Devlog #1 — From a cube to a 3D hamster in Blender

Devlog #0 explained why I'm making this game. This one shows the first real result: the 3D model of my hamster, with the first attempt I didn't like and the version I finally did. The video is right below.

Prefer reading? Same story, in writing:

1. Where I left off

In Devlog #0, I said I wanted to make a small 3D game starring my hamster, Bouboulle. One obvious thing was missing: the hamster. This episode is about how I modelled it, and mostly about how I got it wrong before getting it right.

2. First attempt: the simple method

I started with a simple technique in Blender: I block out the general shape of the hamster, extrude it, then apply a mirror so everything is symmetrical. After that, I add details all around.

First attempt in Blender: the shape of the hamster, then the extrusion.

But when I looked at it in Unreal Engine 5, I didn't like the result: the model felt too small and not very well made. Rather than keep working on it, I decided to start over.

The first model in Unreal Engine 5.

3. Starting over, with references

This time, before reopening Blender, I looked for references. That's where I came across chibis, those characters with a big head and a small body. I liked the style, so I rebuilt my hamster as a chibi.

Looking for references. The references, gathered in one place.

The result was much better.

Second attempt in Blender, as a chibi.

4. A naked hamster

One thing still bothered me: my hamster was completely naked.

The chibi hamster, still without clothes.

So I did more research, this time on how to dress it, and gave it a bag and a scarf. I tried it again, and this time I really liked it.

Modelling the bag in Blender. The dressed hamster, in Unreal Engine 5. Adding animations in Unreal Engine 5.

5. What I take from it

• I didn't like my first model, and that's fine. It left me with a rule: when I want to create something, I start by looking for references.
• The model is far from perfect. But I can finally build something, and for a game that only existed as an idea, that's a real change.

6. What's next

For the next devlog, I want to add the basic gameplay loop:

• talk to an NPC,
• get a quest,
• complete the quest,
• go back to the NPC.

A first sketch of the gameplay loop.

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The hamster exists now, and that's not nothing. The next step is to bring it to life in a real game loop. The videos are on the channel.

One last thing, also mentioned in the video: I've opened my Patreon, and the articles on this site will be published there too.