well my screenshots are on my website in my sig (www.nordicepitaph.com) and for the record, I don't think it's amazing at all, but it was good and it is pretty damn accurate (the first level, not the ones in space lol)

And I could have made it more detailed, but with such a huge outdoor level, and wanting it to run on really lame and slow computers, I made due with what you see there.

Overall though, it was still a great game in many ways. It needs some adjustments and more ideas, but that hemi powered golfcart with the cannon is FUN to drive!

Anyway...

Making a game for every Harry Potter book... well yes that would be a huge challenge. I agree.

One thing I'd like to point out is I've seen the Harry Potter movies but have never read the books, so i don't know the differences.

But from what I've seen in the movies is there was really only a few different sets which the characters were in.

The home where Harry lives, the train station, Diagon alley where they do the shopping, the bank, the forest, and Hogwarts, of course.

Im sure theres more... but for creating the worlds, the buildings in Diagon alley you could use maybe 4-5 types only and change the skins, or make pieces of buildings and arrange them differently on each building. That makes it easier to have so many buildings without making them all seperately.

As for Hogwarts, so many windows and arches and walls can be repeated where making any set there much more easy. Just need details like flags, books, candles etc.

This wont be an easy project, but the story and the characters and locations are already thought out. Depending on the degree of accuracy and detail of the 'worlds' etc, this project won't be a total killer. I do think it could be done over time.

But again, with such drive and ambition, even if it doesnt get completed, it's going to be a good learning experience.

I just don't think that looking at 1 model can allow anyone to make an accurate judgment about much at all.

The hardest projets are recreating someplace that already exists. That I know first-hand. My advice is before you start on this project, go in with a certain mindset. Do NOT pay attention to visual accuracy when making most of your scenes. Noone is going to notice anything except the familiar.

I could make Diagon Alley with some types of buildings that dont look like in the movies and noone would even notice they werent accurate.

Keep your accuracies to things where the players have to pay special attention to something... like a certain storefront in the alley. Everything else just has to be close, or fit in with the theme.

Take that advice and follow it. It'll make things go a LOT quicker!

As for the details, you dont NEEED all the details. You dont NEED to worry about every candlestick, every flag, every book, every chair etc etc.... if you sweat that, it WILL take you many years :P Just throw in some of those details in some areas just to make the point of that scene. You dont need to make it so accurate that it looks like a screenshot from a movie :P

At least you dont have to make levels using satellite images and zoning maps and 2000+ digital photographs for accuracy like I did :P

And there's a kazillion pictures on the web, and you can always throw a HP movie in to see things for references and ideas!

In fact, next to Star Wars, you couldnt ask for more reference pictures for a project! You'll do well indeed.

- Jason