researching the sector

Researching the sector: how to become an informed applicant

Why research:

The games industry is a very competitive industry where allot of skilled people are aiming for the same position. The reason you need to research is to find a relevant job that you want or in the short term find a work placement.

What do you need to know?

·         How the games industry/ related industry’s look like (there company models)

·         What kind of organisation structure are there

·         What jobs and where

·         What jobs are you interested in

·         What are the requirements of these roles

·         How am I going to find all this out

(Magazines, xplay, networking) websites: dawn.com           games industry.biz         

Research:

Industry structure:

structures of companies

Structures with in the games industry:

The matrix structure is usually used by the games industry; this structure has many different departments all equal to each other and working on the same product, each department has a manager and above them is the manager of the company or section of the company.

Hierarchal:

In this structure each department is above another depending how important they are to the games design progress, at the top of this chain will be a board or managers or directors and above them the head of the company.

Independent:

The structure of this type of company is more of a tight nit group rather than a structure of authority, however there will be someone who is ether the team leader or manager of the current project.

What kind of companies are there within the games design industry:

Indie:  this kind of company are independent and generally without publishers financial support, companies consisting of one person or a group of people on short term projects are considered as indie developers, because of their small size the structure of the company is more close nit rather than the hierarchal style of the larger companies (example :team meat)

Corporate: also referred to as triple A games developers these companies take on both a hierarchal and matrix structure, the matrix side of the structure refers to the different departments working together to achieve the goal however as a large company a hierarchal chain of command is put in place to make sure the sectors of the company meet their deadlines.

Types of job I’m interested in:

The kind of job I’m looking for in the industry is 3D modeller and animator.

Types of jobs available:

Game Artist / Lead Environment Artist

I found this job on technojobs.co.uk

To be considered, you must have:

- At least five years' experience of developing games

- At least two years' experience as a senior technical artist

- A familiarity with a variety of rendering engines, such as CryEngine 3, Unreal Engine 3 and Unity 3D

- Expertise in a variety of industry standard software packages such as, Zbrush, 3DS Max, Maya and Photoshop

- A strong understanding of game pipelines, from initial design through to successful implementation

At the moment this job is far out of my league however I will work hard to one day get a similar job to this, I will achieve this by continuing to work on my 3D skills and try get my work out the one the internet. 

skill gap lecture notes

skills/ experience/ knollage

• teaching 
• presentation 
• developing skills in 3d software
• programming 
• management
•  organisational skills
• punctuality
• translating skills into other areas 
•  written skills 
• marketing 

in this session we learned about different skills that we will need to get into the industry, after writing down a selection of skills and experiences we wish to improve on we then had to draw out how these goals would be accomplished.

for example i want to increase my level of teaching 3d software so that i understand the programs them self better by passing on basic knollage and in process discovering new things, i will achieve this goal by teaching lower education classes down in Cornwall, i have already started this process and arranged to teach some classes with my ex 3D tutor.

cv for the future.

Christopher David Rose

Address: 59, Alexandra Road, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon PL4 7EF 

Mobile Phone Number: 07989451507

Email: chrisroseimback@hotmail.co.uk

3D Modeller and animator

I am a hardworking and dedicated character that has a passion for 3d modelling and animating. Giving one hundred and ten per cent is something that makes me the person that I am, but the main point that makes me stand out is the fact that I’m very patient and cool headed in stressful situations.

Education

Qualification received: FD design for games

Years studied: 2 years from 2012 – 2014

Name of institute: Plymouth College of art

Qualification received: BTEC national diploma in animation for games and film

Years studied: 2 years from 2009 – 2011

Name of institute: Cornwall College St Austell

Grade received: over all distinction DDD

skills

during my time training to be a 3d modeller I’ve become good working in a group with other but I can also work on my own to get the work done and to a high standard, however the main skill that I have learned is to keep trying until I have complete the task I have been set or I have set myself just for the challenge.

interests

being a modeller my main interests is 3d modelling and trying out the newest video games to check out the graphics and game play, my other hobbies include martial arts which I have worked hard to gain my black belt in taekwondo-do and my red stripe in kickboxing.

hard skills

• Maya 
• 3ds Max
• Photoshop
• UDK
• Zbrush 
• Real Flow5

transferable skills 

discipline, punctual, managment, puzzle solving

work experiences 

over the last two years i have taken up a job teaching 3D modelling in  foundation education, during this time i have expanded my knollage of 3d software( maya, max and zbrush) i have done this by passing on what i have learned on to my students and in doing so refreshing it in my mind.
when i am not teaching i make 3d models for sale as base mesh however i prefer taking on projects for individual clients as it gives me an idea for the models specifications.

reference

name: Tony Hyom

what they are to me: ex modelling and animating tutor 

going back to first lesson (rules)

making a cups of tea:
you would think the easy task of making a cup of tea would be easy to list instructions for however during this class we found out other wise.

1. turn on kettle
2. get cup
3. get teabag
4. put water in kettle
5. boil kettle
6. put teabag in cup
7. pour hot water from kettle into cup 
8. add milk 

this seems like a pretty solid list  however after reviewing the list it becomes clear that there is allot missing for example turning the tap on, opening cupboards and measurements  the same rules can be applied to videos games as if the player does not know the basic rules of the game he or she will not be able to complete any of the challenges.

adding to my game ideas

i have decided that im going to base the layout of my level on a maze format with a old haunted cellar type style with touches of creepy fantasy to make the environment more horrifying.
the reason i have chosen a maze as a base is because mazes on there own by nature are confusing and claustrophobic, added to this low lighting, disturbing sound effects and false scares which will play with the players mind as he/ she makes there way throw the maze.

story:
you play as Ashley (double gendered name)  Eracs (scare backwards) a newly hired assistant at a soon to be opening Victorian hotel, after a long day unpacking all of the hotels assets such as plates and furniture you head up to bed to get a well deserved rest completely unaware of the horrors that are going to befall you this night.
in the middle of the night you awake after hearing strange chain like noises coming from down stairs, after getting dress and heading down to the first floor you discover that the chain like scraping sounds are coming from the cellar which is off limits however your curiosity is to strong to ignore and so you descend into the dark depths of the cellar.
while walking around the cellar your torch dies leaving you lost and confused now your only goal is to get out before you find out what was making the chain like noises.

game level first idea

Original game idea:

Genre:  physiological

First concept:

Your looking through the eyes of a lone protagonist you are in a place you don’t recognises, its dark, wet and full of creepy unsettling sounds, the only thing you know is that you have to get out and fast as you have the feeling you won’t be able to keep your head together in these conditions.

The first ideas for the level:

(Possible environments)   

Sewer: the reasons a sewer level would be appropriate for this style of gameplay is the tight claustrophobic environment, the way sound echos around the pipes, the fact that you are stuck underground, the rotten conditions.

Basement:  the reason a basement would be good for this kind of game is the dark damp conditions, also being a basement there are allot of old objects laying around behind which monsters in the dark could hide.

A abandoned hospital:  hospitals at night are scary places due to all of the medical equipment which induce scenes of torture on the mind, the reason ive chosen abandoned is there should be no one around but the character will hear people.

Chris Rose CV with skill changes

Christopher David Rose

Address: 59, Alexandra Road, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon PL4 7EF 

Mobile Phone Number: 07989451507

Email: chrisroseimback@hotmail.co.uk

3D Modeller and animator

I am a hardworking and dedicated character that has a passion for 3d modelling and animating. Giving one hundred and ten per cent is something that makes me the person that I am, but the main point that makes me stand out is the fact that I’m very patient and cool headed in stressful situations.

Education

Qualification received: FD design for games

Years studied: 2 years from 2012 – 2014

Name of institute: Plymouth College of art

Qualification received: BTEC national diploma in animation for games and film

Years studied: 2 years from 2009 – 2011

Name of institute: Cornwall College St Austell

Grade received: over all distinction DDD

skills

during my time training to be a 3d modeller I’ve become good working in a group with other but I can also work on my own to get the work done and to a high standard, however the main skill that I have learned is to keep trying until I have complete the task I have been set or I have set myself just for the challenge.

interests

being a modeller my main interests is 3d modelling and trying out the newest video games to check out the graphics and game play, my other hobbies include martial arts which I have worked hard to gain my black belt in taekwondo-do and my red stripe in kickboxing.

hard skills

• Maya 
• 3ds Max
• Photoshop
• UDK
• Zbrush 
• Real Flow5

transferable skills 

discipline, punctual, managment, puzzle solving

reference

name: Tony Hyom

what they are to me: ex modelling and animating tutor 

pitch DOG BASKET

game type: puzzle game

tag line: will the dog know

your children have dismantled the dogs basket and hidden the parts around the house, your mission as the dogs owner is to find all the parts and reassemble the dogs bed before the dog comes home from his walk, if you fail the dog will not be pleased and show his appesate by relieving him self on the carpet.

three fails and its game over

as the levels go on the were abouts of the parts becomes less and less obvious to the point where the player has to think like a child and out side the box.





game type: puzzle

love is isnt blind its round

you are a square who is having a love affair with a circle however you wife who is a triangle has found out and has sent a electric sander to turn you into sawdust, the game is in a side scrolling fast play style with dark over tone however has comic relief as well (similar to how earth bound pro trade it) every time you complete a level one of your edges becomes slightly more chamfered slowly turning you into what youve always dreamed of a circle.
every time the sander catchs up with you it sands off a bit of your body (this will be a gore filled game with blood and graphic detail. if you get caught 5 times its game over, there are 5 different endings one for the level of number of times you've been deformed.

no deform: live happy ever after with circle
1 deform: live happy ever after but you have less trust in ur new found love
2 deform: you new love barley talks to you and acts like looks meen more than feeling
3 deform: you find your girlfriend circle cheating on you with a cylinder
4 deform: you laughed at in the street as a freak of nature
5 deform: you commit suicide