Do you have an interest in hoofed, ruminant mammals? That’s great to hear!,In the upcoming Farming Simulator 25, water buffalos will be added to the collection of farm animals.,You may have caught a glimpse of them in previous trailers and screenshots, but let’s delve into the details of this new addition to the animal types.,Furthermore, we have the opportunity to have a conversation with Roman Pelypenko, the Lead Character Artist, to gain insight into the design process.,Be sure to read the interview below for an in-depth look at the development of the game.,And if you’re eager to experience the new features, don’t miss the chance to preorder!
Why Water Buffalos are Awesome
Strong, But Low-Maintenance
- Water Buffaloes adapt to harsher environments: Hot and humid? No problem. That’s why they feel at home in South/East Asia, for example. Ideal creatures to keep on our new, Asian map! In many cultures, they’re also significant symbols for prosperity.
- They’re high-performance lawn mowers: Grass-eating animals? Not that special. Un-bull-ievable, but true: in Farming Simulator 25, your fields of grass will be cut by grazing livestock. Not just the water buffaloes.
- They’re valuable milk producers: Water buffalo milk is especially rich in fat, protein, and minerals, making it ideal for producing dairy products. Which you can, too.
- They’re social, gentle, and smart: Despite their size and strength, water buffaloes are generally gentle and social animals. They form strong bonds with their herd and handlers and often show a calm and docile temperament.
New Products & Productions
Make Some Mozzarella!
Water buffaloes are primarily utilized for milk production.,Additionally, they can be raised for breeding purposes and for sale, particularly if dairy production is not a priority for you.,Given the high demand for buffalo milk and mozzarella, there is an opportunity to supply fresh milk to new processing facilities for production.
Ba-Ba-Baby Buffalos
How Cute
Water buffalos reach maturity by the age of 18 months.,At this point, they begin producing milk and can reproduce, giving birth to tiny baby buffaloes.,These adorable baby buffaloes will soon be seen in your pastures.
When purchasing water buffaloes from a local animal farmer, you have the option to choose between acquiring fresh and adorable ones or strong and powerful ones.,The farmer can provide additional details on the proper care and handling of water buffaloes on your farm.
Bonus from Behind the Scenes
Talking to Roman, Lead Character Artist
Roman, walk us through your creative process when designing a new animal. How do you start? What are the key steps?
Roman: The process starts by developing a comprehensive reference list of real-life animals to thoroughly study their anatomy, behavior, and movement patterns.,After completing the research phase, the next step involves creating high-poly models using sculpting software such as ZBrush.
The next step in the process is to prepare a low-poly model with accurate topology.,This preparation is essential to make the model ready for the texturing phase.
When using Substance Painter, the first step is to transfer the intricate details from the high-poly model to the low-poly version before starting to paint the textures.,Once this stage is completed, the model is considered finished, but the subsequent phase focuses on animating it to bring it to life.
What kind of research do you do before starting to model an animal? What is important to keep in mind?
Roman: When starting to model an animal, it is crucial to locate high-quality references and acquire a comprehensive understanding of the animal’s anatomy.,Because the sculpting process is manual, it is susceptible to minor errors within the intricate structures.
As a result, multiple iterations are conducted at each stage to meticulously review and validate the accuracy.,This entails thorough examination of the bone structure, muscle alignment, and even minute details such as the pores on the nose.
What challenges do you face when animating animals, especially when it comes to creating realistic movements?
Roman: Creating animation is a complex and demanding process as it entails transforming a static model into a dynamic and lifelike representation.,A critical aspect of this process is ensuring that the character of the animated animal is effectively portrayed, enabling the audience to connect with its personality and observe its authentic movements.
How do you ensure that the animal interacts correctly with other game elements, such as the environment or other animals?
Roman: The game includes a sophisticated system that has been developed to ensure that animals interact with each other in a realistic manner.,This system is designed to keep the animals within a defined space and enables them to be aware of each other’s positions.
What is an aspect that you are particularly proud of? What was unique or challenging about it?
Roman: I take great pride in the successful integration of the animals into the game.,It is truly rewarding to witness their transformation from mere concepts to fully realized living beings, each with their own distinct personalities.
