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Propeller-Powered Starcraft II Marine — Parallax Forums

Propeller-Powered Starcraft II Marine

JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
edited 2011-01-14 10:48 in Propeller 1
I have the good fortune to know -- and get to help from time-to-time -- Hollywood FX legend, Steve Wang. I bumped into him at IMATS a couple months ago and he asked if I could create a multi-channel lighting controller for a new project.

That project turned out to be a life-sized Starcraft II marine that is on display at BlizzCon this weekend. I created a 12-channel LED driver for the Propeller Platform and most of the code is in Spin (other than the BAM driver for LED modulation).

There is one channel that "assists" the video flicker on the face. There are four channels on the chest plate; they fade up and "stutter" in unison (like an old, fluorescent lamp) but each has a random dither value to give them their own life; once full light they shimmer (again, each with an independent dither value). Finally, there are two, high-brightness RGB LED modules on the back for engine exhaust ports.

Not a difficult project, but was very fun. Steve and his crew loved the lighting and he told me his client was thrilled with it.
starcraft.jpg
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sc2m_front.jpg
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sc2m_eng_blue.jpg
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sc2m_eng_red.jpg
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Comments

  • CampeckCampeck Posts: 111
    edited 2010-10-22 19:56
    wow that thing is SICK!
    I just got to make a bunch of lighting effects for a local show that is trying to get a spot on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. I used Basic Stamps. haha

    Maybe one day I can grow up to be like you! :D
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2010-10-22 23:28
    That's totally cool!
  • jaegjaeg Posts: 156
    edited 2010-10-23 06:58
    Propeller powered Marine? Hmm... One step closer to the Protoss. I must inform the hive cluster.
  • AJMAJM Posts: 171
    edited 2010-10-23 07:10
    Nice job,

    Any video of the lighting when active?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2010-10-23 10:05
    I don't have video, but am hoping that some from the BlizzCon event will ultimately get posted on the web.
  • sylvie369sylvie369 Posts: 1,622
    edited 2010-10-23 13:01
    Okay, besides the obvious (what we can see in the photos), what's a "Starcraft II Marine"?

    I was expecting to see a robot-guided boat (I guess "Propeller-powered" primed me for that).

    Googling sends me to some pages that suggest it's from a computer game...?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2010-10-23 13:31
    To be honest with you, before I took this gig I had no idea what Starcraft was, either. It is, in fact, an online game (massive, multi-player, etc., etc.) created by a company called Blizzard, which also produces World of Warcraft which most of us, even those of us like you and me who are not gamers, have heard of.

    Information here: http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/sc2/
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2010-10-23 15:04
    Cool Project Jonny Mac
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2010-10-23 15:16
    It's great when technology can be made to look so cool. That's how kids get interested in how things work, and adults, too. And then you never know where it leads to after that. The lines between entertainment and "real life" get blurrier by the week. In another thread we were talking about this "game", for example:


    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/science/10gamers.html
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2010-10-23 15:30
    Working on projects like that - looks like a lot of fun. :)
  • ColeyColey Posts: 1,112
    edited 2010-10-23 15:31
    Not a difficult project, but was very fun. Steve and his crew loved the lighting and he told me his client was thrilled with it.

    @JonnyMac

    I've had similar experiences with Propeller, on many occasions it has got me out of a pickle or helped me win a contract (or two).

    The point is, Propeller helps to make things easy and quick, yeah there are people out there who can push the envelope with it, that just proves how versatile it is.

    And how cool is that model anyway, who cares if you don't know what it is, it's a piece of art!!!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Coley
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2010-10-23 15:36
    Thanks, Coley.

    What I like is the ability to be flexible which in most businesses, including (perhaps especially in) "Hollywood," is a desirable trait.

    While testing the board I decided to add the ability to isolate a section (there are three: face, chest, engines) using a TV remote control. With the Propeller it was a no-brainer, and took about 10 minutes to fully integrate (I had an RC-5 receiver in my "toolbox"). In the end, we don't really use it (the program cycles the various areas on-and-off) but Steve loved that I could add in remote control and do it painlessly and I'm sure he'll have me use this in another project.

    Yes, it really is a simple lighting controller, but it is simple because the Propeller architecture and programming languages make it so.
    And how cool is that model anyway, who cares if you don't know what it is, it's a piece of art!!!

    And I've seen it up close and it is amazing. Keep in mind that most of Steve's work gets projected on big screens. He's created some really cool costumes/creatures for movies like Predator, Underworld, Van Helsing, Hellboy, and many many others. And there a funny thing about Hollywood "monster" makers: they tend to be really nice people. Steve is one of the nicest.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2010-10-23 16:38
    I love this project! I'm not much of a gamer, but I have heard of the Starcraft II game and even watched the "trailer" that a friend emailed me. I must say that this suit looks like you just grabbed it out of the game! Amazing detail! Of course, the only thing better would be if it was Propeller powered.... oh, wait, it is.....
    I've just read the N&V article on JM's 12 channel light driver. Nice work! Love it!
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2010-10-23 16:52
    watched the "trailer"

    I kind of wish I had seen that trailer before the project. All of my programming was based from verbal descriptions by Steve. When I did find the trailer -- after my work was done -- I contacted him to see if he wanted me to match it. He told me that he and the client loved it as is so there was no need.
    this suit looks like you just grabbed it out of the game!

    In a way, part of it was. Due to a very compressed schedule they used models from the game company and "3D printing" to make rough parts of major sections. They "body shopped" (i.e., used bondo and sandpaper to repair/improve) those and then built molds from which fiberglass parts were cast. A big exception is the head: Steve had to sculpt that from scratch going from the images (no actor to life cast for this one). The head has realistic glass eyes and punched hair -- just like a traditional movie prop.

    For me, though, the real magic is in the painting and detailing -- it's amazing, even up close.

    One of Steve's crew, Johnny, shook my hand and said that the lighting "brought it to life." That was a very kind thing to say; I was just happy to be part of such a cool project and be (a very small) part of a team of really gifted artists.
  • Little-endianLittle-endian Posts: 91
    edited 2011-01-12 11:12
    Hi Jon, I recently read your November 2010 "The Spin Zone" column from Nuts & Volts and think the Propeller-Powered board is awesome! Do you know if the Propeller-Powered board will be available for the Propeller Platform as a kit from Gadget Gangster? If so, do you know when it might be available?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-01-13 20:01
    I think Nick decided not to go with it because I used 1/8w resistors and his normal inventory is 1.4w. Things are pretty tight and 1/4w just wouldn't work -- perhaps, though, I can look at that again and resubmit to Nick. The ExpressPCB files are avaialable so you could order boards.
  • Little-endianLittle-endian Posts: 91
    edited 2011-01-13 20:42
    Thanks for the follow, Jon. I'm a bit of a Prop newbie and haven't ventured into having boards made yet. Any ideas on what the minimum quantity might be and any recommendatons on a board manufacturer? At this point I would only be interested in a very small number of boards for tinkering.

    Great article and thanks for the info. on the Renard protocol. I had never heard of it and it looks like it may work well for a project I have in mind.

    One thing I was wonder about regarding the Propeller Platform, are there any size requirements for a Propeller Platform board? I guess I'm wondering if there would be any rules agains designing a Propeller Platofrom module that overhung the Propeller Platform itself? Of course, please understnad I don't know much about board desing either. Just thinking out of the box here.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-01-13 20:47
    I used ExpressPCB to do the board. Not the cheapest of most flexible, but you can get a few boards in a hurry. Download and install the software from www.expresspcb.com, open up the board file, and then order via the internet.

    When I created the original Propeller Platform I use the standard ExpressPCB "mini board" size just to keep things easy. Nick has created a shorter version so some of the original platform modules do overhang. There are no rules save to have fun and do cool stuff!
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2011-01-14 10:48
    Love this project! I am an avid Starcraft II player, so this is very exciting. Reading the thread title, I was expecting little miniature moving robot, but this is actually much cooler! A full-sized model is great! No movement, but the lighting is great! I hope some video of it comes out. At least a few of the nerds at BlizzCon will tape it, hopefully one will find its way onto YouTube so we can watch it in action!
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