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Project Work: Environment

2009-01-23T03:23:00.000-08:00

I chose the Scrap Yard brief for my environment project which resulted in a reference visit to a scrap yard in Coventry which contained so many interesting things to take pictures of that I was overwhelmed with what to model. I decided on the anti-freeze corner which contained several huge tubs of waste anti-freeze and fuel along with several other interesting assets to make.

Below are a few renders of the completed environment which came to about 10,000 triangles

Project Work: Character

2009-01-23T03:12:00.000-08:00

I chose to do the World War 1 character project, transforming my grandad from elderly relative into a WW1 Field Marshall which was a lot of fun to do. Textures are a mixture of hand painted and sourced photographs from the army surplus store. These all show the middle LoD which came to just over 4000 triangles

Project Work: Van

2009-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Just thought I should post up some of my finished work for the projects so far, these are a few renders and screengrabs of the H-Van and the H-Van in its damage state

Environment

2008-10-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post up a few of the pictures I took of a scrapyard and a screenshot of how it's going so far. I'm planning on including a few more big objects but generally keeping it quite small since it'd be easy to get carried away with the amount of interesting stuff that was there.

3D Analysis

2008-04-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve found this term’s 3D work very challenging but I’ve learnt a lot and I think the team project has been a good motivation to get work done for the sake of your team as well as yourself. I think everyone has had to overcome a variety of different problems and it’s pushed everybody’s teamwork skills as well as modelling, texturing and working in an engine.

I think that the size of the groups could have created some problems, people might have worked better in smaller groups maybe of around six, which could have helped to make some more tightly knit coherent teams with more of an emphasis on communication between team members since there’s less of you to get the job done which increases the pressure. With smaller groups there would be more large assets to distribute to people which would help to push everybody’s current modelling skills even further. Having said that, I think that our group communicated very well with regular scheduled meetings and several group deadlines to make sure people got their work done on time. There were some issues at some points but everything ended up being resolved and everybody produced some great work and a level to be really proud of.

I enjoyed the work I’ve produced, particularly the texturing this time around. Although it can be the most tedious and drawn out aspect of 3D work, nothing beats the satisfaction of drawing to the end of your time working on texturing a difficult model and applying and tweaking normal and spec maps to get that final outcome.

I also had good fun with the one day speed models, it was great to have some totally different things to work on besides the Queens building work and I think it gave everybody a chance to really free up and work on some very enjoyable projects without the kind of team-related pressure concerning the group project as well as improving overall modelling speed.

Something which took absolutely ages was getting my work ready for presentation, I couldn’t believe how time consuming it actually was to organise all the different renders to try to present things to a decent standard. I ended up sacrificing a lot of sleep when it came to sorting it out simply due to me underestimating the effort it takes to try to show off your work in a good light. It was very satisfying to finally have everything in presentation form and be able to scroll through it at a leisurely pace though.

It was a good year for 3D work, my main regrets are not getting to grips with Unreal as much as I could of and also needing to do more high-poly work in Zbrush, but this can be remedied over summer. I’m looking forward to finding out about our summer projects so I can get started on them, but for now, after getting everything on the K-drive, I’m gonna have just a little break and catch up on some sleep

2D Analysis

2008-04-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

2D Analysis

I’ve really enjoyed producing 2D work this year and I think it’s due to the variety of different weekly tasks that we’ve been assigned. I’ve found myself being more creative with my work when the project is set under a short time constraint since I’m forced to come up with ideas and sketches as quickly as possible and this not only helps me produce more interesting work but also helps me from procrastinating and putting things off. When there’s a long project looming ahead I find it really easy to lose motivation simply due to the amount of time there appears to be to get it done, and all of a sudden the deadline approaches unexpectedly and it’s a mad rush to get everything done in time.

Something that I found really helpful this year was purchasing a layout pad to help me come up with ideas for some of our projects. It allowed for a lot of freedom since I’m usually very precious with my sketchbook work and spend too much time on individual drawings in it rather than using it as a vessel for ideas. The layout pad just seems appropriate for sketching down quick ideas and doodles and really exploring the tasks without worrying about the results. It’s also great to be able to tear out the pages and to be able to look at all your research drawings at once. My room ended up entirely covered in pages on more than one occasion but it was really helpful stuff since you can see which direction your work is taking and what the plan of action is to make progress. I’m definitely going to continue using them for this reason and also because I had so much fun drawing in it.

I’ve had a great time doing digital painting this year although it’s still something I feel very inexperienced with. Everybody else seems to know all these cool tips and tricks and how to manipulate Photoshop to create some really stunning images whereas I just plod along using the basics. I’m going to be looking at a lot of tutorials over summer to try to figure out the real potential of the program and what I need to do to get there. I’m also going to do much more traditional painting to refresh myself with the fundamentals and hopefully translate that onto the PC when I come to do more digital painting. Something which I enjoyed but wish I’d done more of were the speed paints. They were a great exercise in loosening up and coming up with ideas quickly and it’s fun to know that everyone else is working to the impending deadline alongside you, it’s also great to see what everybody else with comes up with and the cool techniques they use to realise it making it a really good learning process since you can directly analyse your own work with everyone else’s.

My main goal for 2D is just to practice I think. But I’m gonna practice both smarter and harder so I learn lots of new things as well as doing work that I like and having fun doing it. I wonder if the speed paints will carry on over summer, and if so I’m gonna participate on a more regular basis. Overall it’s been a really fun year for drawing and I can’t wait to learn more.

Siren Speed Model: Textured

2008-04-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

2008-04-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

We don't have to turn out a masterpiece everyday. To paint is the thing, not to make masterpieces. -Henry Miller

After looking at various examples of art and artists I came across Henry Miller’s view on art which had I found pretty interesting. It got me thinking about the process of producing a piece of work being just as much part of art than the final product and just as much of what makes it good or bad.

Since this subject matter is vaguely related, I’m gonna use it to talk about some peoples’ opinion of games not being classed as art. Maybe people have come across film critic Roger Ebert’s view on games in relation to other media and cultural things and his opinion is that due to player interaction, games cannot be classed as art. I would say that due to player interaction they can be classed as art in an entirely unique way: you are able to experience and build upon a collaboration of various people’s talent and art in your own creative way by playing the game, which is an artistic process in itself. Maybe this is just a step up from using the excuse of playing games for “research”; now we can say “I’m creating art!” when people ask why you’re playing a game and not working.

“I am prepared to believe that video games can be elegant, subtle, sophisticated, challenging and visually wonderful. But I believe the nature of the medium prevents it from moving beyond craftsmanship to the stature of art. To my knowledge, no one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of comparison with the great dramatists, poets, filmmakers, novelists and composers. That a game can aspire to artistic importance as a visual experience, I accept. But for most gamers, video games represent a loss of those precious hours we have available to make ourselves more cultured, civilized and empathetic.”
Roger Ebert

It’s hard to read this quote without getting at least a little bit riled up about this pretty ignorant opinion. It’s clear that Ebert has never come across some of the many more sophisticated and arty games, but who can blame him? With the legions of shooters and movie-games that saturate the market it’s difficult to see past them all making it very hard for the untrained person to distinguish the good games from among all the bad ones, which is a great shame since everybody should be able to enjoy the sophistication and the certain unique experiences that only games (good games) can provide. To say that the nature of games prevents them from becoming art is inappropriate since the potential of the genre allows for many different artistic perspectives such as story telling, visuals and player interaction.

In conclusion, the current state of the market in general seems to be giving the entire games genre a bad reputation due to the vast amount of uninspiring games being released. Hopefully in time as games become more popular and respected, we’ll see more of those rare and venerable classics that are very rare at the moment.

Siren Speed Model

2008-04-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

This was for the Greek myth speed model project and is supposed to be a siren with an extra big music face hole for singin'. It's turned out not to be so speedy at all and took quite a while trying to get the shape and form as correct as I could manage. I'm gonna get it textured soon I hope but it's been fun to model so far. It's been great to get back into some character modelling after all the Queens building assets so I'm going to make sure I totally finish this one soon.

WEEGEE

2008-04-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

He was there in the beginning.

The Blinding of Samson: Digital Masterpiece

2008-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the orignal: I decided to recreate Rembrandt's "The Blinding of Samson" for my digital masterpiece, I just think it's such a powerful image, the lighting, composition, it's all epic stuff so I figured it'd be a fun picture to try and get even a bit of its grandeur across in a digital recreation.
This is my sketch, I spent absolutely ages trying to get the composition accurate and it was so much more difficult and complex than I first thought, it took way too long trying to get it right.

Here's my finished image, it took ages and ended up being an all-nighter but it was great fun to do. I never understood the sheer amount of detail and subtelties that go into the old master's work until I had to tackle it first hand and I have a now have even more respect for the original masters of art. I've really enjoyed these short projects, it's been great to try so many different styles and approaches to things, I've only got a couple left to do now but I'm looking forward to 'em!

Vehicle Project

2008-04-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

This ended up not being very land-air- or sea-yachtish at all, but this is an almost finished picture of my vehicle, I still need to put something on its little screen/monitor thing and a few other finishing bits and pieces.

Mechanical Final

2008-04-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

My final outcome for the mechanical project and the initial sketch here

Baaar

2008-04-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Here's my bar, there's no specific theme going on here but it was enjoyable to do.

Lake District

2008-04-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Okay it's been a while since I posted any work up here so this one's a painting of somewhere in the Lake District (can't remember which lake we were at here) , using the default photoshop brush

Moral Decisions in Games

2008-04-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Good and bad and decisions are a popular subject in all art forms though very few pieces of work portray it well. Games are not an exception to this. I’ve played countless games in which the decision of becoming either good or evil is a selling point printed on the back of the box in bold letters, but it’s something that never contributes to my purchase because I know it’s not going to be done in a very effective or meaningful way.

Moral decisions and life in general are more complicated than just lumping things into the two extremes of good and evil and I think that games don’t often consider this. I’m using Bioshock as an example here. In my opinion the game was a bit of a disappointment considering what was promised, especially in terms of throwing you in some sort of moral dilemma. I was expecting a less linear experience both in terms of game play and layout, and in terms of decisions concerning good and evil and the consequences that come with them. Instead the game had its one moral decision, whether to rescue or harvest the little sisters. This was a blunt decision between being good or bad and had none of the subtlety or mystery I was hoping for. Add to the fact that this single moral choice decides one of only two endings and it’s clear that there’s less to the moral aspect of things than there should have been.

Something which intrigued me whilst I was riding the hype train prior to its release and looking for bits of information was the decision to censor the controversial player controlled murder of the little sisters with their weapon of choice, in favour of the more ambiguous “harvest” scene. I can understand how this came about as I don’t think murdering children with wrenches has any place in a game, but again, it’s something else which causes the game to lose that moral impact it should have had and helps to distance the player. If you were forced to kill the defenceless girl instead of a video-initiating button press that does it for you, then it would mess with your morals much more.

Because of reasons like these I’ve never enjoyed the “good or bad” decisions in games as they never reflect real-life situations. However, after finding out that Fallout 3 is going to have over 200 endings- that is a lot of endings!- maybe moral decisions could finally be represented more accurately in a game. Can’t wait for that one, if you somehow haven’t seen the trailer already then check it out:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/20238.html

For the record, I usually play the good guy in these types of gam

es. Even though it was reduced to just pressing X, I still couldn’t kill the little sisters. How about you guys, we got any heartless lil’ sis killers here or did you all do the right thing and rescue?

"Good" and "Bad"

2008-04-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

I don’t think it’s appropriate to use the terms “good” or “bad” when describing art, at least in today’s modern society. Art encapsulates so many different forms of expression that you can’t inherently call a piece of art “bad” because you may not understand what somebody might be trying to express with the work they’ve produced. It may not be technically appealing or perspectively accurate but who’s to say that’s what the piece is trying to promote? It may be a study of colour or form, a representation of freedom of expression in the form of sculpture, or maybe just a plain white canvas that represents nothingness or something.

I think the only way you can really judge a piece of art is whether it appeals to you or whether it doesn’t. I’m not usually drawn in by the more fine art type of art that includes meaningful shapes or shocking statements. I’m more impressed by mastery of visual media and accurate representations of things because it’s something I can relate to and I’m stunned to see the amount of effort and time people put into manipulating media to a realistic effect. I suppose this makes me simple minded because I don’t really “get” fine art, but I can’t help it, it’s just the way my mind works, I respect the technical prowess and dedication over the meaning behind the work. There are many pieces of fine art that I enjoy and are very meangingful to me but since I'm currently striving to improve my technical ability and visual understanding they usually aren't what I'm currently interested in. A combination of the two is best of all of course, but if it’s one over the other I always go for the pretty shiny picture instead of the meaningful one. This makes me a "graphics whore" of the art world, doesn't it...

I think in this society it’s quite common for people to gain artistic recognition without the need of as much technical mastery of media or a true visual understanding of the world around us. I know that’s a harsh thing to say in a way, but people's opinions are so broad and varied that many pieces of art that I wouldn’t consider appealing are very successful. This brings me back to our group discussion on the subject and how Da Vinci and other artists of the period took painstaking efforts in representing the human form accurately due to strong religious beliefs of man being made in the image of god, thus making it blasphemous to misrepresent people. I'll always find this dedication and art of that variety more impressive than most pieces of modern art I think.

After wandering around the internet and reading opinions concerning people’s perceptions of art, I found an interesting pair of pictures for comparison:

Which one is more appealing to you? The first is a more accurate representation of the scene but could be seen as boring and lifeless to some people in comparison to the lively and whimsical picture below. I prefer the first because I find painting things accurately such a challenge and I respect the ability of the artist, but I like the second because one of the clouds looks like a turtle.

In the end, I think judging art is based purely on the individual's preferences because there'll always be somebody who'll love what you hate and vice-versa so that's why trying to pigeonhole art into categories of good or bad is a difficult and possibly trivial thing to do.

A Creative Game

2008-01-07T15:43:00.004-08:00

Have a go at this evil knock off of Mario. It's really creative in its way of forcing you to die repeatedly and in the ways it makes you do so. Good luck.

http://www.geocities.jp/z_gundam_tanosii/home/Main.html

Enjoy everyone, the first link is the flash game, the second is the downloadable version. Let me know if any of you beat it. And watch out for deadly murderous clouds.

Organic Character

2008-01-07T15:43:00.003-08:00

This is gonna be my final image for the organic project I think, it needs more work though and I'm kinda stuck with what to do with it

Stress and Creativity

2008-01-07T15:43:00.001-08:00

I’ve been researching this subject for a while and the subject seems quite debated. This experiment: http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2004/11/10/Campus/Stress.Stifles.Creativity.Study.Shows-799647.shtml , claims that creativity is restriced when people are in a stressful environment, however the statement is based on one experiment in which three students are subjected to few tests whilst in an exam period so I’ve decided this concludes absolutely nothing. My research led me to various other evaluations that seemed to provide better proof as to why stress can actually help to push peoples’ creativity to another level.

I think that stress and conflict can help to promote an individual’s creative process because they can show that boundaries are being reached and felt which lets you reflect on the creative work you’re trying to produce. Stress can also help to focus your attention which could speed up and deepen your creative output so in a way stress can be something which helps you channel your abilities so you can make the most of them.

I find I can focus on work easier when there’s more pressure to get it done. When I’m under the stress of a deadline it gets me motivated and gets me thinking, I can churn out more ideas at a higher rate. I’m not necessarily sure about the quality of the ideas I churn out… in some cases the quality probably decreases, but the level of stress helps to motivate and focus me.

I’m looking forward to the group task this year since the schedule will be tighter due to being in a group and I expect we’ll set group deadlines and key points to achieve which will help me to be motivated and to focus a bit more. I found it difficult this term due to the amount of time spent on each project and I really feel I should have set some personal deadlines to help me achieve my work better so for next term, that’s the plan.

At the moment though, I’m so stressed that I know I’m not putting out my most creative work so it’s something to learn from, I’m gonna really try to stick to a schedule for this next project.

Game art itself I think is inherently a very stressful career. You’re constantly under pressure deadlines and time constraints and you’re constantly being knocked back and having to redo work due to decisions by people above you, so maybe that’s part of the process and it’s why people can produce some of the great looking games that are seen today. If they’re constantly used to pressure and having to churn out lots of work then they’re constantly mixing and discovering their most creative ideas which should ultimately lead to producing the best work. It’s worrying how stressful a career it can be though, I hope it all doesn’t kill me off before I’m 30. Since games are a good way to alleviate stress, if I make sure to keep a steady gaming diet I might just survive it all and live to tell a creatively stressfull tale.

Creativity: Speed Painting

2008-01-03T17:42:00.001-08:00

I think the speed painting has been a really effective way for everyone to express their creative processes. Since there’s less time to really plan your image in depth and you have to get working right away to make the most of your time, people stick with original ideas that they might usually dismiss and really draw potential from them. I’ve found it a good way to develop my techniques although sometimes I just get totally stuck with a word and churn out stuff I’m unhappy with, it’s all part of the process and is a great way to try out new techniques.

It’s been really helpful for me since I find it difficult to make creative decisions and being given a time constraint has really forced me to think up ideas on the spot and try to experiment with different tools to get a result. It’s great fun trying to think up new ideas each time and an awesome way to flex creative muscles.

This one was on the words “Evil Robot” which is a word that kind of speaks for itself.

Evil Robot

This next one was “Super Villain” which again is a word that doesn’t leave too much creative liberties in the subject, but I’ve had great fun with both of these. I think I’ve gotta try going for more open ended and challenging words so I can come up with more creative and individual ideas but these have been fun for developing brush strokes and stuff in Photoshop.

Super Villain

I think that certain constraints such as time limits and restrictions can really bring creative ideas out of people. For example, I find I can produce creative ideas easier when I’ve got a tighter time constraint to work too. I’ve find the drawing classes difficult this year just because I’ve had too much time that I wasn’t able to manage properly and I’ve ended not producing the best work that I could and rushing some ideas, so in future I’m gonna try working in a different context involving my own personal deadlines this term and see if it helps me to get more creative both with my ideas and techniques.

The speed painting has taught me that I need to get way more proficient at Photoshop. I often spend the first ten minutes just dawdling around looking for the right tools to use so my plan from now on is to do more and more speed paints to get to know that damn program all the better. Despite having to think about what on earth I’m doing in with all the different brushes and tools, I think the speed paints are a great example of pure creativity that people are able to create when they’re put under time constraints and everyone’s excellent work is a great example of this.

Creativity Constraints in Society

2008-01-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

Creativity Constraints in Society

I felt prompted to write this after Ben Mathis had shown his character entry for the Dominance War and it made me realise how much popularity and public opinion can effect and restrain creative ideas. I thought that Ben’s character not only looked fantastic and unique, but was also supported by some brilliant and considered ideas such the prosthetic sprinting legs to get in and out of dangerous situations quickly and the luminous face paint under the eyes so he’d be able to snipe in the dark. I was disappointed to find out that it was negatively received by most people, and this draws me to the point that common opinions of what is “cool” can stifle the games industries’ creative potential. After hearing that the most popular designs appeared to be generic and overused genre archetypes such as girls with guns and guys with swords, I felt I'd have to look into why very few original concepts seem to be able to make it into the world of games.

There are examples of this saturation of the market due to uninspired games wherever you turn, legions of WWII shooters and re-hashed football games bear down on you from the shelves, each promising the “authentic” WWII shooting adventure and the “definitive” football experience. It’s disappointing that the market is so dominated by these kind of games and it’s more disappointing still to realise that as the industry grows and each game is a bigger risk d

ue to the massive increase of production costs, the less risks developers will be willing to take when it comes to creativity. It’s also sad to find out that most imaginative and creative games that try to do something different often don’t sell so well so it’s a tricky predicament.
The only option for solving a problem like this seems to be to bring down restrictions placed on games by massive profit-driven publishers like EA so that creative games are able to make it through into the market. The problem is, that even when a creative gem of a game gets through, they never get the recognition they deserve due to huge cleverly marketed games that cater to whatever sells well.

Now many people might argue against me but I feel that a lot of games considered creative are often quite shallow in terms of story development and are based on basic (and often excellent) ideas that draw in the player which is how they’re able to gain footing in the market. Katamari Damacy is an example of this, a casual gamer is able to pick and play with a unique control scheme utilising both analogue sticks which is new and exciting, but there’s no engaging story to really draw the player into the world. Games that try to do both, such as Psychonauts, often seem to do badly in terms of sales.

It seems like there’s a deadly cycle of popular yet overused genres that are holding the industry back. These days there are very few games that I actually want to play. Back in the day I’d wander into a game store, glassy eyed, all around me were seemingly fantastic games and I’d never be able to get all the ones I wanted. Especially with the price of N64 cartridges when it was in its very early days, about £70 if I remember… anyway, it always seemed like I was saving up for the next good game. Oh and on a kind of side note, anyone remember that awesome N64 fighting game, Rakuga Kids? Holy shit, it was awesome. There’s no way anything like that’d make it in todays market. The bear could turn into a submarine and it had snot bubbles and there was a girl with a chicken hat. So so cool.

It’s not just the game industry that’s suffering this lack of creativity too, it seems. A lot of modern films seem to go over old and safe money making genres and is it just me or does there seem to be a total lack of original IPs these days? Every film seems to either be a sequel, is based on a comic book, or a bad remake of a classic that butchers the original and sullies its name, all in the name of box office sales. Hopefully there’ll be a turning point at some point where the entertainment industry gets its creativity back and even more hopefully, maybe one day somebody will make a good movie based on a game or that genre will burn and die.

Anyway, I’m still awaiting the day when I can wander into a game store and be overwhelmed by a ton of games I want and blow all my savings on ‘em. Like it was back in the day. I feel so old.

Creativity Through Programs

2007-12-11T02:15:00.000-08:00

I think it really helps the creative process when you’re using the tools that are right for you. If you’re competent and well suited to the media you’re working in then you can let your ideas flow instead of being hindered by technical constraints. The reason I bring this up is due to the struggle with 3DS Max.

Max is a very technical program and it seems to work against me most of the time. Rather than having a piece of clay that I can shape and push and pull to my liking, Max has me concentrating on and worrying about every vertex I manipulate lest it destroy the flow of the mesh and create an array of unsightly angles. This can make it a real challenge to keep the model looking how I want it to but it’s all part of the fun of designing something that has to work in a game engine; it isn’t purely visual, it has to function and move and deform properly in game. I think that after a few years of practice it’ll become easier and easier to let the creativity shine through in the meshes I produce since I’ll be more comfortable with the program.

Using Photoshop has been good fun this year and I’ve really enjoyed learning how to manipulate it since I had no prior experience since I started the course. There’s so much to learn and I think the speed paintings we’ve been doing have really helped me to find new ways to be creative since there’s no time to sit and think about what you’re doing, you just have to dive in there and paint which leads to fun and totally unexpected results.

With more complex programs being developed it could seem that people will be able to be more creative and produce more and more stunning pieces of work but I wonder whether technical constraints might begin to hinder how people think and work so I think people should always remember the basics and do some doodling once in a while to free up their minds.

I think I’m going to dabble in the creative potential of new programs such a ZBrush and MudBox to see what opportunities they’ll present since from what I’ve seen, they allow more creative liberties than Max does, at the cost of an extra billion polys, but it should still be good fun

Creativity: Round One

2007-11-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

Creativity

At the moment I’m having my own creative issues so I think it’s a perfect time to tackle them using a blog post. I’m still trying to get started on the second of our character design project set for this term, which is to be based on mechanical things, when we should have a final design for it by tomorrow. I don’t know why it’s been so tough to get started but I always have trouble with it so I’m going to be looking at the creative process this time around.

I’ve got a very annoying habit concerning my creative process and it involves me being way too considerate of the work I produce. I’m terrified of making mistakes or showing work that I’m not happy with and I’m often intimidated by a vast, new and unspoiled page. It’s frustrating because I want to get my ideas out of my head but instead of seeing a new page as potential for developing new ideas, I see it as potential for making some new mistakes. I think this thinking stems from an academic thought process I’ve picked up over the years of being force-fed science and maths: There are right and wrong answers. I wish I could stop thinking in this way because in the world of creativity it’s a very restrictive and punishing way of working and I experience this first hand every time I start a project.

I think to get this project started I’m going to totally rethink my views on creative processes and just be more instinctive about it. After flipping through the sketchbooks of friends I’m noticing that they have far more prolific and inventive content than my own and that’s something I’d really like to achieve this time around so I can really get my ideas flowing. Society’s general focus on academic subjects has really dealt a blow on how I create work over the years since ventures such as art always seem to take a back seat to the “proper” and “academic” stuff. It’s stifled my brain! It’s like mental conditioning designed to create logical algebra zombies. There’s a character design I could use. Anyway, I think that people could discover the creative processes that work for them if the general consensus wasn’t a focus on the academic.

So, for this art project I’m gonna break free of my logical thinking and just try to be inventive. Maybe it’ll help and I’ll be able to push the boundries of creativity, more likely it won’t and I’ll DIE HORRIBLY in the process. Either way, the way I work has really got me thinking about creativity and the role it plays in society so I’m feeling a little more optimistic about blogging about it more since this blog post has got a lot off my chest. If you’ve read it, sorry about it being so emo, I’ve been pretty whiny over the past few days. It ends now! Happy happy, joy joy.

Feedback

2007-04-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a really great time this year and I think that I’ve learned loads of skills that are good fun to put to use. Since this is the final formal blog task, it seems fitting to begin it by discussing the blogging itself. It’s been good fun and it’s really great to be writing things that you know people you know are going to read. It’s also definitely advantageous over writing an essay as everybody has their own personalised style and it’s fun to read peoples’ writings and watch it develop with each post. The blog tasks have helped me to gain a more focused insight into the game industry and although I’ve found some very challenging, they’re always rewarding upon completion.

Working with 3DS Max has been a challenge but an enjoyable one, however, it’s been made all the more difficult with the amount of hardware problems, so many computers have been down. Having to go through 5 computers in a row that don’t work is pretty demoralising when all you want to do is get your work done. More contact time would be very good as it’s helpful if you run into an unstoppable problem to have Joel quickly show you what’s going wrong.

The drawing side of the course has been very useful. I’ve learnt far more than I thought I would and the workshops and wire modelling classes have added a lot of variety and allowed us to learn new and original skills. It’s also been great going over the basics of drawing and I feel I’ve developed a more mature approach to the way I draw. I’d like us to be able to have more contact time with Chris and Jack as I don’t feel we can get quite as much personal tutoring with the class being the size that it is. I also really enjoyed our trip to Bradgate Park and the various sites around Leicester and I’m sure everybody else did too so more class outings would be great! As I said before, the workshops were really good so I think more work of a “hands on” nature next year would be helpful.

The lectures have been interesting and insightful and I’m looking forward to the idea of lectures on key games for next year and looking at film alongside games would be very helpful due to the cinematic direction that games are able to take with the development of technology so all these sound like good plans.

I’d like to see more games installed on more computers in the labs so everybody can get involved and interesting rivalries within the class can truly begin to flourish. Being able to have CryEngine 2 would be very, very awesome and getting Unreal Engine 3 as soon as possible would be great too.

I think I’ve covered all the issues I wanted to raise and I’m looking forward to next year, should hopefully be very awesome indeed.

Game Developers Conference... and the Zelda Rant

2007-04-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

After browsing through the colossal list of different sessions, I think I’d like to look at Eiji Aonuma’s Reflections on Zelda for this task, mainly because Zelda is a popular and important franchise in the industry that other developers can learn from and also because I have my own reflections to add upon finishing Twilight Princess.

Aonuma begins by talking about the issues the franchise faced after the cel-shaded style used in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. This style sent the franchise in a “gamer drift” due to it inadvertently sending the message that the title was aimed for a much younger audience. This was reflected in unsatisfying sales numbers and it was clear that the series needed to cater towards a specifically different market if it was to be successful.

The Zelda team came to the decision of a creating a realistic Zelda that would cater to a wider and more adult market and would also satisfy long term hardcore fans of the series. This decision was met with concern from Shigeru Miyamoto and he suggested that it would need to have aspects that varied from Ocarina of Time to keep the series fresh. He suggested being able to swing the sword whilst on horseback as a starting point, something fans had long since speculated upon. The introduction of the wolf transformation was also used to provide fresh and varied gameplay.

In my opinion, neither element is a particularly drastic change to the franchise. Twilight Princess feels very much like a remake of Ocarina of Time to cater for the dedicated harcore fan base that were disappointed with The Wind Waker. Due to it being a launch title for the Wii, the game was also introduced to the casual gamers enabling it to reach a vast market, a pretty nifty sales tactic which has been clearly successful.

The problem arises with the game itself. I was heavily disappointed with Twilight Princess in many areas and I think it fails to live up to what the team were trying to achieve. In short, I found the game painfully easy, each boss boiled down to being a simplistic puzzle that required no skill and there was never a sense of inherent danger or threat which totally cheapened the epic feel the game was trying to achieve. The usually frustratingly devilish Zelda puzzles seemed to have been simplified and were far too obvious. I felt the art style was far less consistent than that of Wind Waker, with blurry textures and overused effects such as bloom spoiling the overall feel.

I think that the art style in terms of character design has led to an emotional detachment from the characters. Link’s new look, although supposedly more “realistic” than his cartoony Wind Waker iteration, seems empty and lifeless like a doll. It calls to mind the Uncanny Valley robotics theory which revolves around the idea of humans having an emotionally negative response to robots or non human entities that are “almost human”, for example, scary Barbie dolls and almost life-like shop mannequins. The new Link is actually less human than his cartoony counterpart, WW Link’s cartoon appearance leaves more room for interpretation and draws greater emotional sympathy from the gamer.

Which one's the most "realistic"?

Other problems with the visual style can be seen right from the start, with the opening video showing Link riding across the plains on horseback as the sun sets. Random sunbeams arch down at near vertical angles over him when the sun is at the horizon line and as he rides to the edge of a cliff, it drops away at an unnatural angular gradient and the ground’s grass texture stretches down after it. Stuff like this is unacceptable in AAA titles, especially Zelda, one of the most venerable and best loved franchises in the industry. Maybe my expectations were way too high after all the hype, but I just can’t help feel disappointed with it.

Well… I’ve really gone off on a tangent there, and although I think I could keep going on about this forever, the rant is finally over. I feel much better now!

Personal Aspirations

2007-04-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

I think before I go on about aspirations and goals and things of that nature, I wanna have a good ol’ reflection on the calming, serene world of game art design. *eye twitch*

I’ve really enjoyed the course so far, it’s been one of the best experiences of my life, but it’s been tough. I think this is mainly due to me being lazy and overestimating my ability to complete complex month long projects in ten to twelve minutes, but I’m working on it and trying to plan my time more effectively.

Art class has been really enjoyable and I do feel like my abilities have improved over the duration of the course. I’m still not anyway near enough to the standard I’d like to achieve and I’m finding a lot of the stuff we’re doing pretty tough but I’m going to stick with and set myself a few personal projects to be getting on with over the summer to improve my skills. I really need to know how to win against Photoshop…

The 3DS Max side of things has been a very tough but rewarding experience and I really feel that I’ve learnt absolutely loads of stuff. I’m definitely beginning to enjoy it now that I’ve learnt the basics and I don’t have to spend an hour recalling how to weld that vertex. In particular, it’s the mesh creation I have the most fun with. I still feel very inexperienced with the mapping and texturing side of things so again, summer practice is a good idea methinks. A little more technical knowledge and I think it should enable me to get a bit more creative and fun with the work I’m producing.

After this course, I hope to attain a job as games artist. I’m slightly worried as I doubt my ability to be able to pull this off, but with serious dedication I think I can make it. I’m happy to be going into a profession that draws together many of my life passions and it’s also very cool to be working alongside great people who understand the meaning of headshots and internet humour. By the end, I want to be able to create effective work proficiently both in art and 3D. I want to be personally satisfied with what I’ve achieved as that’ll allow me to take an objective stance when criticising my own work meaning I’ll be able to push for the best I can do. I also want a pony.

Week 20 - Creativity

2007-04-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Creativity, this sounds like a fun one. Obviously, being involved in the artistic side of computer games design is a pretty creative thing, us game artists should have creativity pouring out of our ears like beautiful rainbow waterfalls of great ideas. I suppose that creativity is the process used to create original concepts and to realise these great ideas as it seems that creativity and originality are closely linked. I think I’ll have to explore the subtle nuances of that relationship later on… Now, to the task at hand!

Creativity can manifest itself in pretty much anything people do. It definitely doesn’t have to be restricted to just art-based outcomes; it can be used to solve anything from day-to-day problems to real complex sciencey stuff. However, I think that creativity can only be properly explored when boundaries such as “problem-with-solution” are disregarded and a person is able to think in an almost entirely creative manner, such as forming works of art. This leads on to whether creativity is hindered by technical constraints or not. Whilst I think technical constraints will always hinder in some way, I feel that constraints cause a person to focus their creative abilities which lets them adapt and manipulate their ideas in a more effective manner. Everybody can have great creative ideas, but part of the creativity is getting them realised.

Now in terms of game design, I think each person involved “does” creativity. Every person, whether lead artist, programmer or coffee maker (he could draw smiley faces in the foam), is trying to help visualise an initial creative idea, they just have different methods of going about it. I think that every bit of input is a creative process because the game in its entirety is a creative outcome.

Just about every element of a game demonstrates creativity. It’s there in how it looks, plays, sounds and also in how it plays on your emotions. Certain games are atmospheric for a reason, for example, survival horror games. The environments, sounds and situations are all there to instil a sense of dread and that in itself is a creative choice. This player interaction is where the versatility of games enables creative aspects that I feel are restricted with other types of popular media, nothing else involves a person in a world of many creative possibilities like a game does.

There are lots of particularly creative companies in this industry and, unfortunately, lots that aren’t. But they suck! So we’ll look at a goodun; betcha all saw this one coming. Clover Studio! …oh wait, they were axed by Capcom. It saddens me deeply when something like this happens; they were incredibly creative in all aspects of their games. But it’s an industry in the end, it’s all about the sales figures right? Amirite?! ... Not to worry though, with plenty of other creative and talented developers on the go I think we’re in for a few interesting games. Since technical limits are being pushed with the powerful consoles and PCs and control methods are being revamped with the Wii, there’s no excuse for a lack of creativity!

~~~The Official Halo 2 is the Best Game of all Time Blog Post~~~

2007-02-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

Well as we all know, Halo 2 is the best game of all time and deserves a blog post. This is because Halo 2 was the first game to feature guns. It was also the first FPS to feature vehicles and explosions, and for that matter it was in fact the first FPS of all time.

Also Halo 2 was the first game in the Halo series which is quite a respectable title to have. I think Halo 2 will always be remembered as the first game to use the Wii remote and it’s often forgotten that Halo 2 was in fact the first game to feature real time weapon change.

Contrary to popular belief, Halo 2 was the first game to feature clothed characters and was also the only game to appear on the Super Nintendo AND the Nintendo 64. It was also the first game to use Blue-Ray discs and is known to be the first game that charged its lazer.

Before you think twice about it being the best game of All Time, remember that it was the only game ever created by Nintendo. If that doesn’t persuade you, cast your mind back and remember that it was the first game that allowed you to choose your own ending. R.L. Stein would later steal the idea for his Goosebumps book series.

It was also the first game to ever feature the "Hot Coffee" mod.

Halo 2

Feel free to contribute as to why YOU agree that Halo 2 is the best game of all the time.

Life Changing or Career Building?

2007-02-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

Hm, looks to be a challenging one. It’d seem to me that technical ability is surely a benefit so somebody who has done a degree should have the advantage over somebody diving into the industry on purely art-based credentials. After completing a degree you would have learned various skills and abilities that will save the company you’re entering time and money which they would otherwise have to spend on training. But surely you can have technically competent liberally minded arty people? That should be indisputably better than one or the other.

After having a wander ‘round the internets, it seems that having a “Relevant Degree” is desirable but not essential but pretty much everywhere seems to want good 3D and technical skills, there seems to be a worrying lack of desire for creative and art based skills.

I really think that a combination of technical/3D skills and traditional artistic ability would be the best way forward as the industry won’t move anywhere if there’s no creativity in what people are producing, and I think at where gaming is currently, creativity is lacking so this is a definite issue.

It’s a bit of a tricky situation as it seems that many developers don’t really care for the creative side of things, relying more on hyper-technical skills to get the jobs done faster and more efficiently, but “efficiency” isn’t just technical stuff in an industry that requires fresh ideas and artistic ability. Anyway I’m confusing myself a bit now so I think I’ll wrap it up here, but it was an interesting subject to have a think about, even if I've gone off the point a bit.

Sound in Games

2007-02-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

Eaargh, I am falling behind! I’ll set things straight here and now. So! Sound in games. It’s vital, nice sound effects and a moving musical score really gives a feel of immersion and quality to a game. Sound can also play an active role in how you play, such as listening out for footsteps, gunshots or the rev of the chainsaw.

I’d say the key composers working in games would include Koji Kondo, whose Zelda songs are very memorable. Everybody knows the Zelda theme and for good reason, he’d really pushed the NES technically in terms of its musical capabilities. All his following efforts have been fantastic too, though I was disappointed with the small amount of orchestral music in Twilight Princess. Apparently Koji had pushed for more orchestral stuff but didn’t get his way.

Then there’s the Final Fantasy guy… I don’t know his name nor do I know his music very well as I don’t like Final Fantasy very much at all. I realise I’m now going to be strung by the class for stating such blasphemy but I just don’t like it! Confront me if you want my reasons! I don’t often follow game composers as they don’t tend to cross genres and franchises very often, but recently I enjoyed the work of Kow Otani. His Roar of the Earth soundtrack for Shadow of the Colossus was a brilliant epic orchestral showpiece and enhanced the experience of dangling from the beard of a 200 foot high monster even more than I thought possible.

So personally, my most memorable sonic moments in my gaming history range from those catchy little hum-along tunes like the track themes on Mario Kart to the rousing epic scores, as heard in Ocarina of Time and Halo. I actually think Halo has a very suited and cool soundtrack and the composer, Martin O’Donnell seems to have a very good grasp as to what game music is all about. He explains that the use of music in Halo is sparse because he believes that "[music] is best used in a game to quicken the emotional state of the player and it works best when used least" Wise words, methinks. He says that his soundtrack was made to convey "a feeling of importance, weight, and sense of the 'ancient'." I think the combination of voice and classical fundamentals fused with the electrical rock elements really convey this to make a soundtrack that’s got a perfect balance of ambience and excitement.

And erm… Good Times, eh? I hear it was sampled many a time by many an artist/band. Can it hold the title of Most Influential Recording of the 20^th Century? Who knows… or dares to dream...

Game Engines

2007-02-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

I suppose game engines are the bones of the game, the frame on which to apply the muscle, the blood, the flesh! Aahahhhaa! …As far as I can comprehend, the game engine governs physics, AI interaction, interaction within the game world, rendering the graphics, the scripting, and is pretty much the basis for us artists to build upon and make it all pretty and shiny with nice character models, worlds and objects for the engine to work with.

Engines are created by developers to suit their needs for the games they desire to make. Many developers choose buy current engines already popularised by games of the genre as using a pre-made engine cuts on development costs, for example, the Unreal engine. A disadvantage is that the developer will have to work around the limitations of the engine which could be restricting on the potential of what can be achieved within the game. Having to start an engine from scratch is expensive and difficult but is often vital to create those particular and original games. Other engine technologies include additional engines for the individual purposes and needs of the game, such as separate AI or physics engines that a developer can purchase and add to their current engine.

Now, finding out about subtractive and additive game development hurt my head but as far as I can tell, they are terms simply used to describe the production of a playable space or environment within a game. In an additive environment, you start with emptiness, or “The Void”, a space in which you can create your objects and build up your level. Examples include the Quake and Half-Life engines. Alternately, the subtractive environment is the opposite and begins with “infinite solid”, which you have to carve into and extract areas to create the environment. This is how the Unreal engine works. Interesting stuff, and it makes me more eager to get my ass in gear and have a go with the Unreal Editor.

Now with next-gen engines, the key issues seem to be on engines with powerful shaders and the manipulation of light. The engine used within Crysis, CryENGINE2, is said to use subsurface scattering, where light is able to penetrate translucent surfaces (such as skin) and is reflected at irregular angles before passing back out. It makes for some scarily realistic looking stuff and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Image from Crytec's "Crysis", showing subsurface scattering

THE XBOX 360

2007-02-15T13:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, I think it deserves a post. Quite recently, my brothers have got their hands on the console so I'll write this post as if it actually belongs to me. The 360 could quite easily be lumped into the category of consoles that bring nothing new to the gaming scene besides nice graphics, but I'd have to disagree pureley on the strength of it's online service, Xbox Live. I've never come across such intuative and helpful online capabilities before and I think it's a big step forward to bringing online gaming to the console mainstream.

The game I've been playing way more than others is Gears of War. It's a lot of good violent fun and although the single player campaign seems kinda lacking, the online multiplayer more than makes up for it. Visually, as everyone knows, it's stunning and it really helps to make the whole experience more immersive and visceral. Although I've heard many people argue that it's "just another shooter", I'd have to disagree. I think Gears' cover system has totally freshened up third person shooting, changing the action pace from Run 'n Gun to "Stop 'n Pop" has made everything more tactical and adds to the tension in those multiplayer matches as you really will get torn apart if you ignore using cover and just run in.

I'm sort of basing this whole next-gen experience soley on playing Gears of War since I haven't given any of the other games enough play time to make a proper judgement, but if there are more games like this one on the horizon then things are looking pretty positive.

2007-02-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

Gaming culture is a pretty interesting thing I reckon. That's 'cause I'm partial to finding it more interesting than other cultures due to such a heavy interest in games. With such a vast range of genres and styles of gameplay comes a massively diverse culture.

I suppose I'm part of various game cultures all of which are all quite different, for example, there'd be the Game Art Design course, a great culture with loads of people who are passionate about games. Then there'd be my Xbox Live online gamer culture with loads of angry 12 year olds who are passionate about insulting yo' Mom and corpsehumping. All of them are individual and interesting in different ways and I think gamers have a larger variety of cultures than many other forms of media don't achieve, due to the variety and player interaction found in games.

Internet culture is another fantastic and hilarious thing and I can never get enough of the fads that periodically fade in and out of existence. I think it's safe to say it goes hand in hand with games culture as the majority of heavy internet forum users are likely to be gamers in some form or another. Internet humour is probably one of the lowest forms of comedy but nowhere else have I found so many different things that make me burst into a choking fit of girlish giggles. Yes, it actually makes me LOL, lol. I'm still searching for something to make me ROFL, though.

I would say gaming culture occupies quite a large part of my life which is why it's nice to be able to have access to the different cultures surrounding gaming and things have never been better since I've joined the course, a whole new group of gamers to play against!

The Wii and Stuff

2007-01-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

So, finally after many, many decades, Game decides to send the Wii we pre-ordered on November 8^th so I thought I should say a few words on what I think so far. Um… it is a very hawt looking console and it is shiny. I am observant, no? Anyway, I’ll write like a normal person now.

The interface is great, very sleek and user friendly, who would have thought menus could be so much fun? I had a lot of fun creating my maniacal Mii and Wii sports was “Fun for all the Family!” *forced grin* We had a great time and nobody was injured, tennis is my favourite and my little brother destroyed me at boxing every time, I suffered no little humiliation.

I then gave Zelda a shot and have since played it for a good 20 hours or so. It’s a definite homage to Ocarina of Time and I’m a little annoyed with the lack of fresh gameplay elements considering its monstrous development time. Aiming with the Wii-mote is brilliant, horseback archery was never so much fun but I think motioning to swipe the sword seems a little unresponsive and tends to distract rather than immerse me. My major gripe is the boss fights; although cool and huge, they’re way too easy! All in all though, it’s good fun. The art style is nice and everything looks pretty cool except for a few anomalies such as kerazy hat physics, hat clipping, (he should take off the hat), random sunbeams and blurry textures. On the whole, good stuff… I can feel myself wanting to ramble on about it more now, I’m gonna stop myself and maybe write a post about it once I finish it.

All in all, good stuff. I’m looking forward to Smash Bros. Brawl and I’m sure a few others are too!

2007-01-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

THE GAME INDUSTRY – SERIOUS BUISINESS!

I think that currently, the game industry is a very interesting place to be. With the market expanding to people you never thought would or could play games thanks to Nintendo’s Wii and DS consoles, games are more popular than ever before and will hopefully soon get the cultural recognition they deserve and be accepted as serious art/entertainment forms. After all, there’s a lot of money in this industry which definitely makes it serious business. *serious face* *_*

Now, the thing which bothers me about the current state of the industry is the apparent lack of creativity and originality. When I’m browsing through shelf after shelf of games at my local game-purchasing-place, barely anything pops out and everything blends into a generic mush of shooters and sports games… now in a way this is probably a good thing since it makes me appreciate those rare gems all the more, and also means that I still have money to live on. But it shouldn’t be this way, we should be spoilt for choice and every game should be worthy of playing.

In the end, this is an industry and it’s all about the money these days as is everything. It really saddens me that truly creative and interesting games are dominated in sales by titles with the biggest publisher name, and a recent example of squandered potential would be the termination of Capcom’s Clover Studio, the team who brought you Viewtiful Joe and Okami (of which I am desperate to play). This really upset me and I cried and cried until I had no tears left, then I muttered a solitary “HENSHIN-A-GO-GO BABY!” before popping Viewtiful Joe into the ol’ GameCube for a wistful replaythrough.

<- The epitome of cool.

I think that the biggest challenge facing the industry is overcoming this lack of creativity, the fact that things seem to be going stale. Hopefully it won’t all be doom and gloom, already developers seem to be tapping into the technical potential of the new consoles and I’m sure we’re going to see some very impressive games, both technically, visually, and gameplay…ally. With all the money available, all those hundreds of people making each game, I hope to see some truly astonishing revelations and changes in the industry that really make the most of the hardware and the creative minds behind the games.

Task 11

2007-01-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Okay so... after looking through a few of these links, I am quite utterly confused as to how to define gameplay. I think the general consensus seems to be that the gameplay is the interaction that takes place within the game world. Whether sound and visuals are included in this definition, I can't be sure though I would personally consider such elements to be vital to certain games or genres, e.g. in rhythm based or musical games sound is a gameplay factor.

Gameplay is very important. I think since that can be agreed upon, now would be a good time to have a stab at finding out what it is... so... I think gameplay involves the game experience in its entireity, and although games can be split into sub-genres, as is seen often in reviews, I think that all the elements of a game, such as the story, the graphics, the controls, all contribute to how it plays and are therefore all important gameplay factors. I think I may be confusing myself now so I'm gonna simplify and start using examples.

Guitar Hero. Essentially, you could play this game with just the scrolling fretboard and the notes and the gameplay would be "the same". I disagree, because the real gameplay experience that they're trying to achieve is the feeling of being a rock star, and without the visuals, excellent sound, and your crowd of screaming fans, this couldn't be achieved and would detract from the gameplay experience. Your avatar on stage plays what you play, if you miss a note so does he, if you're doing well he'll break into a confident strut around the stage, if you're screwing up he'll be studying the frets in dismay. All of it adds to the gameplay.

I suppose what I'm trying to say here can be utterly crushed when we look back at retro gaming. Many argue that these games play and control fantastically despite their limited visuals and sound which is definitely true, but I don't think that means the sound and visuals have to be discounted from the term "gameplay" as they still affect how you play the game. For example, The Legend of Zelda. When I play it, I can't help but hum along to the overworld theme, it just gives such a wonderful sense of adventure. This is surely a gameplay factor, the game was designed to make people feel as if they're setting out on a quest across a sprawling unexplored land and the music contributes to that, as do the visuals. Like heading off into a dungeon. The dark and gloomy look is a sharp contrast to the bright overworld up above, there's now a sense of danger that wasn't there before and this could affect how you play, perhaps you'll now move more cautiously for example.

Well I've had a struggle with this one, I don't know whether I've just broadened the term "gameplay" beyond recognition but I enjoyed having a go and I hope I've raised a few points about this tricky monster of a term.

Task 10

2007-01-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Characters are often one of those vital elements that help bring a game together and make it fun to play, mainly because they can be what creates the mental connection between player and game; you become the main character and actions of other characters around you become personal to you.

I think since I'm still very happy about the game having been playing it pretty much non-stop recently, I'm going to have a quick word about the characters in Gears of War. At first glance, they're your generic, ridiculously muscular, gung-ho gang of marines and... in a way that's all they ever seem to be. It's made clear that the main character, Marcus, has a troubled past and has been wrongly accused of crimes and other similar things, but I felt this was never truly explored and I was dissapointed as it could have really added to that feeling of war torn devastation if you had a personal vendetta against the apparently evil Locust hoard you're battling against.

Nevertheless, there are memorable moments between these dudes and it's always funny listening to their one liners as they gun down opponents along side you ("WOO! Ain't 'nuff freaks to stop this man!") and who can forget "'SUP BITCHES?!" as you get that headshot? I just think it's a missed oppurtunity as the game itself is so much fun, a brilliant story and better character development could have just elevated it to an absolute classic.

I guess that leads me onto the story elements of games now. To be honest, whilst playing through Gears' campaign mode, I hadn't got a clue what was going on and I was way too busy chainsawing through the nearest beasty with lotsa teeth to bother trying to figure it out. All I know is that the story didn't captivate me in the same way other games before it have done, and with such stunning visuals and a set of characters ready to be developed, a good story would have really been a benefit. Never mind... there'll no doubt be a sequel.

So in conclusion, I think a story helps the player get in touch with a game on a bit of a higher level as well as making it more fun and engrossing. I wouldn't say a story is vital to a brilliant game, I've had a blast playing lots of games with shoddy stories, but it can add to that immersion factor as well as improving the overall presentation. Good characters should go hand in hand with a good story as things aren't going to be as interesting if the characters you're meant to care about aren't involved in situations that provoke their emotions.

2006-12-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, the aesthetic appeal of a console is not a massively important issue. I won’t say it isn’t nice to have a sleek and cool looking console in front of the TV, but the ergonomic issues with the interface and means of operation are probably the most important things so I think I’ll overview a few of the different means of control from the past and present.

Starting with the directional control pads as seen with consoles such as the NES, SNES, PS2 and Megadrive, I feel that these controls work very effectively with 2D games but perhaps aren’t as effective in the transition to 3D. I’m gonna jump straight up to where things change now with the Nintendo 64’s controller. The introduction of the analogue stick added unprecedented control and precision to 3D gaming in particular. This was demonstrated with a pretty spectacular launch title, Super Mario 64, which helped to show how movement in a 3D environment worked.

In terms of good looking consoles, everything has been pretty ugly until this coming generation, with the Xbox 360, Wii and PS3 all looking very streamlined and cool… although the PS3 does kinda look like a George Foreman grill. In fact, now is probably a good time to take a look at the PS-Grill in all its cookin’ glory: http://www.therealps3grill.com/ps3grillpics.htm

Now if they can mod it to grill as well as play games, we have ourselves a super-console. Anyway, being serious now, as much as I don't find the looks of a console incredibly important, I think it's a definite selling point. When your average person sees a shiny good looking console, it definitely says quality which is very important considering how expensive this next round of machines are going to be.

With the introduction of the Wii's innovative control system, it could seem that gaming is on the verge of changing forever. It's going to be interesting to see how successful the "Wii-mote" will be in really immersing the player and giving precise control, and also how it may widen the current gaming market and bring in a whole new group of previously non-gaming consumers. Certainly, if the Wii is a huge success we could now be seeing the beginning of the end for game pads and it's exciting to think of where console gaming is going to be taken next.

Task 8

2006-11-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

In my most humble opinion, I think that storytelling in games is a pretty important factor. For many, a well told story is what’ll keep them hooked in the game world; it’s what gives you the incentive and purpose to keep playing. Shooting things is much more exciting if you’re stopping them from taking over the world than if you’re doing it just for the hell of it, but a storyline can run much deeper than a benefit to gameplay mechanics.

A story can emotionally tie you to the game and make you really care about what happens to the characters involved, and even a simplistic story can be enough to engage a player. I’m gonna drag Shadow of the Colossus back up here as an example of that. You’re thrown into this game with very little background story in a desolate world, but that age old fairy tale tradition of Saving the Girl is enough to spur you on. However, as the sword plunges again into the head of another awesome and kind of innocent Colossi, as it topples to the ground in all its black blood spurting, earth-shattering majesty, you start to question whether it’s really worth it, whether you’re actually doing the right thing. It’s these kind of conflicts that make a game’s story truly involving to me and it’s interesting to see games that can stir emotion with such scarce but tactful use of a plot line.

This is where I find games that have super-long-to-the-max cut scenes and over complex stories a little bit dull, for example, the Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy series. Now don’t get me wrong and tear me into little bite-sized pieces, these are fantastic franchises which I have enjoyed a lot, it’s just that sometimes I want to play a game where the story is a little less force fed, where I can relax and play out the story through my own actions and not be torn away by a cut scene or random battle every thirty seconds. I understand many would argue that the story is entirely the point of these games and it’s true, I‘m often utterly absorbed by very story driven games but I tend to get impatient with it all now and again… maybe I’m just simple and have a short attention span, I’m not sure. I think what I enjoy the most is a nice smooth balance of fantastic game play and an incredible and gripping story. Ooo and a good soundtrack. And killer grafix, man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaRYMLr2YK4

Task 7

2006-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

After reading through a few of these links, it’s clear that art direction is a very important aspect of the game industry. The art director’s guidance is vital to the overall vision of the game as it’s their responsibility to decide how it’s going to look. Their word can be absolutely imperative to gameplay factors as well when considering genres that rely heavily on atmospherics to involve the player.

I think it’s a very creative role as the director is one of the few people who can really express their vision of the game by setting the visual tone and style. They can then use their underling artist-slaves to express this style of theirs, forcing them to either take the graveyard shift or be shifted to the graveyard… at least, that is my understanding of the power of an evil art director. Na, in reality I think the art director has massive responsibilities as it is they who’ll have to get that overall feel of the game just right and make sure they’re able to express their views to the artists. It’s also up to them to keep up the morale of the artist team so I think it’s important that they’re considerate and understanding human beings who can really demonstrate leadership skills.

As games are interactive experiences, things such as colour and small environmental details can be very important to the overall feel of the game. This is where I feel game art direction differs from the film variety; a film director is able to choose what he wants you to see and from which angles should be best to see them to get the desired effect. In a game, this is often not the case as the player is able to explore and interact with the environment so this makes the art direction perhaps trickier to effectively utilise.

There are many qualities and skills I’d need to develop to become a game art director. I think the most important would be 3D modelling, drawing, teamwork and leadership skills. I definitely think the level or responsibility and pressure would be something difficult to cope with at first, but I imagine it’s a very enjoyable and rewarding job which would be a really effective way to get your vision of a game across.

Thanks for reading, and on a side note, it was really interesting to check out the views of real life game art director, Rick Nath. It was a great insight into how an art director works and what kind of responsibilities they’ve got to deal with. That game where you got to be the serial killer sounded sooo darn cool, why’d it have to be scrapped?! *sigh* …P.S. I am NOT a serial killer nor do I endorse serial killing!

Task 6

2006-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Okay… so one of the big issues this time, here comes Game Design! I suppose it’s a relatively vast subject that encompasses everything that makes a game great. I think I’ll begin to tackle it by referring to the Game Design Depository, initially with their article on gameplay. I found this site to be a very informative and interesting read and I was particularly pleased with all the separate links, made it very accessible and easy to find what I wanted. Anyways!

Gameplay is often considered to be of utmost importance when concerning the overall replayability and quality of a game. There are times when brilliant style flairs and a fantastic artistic vision can take the front seat (as in recent titles such as Killer7), but it’s a solid ground of engaging and rewarding gameplay which will keep the gamer coming back for more.

Duane Alan Hahn writes: “What is gameplay? Gameplay is simply the actions a player is allowed to perform in a game. If those actions are enjoyable and the controls are intuitive, you have the most important ingredients of a great game.” I’ve gotta say I agree with this statement, there are too many games today that focus on flashy graphics and effects. But flashy graphics are awesome… I want both! Why don’t I always get both?! Great graphics can help to bring such a level of immersion to a game and can add an overall air of quality; I suppose it’s that sublime balance of gameplay and graphics

When somebody says “Game Designer” to me, it’s Shigeru Miyamoto’s manic face that springs to mind. There's something about him and his games that seems to represent what games are all about, and that's having fun. He's even got candy!

His games contain such an enjoyable blend of fantastical environments and boundless exploration and adventure that I can’t help but find them to be masterpieces. And plus, Zelda is just full of “secks and win”, to use the proper internet vernacular. *Really wants to play Twilight Princess, is gonna eventually stop whining about it*. I think another leading and contrasting designer would be Hideo Kojima. His heavily story-based games are captivating pieces of work, if a little heavy on the cinematics and cut scenes. I particularly like the inclusion of clever little 'Easter Egg' moments and out-of-the-box thinking, such as switching controller ports to outsmart Psycho Mantis, perhaps a designer’s nudge to the player: ;) “It’s only a game”.

I think different genres definitely require different design principles because they’re trying to achieve different goals and are catered towards different markets. Aesthetically, character designs seen like those in Gears of War are not going to work in a dance mat game, and it’s a similar situation with the gameplay and what the designer is setting out to achieve, whether it be complex and tactical mechanics, or simple ‘pick up and play’ intuitive controls.

For me, gameplay is the essential element when I play. But a visually appealing game can make such a difference, if everything is presented in a flawless fashion it’s so much easier to become totally immersed, and I’m not just talking about photorealistic graphics with lots of shiny effects (though I do like the shinyshiny). Viewtiful Joe, for me, is a good example of this. The fantastic combination of fast paced gameplay and a brilliantly presented artistic style made it one of those games where I just kind of tuned out of reality and starting dodging bullets and smashing robots.

So yeah I think that just about covers it… feel like I’ve dragged this one on a bit and not got much said but never mind, I’ll try to improve for next time.

Task 5

2006-11-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

I think that games journalism is an interesting area of specialism to consider. This is probably because it's about what makes or breaks a good game, gaming culture, game industry business plans, and not about firemen rescuing iguanas from trees. However, I find it a tricky thing to find a reliable source for game reviews and articles that aren't susceptible to bias which makes it difficult to find a definitive and thoroughly considered opinion on a game.

I have to admit to being one of those people who sways towards buying a game due to glowing reviews and a big shiny '9.6' on the box (it helps if the box is shiny too... can't get me enough o' that shiny). But what else is there to go on? I don't fancy parting with a fiver for a magazine to play a timed demo of a game that I'll maaaybe consider a purchase, so I think it's probably best to try to find a trusted source for reviews. And that leads me on to the issues that face these reviewers.

Reviewing a game is by no means simple due to all the elements that need to be taken into consideration, what with game mechanics, graphics, innovations and the rest of it, but after looking at Kieron Gillen's blog, it seems that the amount of pressure the reviewers are under to get the reviews out in the 19 days of magazine work time they have seems to be a real issue. Either that or they are just, to use Gillen's words, "corrupt, lazy and fundamentally stupid." But , as he goes on to mention, it seems that this rush to get opinions out in time is what leads to vague reviews, where the writer simply hasn't had the time for an in-depth consideration of a game. I have to say I don't totally agree with this blog, I think that there are many magazines and sites that are devoted to game journalism and really do put the effort it. And even if it's a rushed review, it's always fun to read the article on that game that scores 2/10, when even the rushed writer lets loose and tears into a bad game.

After exploring some of the other links, I really feel that New Games Journalism has been a successful movement which showcases a real passion for writing about games. It's the personal approach that makes the articles more engrossing and adds the subjective touch. This researched and carefully considered approach is very apparent in Tim Roger's review of Metal Gear Solid 2:
http://www.insertcredit.com/features/dreaming2/
His analysis was an involving read, I enjoyed his consideration of EGM's review and was assured that he was taking things seriously when he re-read Japanese literature to grasp that crazy plot. This contemplated and subjective approach made for an enjoyable review.

I think that ranking systems can be handy for an brief overview on certain aspects of the game and in some respects work as a simple summary, but I don't think that a number can show what you're going to get from the game as it depends almost entirely on what you actually want from the title. This is where I feel it's important to read the review to discover which aspects of the game contribute to its final score. For example, the game may receive a fantastic score, but it could be heavily story based with more cut scenes than play time and involves a David Bowie cameo, whom the reviewer could happen to idolize. If this is what you want from a game, then you could get it, but this couldn't be represented by a ranking system alone. So, in conclusion, I think ranking systems are not really essential to a well thought out review, but can help to convey an idea on the reviewer's general respect for the game.

I’m not so sure about my own writing. I’m thinking it’s more subjective and hopefully considered, but I don’t know. I think I’ll review something sometime soon to find out.

Lookin' forward to the next task, bye for now!

Task 4

2006-11-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

I'd like to start this task on the current history of video games by focusing on the currently dying console war between the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and the Xbox. In my opinion, this has been an interesting console generation mainly due to the introduction of a new combatant; Microsoft's Xbox. Although large and kinda ugly, it was certainly a powerhouse when it was released back in 2001, able to run graphically stunning games such as Doom 3 (albeit with it still being visually inferior to the PC version). The Xbox did well to break into the market alongside the established names of Nintendo and Sony, launching with what many consider to be an excellent and influential first person shooter title, Halo.

The PlayStation 2 is the fastest selling console of all time, with over 105 million units shipped worldwide. Its success can be attributed to various aspects, such as its established fan base of PlayStation owners, its backward compatibility, its DVD player drive. In my opinion, it mostly comes down to it having a large selection of games spanning almost every genre and solid third party support from many developers. With popular franchises such as Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, the PS2 is doing well.

Nintendo's GameCube was similar to the PlayStation 2 in terms of power, but was much more purple and lunch boxey. It was home to many fantastic first party games which fans have come to expect from Nintendo. These titles include games such as Retro Studio's Metroid Prime, a stunning 3D adaptation of the previously 2D franchise, the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which boasted an elegant and controversial cel-shaded engine, and the multiplayer hit, Super Smash Bros. Melee. However, a lack of strong third party support seemed to hinder the 'Cube's success in comparison to the other consoles. Popular 'cult' titles such as Ikaruga (a souped up port of the Dreamcast game) found their home on the GameCube.

Ikaruga... known to make grown men cry.

The age of PC gaming was becoming increasingly popular at this stage, and was the definitive source for online gaming until the launch of Xbox Live. The PC has always been a popular choice for FPS games due to its unparalleled input system of the keyboard and mouse. Perhaps things could begin to change with the Wii? Gonna be fun to find out!

With the Xbox 360 kicking off next gen (I guess it's current gen now since it's begun), it looks like things are shaping up to be interesting. With the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 boasting incredible graphics and the Wii an innovative and unique control system, I'm wondering how everything is going to turn out. It'll be easy to sit by and watch too, since there's a fair few good lookin' games on the horizon.

I think this post needs more Twilight Princess...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqUqxVKd5q0

New trailer! HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE! =D

Task 3

2006-10-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

Okay so I hope I'm not skipping too much of the middle ages by kicking things off with Nintendo's NES. I'd like to pay homage to their Game & Watch system too so I'll mention how it helped to create the very cool Flat Zone stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and of course, Mr. Game & Watch as a playable character. Anyway, back to the NES. Released in 1985 and named the Famicom in

Japan

(Family Computer), the NES pretty much set the standard for all games consoles to follow, dragging the game industry from the pit of the video game crash of '83 as well as introducing one of the greatest games ever created as a launch title (Super Mario Bros).

On a side note... anybody think that this old Famicom logo bears resemblance to the modern day Wii logo? Maybe it's just me, but I dunno... certainly seems like they're going all out on attracting non-gamers and promoting family gaming once again even with the logo.

Anyway, back to history. Nintendo gets competition with Sega's Master System strolling onto the scene but proves to be far more successful due to a killer line up of games for the NES such as Metal Gear, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy and of course, The Legend of Zelda. I feel ashamed that I'd have been only a few months old while all these great genre defining games were being released and played by people with funny hair cuts.

The console war now truly begins as Sega becomes more serious competition to Nintendo. This is good news for us gamers because it means both Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros with the release of the Sega Genesis, or Megadrive (1989), and the SNES (1991). Nintendo also properly initiated handheld gaming with the introduction of the Game Boy in '89 so all in all, it's good gaming on the go or at home. (Apologies for the cheesy alliteration...)

Moving on, the Playstation and Nintendo 64... well... I've realised I'm sort of avoiding PC gaming but that's mainly because I find the console wars that bit more interesting, but a quick word about Wolfenstein 3D and Doom defining the FPS genre can't hurt. Initially distributed through shareware, these games allowed basic 3D environments to be displayed, allowing for action packed and enjoyable style of game play that was previously unavailable.

The introduction of Sony's 32-bit Playstation console provided a new and interesting selection of games as well as popularising the CD format to be used for games, and 3D gaming truly began. The Nintendo 64, a 64-bit console released two years after in1996, launched with a title that defined the 3D platformer genre: Super Mario 64, along with the release of various other successful and highly regarded games such as Goldeneye: 007 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but ultimately Nintendo's choice to use cartridges as opposed to CDs proved to be a negative decision, with Squaresoft turning to the Playstation to continue its Final Fantasy series due to the FMV capabilities of the CD format.

Personally, I feel that experiencing these genre defining moments in game history have been the most exciting events in my gaming experience. Playing games such as Doom and Super Mario 64 were unlike anything that had come before and I found them instantly immersive due to that. Nowadays I tend to think too critically about the games I'm playing and get dragged back into reality by the occasional sloppy animation or glitch, but back then it was a different story. This makes me wonder whether the Wii can bring back that sense of awe that I felt back in the day due to its new control methods, but at the same time would the stunning visuals of the PS3 work just as well at nailing that immersion factor...? Perhaps some beautiful hybrid console is in order.

PSWii60PC anyone? o.O;

Task 2

2006-10-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

It seems that OXO, a virtual noughts and crosses game created by A.S. Douglas, could have been the first fun computer game but since it was created to demonstrate his thesis on human-computer interaction it doesn't seem like he was so serious about fun game play issues. This seemed to be the case for a while, as with the limited technology available I imagine it'd be difficult for people to truly start focusing on using these computers purely for enjoyment which is why technology is such an issue when considering the advancement of computer games.

So, (sneakily dismissing other influential but less cool games...) then came Pong, the first commercial videogame introduced the public. It is a great example of how a simple but enjoyable game mechanic can cause a game to be successful, memorable, and in this case, ground-breaking. Due to the success of Pong, console gaming began with the Atari VCS 6200, advancing with other machines such as the Commodore 64... my first ever gaming console... *wipes away tear*

I'd like to focus on Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto now, as in my eyes he was the man who really wanted to make an experience of games. He's said to have been influenced by childhood exploration and adventure which certainly comes across in his Legend of Zelda series and was realised in glorious 3D with Super Mario 64.

I think the first game I ever played was some variation of Frogger on the Commodore 64. I'd cry out in frustration as over and over again the innocent creature would become green squishy road kill due to my miscalculations. I think more important than that was the first game I was truly absorbed in, one that was a real adventure. That game was the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which I played on a donated and severely damaged SNES that only read cartridges whilst tilted at an odd angle. Still, what a game.

Most recently, I’ve been playing various PS2 games due to it being the console I brought to uni with me. Mainly Shadow of the Colossus and Guitar Hero with a helping of Metal Slug 4, all of which are great fun. Fun is one of the important reasons why I play games, but the sheer effort and skill that goes into to making a brilliant game is a wonderful thing to behold and experience. The fact that the best games offer such a unique escape from reality is something I find very inspiring and I think that’s one of the most important reasons I’m on this course.

Thanks for reading!

Task 1

2006-10-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

For this task I have decided to focus on Raph Koster's blog, which can be found here:

http://www.raphkoster.com/

Raphael Koster is an American author and lead game designer for teams building online virtual worlds and has had a lot of experience in the games industry, beginning his foray into the world of game design in 1992. He was lead designer for the game Ultima Online, a successful MMORPG.

It's interesting to be able to read from the perspective of an experienced individual in the games industry and I enjoyed reading his opinions. Because he is generally well known, each blog post generates many interesting and considered comments (I came across no "LOLz0rz ur rite dat games is teh secks" abominations) and it is particularly enjoyable to read the flood of varied opinions that follow each post. I feel this makes for an interesting and diverse blog with a fair amount of user input.

Blogging definitely strikes me as a more personal means of expression. I think that's what makes a blog so interesting to read as opposed to more formal and objective writings, the honesty and personality that is expressed through the blogger's blogs. I'm looking forward to being able to express my opinions more freely in this way as opposed to the formal essay structure.

I'm glad for the opportunity to use this blog and I intend to keep it up to date and interesting. I'm slightly apprehensive about writing for an invisible audience, but at the same time kind of glad that I'll be able to express myself to other people apart from one examiner. I'm really looking forward to getting a few interesting posts in and have enjoyed starting my blog.

Gyaaah! It Begins!

2006-10-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to my blog, I'm gonna try and keep it nice and updated and eventually fill with stuff to make an interesting read. I've had a fantastic time so far since I've started the course and I'm looking forward to making a majestic and epic wheelie bin; I think it's time for a wonderfully random short video about garbage to celebrate!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vdK-aLGxV0Y

GARBAGE DAY! ...Ahem. I really can't wait to get into the course, I think it's going to be a challenging, unique and enjoyable experience that I'm definitely going to remember. I've recently being "researching" various games such as Beyond Good & Evil which I had been trying to pick up since forever (finally found it for £6 at CEX! Victory!), Shadow of the Colossus, which I'm replaying for the third time or something, and Project Zero 3 because I can't get enough of creepy Japanese mansions. Oo, and Guitar Hero! Lots of fun, I've yet to accidentally swing the guitar peripheral into an onlooker's face in the heat of a solo (can't say the same for a friend of mine) so all's well.

My taste in games encompasses pretty much anything, though I'm not so keen on football/football management type games... I'll write a more in-depth section on my favourite all time games so I guess this concludes my first post in my blog, hope it wasn't too boring!

BLOG 4 U!

Project Work: Environment

Project Work: Character

Project Work: Van

Environment

3D Analysis

2D Analysis

Siren Speed Model: Textured

Siren Speed Model

WEEGEE

The Blinding of Samson: Digital Masterpiece

Vehicle Project

Mechanical Final

Baaar

Lake District

Moral Decisions in Games

"Good" and "Bad"

A Creative Game

Organic Character

Stress and Creativity

Creativity: Speed Painting

Creativity Constraints in Society

Creativity Through Programs

Creativity: Round One

Feedback

Game Developers Conference... and the Zelda Rant

Personal Aspirations

Week 20 - Creativity

~*~*~The Official Halo 2 is the Best Game of all Time Blog Post~*~*~

Life Changing or Career Building?

Sound in Games

Game Engines

THE XBOX 360

The Wii and Stuff

Task 11

Task 10

Task 8

Task 7

Task 6

Task 5

Task 4

Task 3

Task 2

Task 1

Gyaaah! It Begins!

~~~The Official Halo 2 is the Best Game of all Time Blog Post~~~