FD Games Design Blog: 2015

2 I learned if your struggling with coming up with a perspective shot use a actual photo and draw your image on top, I would use a black and white or greyscale photo just because it helps define values.

Targets for the future

These are some of my own skills that I need to improve on. Some of the targets I need to achieve as followed:

Things I am good at

Coming up with initial concepts and ideas. I feel like I can come up with an idea on the spot I even have moments when I have an idea in the middle of the night I get up and document it.

Presentation skills - how I present my work. I feel I have learned how to present my work in a more professional manner.

Things I need to Improve on

Planning, I will make a series of mood boards, inspiration boards and silhouette thumbnails and mind-maps. I will also annotate my work as I go.

Timing, I will learn how to establish a plan of work to limit time constraints, I will take desired breaks as to not

establishing lighting in a scene. I will look up tutorials on the web on learning about lighting and I will participate in a series of experiments improving and mastering this skills.

drawing skills, I will draw something or doodle daily, looking at tutorials and inspiration to keep me in a positive mood.

Field Trip! ( Art Gallery visits)

This is a post for all the museums I have visited with pictures!

The Hancock museum

The Outsiders gallery Lazarides

Funny enough we went here after being at the Baltic, i actually had a lot more inspiration taken from the gallery than the Baltic. These are a lot of images that inspired me. I like the tribal stickers on this silver fire extinguisher, The colours in the piece beside it are very vivid and aluring. The major source of inspiration is this emergency box when from at a glance you can see it had a gun in it, this gave me the idea to have this as an easter egg in my game. I like how this artist has done their own.

The Sage -The Felt Mistress

I got the chance to visit the sage, this was a real treat because It was my first time going, I remember seeing the miraculous structure before but never getting the chance to go in it. I was so excited, this is also how I started to get to know my peers and become more social. The weather was awesome and the character themselves were well worth the trip.These are a bunch of images from the artist called the felt mistress. I like and feel that they have inspired me. They were funny creative and unique.

Hatton Gallery- Newcastle university

I took photos at the Hatton and really the only thing that stood out to me is the Shadow Startra or as I like to call it The wall within you.

The Laing Art Gallery

The Baltic Museum

Although I hav been to the baltic before I didn't get much inspiration from the exibushens quite the contrary I actually was inspired by the coloured glass windows and the never-ending mirror at the top and bottom of the staircase. I liked this photo of these cups because I gave me inspiration to make my character Silly cup into an actually 3d sculpture. As for the Staircase mirrors I gave me inspiration to maybe tile my room with mirrors to make it look infinitely bigger. As I said before I liked the sundays illuminating the painted glass, very abstract.

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Course Reflection

Start of course

Work Iv'e done so far (The good and bad)

Concept art

What I learned

I learned how to develop an idea, using means of inspiration boards, mind-maps, initial sketches, silhouettes and thumbnails. I enjoyed learning these skills because I can use this now known knowledge to further develop an idea in a professional industry standard.

I learned about Silhouettes and thumbnails, which I find a super useful when coming up with a concept for either a character, vehicle, prop and environment. I found out that professionals use this technique and for that reason I am glad I had the time to grasp this skill.

I learned how to make my own custom brushes, using Photoshop, to help perfect the overall design of my concept piece. My tutor Tony taught me how to make a brush out of a simple image of a cloud. I think this is great for painting skies and giving an environment a smoke or foggy effect. He also showed me how to make a brush out of a simple squiggle. I now use this technique in producing my own concept pieces.

Sequential imaging

I found this module very helpful in enhancing my knowledge of storyboards. I learned a new technique which I have been using to get more accurate drawings of shape and detail.

This technique consists of importing an image into Photoshop, decreasing it's opacity just enough and using a new layer to sketch over the top getting the overall shape and values.

Digital Skills - Prop Design

At the start of this module I was ecstatic because I was finally going to learn the fundamentals of 3D modelling. In this module we were learning how to make a three dimensional prop for a game. With me able to come up with a cool idea, most of the time, I decided instead of making your common weapon I would take a different approach. Inspired by the Diamond pickaxe from Minecraft that and a sci-fi pick which looked like it came from the game Borderlands. The only complaints I have to say about the project is was not having enough time to finish off my pick and give it a more realistic look and trying to decipher how to unwrap a 3D model. However I now know how to do so and for that I'm a pleased because that was one skill I wanted to learn.

Practice enrichment

This projects had it's ups and downs. From the start I loved learning how to do a 25 frame animation, I admit I went over the limit but It gave my animation life, probably because I watch a lot of animated cartoons and movies. I enjoyed this part of the module because it helped me come up with my own characters inspired by Transformers and beast Wars. I learned how to come up with a frame by frame animation. I believe I would have struggled without the use of my surface pro 3, however I could probably use a tablet in it's place.

I learned how to use a new software, and in my own opinion I I didn't like very well I feel like if I had more knowledge of the program I would like it and use it more but for now I'll stick with Cinema4D and 3Ds Max.

The module was all about coming up with a 3D model of a character

I liked this module because it helped me to come up with my Converterz (C) Adam Chapman 2014

From the start It was a little daunting.

Contextual studies

This has got to be by far my most stressful module, I have had experience writing essays before, however, by the time I started this I forgot how to do essays. I did not like this and although it is an academic project I felt like I didn't get anything out of it other than the stress. Unlike other topics where I greatly benefited.

Animation for games

From the start I had a set idea which in my case is a bad thing however I was glad I stuck with that one idea. I learned how to use reference images to capture motion. I also found out the many different techniques in an animation and came up with a pretty cool character, I guess you could say it was a persona of myself.

Work based learning

From the start I thought of coming up with a humanoid alien cat like girl but throughout development I changed her to be more anthropomorphic.

Personal professional development

Things I loved doing

Concept art, 3D modelling, Animation, Character Design, Environmental design, prop design.

I Enjoyed the Concept art, storyboarding and 3D modelling module because I feel I learned something new each day.

Thing I didn't like doing

Having a limited amount of time to finish each idea.

Having days where I had creative block and or sickness.

What I have learned

What I will do next / in the future

My plan is to continue college until I have a vast amount of knowledge. In the future I might work for some game companies doing either concept art for characters, prop design or 3D modelling and rigging. My big goal is to come up with a trustworthy team and make games as my own games company starting out small but ambitious!

What companies I could work for.

Ubisoft, Rockstar games, Square Enix, etc. I chose Ubisoft because they are the creators of Rayman I like the art style and animation styles. As for Rockstar games They created the GTA series, which I like because they combined both exploration, shooting and driving into one game. I would work for Square Enix because they do beyond realistic games.

Working for all of these companies will help me incorporate each of their styles and overall techniques to build my perfect game or games.

Strengths and Weaknesses.
During my time at collage my course has helped me gain many strengths but a few weakness

Strengths

Coming up with a clear idea
Using the fundamentals to start a project
Storyboarding
Complementary Colours
Visualising what I want from my project
Animation
Concept art
3D Modelling
Software package skills

Stuff that's holding me back / Things I need to improve on

Timing - deadlines
Establishing lighting directions
Mud box overall program techniques
self belief
Not taking any breaks
Perfectionist

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Character Development

Yesterday I got a useful tip from my friend Paul to help flesh out my oc characters, a new way to come up with characters.

You see when I create character the first thing I do is visualize what she or he looks like.

I still do this however my friend tough my to fill out character questionnaires. This actually helped me to develop my character Koah because I needed some more background of her.

This was very useful and I strongly suggest if your struggling with coming up with a back story for your characters do a character questionnaire.

Group game idea

Today we went out and did the oddest thing. Our tutor put us in groups and we were told to go out and buy any item for a pound.

We later found out that we had to come up with a idea for a game using that object we bought.

I was with Jack and Charlie and we bought of all things a squeaky chicken I wanted the squeaky donut but it was a funny idea so we went with it.

Our idea was a game about chickens defending their coop. You can probably say we were inspired by Chicken Run or Fox Busters.

My task was to come up with the characters which my team liked.

Overall it was a good day, the sun was out, we had a change of scenery, had a laugh and learned that you can come up with a game idea about anything.

PPD Presentation skills

Today were put in groups of 3-4 and we had to produce a presentation about a random game that the Tutor gave us.

I was with my two friends Jack and Jodi which surprisingly started off bad but eventually things worked out and it went well.

The game we had to research was called Ballpoint Univerese.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/259390/

I admit things didn't go as planned because I was confused about what role I was assigned to.

I even made the mistake of talking about one of the subjects I knew well, where in the middle of the presentation Jodi says I stole her part. I don't want to say she was wrong but she was, I could have sworn Jack told me to talk about the overall look of the game.

Sadly I had the feeling either of them didn't have a care in the world for the game we had to present. I believe the game had some potential, but then again I like Sureal art.

The real stressful part was having to write everything my two team mates were saying.

Jack didn't have Power point on his laptop. fortunately I did however it was on my Surface pro 3.

Also I had to go over to a mac just before it was time to present. This was only because I knew a good presentation is better with imagery it makes it more appealing to the audience.

I finally got the images on the power point presentation.

and I looked at the audience every now and then because I was looking back at the imagery to gather points of interest. Overall it went semi well, but I defiantly think it could have gone better. I don't mean to blame people maybe I was just in a bad mood anyway we did the presentation and I learned about a interesting new game I never heard about.

Friday, 20 February 2015

3D Art!

Checkout this awesome 3D printing pen! the 3D-doodler

it uses colorful sticks of plastic to create really unique creations.

it was introduced in a kick starter project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r5q9T_7u8A

to me it looks and sounds like a cross from an electric shaver and or hair clipper / trimmer.

What I like about this tool is you can start doodling on a piece of paper then gradually pull the pen up and the plastic hardens in mid air, producing a one of a kind 3D model.

here a review and some examples of what you can make, the only limit is your imagination... that and possibly your balance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cMn4etTdN8

http://daich.net/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9174.jpg

http://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/static.brit.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3Doodler-MoreSamples.jpg

http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/3Doodler-3D-Printing-Pen-Used-to-Make-Remote-Controlled-Airplane-and-Car-447288-3.jpg

here is a link to more economical offer.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/3D-Stereoscopic-Printing-Pen-Drawing/dp/B00KJ5ZRQ8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424440976&sr=8-2&keywords=lix

And for people who don't want a shaver and rather prefer a pen why not try a LIX the successor of the 3Ddoodler, also started on Kick starter.

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/04/lix-the-worlds-smallest-3d-printing-pen-lets-you-draw-in-the-air/

http://lixpen.com/

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Gaming is learning!

Recently I bought a PS3 because I've always wanted, one just had to wait for the price to drop. ;)

It's kind of funny how you buy a new games console and your current module your studying has some really amazing games to research.

I took it that extra level. As well as reading up about games like Never Alone and Hohokum I decided to get the games and try them out for myself. Sort of counts as primary research.

Self assessment results

After going through the assessment I scored a tottal amount of 11 A's, 10 B, s and 9 C's

Reading the learning style explanation I have found out that I am a mixture of Visual and Kinaesthetic and not so much if any of having a Auditory style.

I am happy with the overal result however I think I might have to improve on my Auditory skills.

Monday, 2 February 2015

Field Trip!

Today I went to the Hatton Art gallery

It was a nice change from being stuck in a boring old class room, it's always good to get out and see some new scenery! However I would of liked it better if it wasn't so freezing cold! My legs felt stiff when I got there,they were like two blocks of Ice!

I didn't get much inspiration for the current module, nor anything else to be honest, There were some interesting pieces of artwork but nothing screamed out to me.

Here are some images of some of the artwork I found appealing, Bare in mind they are slightly blurry and offset, I believe if I steadied my hands a bit better the images would have came out clearer.

I like the color scheme here mostly because it gives the illusion that it's dark but there's light shining at a particular angle.

I don't really like the orange and yellow, they could have been left out, although I am drawn to that area of the image more. Not so much to the orange however.

This reminds me of a sea like landscape, like a beach my friend also noted it looks like a 2D level design. I like how the greens contrast and the overall geometric / organic shapes clash together.

Thursday, 29 January 2015

How it's going so far

Things that are going well! :)

Personal:

Played the game Destiny the days I couldn't do anything got to level 12 finally! :D

Came up with a kid version of one of my characters while redesigning her.

Just watched this video of Eddsworld recently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy4ksRIwOzQ ( for some odd reason the text can't be clicked on or highlighted will fix link asp just not now :P)

College Related:

I came up with a character to animate that would be great for a 2D game.

I learned some basic Flash software skills to make something come to life.

at first I didn't like my first character walk cycle however after doodling I came up with a pretty cool

cyber chick( woman not baby bird ) One of my tutors even commented it looked like a bounty hunter from Starwars.

Things that are going... Not so well! :(

OK I really need to get a brief for this modual (Animation for Games)

I had 2 days off and wanted to do some work ,as not to fall behind, However after reading through a hand out that my tutor gave me and realizing I had no specific brief to look at I started to panic. Fortunately I had NCG Online to look at the un-printed breif, in as little words as I can say I didn't help!

I am struggling with research (As usual)

for some odd reason every time I start a new modual what Iv'e learned about how to research just leaves my mind This is really frustrating and stressful, just like maths.

Unsure if I'm suppose to make a 2D or 3D animation Must consult Tutor to resolve these problems

Things to mend:

Get Tutors advice on how I should approach my research for this and any other modual
Find out if the animation will be 2D or 3D or Both!
Must come up with a mind map to help me decide what character I want to animate.

Thursday, 21 May 2015