10 years of DmC and a new round in the life of a collector
xtw1838749b8My name is Dmitry, this is my first post on the expanses of SG blogs… No, I’ve been with the site itself since 2009, but in blogs I can be called a newbie. And I have to confess to you… I am a collector (everyone in the circle claps and welcomes them into their ranks).
Okay, okay, "collector" might be too strong a word.
And in general, if you go deeper, collecting is too amorphous, and such a thing as “collecting video games” does not lend itself to any unified framework at all:
someone collects everything in a row, trying to collect the entire list of games that have ever been released, regardless of the quality of the project itself;
At the moment I consider myself to be in category 4, from those I indicated above, but I have noticed in myself a piece from each subgroup.
The suitcase from the collector’s edition from Mr. Kojima turned out to be very convenient. You see, games also help with housework
So, I started my journey with the purchase of a PS4 in 2017. At the end of 2022, my CD collection contains 184 projects. Here everyone will decide for themselves whether this is a lot or a little. The biggest increase per unit of time was, of course, at the beginning of your journey, when you are excitedly trying to grab more projects, acquiring, of course, not the best game, but already something like that. Now the process is more thoughtful, more controlled, more boring or something: there is an indicative wish list and a “black list” of projects that I definitely would not want to see in the collection for subjective reasons.
And when, excuse me, will the essence of the post already be?
And here, in fact, is the essence of the post.
The process of purchasing a game for your collection is not particularly varied. You buy some project and, at best, sit down and play it, and at worst, this project goes into an ever-growing backlog “on the shelf”. Lately I’ve started to notice that I’ve somehow begun to lack some space in this whole process. I started to think that maybe it’s your collecting.
While scrolling through the news feed of thematic groups and one organization banned in the Russian Federation, I came across photographs of (mostly foreign) colleagues sharing pictures of their collections against the backdrop of huge TVs with a bunch of light panels, etc. And then I got the idea to make a series of photos of my video game collection, but to make it more interesting, more immersive, if I may.
For the photo I chose the “flat lay” style, which can be translated as “flat layout of photo objects”. The main essence of the style is that the camera lens is perpendicular to the subject of the photo. If it’s a little unclear, then there will be a “live” example. Yes, of course, I’m not the pioneer of this genre of photography, but for some reason I’ve seen criminally few of this kind of execution (including the camera angle and the addition of ambiance within the framework of game photos).
I want to share with you the most recent photo taken dedicated to yesterday’s tenth anniversary of DmC: Devil May Cry from the craftsmen from Ninja Theory.
The object was the DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition disc for the PS4 platform. This reboot, in subjective opinion, belongs to one of the underrated projects of its time. And the sound in the game is generally head and shoulders above that in some serialized parts of the series.
In order not to build a post around just one photo, I want to briefly describe the process of creating this type of photo.
Let me add that at the moment 11 photos have already been taken. If you like it, I can make a separate post where I will briefly describe “how it was done”. Unfortunately, there are almost no backstage images from those photos, but I can find something.
Let’s move on to the stages of creation.
Mission 1. Idea and concept.
Idea. The first and often the most difficult part of the entire preparation.
"Idea" – this is not only the general concept and “atmosphere”, but also what, in fact, will be needed to create this atmosphere – lighting and props. Fortunately, with DmC there were not many problems in terms of finding an idea (the game was completed more than a dozen times). So, how can you describe DmC from Ninja Theory in a few words??
"The orphan boy uses multi-colored spheres and sees the gray world in bright colors"
Ninja Theory
If you try to remember the levels in DmC, you are unlikely to remember the gray city streets, but you will definitely remember the eye-popping color palette, the asymmetrically crazy design of locations, etc. And, if it’s difficult to come up with something with the implementation of architecture within the framework of photography, then with a color palette everything is easier. Let’s write it down.
Props. It’s always interesting with props. Props are what the main character and his entourage come into contact with. Basically these are some collectible items, artifacts, recognizable elements and peculiar mascots. As part of DmC, this is what I came up with to use:
Healers, orbs, amulets, a jar of Virility (of course) and Dante’s pistols. Ebony and Ivory.
Mission 2. Bargaining, accepting and crafting.
Possible props selected. The next point in the plan is to figure out how to create it. It’s times like these that I envy people with 3D printers. But on the other hand, sending a model to print is not as interesting as tinkering with it yourself, isn’t it??) Buy yourself a 3D pen or something 😀
I took a few photos of the creation of the props to share with you here.
Fragments of crosses increasing the total https://nonukcasinosites.co.uk/anonymous-no-kyc-crypto-casinos/ amount of health and the Devil Trigger bar (sorry, but I don’t dare call it “Hell’s Trigger”). Where the original series of games was content with only orbs of different types and colors, in the reboot they created and changed some orbs into fragments of crosses.
The main material for my creation was 2mm PVC sheet. I purchased it back in the pre-Covid era to create dioramas within. They are called differently on the Internet. The material can be cut perfectly with a craft knife and is quite strong.
Original from the game. Fragment of the cross. Collect 4 and increase your health bar. Similar mechanics with Devil trigger
PVC blank 2mm, 3 layers glued together to make it possible to make a “canonical” shape. Added textured indentations – we still have objects from Hell.
Coating with varnish mixed with green dye. First layer.
Ornaments were cut out of the same PVC, cracks were added for the effect of antiquity.
Covering ornaments with layers of silver and black paint to remove excess shine. But under the lamp they still sparkle.
Health Stars/Trigger Devil. Ideally, the stars, like the fragments of the cross, would be best made from epoxy resin. Then they would look as identical as possible. But, firstly, it takes longer, t.To. I would have to initially make a master model, pour a mold from silicone, etc.d. Maybe someday, but not this time 🙂
And, secondly, 100% identity is not required for photos. I will refer to this later.
It turned out that I didn’t film the creation of the stars. In fact, this is just a paper model of a standard star, which was also covered with a mixture of acrylic varnish and dye.
Health Recovery Star
Restoration Star Devil Trigger
My option. Dries
Orbs. This is where some problems have already begun.
-How to make an orb? – I asked myself a question.
-And the devil knows)) – I answered myself.
There were 3 attempts. Actually, I stopped at the third one.
Experiment No. 1 consisted in creating the necessary shape by winding paper tape, which as a result would be covered with the already familiar composition of acrylic varnish + dye. But in this version it turned out to be difficult to create the necessary volume and relief where it is necessary.
“The experiment has been declared a failure, conclusions have been drawn, we proceed to the next experiment.” .
Experiment No. 2 took place in sculpting from a block of polymer clay the orb shape I needed, which I will now cover with the same composition. Accepted. Started. During the evening the required head was molded, and without taking a photo I went to bed. But this option was not final either. Of course, I solved the problem with detailing. But now I have used half of all the material I have, and I need to make 2 more models. It was decided to disassemble the result of Experiment No. 2 before it is completely dry and use it for Experiment No. 3.
Experiment No. 3.
Brilliant thoughts come at the very end.
Albert Einstein (probably)
After fiddling around with the first two experiments, I went to the Internet. It turns out that people have long come up with an algorithm for modeling from polymer clay (who would have thought). It turned out that everything was simple – we made the main volume inside from foil, and covered the upper part with clay, modeling the necessary shapes. This way we simplify the design and save material. After all the manipulations, the orbs were also covered with varnish and dye somewhere behind the scenes.
Original from the game
Orb formation process. I decided not to do the face 1k1. No, I don’t justify my crookedness))
Received muzzles. I remember the meme with the Serpent Gorynych
The orbs were fashioned and poisoned for the night to look at the convector.
In the morning the guys were cracked, but this is even better.
Dante’s pistols. Dante’s pistols. Pistols. hmm, in short. This prop is an integral part of the character and taking a photo without this equipment makes no sense.
If I tell Dante, what weapon immediately pops into your head?? No, not a huge two-handed sword, in the reboot it’s actually an almost nondescript toothpick. And no, not 2 saw-axes that are assembled into a motorcycle, this is not from this part at all. That’s right, pistols.
There were also several ideas for possible developments:
make it yourself from existing PVC, but with its thickness of 2 mm, too many layers would be required, and purchasing another material, say, plywood, would cause additional costs. Or order 3D printing somewhere, but this may also bring costs that you would like to avoid.
Fortunately, I found an advertisement on the Internet for a guy, probably a cosplayer, who sells those same pistols for a fairly normal price tag. Actually, that’s all (but I caught up with intrigue).
Most of the rest of the props were already in stock. All that remains is to assemble the composition.
Mission 3. Composition.
In fact, I spent the most time working on this section. I don’t know much about photography and am not an expert. If any of the readers can give constructive advice, I will be only glad.
Partly, probably due to the lack of depth in knowledge of the photography craft, this photo style (flat lay) was chosen, because there are only 2 possible compositions:
Symmetrical. Objects are arranged along lines, a certain layout system can be traced. An “artificial” effect is created (suitable for photos based on Detroit: Become Human, for example, oops, spoilers for subsequent posts).
The format doesn’t require anything – just throw the items on the table and take a photo.
In my photographs, the center of the composition is always the game to which the photograph is dedicated. Therefore, the external space should be filled evenly if possible. I personally like photos that I can sit and look at for a couple of minutes.
Of some special equipment, I can only name a tripod with the ability to install the camera in a horizontal plane, a couple of smart light bulbs with the ability to change the intensity/color and brightness, and a couple of sheets of photo backgrounds for, in fact, backgrounds. And, of course, something that will allow you to display the image from the camera on the TV/monitor at the moment when you need to upload the composition. This is, of course, not necessary; you can get by with the screen of the camera itself, but believe me, it’s much easier with a larger screen.
When assembled, everything looks something like this:
We are not proud people – foil as a reflector, a bag of 1.5 kg weights as a counterweight for the camera, a Christmas tree for the soul.
Mission 4. Processing.
Choose the result you like and put it into Photoshop, adjusting it to your taste. Remembering Mission 1, and that DmC is characterized by bright colors. Let’s use this.
Mission 5. Publication.
Well, we have reached the main Boss – Publication for the public to judge.
A t.To. this post is over, then the Boss is defeated. Reader, get an SSS rank for your patience, I hope you found it interesting, and perhaps even informative.
Thanks everyone for your attention!
See you again!
P.S. Why is it so difficult to come up with a title for a post?. Authors blog how you do it?))