Gaming
esports
This is what Dota 2 heroes look like IRL
Artist Josh Dunlop shows us Pudge and Earthshaker casually roaming around in our world thanks to his stunning art skills. Check out the galleries and making of videos here.
Ever wondered what it would be like to come face to face with Earthshaker as you walk through the woods, or find yourself planted at the feet of Pudge after flying through the air thanks to his hook? Maybe not, but now you can: we’ve teamed up with artist Josh Dunlop, who has already tackled real life versions of Nintendo characters and Pokémon, to create lifelike versions of two of Dota’s most iconic heroes.
But that isn’t all Josh has done: instead of just creating the art, he’s shared the entire process with us, so you can see how the magic is made, and maybe pick up a few tips for all of you budding 3D artists out there. If like us you struggle to draw stick figures then your jaws will certainly be on the floor when you see how it’s done.
You wouldn't want to cross Pudge
© Joshua Dunlop
Pudge in progress
© Joshua Dunlop
Pudge given the ambient occlusion treatment
© Joshua Dunlop
Ready for his close up
© Joshua Dunlop
Things start out with creating the basic shape of each hero, which involves merging together many different shapes and then pulling them around to get the basic outline of the hero. From then on the detail comes in, which the model being sculpted with expert precision to make sure all the defining features are noticeable. This is where the slightest mistake can make or break the image, as if you get a hero's defining feature wrong then it will never look good. Fortunately that isn't an issue for Dunlop.
2 min
Pudge
A video showing Joshua Dunlop reimagine Dota 2's Pudge.
The detail that goes into Pudge’s hands and fingers, for one, is staggering. For an area that seems very small and is partially covered up by his hook a lot of work goes into making sure the fingers are just right and bend in a believable way. We never knew that fingers could be so difficult to get right.
With the model complete it's time to add some colour and get the background sorted. As you can see in the Pudge timelapse sometimes the first try for the background doesn’t work out too well, but with some perseverance the perfect setting for the hero can be found.
1 min
Earthshaker
A video showing Joshua Dunlop reimagine Dota 2's Earthshaker.
As for Earthshaker, you can see that a lot of time on this one went into making sure sure the body was the exact right shape, and that his face looked perfect. There were a few times when things didn’t look quite right so had to be changed, but the end result was great.
Dunlop sketched out his initial ideas
© Joshua Dunlop
And with that the work is done. We have Pudge looking terrifying and Earthshaker looking very menacing, which is exactly what they would do if one came stomping out of the jungle with you nearby. Let’s just be glad they’re trapped in a video game.
For more esports coverage, follow @RedBullEsports on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
