In Mafate, observing the world around you is an essential part of the experience. The fauna and flora are not just here to decorate the environment: they are part of the exploration and discovery of the world.
Today, we are sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how we integrated the Zoiseau la Vierge into the game.
Bringing a bird to life
Creating an animal is not just about giving it a 3D model.
Once the model is completed, we need to think about how it will move and exist within the world.
For the Zoiseau la Vierge, we worked on an animation that reflects its natural behavior: its movements, its rhythm, and its presence within the environment.
From 3D model to animation
Before the bird can be animated, several technical steps are required:
Preparing the 3D model;
Creating the skeleton (rigging);
Binding the model to the skeleton (skinning);
Creating the movements;
Integrating everything into the game engine.
Each step transforms a static model into an element that can truly come to life.
Integrating it into the game engine
Creating a bird is not just about importing its 3D model into a scene.
For it to be recognized by Mafate’s different systems, it needs to be configured as a proper game entity.
To make this process easier, we developed an internal tool that automates this step and adds the necessary components for it to function correctly.
Preparing the entity for the photography system
Thanks to this tool, the Zoiseau la Vierge automatically receives the elements required to be recognized by the player's camera.
In this specific case, the tool adds:
A script allowing the game to identify the entity;
A collider allowing the game to correctly detect its presence.
These components allow the photography system to understand what the player is observing and capturing.
Adding it to the game’s lists
The tool does not stop there: it also automatically adds the entity to the correct data lists.
These lists are used by different game systems, including:
The discovery saving system;
The display of certain interfaces, such as the photo album.
A tool designed and created to make development easier
Thanks to this tool, each new creature or photographable element can be integrated faster while keeping a consistent structure.
Behind a simple photo taken in Mafate are several technical steps that allow a wildlife encounter to become a true discovery.
Thanks for reading!
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