I was asked to do a mech for a in game sequence. I debated relieving my compensation but I'll lean toward transparency. after Agreeing to the contract we agreed on $100 for the completed work.
After I was contacted I asked the client a small list of questions:
- How soon do you need it?
- What engine is this going into?
- What is the scale units you'll be using?
- Preferred modeling program?
- What format do you want the model in? FBX, OBJ, Mesh?
- Do you need the asset submitted in engine with a material?
- Do you want the PSD Source file if textured?
- Is there a naming convention you want me to follow?
- How detailed do you need it to be? Do you have any images of other in game vehicles that are close to what you want?
- Optionally do you know the poly limit for the asset?
- Do you want it triangulated or does it need to be a pure quad mesh?
After they were answered we worked out a rough compensation amount and I started working.
I tried to keep my client updated with progress shots at least every three days and drop a line letting them know I'm working every other day.
This was my first progress update of the block out the next day.
This is my second update a day or so later.
This turn around was not as pro as I wanted it to be. but I needed it on the fly.
This is my third update. At this point we had already exchanged upwards of 70 emails. Both about the asset and shooting the breeze. Be friendly while contracting it's the least you can do! At this point the client was happy with the level of detail and asked for the mesh to be fitted with a simple rig, unwrapped and turned in.
My next update was the full unnwrap of the mesh with 3 pixels of padding between each island for light mapping and texture bleed. This was to accommodate the final in game texture resolution. After I showed the unwrap the client said
The Final Update was the turn in. I checked, double checked, and triple checked, as well as throwing the fbx into engine a few times to make absolutely sure what I was handing in would work and not have any geometry, texturing or any other errors. After my paranoia was slightly sated I handed over the .FBX that was the requested turn in extension and naming convention. The client was really happy with it and was able to implement it into his in game sequence with no problems. Upon delivery I was paid through paypal $150 for about a weeks work, maybe a day in actual work time. This was $50 more than we agreed, I contacted him to confirm it was not in error. He had apparently done it as a gratitude which was really kind.
After that I was invited to work on two more assets. A set of decaying military zombies. Though the project was put on hold and eventually went defunct before much work was done on them. In hind sight I should have saved the clients videos with my work in them. I also should have saved all the files and in progress files related to the project. Maybe also kept a log of the conversions and critiques. So I could analyze them and try to provide an even better/smoother client experience next time.
So ya that was my first contracting job. Hope that was slightly enlightening. =P
