of Epic Games, has attracted millions of players worldwide with its engaging gameplay. By crafting a Fortnite map that mirrors the real-life town of Frome, we will create a digital playground that feels both familiar and exciting for our local players. This initiative is not just about playing a game; it's about using a popular digital platform to stimulate real-world connections and enrich our sense of community.

Leveraging our extensive expertise in 3D visualisation, data analysis, and environmental science, we've been able to produce a strikingly realistic and immersive virtual representation of Frome within Fortnite. Our commitment to utilizing state-of-the-art information technology ensures that every element of the Fortnite Frome project offers an optimal, seamless gaming experience.

Fortnite Frome is more than just a gaming initiative. It's a platform for individuals in our community to connect with each other within an engaging, interactive environment. By leveraging the popularity of video gaming, we have managed to create a potent sense of unity and camaraderie within Frome.

In conclusion, Fortnite Frome epitomizes how creative applications of technology can serve as powerful tools to foster community interaction. Our project stands as a testament to the impact of innovative, outside-the-box thinking and highlights how it can resonate with the digital generation of today.

Keep an eye on our blog as we continue to share our insights and updates about Fortnite Frome and how it's positively impacting our local community, one game at a time.

#GeminiWoods #FortniteFrome #CommunityEngagement #DataVisualization #GamingForGood #GeminiWoods

Recently we were able to enjoy the Frome Festival. This was a full week of local events and activities across Frome, including workshops, music concerts, and sociable events such as the Food Feast. However, whilst we were fortunate to enjoy some of these activities ourselves, we were aware that some of our friends and family we're not able to access these events. There were several reasons for this, including physical mobility difficulties, and mental health difficulties such as anxiety around being in crowds of people. Despite the festival being in July, we also experienced some classic British summer weather, where we had lots of rain during the week. The cost-of-living crisis also meant that ticket prices and transport were also a barrier for some people. Therefore, we wanted to explore a way of delivering a festival that was still by local people, for local people, but could be enjoyed by everyone from the comfort of your home.

The advantage to using a platform like Fortnight is that many accessibility features have already being embedded within the software. When you purchase your tickets to Fortnite Frome, there will be a downloadable accessibility guide with details of all these features and more. This includes help for people with sight or hearing difficulties.

We are aware that some people may not be familiar with the Fortnite platform, or that they may feel less confident around technology in general. There will be a clear and visual, step-by-step guide for setting up and using Fortnite. This is a free platform, and we hope to keep the price of tickets to each virtual venue as low as possible, with options to only visit (and pay for) the venues and events you are interested in.

As this platform is used by older children, there are a range of useful parental controls to help keep young people safe. All the virtual venues within Fortnight Frome will be carefully monitored and moderated, with an easy reporting feature should anyone have any concerns or feel unsafe at any time.

Inclusivity is something that is at the heart of our plans for Fortnite Frome. This includes having a diverse range of artists and speakers exhibiting, so there is something for everyone. If you would like to get involved, or have any further suggestions or comments around inclusivity, please follow us online and get in touch.

Rose Hiron-Grimes

Head of Safety and Inclusivity

Fortnite Frome