Procedural Race Tracks - Houdini 17.5/18 And Houdini Engine

Create a full Procedurally built Level with Houdini 17.5, Houdini Engine, Unity 3D & Unreal Engine 4

What you'll learn
Procedural Modeling in Houdini 17.5
Houdini Engine for Unity 3D and Unreal Engine 4
Create Houdini Digital Assets in a Production proven way for Games
How to use Houdini to create Procedural models to save you time during you game productions
How to Set up HDA's in Unity and Unreal so you procedurally generate Collision Meshes, Materials, UVs, and more!
How to Scatter large amounts of Foliage onto your Terrains
How to use Houdini Engine and Unity's Tree Prototypes
How to create Textures with Houdini
Requirements
A Basic Knowledge of Unity or Unreal
A basic Understanding of the Houdini User Interface
A familiarity of creating models and textures for Game Development
A desire to start using Houdini Engine to create Procedural Models
A desire to create Procedural Levels for Games
Description
Have you ever wanted to speed up your level creation using Procedural Techniques?  Have you ever tried to use Houdini or the Houdini Engine but hit road blocks that prevented you from being productive with the two applications?  Then this course is for you!Throughout this course we are going walk through every step of the way so it is not confusing at all.  You will gain the confidence to begin building your own procedural race track tools for use inside of Unity 3d and Unreal Engine 4.The course starts out by giving individuals new to Houdini, a quick start guide to using Houdini by teaching the basics of navigation, UI, modeling and creating Houdini Digital Assets.  Once armed with that new knowledge we move onto the next level and start building out our Track tools.With the Track tools we will learn how to effectively build a set of HDAs that will generate a Track complete with UV's, the Track bumpers, and the Track Guard Rails.  Through that section of the Course we will see how we can detect the direction of a turn in the Track so we can place either a Track Bumper or a Track Guard Rail.  This will begin to open up the power of using Proceduralism in your game productions. With the Track in place we will walk through the process of creating Procedural Terrains with Houdini and the Houdini Engine.  We will learn how to hook up terrain layers so we can texture our terrains in Unity and in Unreal.  Once our Terrains are ready to go we will walk through the process of efficiently creating and Scattering foliage using the Houdini Engine.  We look at how to utilize Unity's Detail object system with Houdini Engine and how to use Unreal's  grass system.To conclude the course we build out a couple more procedural props and learn how to create textures with Houdini using its own Compositing Operators.  This course gives you a complete look at how to build a procedural pipeline for your games productions using Houdini 17.5, the Houdini Engine 3.4 and the Game Engine of your choice!If you are looking to learn Houdini and Houdini Engine for Games Development then this Course is for you!Note:  Creating HDAs in the Apprentice version of Houdini will not work with Houdini Engine.  An Indie License or above is required.  But all the modeling and workflows still apply, will just have to export the Track pieces from Houdini Apprentice to OBJ.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Project Overview

Lecture 2 Introduction

Lecture 3 Pre-Requisites for this Course

Section 2: Installing Houdini and the Houdini Engine

Lecture 4 Introduction

Lecture 5 Where to get the Houdini Application

Lecture 6 Installing Houdini

Lecture 7 Creating a Houdini Project

Lecture 8 Using Houdini Projects

Lecture 9 Installing the Houdini Engine in Unity 3D

Lecture 10 Installing the Houdini Engine in Unreal Engine

Lecture 11 Where to find the Houdini Engine Documentation

Lecture 12 Conclusion

Section 3: Houdini Basics

Lecture 13 Introduction

Lecture 14 Navigation in Houdini

Lecture 15 Overview of the Houdini User Interface

Lecture 16 Customizing the User Interface

Lecture 17 Creating and Working with Nodes

Lecture 18 Component Display

Section 4: The Basics of Houdini Engine and Houdini Digital Assets

Lecture 19 Introduction

Lecture 20 Installing the Indie-Pixel Framework

Lecture 21 Creating a Basic HDA

Lecture 22 Adding Parameters to our HDA

Lecture 23 Import into Unity

Lecture 24 Import into Unreal

Lecture 25 Creating the Road Cone - Part 1

Lecture 26 Creating the Road Cone - Part 2

Lecture 27 Creating the Road Cone - Part 3

Lecture 28 Creating the Road Cone - Part 4

Lecture 29 Creating the Road Cone - Part 5

Lecture 30 Test in Unity

Lecture 31 Test in Unreal

Lecture 32 Conclusion

Section 5: Tool Kit Planning

Lecture 33 Introduction

Lecture 34 Gathering Reference

Lecture 35 Defining our Tool Set

Lecture 36 Installing the Game Dev Tools into Houdini

Lecture 37 Conclusion

Section 6: Building the Track Tool

Lecture 38 Introduction

Lecture 39 Creating the Track HDA and User Curve

Lecture 40 Generating the Track Geometry

Lecture 41 Generating the Track Geometry - Houdini 18

Lecture 42 Adding Parameters to our Track Geometry

Lecture 43 Test in Unity

Lecture 44 Test in Unreal

Lecture 45 Generating the Side Lines

Lecture 46 Generating the Side LInes - Houdini 18

Lecture 47 Creating Clean UV's for the Track Geometry

Lecture 48 Creating a Helper Utility

Lecture 49 Adding Vertex Colors

Lecture 50 Test in Unity

Lecture 51 Test in Unreal

Lecture 52 Conclusion

Section 7: Fixing the Track Tool

Lecture 53 Introduction

Lecture 54 Fixing the Open Curve Issue

Lecture 55 Surprise Bonus Lecture!!

Lecture 56 Surprise Bonus Lecture!! - Houdini 18

Lecture 57 Conclusion

Section 8: Utilizing HDA Inputs & Debugging

Lecture 58 Introduction

Lecture 59 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 60 Updating the Track Tool

Lecture 61 Unity Test

Lecture 62 Unreal Test

Lecture 63 Debugging with the Houdini Engine

Lecture 64 Conclusion

Section 9: Creating the Track Bumpers

Lecture 65 Introduction

Lecture 66 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 67 Measuring Curve Length

Lecture 68 Detecting Turn Direction

Lecture 69 Joining the Curves

Lecture 70 Creating the Bumper Geo - Part 1

Lecture 71 Creating the Bumper Geo - Part 2

Lecture 72 Creating the Bumper Geo - Part 3

Lecture 73 Creating the Bumper Geo - Part 4

Lecture 74 Section Errata - @Outside Attribute Fix and Explanation

Lecture 75 Creating the Bumper Geo - Part 5

Lecture 76 Unity Test

Lecture 77 Unreal Test

Lecture 78 Conclusion

Section 10: Houdini Core Concepts - Curve Directions and Vectors

Lecture 79 Introduction

Lecture 80 Creating Flow Normals

Lecture 81 Creating Curve Directions

Lecture 82 Conclusion

Section 11: Creating the Gaurd Rails

Lecture 83 Introduction

Lecture 84 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 85 Offsetting the Rail Path

Lecture 86 Creating the Guard Rail Components

Lecture 87 Creating the Guard Rail Components - Part 2

Lecture 88 Rail Profile

Lecture 89 End Caps

Lecture 90 End Cap Geometry

Lecture 91 Completing the Caps

Lecture 92 Section Errata - Caps Rotation Fix

Lecture 93 Adding Materials

Lecture 94 Unity Test

Lecture 95 Unreal Test

Lecture 96 Conclusion

Section 12: Creating the Tire Stack

Lecture 97 Introduction

Lecture 98 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 99 Creating the Tire Geometry

Lecture 100 Copy and Transform

Lecture 101 Randomization

Lecture 102 Setting up a Master Control

Lecture 103 Basic Collision Mesh

Lecture 104 Unity Test

Lecture 105 Unreal Test

Lecture 106 Conclusion

Section 13: Setting up Post Processing

Lecture 107 Introduction

Lecture 108 Setting up Post Processing in Unity

Lecture 109 Setting up Post Processing in Unreal

Lecture 110 Conclusion

Section 14: Creating Terrain with Houdini Engine

Lecture 111 Introduction

Lecture 112 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 113 Setting the Terrain Size

Lecture 114 Unity Test

Lecture 115 Upgrading Houdini Engine

Lecture 116 Updating the Size Parameter

Lecture 117 Terrain Materials

Lecture 118 Creating Terrain Layers - Part 1

Lecture 119 Creating Terrain Layers - Part 2

Lecture 120 Creating Terrain Layers - Part 3

Lecture 121 Creating Terrain Layers - Part 4

Lecture 122 Terrain Layer Attributes - Part 1

Lecture 123 Terrain Layer Attributes - Part 2

Lecture 124 Terrain Tweaks & Parameters

Lecture 125 Unreal Landscape Material

Lecture 126 Conclusion

Section 15: Designing our Terrains with Houdini Engine

Lecture 127 Introduction

Lecture 128 Importing the Track Geometry

Lecture 129 Flattening the Terrain

Lecture 130 Unity Test

Lecture 131 Creating Mountain Shapes - Part 1

Lecture 132 Creating Mountain Shapes - Part 2

Lecture 133 Creating Mountain Shapes - Part 3

Lecture 134 Working with Stamps

Lecture 135 Level Design Session

Lecture 136 Exporting Stamps to Bgeo

Lecture 137 Snapping Terrain to Mountain Stamps

Lecture 138 Unreal Engine 4 Differences

Lecture 139 Conclusion

Section 16: Houdini Core Concept - Curve Gradients

Lecture 140 Introduction

Lecture 141 Creating the Gradient

Lecture 142 Using the Gradient Value

Lecture 143 Conclusion

Section 17: Creating Trees with Houdini

Lecture 144 Introduction

Lecture 145 Creating the Trunk

Lecture 146 Creating the Leaves - Part 1

Lecture 147 Creating the Leaves - Part 2

Lecture 148 Adding Ambient Occlusion

Lecture 149 Setting up LOD's with HEngine

Lecture 150 Creating the Tree HDA

Lecture 151 Baking our HDA to a Game Asset

Lecture 152 Setting our LOD Screen Sizes

Lecture 153 Unity Test

Lecture 154 Conclusion

Section 18: Scattering Trees onto Terrains

Lecture 155 Introduction

Lecture 156 Using the Height Field Scatter Node

Lecture 157 Tree Prototype Attributes - Unity Only

Lecture 158 Tree Instance Attributes - Unity Only

Lecture 159 Tree Scatter HDA Parameters

Lecture 160 Unreal Foliage HDA

Lecture 161 Unreal Tree Instancing

Lecture 162 Converting to Foliage Actor - Unreal Only

Lecture 163 Conclusion

Section 19: Creating Rocks with Houdini

Lecture 164 Introduction

Lecture 165 Creating a Set of Rocks

Lecture 166 Creating the Rock HDA

Lecture 167 Scattering Rocks - Unreal

Lecture 168 Scattering Rocks - Unity

Lecture 169 Unity Test

Lecture 170 Conclusion

Section 20: Creating Grass with Houdini

Lecture 171 Introduction

Lecture 172 Creating the Grass Clump

Lecture 173 Rendering the Grass Clump

Lecture 174 Scattering Detail Grass - Unity Only

Lecture 175 Using the Grass Layer - Unreal Only

Lecture 176 Conclusion

Section 21: Building a Generic Object Placer Tool

Lecture 177 Introduction

Lecture 178 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 179 Creating the Placement Points

Lecture 180 Unity Test

Lecture 181 Unreal Test

Lecture 182 Conclusion

Section 22: Creating a Perimeter Fence

Lecture 183 Introduction

Lecture 184 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 185 Creating the Wall

Lecture 186 Creating the Posts

Lecture 187 Creating the Fence Geometry

Lecture 188 Creating the Sign Geometry

Lecture 189 Packing the Sign UV's

Lecture 190 Creating the Materials

Lecture 191 Unreal Test

Lecture 192 Unity Test

Lecture 193 Conclusion

Section 23: Creating Procedurally generated Signs

Lecture 194 Introduction

Lecture 195 Quick Start to COP's

Lecture 196 Creating Sign Stripes

Lecture 197 Adding Text

Lecture 198 Adding Noise

Lecture 199 Exporting Textures

Lecture 200 Texture Packing

Lecture 201 Conclusion

Section 24: Rally Tracks - Creating the Terrain

Lecture 202 Introduction

Lecture 203 Setting up the HDA

Lecture 204 Finishing up the Terrain

Lecture 205 Creating the Track Tool HDA

Lecture 206 Creating a Custom Track Shader

Lecture 207 Importing the Proxy Track

Lecture 208 Terrain Layers - Part 1

Lecture 209 Terrain Layers - Part 2

Lecture 210 Terrain Layers - Part 3

Lecture 211 Adding Terrain Layer Parameters

Lecture 212 Conclusion

Section 25: Rally Tracks - Track Deformation

Lecture 213 Introduction

Lecture 214 Creating a Track Layout

Lecture 215 Leveling the Track to the Terrain

Lecture 216 Track Turn Detection

Lecture 217 Turn Falloff

Lecture 218 Track Shoulders

Lecture 219 Track Banking

Lecture 220 Terrain Deformation - Part 1

Lecture 221 Terrain Deformation - Part 2

Lecture 222 Terrain Deformation - Part 3

Lecture 223 Unity Test

Lecture 224 Conclusion

Section 26: Conclusion

Lecture 225 Conclusion

Section 27: Procedural Tracks - Houdini 18 - Building the User Curve

Lecture 226 Introduction

Lecture 227 Set up the Houdini Project

Lecture 228 Basic User Curve

Lecture 229 Finding Curvature

Lecture 230 Detecting if the User Curve is Closed

Lecture 231 Finishing up the User Curve

Lecture 232 Conclusion

Section 28: Procedural Tracks - Houdini 18 - Building the Road

Lecture 233 Introduction

Lecture 234 Creating the Road Geometry

Lecture 235 Texture the Road with Substance Alchemist

Lecture 236 Creating the Road Lines

Lecture 237 Road Lines UV Fix

Lecture 238 Adding Skid Marks

Lecture 239 Adding Multiple Skid Marks

Lecture 240 Texturing the Skid Marks

Lecture 241 Adding Decals

Lecture 242 Conclusion

Section 29: Procedural Tracks - Houdini 18 - Fences, Bumpers, Foliage, and Tire Stacks

Lecture 243 Introduction

Lecture 244 Creating the Gravel Traps

Lecture 245 Creating the Fence Geometry

Lecture 246 Creating the Bumpers

Lecture 247 Adding Grasses

Lecture 248 Adding Tire Stacks

Lecture 249 Conclusion

Beginning Level Designers,Unity 3D users wanting to automate their Level Creation processes,Unreal Engine users wanting to automate their Level Creation processes with Houdini Engine,Individuals wanting to learn everything about how to use the Houdini Engine,Individuals wanting to boost their Houdini skill sets