Tag Archives: Game Art & Animation

Train2Game News Maya LT 2015 on Steam

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Maya LT 2015Maya LT 2015 will be made available through Steam, Autodesk has announced. The feature set will allow Valve’s community of 65m gamers – as well as the developers and artists among them – use the animation and modelling tools to create 3D game assets.

These can then be used to personalise games and import user-created assets into compatible Steam titles, such as the hugely popular Dota 2. Assets created can also be used in any games users are developing.

Purchasing Maya LT through Steam will also give developers and gamers a full commercial Maya LT licence, allowing them to export any assets create with the tool to games for PC, console and mobile.

The licence will available to purchase through Steam on Tuesday, April 22nd.

“The Valve community is unique because it includes a very engaged mix of both gamers and developers working together to mod titles and generate content,” said Autodesk’s director of games solutions Frank Delise.

“We’re engaging with the community on day one by participating in forums, answering questions and offering custom tutorial content for Dota 2 fans. We can’t wait to try new things with the community and see how they push Maya LT to its limit and beyond.”

Train2Game News Dream Harvest Games Artist Position

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2537336243-Dreamworks logo finalDream Harvest Games, a friend of Train2Game, are looking to recruit an artist from the pool of Train2Game students.

Dream Harvest is just coming to the end of the prototyping phase of their top down action sci fi puzzler game. They are looking for a determined, talented 2D artist who works well with others and will be committed to the project.

The current studio is made up of a mixture of highly talented professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Getting a chance to work with these people would certainly assist your future prospects for employment or could lead to coming on board full time with the team.

The game has a science fiction theme that plays on the idea of how an aristocratic society, limited in their ability to run their city, enslaves their own population. Morality, Power and Control are all themes that are prevalent in the story and as you can imagine the game is built around a strong narrative and is targeting the core market. It will initially be released on PC, Linux and Mac with future plans to release the game on to Microsoft and Sony Consoles.

Your Job:

  • Development and preparation of prototypes and style determination in close collaboration with our Lead Artist.
  • Development of ideas from concept through quick sketches to finished illustration
  • Planning and independent implementation of graphic concepts for game worlds, characters, vehicles, storyboards and other visual content of our game
  • You will find sound solutions to any challenges that arise. Development and management of internal design ideas and continuing education programs. Close cooperation with the designers, programmers and audio designer.

Your Profile:

  • A solid experience in visual arts, animation, visual effects.
  • Very good knowledge of Photoshop or other 2D art and painting programs
  • Excellent traditional and digital drawing skills
  • Extremely well versed in anatomy, proportions, perspectives and color theory
  • You have distinctive communication skills — and you enjoy working in a team
  • A very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written
  • Passion for the development of games

Additional plus:

  • Knowledge of Unity
  • 2d animation skills
  • Knowledge of 3d programs

We offer:

  • An exciting job where you can assume responsibility and develop professionally
  • A dynamic team with friendly, highly-qualified colleagues from all over Europe
  • A culture of mutual respect and active training
  • Shared equity percentage profit share program once game is released

This is an equity share position and the experience and knowledge you could gain from working here is invaluable.

If you are interested in the position email your CV and Portfolio to applications@dreamharvest.co.uk

You can also find out some information about the team and previous projects on the Dream Harvest Website here: www.dreamharvest.co.uk

Train2Game News: Merkury Games looking for Artist

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merkurygames - CopyTrain2Game Student studio Merkury games is looking for new and experienced artists to join their studio.

Merkury games is built of several students of differing experience working as one to forward their respective careers. The studio specialises in retro style games with a twist which can be seen in their two previously released PC games.

The studio is looking for a voluntary artist to join the team who preferably has previous experience based on the retro games in the 8/16 bit drawing. The main requirements for the work will be around sprites, backdrops and concept art. They are looking for an individual who would be willing to take on this challenge. All serious applicants will be considered.

Lewis Gordon said about working at the studio “It’s an open, happy environment where any idea is welcomed and put to use. We are all about helping each other to learn and expand to get the most out of our career”

To be considered for the position please email your CV and an example of your work to recruitment@merkurygames.co.uk

To find out more about Merkury Games visit www.MerkuryGames.co.uk

Train2Game News: Train2Game Winners

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Train2GameThe Train2Game team are creating a new web page highlighting the positive achievements of the students.

We think it’s important that we show what can be achieved by taking a Train2Game course and also heap some praise on the deserving students that have made those brave steps to become professionals.

The site will be used as inspiration for all students to see what they are working towards and what they can achieve with a lot of hard work. This is a great chance to put something back into the Train2Game community, show off your work, gain interest in products you’re working on for your employer show your achievements to potential future employers.

It would be great to hear from all the students who have made that step to become professionals; be it in a company, in an independent studio or another area of employment in or outside the games industry that your Train2Game course has helped you to obtain.

This is a great opportunity for students to start shouting about the courses and their success stories. Please do get in touch by emailing Harry Cole at harry@swanpr.co.uk

Train2Game News: Ind13 Magazine Launches

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Ind13New magazine focusing on independent games development has launched.

This weekend saw the launch of a brand new video games magazine called IND13. The magazine focuses on independent games development and has been created by contributors from across the video games industry. The team have come together with the aim of creating a magazine that gives independent games development the attention it deserves.

This month’s issue of the magazine has an interview with editor-in-chief of ind13 magazine and CEO of Global Empire Soft, Richard Hoffman – James Coote, an independent games developer with his own studio and owner of Crystalline Green, gives advice about starting up as an independent – Alan Vader, a retro gamer expert goes back in time to talk about the original bedroom coders and many more interesting articles!

The magazine can be downloaded from the site www.ind13.com in PDF form. This magazine is definitely one to bookmark to make sure you never miss a copy!

Train2Game News: Autodesk release Maya LT for Indie developers

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AutodeskAutodesk has unveiled a new tool specifically targeted at indie developers. The 3D modelling and animation toolset is designed for developers working on mobile, PC and web, and can be integrated with game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine.

Maya LT includes a number of features such as enabling the creation of 3D assets of any size, with the ability to export FBX files containing up to 25,000 polygons per object.

The tech’s animation tools include a skeleton generation and inverse kinematics with Autodesk HumanIK, as well as viewport previews so developers can view assets as they would appear in-game. Other features also include lighting and texture baking, with developers able to use global illumination tool to create “realistic” lighting effects.

Autodesk’s latest tool will cost $795 per perpetual licence as oppose to the license for Maya which is almost $4,000. Short-term licenses are also available on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

“We see indie game developers as a key part of the industry, driving innovative new production techniques and gameplay,” said Autodesk Media & Entertainment VP Chris Bradshaw.

“The market is fiercely competitive, and Maya LT can provide indie developers and small studios with a powerful, yet simplified workflow for designing and animating remarkable 3D characters, environments and props – at a price that fits within even the most modest budget. It’s a practical solution that closely matches the needs of the mobile game development production cycle and helps developers rise above the noise and really shine.”

Train2Game News: Mad Munchkin Reviews

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Mad Munchkin ReviewsTrain2Game student, Amy Methven from Elgin Scotland, has created her own YouTube channel talking about all sorts of different art and animation.

Amy’s Mad Munchkin Reviews have covered media such as games, movies and TV Shows. She has spoken about the Batman Arkham games, My Little Pony and she has discussed subjects such as CGI compared to 2D animation.

It’s a fascinating view on all the different aspects of animation.

I asked Amy why she decided to create her YouTube channel and she said “I started the Mad Munchkin reviews for lots of different reasons really. The first one being that I love Art and love talking about it, like most people on the Art and Animation Course with Train2Game.

The second reason is that I wanted to find other creative ways to expose my Art work outside of the video game industry. In a practical sense, it allowed me to develop my video editing skills as well as analytical skills when it comes to my writing. I wanted to teach myself how to construct my critiques so I can successfully back up my opinions on what I review.

The show primarily focuses on Animated Movies, tv shows and video games, looking at the creative process behind creating these pieces of Art from the perspective of theory rather than the practical technicalities of the process. As much as I love the practical side of creativity, it is the theory and reason behind it that I like talking about more. Asking why something looks a certain why is more interesting to me than finding out how it was constructed.”

If you would like to check out Amy’s YouTube channel you can here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Amymethven/videos?shelf_index=0&view=0&sort=dd

Or you can view her Deviant art page at: http://amymethvenart.deviantart.com/

Train2Game News: Microsoft’s Accelerator Programme

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Microsoft VenturesTrain2Game are looking for a team or studio that might be suitable to take part in Microsoft’s pilot for their Accelerator programme, www.microsoftventures.com.

This is aimed at promising early-stage start ups. For 8 weeks the new studio would receive strong mentoring, technical guidance and connections to other start ups.

This is a highly sought after programme so your team (studio) would need to be already established and have collectively produced at least one game. The game may not have been published, but we will need to see at least one game that you’ve made.

The team should have between 2 and 5 members with at least one member of the team able to attend the Microsoft Accelerator offices in tech city, central London, Monday to Friday from 1st September for 8 weeks. Other members can work remotely but one member of the team must work from tech city.

Microsoft will work with the team to develop them into a fully fledged studio. The team, for example, may be one which has previously taken part in one of our game jams and has stayed together since, although this is just an example. All members of the team must be Train2Game students.

It is essential that all teams who wish to be considered apply to us through the correct route; please see Student World for more details of how to enter. Your entry must be in by 3pm on 14th August; entries received after this date cannot be considered.

We cannot guarantee that any team will be accepted into the Microsoft Accelerator programme but suitable teams will be put forward by us. Teams which we feel may be suitable will be contacted by us by 16th August 2013.

Good luck to all those who enter!

Train2Game News: Early Mass Effect concept art

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Mass Effect Concept ArtVeteran BioWare designer Matt Rhodes has posted an array of Mass Effect concept art from throughout the sci-fi trilogy. This of course includes spoilers!

It is a fascinating look at the early days of the series and some of the initial concepts.

The art, posted on Rhodes’ blog, includes designs dating back to the series’ origins. It covers concepts about Tali and what her face looked like under the mask, an interesting story twist involving Shepard and a creepy looking creation of the Mass Effect 2 boss.

Matt Rhodes said about his role as a concept artist “The role of a Concept Artist is the role of an explorer, tasked with charting a world without sunlight. You start off with your reference and research. These are well established base camps.

“They’re well lit, highly populated and safe. The better your reference the better your bearings will be. The artist’s job is to start at base camp with a bag of torches and run furiously out into the darkness. Every doodle, sketch, painting and storyboard is a torch lit somewhere out in the black. You mostly find weeds and rocks out there. But if you keep pushing you sometimes find a rich landscape that can hopefully become a new basecamp.”

You can enjoy his concept art in the link below including some concept art for Dragon Age as well. It is an interesting look through his process.

http://mattrhodesart.blogspot.ca/2013/07/concept-art-behind-scenes.html

Train2Game News: SpecialEffect needs the help of Train2Game students with Steam initiative

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Team Fortress 2 SpecialEffectSpecialEffect is asking for the help of Train2Game students who use Valve’s Steam system! The charity who provide video gaming equipment to people with disabilities need your votes.

A few select artists from the Steam community have created SpecialEffect themed items for the game Team Fortress 2 and with your votes they can be in game this summer! The items that have been designer are: a viewfinder, cabinet and belt pack. 99% of the profits from these items will go to help disabled players enjoy games to the best of their abilities thanks to the work done by SpecialEffect.

This idea is the brainchild of James Schall, SEGA’s Director of Digital Distribution.

“Demand for SpecialEffect‘s help is rocketing,” said James. “And I’m excited about the potential of these generous artwork donations to kickstart a big-hearted response from the TF2 community to help meet that demand.”

“It’s a fantastic gesture,” said charity CEO Mick Donegan. “Gamers get what we’re trying to do, and to get that support from artists within the community is a real endorsement of our work.”

“We need £750k this year to give people a fighting chance through specialised games control equipment. We’re bringing this technology directly into the homes and hospitals of the people who need it most, and transforming the lives of people with the most severe disabilities through cutting-edge equipment like eye control and brain control.”

You can vote for the items to be in Team Fortress 2 by going to the link below:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=156361911

You can also find the items from within Steam itself by selecting Workshops from the Community menu. Hit the link in the grey text below the main ‘Create, Discover…’ heading, and on the next page type ‘special effect’ in the search box (note the space between the two words!). Then hit the Rate button.

If you would like to check out the pages of the artists who created the items for SpecialEffect you can view them in the links below:

Psyke

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