Speedpaints - 'Troll', 'Spaceship'

http://gameartatspeed.blogspot.com

Franketta the imp was very unplanned and i believe it shows, it took almost 2 hours, I think i was grinding away at it and getting no where so i decided to focus on the skin tones.

SPaceship took an hour and id like to make more of it! :D i think i need help with the composition, i tried to place it in the natural centre of teh image, i read a long time ago that instead of staying centre in an image your eye naturaly drifts right and upward.

Weekly tasks on there way :)

Music: Blackout by Hybrid

Well just another one of those... i find it beautiful, and ill only post songs i adore.

Today....

ive realized so much today, and before, someone, such a nice person, said something, that made me feel angry. I really feel it will be time soon for me to blog about my realisations and what I am thinking about. Im not going to fear what people think of what I am thinking anymore. its time to let go of all fear, or you will never progress.

Merry Christmas, Happy new year too! and SPYRO!!

Hiii,

Thought Id have a little xmas blog.

Im looking forward to resting before uni starts again, but im just as keen to get back into it aswel. Im also glad that we get more time at uni than i first thought. Woppeee!!

I plan to complete my blogs between now and new year, so i can totaly chill out and melt into a pile of relaxedness before uni starts, and I WILL do each blog by week as a new years resoultion lawl.

SSoooooooooooo.. Christmas... Whats it all about ey?? well, no one really knows anymore thanks to the TV. But im glad people ive spoken to do actualy know! Wahahaha!! feeling crazy at the mo. Yes its the 25th but the pork hasnt cooked yet and im lookin forward to watching wallace and grommit, and drinking lots of wine.

havent done much today, me and ma prefer new year to celebrate and eat lots of crappy tasty foods. Oh and more booze. and more. We are gonna get wreckeded.

Soo yaa.. oh crap what was i gunna say.... OH YEAAHH!!

Well, Im so willing to do a bit more 3d, and Ben's visit really did inspire me to do some 3D, but i feel bad i didnt stay the whole time due to my nose, and I really hope he comes back soon!! I realy enjoyed what I cought of it.

So yeah, you can make pretty much what you want with 3D then, apart from an edible xmas pud, So ive decided to marry my love of the original Spyro the dragon series with my will to do more 3d, and ive decided to develop my own super duper mini level, like tiny, because I obviously cant handle anythin too big at the moment. Ahh im all excited. For me it was just figuring out WHAT to do on max. So yeah, this should get me started, and this is what gave me the idea - Gamasutra - Spyro Colour Theory

Gud ol gamasutra, i should visit more often, but i cant find the search box :S I want more spyro stuf to look at!!

yeess.... since insomniac stopped making spyro, it isnt the same!! Why didnt you just keep it to cute little home worlds with portals to beautifuly colourful lands.

Just because new consoles have more capacity for more 'world', doesnt mean you should just make a storyline and go through one world. YOU SHOULD MAKE MORE HOMEWORLDS AND MORE MINI WORLDS!!!! GAWWD!! (sorry thats just how i feel, and probably many other ps1 spyro obssessed peoples)

And spyro:dawn of the dragon is SO like lord of the rings ITS ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS. Im almost half way through, and as pretty as the game is, I'm bored. yes bored. Not 25/100 into the game, and a lord of the rings style orc army is coming at you with the same towers full of enemies and same battering rams, to some beautiful little citty that doesnt deserve it. Infact thinking about it now, you totaly messed up what spyro games were. why?? why the hell, did you make it lord of the rings, with dragons?? WHY????? THERES EVEN A BLUDDY ROCK MONSTER MADE OF FIRE!! excuse my french, but im really dissapointed. this is the only other spyro ive played since ps1 titles, and im not happy. I knew I shudve just bought the ps2 titles instead, but i hear they are bad.

And to make it worse, elijah woods does the voice of spyro.

Its just not fair.

So yeh, mini spyro world here we gooo!!

Oh food is ready, toodles!!

Ufo's and lack of colds...

So, wednesday mornings, I wake up at 7:30, when mons and tues it is 6:00.

First of all, time MUST be relative, because whenever I wake up at 6, im faffing about and before I know it its time to leave the house at 7. However, when i wake up at 7:30, time goes as slowly as it can, and I find myself able to have a decent breakfast AND browse the nets for 15mins. INSANE.

An hour being less than an hour or more than an hour. Theres another thing, I used to think it took 20mins to get to coventry bus station, whilst walking fast, and taking the same route as I have done for about 7 years now. But one morning I took this little theorie and put it to the test. 'Right, im late leaving teh house I need to get to the bus stop pronto'. and W T F I got there in 10mins. Effing Weird. HOwever, im not nuts, because times been proven to be relative anyway. (If what ive said here has nothing to do with time being relative then... well.... yeah)

Anyhoo, this morning was a strange one, I was feeling rather strange. typical brain shift gear problems, I just wasnt on the ball.

So, I get on the bus and go to the top floor. Hour bus journey from ol' cov, and I didnt sleep this time. Anyway, almost at leicester, and I look to the left, only to see 3 spinning coloured balls FLOATZING in mid air. Yes, they were floating. I looked for their shadow and NOTHING was holding them up. I stared and stared wondering WTF 3 coloured balls were doing in a green field.

So i get a little worried, and happy that perhaps other life forms are visiting us still. (You cant deny that out of the whole universe that other life doesnt exist)

I get into uni still shocked, and google bird scarers on my phone, not quite believeing what i saw. And THIS is what I found.



Now you tell me that if you saw that and couldnt see what was holding it up that you wouldnt be scared..... these things were quite a distance away and i couldnt make out the eyes or teh holographic bit. It looked like a row of those treated beads.

These things dont just scare birds. Oh no. They are freaky in their own right.

Anyway, My means tested way of not catching a cold.

Go to asda, buy super hot peri peri sauce and dowse everything you eat with it. its NIIIICE!!
As soon as you feel that throat tickle, buy a packet of soothers/halls/the other make and eat them one after the other. Gone.

ADIU!!!

Game Technology

The ergonomics of consoles and their inputs!

The first console, the 'brown box', was quite literaly, a box that was brown.
Since then, consoles stayed boxy until 1985 when the gameboy was released. Two corners and two rounded corners. And now in 2008 consoles are heavy but curvey, minus the wii. Despite the ps3's shinyness and the 360's waist, in order to play a game in comfort, you need to think about the controller. So yeah, forget the console thats not that important...

People (unfortunately) do actualy sit for hours on their consoles tapping and bashing away. Therefore it is only right that the console designer makes it a comfortable amount of hours.

As with the consoles, the joysticks were also very square. e.g, the atari 2600 joystick was so clunky and heavy it was hard to play with. Not only that, it lacked a pause button. No toilet for you.

They then released another square input which did have a pause button, but was awkward to play with and users would get hand strains often.

Sega started the round controllers, which inevitably fitted both hands more comfortably, yet were quite flat.

Today, we have the classic playstation controller, which is clearly so good its stayed since 1995. I personaly prefer the ps controller over other handheld inputs. The 360 controller is comfortable but for me too large. The first xbox controller for me, was just horrid!!

As for the future of game inputs, as they say, the future is now! No, really, the wii contrillers get people off their butts and gets them to excersise a little. I really like the wii's way, but i dont own one and whenever i try to play i find it strange and difficult.

Now however, a brain controlled, yes, brain controlled input is close to going into production. I think it may already be. Its expected retail price is like £150.. so goes to show that technology is not only far these days but is getting cheaper.

They didnt really have the means to create rounded things cheaply in the 60's, so you cant really blame them for their boxy ways.

However, i dont think ergonomics will ever go to far, as for the sake of the person who pays for your games, they need to play comfortably!!

Facebook is poop for pics

Seeing as facebook destroys 99% of picture quality im uploading my latest here.

Quick note, im having trouble with week 6 task- Gameplay/design its really baffled me so im going to take my time with it. :)

Storylines

Of all the games I have played, I cant think of one that hasnt had a story, Or, I have
forgotten the storyline.
There are games where you can just point and shoot for points, and games that give you a
reason for pointing and shooting.

Many miniature arcade titles dont have storylines, they just give you something to do. Id
call these time killers unless you are like well into it.

I think large titles need stories, or they wouldnt give you a reason to play. yes, I played
Spyro because I wanted to save all the little cute dragons. And once I had forfilled that
task, I get to go to a big mess about level with no meanies.

However, I wanted the game to continue. And easily bored knowing I cant do anything else for little Spyro. So I started a new save.

Of all the games ive played (dont laugh) I've only
ever completed:- Spyro 1/2, Tekken (the lot), DMC1, DMC2, ZOE1/2, MGS2/4. Oh and SSX
tricky.

Why?

Spyro- I found the Spyro series funny and entising at that age. I loved it to death. I also
loved dragons to death. And spyro was such a colourful and beautiful game. I might go play
later, even the music is awsome. Each world had their own inhabitants with their own
problems. And on spyros journey to complete his task, he helped others.

tekken- Each character had a really cheesy storyline which I couldnt resist but discover. I
wanted to see how their storylines continued, and eventualy discovered that all they ever
want to do in every game is become king of the iron fist. Bah. But the fighting will always
be addictive.

DMC- i dont remember the storyline as much, but loved the visuals and the gameplay. The
story of the first 2 games did keep me going somewhat but i dont remember why.

ZOE, I LOVE MECHAS, and gud ol' Shinkawa's magical art direction and genius, to me, made
the most beautiful future based game ever ever. The storyline was dark and believeable.

MGS- Intricate some think rediculous, but I loved the storyline and the design. What is it
with me and Konami in particular??

SSX tricky..... Well, this game didnt really have a storyline. Each character had a bit of
background. That was it. the rest was just amazing. I will be getting a ps3 version of
whatever they come up with next.

Enough of that..

I did feel that as the player it was my duty to make sure the character gets their job
done, and always felt bad when they died. Yes, I did. I loved these games because I could
get attached to them. And i really did. Writing this now has made me realise what I like in
a game... And that I havent found any games for a while that Ive actualy been attached to!!

Art Direction

I once saw a mini documentary on a fairly new game, about a guy who is able to shapeshift his limbs, and roams around a very dark new york.

I dont remember what the game is called, nor if it has been released yet.

However, The intervieweees explained the the role of an Art Director was to make sure the style brief of a game is kept to. I had always wondered, If all artists have diffferent styles, how do they keep the game's art design consistent? Well, now i know!

Anyway, the art director, had produced the most amazing concepts for a dark smogy/sinister version of new york. His team had said his concepts were so vast it would be very difficult to produce the game to that scale, However, they did manage to create such a game.

Moving on, the general role of an art director is to take in the specs of a new game, and break down the work and tasks between his/her team. They also make sure that the games art is kept consistantly styled, so that nothing looks out of place in the finished product.

I dont think the role differs from films to games or anything else that would require an art director. As long as the set style for the product is maintained, the job role is the same.

In order to become an art dirctor in the future, you would have to develop awsome time managment, a keen eye for knowing when something starts straying, in order to save time, and a working way of keeping all the team members on track.

Personaly I wouldnt want to become an art director, as I just love drawing and bringing things to life. I wouldnt enjoy a role such as this. I wouldnt mind being told what to do, but I wouldnt like telling others what to do!!

Flower Fishies

Underwater world is simply amazing where everythings so flowy and pretty and only %2 is known about anything below see level :D (Apart from Holland.)

Now, I squeezed a few ideas outta the sponge and got this fishy. Once again, based on an orchid, and a koi fish. The point was to make it streamlined and pearly, because im obsessed with perelescence. I say Koi, as the Platinum has an amazingly sheeny body. However the build of my concept is rather reverse to a koi.

The first took 30mins, the second just under an hour.

i want to get quicker because I feel im not doing enough peices :S

Click teh thumbs for detailzes.





I promise week tasks soonies!!! :)

2pt Perspective

My first final 2pt perspective for chris, seeing as hes given us another week im gunna develop another character and another scene.

MSN really smells at teh mo and i am so tired. bluddy 6am wake ups!!!! And upstairs loo's!! Daargh!!!



Im not sure if this angle demo's 2pt properly :S but I like our ol' Cathederal and find it the only interesting building in cov. I see the copper sculpture as cute lil' 'badge' for the building.

If youve never been to coventry cathederal, Here are its best bits:-

Tame squirrels come up to you for food (and healthy pigeons be nice to em they are really cute :)

Its enormous.

Inside it has such beautiful stained glass windows. I think they range from hues of red pane by pane thru the spectrum to blue and purple. But youcant take photo's. And they aint no typical christian fluffy farty posh art style (even though that is also pretty)
Example1
Example2
Example3 (Gorgeous e.g)

theres thi sstrange cyledrical building which you walk into, and my god, YOU WILL FEEL WEIRD.
theres this really strange and horrible 'vibe' in there. I dont like it and havent been in there since.

I think its the best looking building ever built for the time it was built.

the dude who carved the glass etchings into the glass died of glass inhalation.

...

cant think of anything else. Go there and if you do wear your DMU sweaters cos coventry's uni is directly opposite hehehehehe.

Now, I feel I must now state, I am a SPIRITUAL AGNOSTIC. I dont believe in everything about religeon, but I dont judge people either. I have always liked the Cathederal for its design and prettyness. Certain aspects of relegion I have strong views on, and I dont believe the bible / holy books is just a story. Ill leave it there lol

AYUS! :)

When sometimes stuff gets you down, you can get into a rut, but always remember you are your own self and being, and you will always be strong enough to push for what you really want.

And hey when it hits the fan, slap on a song that makes u feel like you can take on the world XD

My current faves, They've made me feel alot better and are lovely for me to draw along to :)



(bellydancin vid couldnt find another decent version without bellydancers or anime lol)



From turn a gundam. Will make you weep or howl. Either way for me its a very majestic song and so beautiful.

chin up when its down!! :)

Vegetable faeries and excitements

Yellow,(quite)

Just been drawing veggies and fruit people all morning trying to think up somthing for my organics project. This was much fun. heres the current results, more will ensue xD



I think this bloggie is the best bet for posting umm whats the word... the proccess of finals :S. So yah.. Ive probably already said this. Lol.
Emm... excitements, IM GOING TO TROPICAL BIRLAND WHEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I love birds, and some people know i want a birdy pet. So if i get some close encounters with parrots (alongside mum) we may be convinced.

Birds fascinate me. They just so colourful pretty and smart. And sweet. Bird brains is a compliment in my eyes *_*

I've two tasks to do so, before I post anything else ill do those. I have alot to post including some strange questions ive asked myself. (that arent particularly answerable).

Also once ive done all of chris's mini tuts I will post them at once.

Addiu :)

Gamecity......

Didnt enjoy it.

Im pissed off even more by the fact that not once was I asked to see my wrist band, which I payed £20 for, just because I didnt get an NUS card.

So it goes like this-

I either didnt see any info on the site with regards to where to go to get your band, or what time it starts, or whats on? It probably was there but I looked and couldnt find.

We go to an info spot and he tells us to go to the market square. Wa hoo, we find banners and a not so ready gamecity, okay, fine they are still setting up.

We then get a prgramme which actualy te;lls us whats going on today.

When we got out band we headed upstairs in this club to see what was happaning. This bit really annoys me.

A woman introduces somone, who, has made a mod of CS called blockh. A game about irish politics.

NI has a lot of problems and conflict, and everyone knows that. First, the woman went into the politics and how certain areas of NI have murals painted on houses arguing for and against sides etc, and how the mod has these murals in one spot. Nice. She also went on about how war is sanitized through gaming, and how games make war fair. Thats the biggest pile of poo ive ever heard. war is happening, innocent people do die, and humans, kill and are getting killed, by eachother. When people say games are just games, sure they are, but this stuff is actualy happening.

She then talked about war and 'terrorists' and said a little about middle eastern war games. But, she mocked them. The US army's official game was american army I think, anyway the video had a little of thats gameplay, and how 'good' it was, and it was self advertising, yes, GLORYFYING WAR ANDD KILLING *eh hem* (id say okay for an onliner, gfx wise) then gameplayed a game from middle east. Fair enough, the graphics were poor, aswel as the animation, but once it was finished, and everyone done laughing, she said 'thats our games compared to theirs). SO FUNNY, that one game about killing others is better than another. It isnt. To me.

A game is out that updates with scenarios that are/have actualy happened, that you can play through. Good Idea, but the whole 'lets carry on killing' business has really started to bug me recently. I was sat there thinking this is really horrible.

So anyway she eventualy reaches the end of the presentation, and asks for questions. One guy asks 'dont you think blockh will fuel the debate'

She said, no it is meant for players to take out their frustration online instead of in real life.

But at the end of the day, nothing will beat the real thing, and problems wont get solved through playing a game. And what if a nationalist gets auto-placed on the loyalists side? har har?

I love games like socom and halo, but ive always, literaly, felt sorry for the characters when they get popped. In my head 'they are just acting'. Once again people tell me its just a game, I know but................

Im just sick of this war advertisement, and how people go on about killing others will bring peace. >?<


We then found some of our 3rd years *waves* and played some indipendantly made games. There were som really sweet ones. But we didnt stay there for more that 15mins and 10mins of that was spent chattying bout the course, which I enjoyed, as i havent bumped into any 2nd or 3rds yet :)

Seeing as we had to walk from building to building to find stuff, each time we went through the square, we saw pleeeeeeeenty of passers by, without wristbands, soaking up the action.

the most productive part of the day was the gamemaker workshop, where i sat through the hour painting a dragon on one of their laptops, (As Mark didnt do anything with gamemaker and messed with flash instead LOL XD) whilst going though the game maker program and making a mini game. I must admit i did like the program and think im going to attempt a mini game.

We went to subway after then went home.

I might complain and ask for my money back.

Writing about games.

First of all, I would like to mention how rediculous I think the games press can be, in particular, two ranking programs ive seen, one earlier this morning.

To me, its not 'smart' or 'funny' to rank MGS in top spot for 'stupidest storyline' or 'most annoying character', possibly just because this game has always done so well?? seriously. It's clearly an awsome series and I can only think of immature reasons why they would do that. p.s I love MGS but im not a hardcore fan.

It appears that games magazines have little time to complete an issue, and within that time must keep up the promises made in the last mag, for what would be in the next one! So essentialy, reviews have little time to really appreciate, properly, a game they are reviewing, unless, the developer gives them enough info and buzz to possibly get them playing a bit harder.

Perhaps if they had more time, there would be less consistency in game ratings.
Ive always thought, dont listen to what anyone else says about it, go review it yourself. Not everyone has the same tastes, and even if you have some sort of training in how to rate a game (sheesh) your still not going to have the same taste. I dont think so anyway.

As with all press, the games press is lazy. And so developers would need to give them as much info as they can about their game in order for it to get played and reviewed well.

As for NGJ, Im not sure where I stand. Im indifferent about a lot of things, but I dont think NGJ is the best way to go for the wider audience, when it comes to reviewing a game.
These reviews are interesting to read, funny, sometimes silly, but they are only the players personal experience. Once again, this is really no help to someone else. its about them and how they felt about it, not how every potential player will feel about it. It might aswel be a short story.

To me, if you want to let others know what a game is like, tell them uniformley, so that everyone will understand, instead of making it into a story about you and the game.

For me its always been 'oo looks good ill try it', and Ive not been dissapointed with a game that I liked the look of just yet. Perhaps im playing for all the wrong reasons XD

So ill always say try it yourself! Theres enough trade-in schemes isnt there?? :D

Speedy Blaze Fielding (Streets Of Rage Gal')

So ive been listening to the soundtrack obsessively for a month now, and got the idea to make a vid of me drawing someone from SOR so that I can use the music XDD
So blaze was the lady of choice, cos shes just too kool', and here it is. I squeezed as many DOR track in as poss. This took well over an hour i dont think more than 2 though, because as you can see the anatomy is pretty bad, and im new to this technique of colouring and i enjoyed it.

Unfortunately i had a go at another speedy dragon, but like a twonk, shut down my PC and failed to save it. BUT ive come up with a cool bird/chicken/goose thing that ill draw next, and will also attempt this flippin dragon again.

But for now BRING ON Z WINEZ!!

Cyriaks Animation Mix

Must watch! This reel is amazing hehe

Games These Days - 2000 Onwards....

I remember someone I know saying they never could've omagined games would 'get this good' when I had a playstation1. But hey, they did, and developers continue to push consoles to their limits.

Despite how much better games seem to be these days, they come with quite a price. The average high end game today costs around £10 - 20 million to develop. Thats quite a scary thought considering in the begining they would easily cost less than £2000.

the developers used to create the game themselves and then put it forward to publishers. These days, teams of dedicated people are involved with creating products for one of the biggest industries on the planet.

With the current technology however, almost anything is possible to create in a 3d world. Developers and publishers have different motivations too. Publishers, they just want to make money! Developers, are the people who have their hearts put into gamiing and creating something different and more exciting every time.

The industry being as dynamic as it is, means in order to 'survive' you need to be on your toes and adjustable to whatever new things it may throw at you. At that, the industry changes pretty quickly all the time. And with all new technologies coming out here and there, its a game developers job to make sure they can make the most of it at the time.

As a potential employee im pretty sure I understand this, and even though at this moment I dont understand new technologies and how to work with them, when I do I will make sure I can change with the wind.

As for my history up till now, I do miss my sega and playing ps1 spyro. I could play that now but it wouldnt be the same. Since spyro and tekken, I havent played many other games. However, my faveourite ps2 games were zone of the enders (with a passion), metal gear solid 2, and ssx tricky /3. I played socom on ps2 also, but only online. My first real online experience, and alot of fun. However it was ruined by socom 3, which took the fun out of it. Socom 3 just wasnt the same!! Since then I havent played much, then I bought my ps3, and now own GTA4, MGS4, and am patiently waiting for tekken6, and zone of the enders 3! And, for developers to push the ps3 to its limits! (hmm does it have any??)

A game id love to make (should technology allow) is one where players can sit back and dream. I dont know, some headset or another, allows them to fly around in a crazy place. I cant explain y concept too well, but ive got a general idea ;)

Speedy face

This took an hour, probably hsouldnt have in this day and age. But anyway, I thought id do some face studies because im sure its useful. And im sure Ill eventualy find mi own style.



ref = http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=263132

Doesnt look similar but its a start.
she went squished xD

im going to do more 'find a pic n draw it's' cos that was fun.

Must do sum drapery! We own no satin or silk or anythin draperish. unless i take kitchen net curtains down 0_o

Ive also bene inspired to do som oil paintin, aftr lookin through a dali book i discovered in the house.

So i think im gunna try do aload of pics and bulk upload them in the future. Its more to look at :D

Game Art Love

Im reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally happy with this course. Im loving it. Its like PERFECT.

One of my 'crux' reasons for wnating to be a games artist was to be able to 'materialize' my imagination for others. After the convo with mike on wednesday I wasnt sure if my ideas could actualy become games, (dont worry even if so id have no intentions of leaving the course and not being able to become a games artist! its something ive always wanted!) Even if I couldnt, Id '3d ize' my ideas non the less!! But then we got to speak to two guys from Blitz, and I thought id better make the most of it and ask.

So, got to question time, I knew what I wanted to ask, and got increadibly nervous. I kept thinking if I ask it this way the subject of the lecture will cancel out the question and make me sound stupid. So my heart was pounding as I recited this question in my head over and over and I thought it would come out like babble like things normaly do, but no it came out okay. And so my heart kept pounding, its probably because I was scared evryone would shoot daggers at me. they didnt or they did and I didnt notice, ANYWAY they confirmed that as a company everyone gets to put forward ideas, so thats a start! and im very very happy about it. It just makes the whole thing just LOVEABLE!!!!!!!

I love this course because for me it just encourages creativity, its what I need, a kick! Also, everyone mentions having motivation, My only motivation so far has been my ma and my boyfriend, but ive always wanted to be a games artist so thats a bit of motivation, but now THIS COURSE IS MY MOTIVATION AND I WILL OVER HEAT IF I HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that if i stay on top of things I will not need to get stressed out. I will also do even more doodlin n sketchin.

I refuse to let myself slip and would like to be pushed and pushed, I feel INCREADIBLY honoured and happy to be on this course and every last ounce of my energy will go into it.

This is it, getting annoyed with my secondary school being crap, boring art subjects (though our teacher was really nice), people messing about, not being able to draw all the time, then college, no games courses available, I then discover that 'multimedia' wouldve been the subject to take, carrying on with borin graphic design, once again no fun units but lovely tutors, and then suddenly 'games art degree' great links, not far away, lovely lecture team, instant acceptance, pure creativity, LETSSSSSSSSS ROOOOOOOOOOOCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

zoingzoingzoingzoing

Sleep

No sleep whatsoever last night, then when im fiiinnaly dozing off.... kabloomie. About 12 mini explosions go off. For goodness sake, 'blimin kids and fireworks' she thinks, and is kept awake by the hum of some larg thing unknown :S

Gets up at 6 asks ma what happened, a car was set alight pretty close to the house, wasnt ours lol, but someone is going to be pretty pissed off when they set out to go work today.

As for me I feel terrible, I had about 2 hours sleep last night. I keep seeing weird shit in a half asleep/awake mode. And then find my body falling asleep but my brain holding onto concsiousness then end up waking up fully over and over.

Coffee coffee coffee it dont work for me so ill try an espresso even though they taste like well, disgusting.

<3 <3 WipEout <3 <3

Wipeout HD has re sparked my love for wipeout, not that It ever went out, I actualy missed wipeout and didnt want to play it on a small screen. (Fusion ill never get over, I actualy think thats my all time favourite game without a doubt so far, as a game on its own, its the only full wipeout i owned but holy crap i love it to bits to this day, shame its not in HD!!*

BUT NOW WIPEOUT HD HERE I LOVE YOU STUDIOLIVERPOOL YOU DA BEZT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also give mist a big hug for me.

History of Games 1980-1990

In the 1980s the little games industry started to grow, with many businesses and production houses popping up, and some coming and going rather quickly. Among those that are still around today is EA. Gaming computers specifically for entertainment such as the Commodore64 and ZX Spectrum emerged around this time also. More specifically, 1982.
The 1980’s was the ‘Golden age of arcade’, and a time in which game genres started to settle. The game ‘Pole Position’ brought on the rear view mirror, a feature that has been used in most racing games ever since, and the legendary Pac-man made his debut. Pac-man was the first popular game character known for just being Pac-man!
Online communication was quite popular in the 1980s, users communicating via dialup bulletin boards. The dialup was also used for playing games ANSI art later on. A variety of these simple text interface games were available, such as gambling games (for points) and where multiple users were possible, the concept of the MMORPG was born through ‘Multi User Dungeons’.
Unfortunately after all the excitement came what is considered the games industry’s worst crash (For it is certainly not close to crashing in the present day!) The main reason for the crash is seen to be the mass amount of poor games that were produced around that time. To me it’s understandable that perhaps when something does so well people perhaps think they can get away with making any-old thing. Thus there was too much choice for consumers and clearly each business wouldn’t have been able to make enough money.
I remember wanting a ps1 before it was released, but like many others I couldn’t have one immediately!! However I remember playing someone else’s. My first ps1 game was final fantasy 7. I did not complete it, I played it whenever at the friend’s house who owned it. I loved the art style and the detail, and being able to move about in 3d space, and I always wanted to play it when I visited, but was always scared to ask. Then for my 8-10th birthday (I think 10th), I was given a second hand ps1 with lots of games. The one I played all the time was crash bandicoot. I loved the brightness and the craziness of it all. Later on I started playing Tekken 3 and test drive 5. I discovered a cheat that unlocked all cars, and loved the fact that the tracks went on forever through cities, past landmarks, and that it was possible to reach ridiculous heights with the car should you go over a hill. Tekken three I enjoyed so much I went and bought Tekken 2, and my obsession with it hasn’t died. I also fell in love with the T-rex on the DEMO 1 Disc, (as dinosaurs were my childhood obsession) loved the music and loved messing about with it! I still own all of my ps2 discs today.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_and_video_games
http://www.jesperjuul.net/thesis/2-historyofthecomputergame.html
http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/articles/devweek_j.shtm

Bradgate stag (Hope U like Deer Rear)

Went to bradgate park during week 2 of the course, took a few photos. I was worried my camera was going to get ruined by 'that fine rain' and i really really dont want to mes this camera up, its new and its effin great. Anyway, took a piccy of a grazing stag, it was a zoom in and i was shaky so the photo wasnt crisp or anything, but I decided to paint the deer in photoshop. Im trying to get used to corel painter as its a lovely program! Only I havent painted that much, so Id have a lot to learn anyway. here is my deer('s EDIT I was so pleased i did another.)

(REF FOR 2nd DEEERRR http://blog.islayinfo.com/images/articles/islay-nature-report-13-red-deer_1.jpg )

Took about an hour, im pretty darn pleased with it. I printed a crop of the deer and stuck it to my wall in front of me so i could try copy it. The printouts colour is very dark and so ive used my own 'lighter' colours here and there. (2nd deer took about hour 1/2 and was also pint n slapped on my wall)

I think the head should be a little longer, the antlers shorter, the bottom of back and front legs thinner, and more muscle tone at the front. Also a fluffyer neck. Il edit this post with the crop i used when i get round to it. (2nd deer has a way to go but im pleased with it too, it must be the tablet!!)

I am pleased with this, as ive always loved deer, and always found them difficult to draw. I suppose drawing horses all the time has kinda helped me when drawing this. Saying that, my horses are still not perfect, at all!!

Addiu

Binbags and cardboard boxes????

One of the reasons I want to become an artist for games is because it is a job I would enjoy, if i was able to create my own imaginary creations in 3d space. Of course I would do this as hobby once i learn how to. But I think it was induction week I aswel as the rest of the class was told that we will only start out modeling boxes and binbags (or similar). I was a lil dissapointed, but hey we all start somehwere. My 1st job was in a callcentre for CO-OP, and I HATED IT!! But really, If i get stuck modeling stuff like that I wont be happy. The thought of it makes me want to work as hard as I can so that I wont be modeling boxes forever. I think it was chris or mike who said that, I cant remember right now im a little drunk. But they also said we wouldnt be modeling the likes of halo for a while. No offence bungie or whoever made halo, but as great as the levels are im not actualy impressed with the style of design of the buildings and such. even the aliens or whaever their called. Not that I dont like it, I suppose I just think it could be more natural. I do like the halo games by all means, but the art of the games dont strike me as amazoing. Im so keen to put my full into this course no matter what.

My uncle earns quite a lot, and was talking to me once about jobs and stuff. He said I get payed so and so much a day, and i dont work every day of the week, but its amazing pay. Then I said to him, do you ever get bored? And he said yes I do sometimes. Then I told him, I wouldnt care what my salary is, as long as im enjoying it.

My co-op job was so fucking boring I couldve blown the place up to stop them from boring others. I cant remember time i didnt think to myself, when im a games artist Ill be having a wail of a time. I really need to make the most of this, so that I can be in a job where I enjoy myself, and not have to type/calculate/talk about boring stuff xDDDDDDDDD ILL DRAW TILL MY FINGERS BLEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!

Ive been on the bus sometimes thinking about jobs that dont involve art and imagination and colour. And I had to write some stupid paragraph about 'business creativity', for a typing speed test. I was like What the hell is creative in business?? Deciding where your posters go?

BUT as ive never had any business education I decided not to debate it with myself. LOL.

Anyhoo, I hope Ill be able to do more than bins n boxes n rocksies XDD

Ta ra

Games History Pt1

reviewing History of Video Games

There is quite a debate about which ‘video game’ came first. In my eyes, a ‘computer game’, is a game which is processed using computer power. To me this would apply to the ‘video game’ as all games emit visual light in order to be played. Even then, a video is associated with television. I can see where this debate comes from! I would rather call them Electronic games. Therefore, the first electric game, in my eyes, is the Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device. It was created in the 1940’s by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann and patented in 1947. It used 9 cathode ray tubes, an oscilloscope and knobs to simulate missiles firing at targets. It used a simple screen overlay for which the targets were drawn.

Tennis for two, by William Higinbotham was the first game actually designed for entertainment purposes. It was created for visitors who were bored at Brookhaven National Laboratory but was only exhibited for two ‘visitors days’.

Many people consider ‘Spacewar’ the first largely available game. Spacewar was created in 1961 by Steve Russell and a team of students MIT, USA. It was developed for the PDP-1, the worlds first interactive computer. A 2 player game, each player controlling a ship, they had to shoot at each other whilst dodging a black hole/star. This game was the first widely available and influential, to the players and to a few games created as copies/mimics of the original!

Chase game, by Ralph Baer, was the first game designed for play on a television. It was created in 1967. Ralph had considered the idea since 1951 and had written out plans for a game playable on a TV screen. Chase had triggered the creation of the first home video games console, Magnavox Odyssey.

Nolan Bushnel created the first arcade game in 1971 called computer space, based upon Spacewar!
Pong was created a year later, also by Nolan Bushnel. Nolan and Ted Dabney started Atari that same year 1972, and released pong as an arcade game in 1975.

‘General instruments’ released the first low cost chip, allowing many companies to release their own versions of pong, and so a large gaming industry was born.

The first game I remember was a game in which you had to jump onto the backs of crocodiles/logs/frogs to cross rivers(i don’t clearly remember) with a boy. It was an incredibly pixelated game, but I don’t remember what it was called or its console. I was about 6 when I played, but I remember being bad at it, and loving to watch others play.
After that, my greatest games memory was Sonic The Hedgehog. The most addictive game I had ever played at that age. remember always asking my mum to get me over the moving ledges with the spikes in the middle! I only ever had two cartridges, STH, and a multigame cartridge, which had Shin obi, streets of rage (an oldskooler which I loved the music for), and another which was about medieval/dragons and stuff. I played STH addictively for years.

Intro To Mizelf

Well, the first blog ill need to keep!!

So, my first post will be an introductory one.
I will start with the normal stuff people would be used to reading/seeing for an introduction.
I am 5ft7”, medium length straightened hair, mixed Caribbean/white English, brown eyes. I am regularly mistaken for being Spanish and was once spoken to in Spanish by someone who thought so much so they would try and ask me if I was Spanish in Spanish. But yes I’ve noticed people can’t really tell off the bat what my ‘heritage’ is.

See I’m already babbling about weirdness. And so begins the next introduction.
I’m happily, let’s say bonkers. When I say bonkers I mean not so normal/regular in the brains (that is, normal as society is SUPPOSED to see normal as being). and people that meet me will eventually see that. Also people I know and have known remind me time and time over anyways. Even mum. Coincidently, mother is happily bonkers too (I mean this in a good way). She works in mental health, and she thinks it takes some sort of impact! I may not look it all the time (you’ll read why later) but I’m a happy person. The reason I look like I’m miles away a lot is
because I am. I cannot switch off, I don’t want to and don’t plan to. I am constantly imagining some scenario or another, some event, some creation, some being, beast, thing, building. I will try and mentally tear apart the simplest thing to analyze and try to figure out why what part of it is what, why it looks like that, what looked like in the past, what meaning it has. I will drift off into a daydream trying to figure stuff out, and having further blasts of imagination go off. Rarely do I get answers, and so the thought ponders or disappears until somehow it is raised again for further Cherrelley Scepticism. My imagination is wild, and I hope that my Games Art course will help me achieve my goal of being able to communicate whats inside my head to others, to the wonderful, functional, and colourful, and far out degree that it is inside my head.

i sometimes wonder if I have any sort of condition such as synaesthesia, or dyslexia? I got about 60% on a Synesthesia test, but I can see time lines, but not to exact dates and times. It’s like a roll of film projected at the back of my head, but I can see it, like anyone with a strong imagination can imagine things. I also associate music with imagery, (Many people probably do this, I don’t know) for instance, when listening to a piece, it is intensified by a certain scene or picture. With everyone it will be different, but I’ll give you an example. Tekken2, Jacks Arade Music. Jacks BG is an oil refinery. One of the most beautiful sights (for me) in the evening, when the sky is lilac, the horizon peach, and the absolute strangeness of the random pipes, structures, lights. The Tekken musicians made a PEREFCT job of that, for me. ALSO TEKKEN 4 and the airport BG. The scenery and music for me go together absolutely perfectly. I must note now I think the soundtrack from tekken 2 to 4 have the most awesome soundtracks ever on a game so far that I have played.

I don’t want to go on and on in my first post, so I will leave you with some of my fave game soundtracks, and game music inspired tracks from the youtube, starting with my favourite track of all time, game or no game, I don’t care if its 90’s synth or whatever it is. I’ll be posting favourite songs here over time anyway, but to celebrate the start of my games art degree, id better use some stuff to do with games! (Im plonking non game music in now anyway)

ENJOY xDD

1st fave ever

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2nd fave ever ever

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and so on...

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(I love vocals like this/choir/chanty stuff, but not all of it)
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(this makes me wish I was a 90's Teen, RAVERS NATURE!!!)


Ill post more as time goes by...