For sure, coming down the pipes are more and more powerful, speedy tools for evaluating and iterating in 3D, which like I mention is the end experience, so why not start there. The argument for “speed vs 3D” is becoming weaker as the tools and processes become stronger, and the “tech” side of production, while always an issue, can be somewhat automated and controlled by the artist, instead of vice versa. Even since last week, after talking to a number of companies, we’ve refined our process quite a bit from the presentation. Very exciting stuff coming up.
And as far as it just being relegated to just prop / character stuff…I’ve spent the last month and a half concepting environments in 3D, and while there are technical things that need to happen (memory, perf, etc…) the fundamental idea of iterating on the end experience still holds true, ESPECIALLY for environment work. We’re working now to make some of the environment workflow hurdles more iterative and non-destructive as well.