Tag Archives: Soldier

Train2Game News Soldier uses experience for games career

Posted on by

image

Soldier will use his military experience as he embarks on career in gaming

Former soldier and Train2Game student now focusing on a career in gaming, plans to use military experience as inspiration for making games

Train2Game student and former soldier, Daniel Smith (Smudge) has left the army to embark full time on his games making journey. He plans to use his unique insight into warfare to develop military strategy and RPG games.

The course is going very well for Dan. Train2Game has been very understanding, when he embarked on the course he was still serving. It was tough to balance getting through the course alongside the requirements of military training for the 28 year old.

Dan gained extensive experience and training in the army, he had many roles including; Sapper, Medic, Combat Engineer and Searcher. Dan served in Afghanistan 2011. Dan enjoyed the travel, camaraderie and the accomplishments during his time serving.

He’s since left the army to pursue life dreams as a games designer. He’s studying computer games design with Train2Game. He plans to use his army experience as inspiration for games.

Train2Game student, Daniel Smith: ‘I’m 28, from Newark (near Nottingham), although I have just moved to Preston. I’m studying the Computer Game Designers Course with Train2Game. It’s going well at the moment, but it was quite sporadic while I was in the Army. Sometimes I would be able to get into a good study pattern, other times there was a lot going on, from additional training, which can be long and intense, to exercises aboard and deployments. This meant I would have to spend a lot of effort catching up.’

‘I’ve just started Section 2 Part C. The experience has been very positive, they’ve been very understanding of my situation and have given me lots of support and advice. I’ve wanted to become a Game Designer for some time, before taking the course I had no idea what was required to become one, so taking the course to make sure I have all the skills and knowledge I need.’

‘I was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, After completing Basic Training I was trained as a Combat Engineer, learning such skills as Water Supply, Field Fortifications and Demolitions. I then went on to being trained as an Electrician. I had many roles after I had finished my training, I was given the responsibility of looking after a store, and being trained as a Team Medic, I volunteered to be trained in EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) and further trained as a Searcher.’ 

‘I have a lot of positive memories from the Army. I’ve visited many places, like Petra in Jordan and Bosnia. I’ve been parachuting, white water rafting and scuba diving. But my best memories have to be with the friends I made and the (now legendary) things we all got up to. I’ve also achieved a lot, even completing some of the training courses were huge accomplishments. I served in Afghanistan in 2011 as a Searcher, which involved clearing IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) routes and buildings.’

‘I’ve now left the military, Army life was starting to get in the way of where I wanted my life to go. I’ve always been interested in gaming. I prefer playing computer games over reading books or watching TV. I’m also an avid wargamer and have been since I was in my early teens. it seemed logical to start studying the subject.’ 

‘I have written a set of rules for a squad-sized tabletop game that draws from my army experience of firefights, being fast and chaotic events that can easily devolve into a confusing mess if not controlled well. I also have an idea for a war inspired game that involves the use of infantry tactics, as well having to manage what equipment you take with you on missions. I am a fan on RTS, TBS and RPGs games and would really enjoy creating games in there genres.’

‘I’ll predominantly draw from the fighting side of my time in the army for war-style games, but this sense of conflict and overcoming obstacles will translate to other genres, particularly RPGs. Soldiers also have a very unique sense of humour that will inevitably find its way into my games.’

‘I hope to work my way up to the position of Senior Designer and Lead Designer. I hope to create games that people will love to play and that will be looked on as classics.’

For more information contact: mark@train2game.com
Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry
Read the Train2Game blog at www.train2game-news.co.uk Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.gamatier.com

Train2Game News Student in Wales on Sunday

Posted on by

image

A few days ago a story was posted about Train2Game student, Sean Kelly, who studies whilst protecting ships from Pirates. This story had now been picked up and published in the Wales on Sunday Newspaper.

You can view the newspaper article in the link below

Wales on Sunday T2G 2015 March

Train2Game News Former soldier studying with Train2Game

Posted on by

image

Sean Kelly a decorated former soldier injured in combat is now studying Video Games Development while working as armed security on super structure boats off the coast of Somalia, Yemen and going through the dangerous Bab el Mandeb.

He’s studying with Train2Game while working on his own combat video games and described games like Call of Duty as unrealistic based on his ‘hands-on’ experience.

Sean Kelly is 28 years old, a former soldier who completed tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. He gained three medals in his ten years of service in the army. Originally from Cardiff, he now lives in Burton on Trent with his wife and three year old daughter.

Injured while in Afghanistan by an IED Sean’s military career was over. It was during his recovery he began studying to be a games Developer. We spoke to Sean while he was in Sri Lanka on a ten day break from the boats, learning to surf and waiting for his next assignment.

Sean Kelly: “I joined the military in 2002 at 16, and left 2012. I spent 10 years in the military, did tours of IRAQ in 2005 with 10CS COY REME as there protection element, Afghanistan in 2007 with 23 pioneer regiment t as part of the force protection group and Brigade recce force.”

“I’ve travelled all over the world with the military, doing training exercises in Canada, Belize and various other duties in Europe. I received four medals during my service, I gained Op Telic Medal (IRAQ) Op Herric Medal (AFGHAN) Queens Diamond Jubilee medal Op Tosca (CYPRUS).”

“When I was in Afghanistan I got injured by an IED, spent a while going through DMRC Hedley court, and was told my career in the military was over. So I looked into something that I would enjoy, and at the time I was already a web developer, so when I saw Game Developing with a company called Train2Game I decided I’d like the challenge. At the time was a big task, as I was on Pregablin, which is a nerve suppressor that messes with your memory.  I literally wasted two years of the course, as I’d forgotten everything and had to re-learn.”

“I got into security of boats because I knew some people who were already in the industry, it’s pretty difficult to actually get into, I was ok as I was ex-military so got the job straight away. If we’re in the middle of the Indian Ocean it can be pretty boring as there is nothing around.  If we’re off the coast of Somalia, Yemen or going through the Bab el Mandeb…. it’s very dangerous.”

“The piracy threat is low, but we’re constantly approached, once they realise the ship has Armed security, they turn away. It really isn’t worth their effort to attempt to board us, but when your ship gets circled it can be a bit of an experience.”

“I have a wife and three year old daughter, they miss me but know that it’s best for the family, and I really get to crunch through my studying, I’ve literally flown through it. It’s a lot easier when you get so much time, there’s no distractions either, no internet at sea! So you literally have no other choice but to learn. But without the support of my family I wouldn’t have been able to get to the point I am at now, they’re helping get the course materials to me as well as giving me the support.”

“My ambition would be to create the next best FPS, using my military and anti-piracy knowledge to my advantage, also having the ability to handle a large variety of fire arms helps.  Especially when I see a game like Call Of Duty and chuckle to myself, knowing the way they depict the gun battles is very inaccurate… at most levels.”

“If I was to make a FPS game, I’d straight away have first-hand experience as a fighting soldier. I could then bring that into the game, which is easier than trying to describe something to the average programmer, who has never had that experience, plus I like shooting stuff up.”

“The warfare in First Person shooters like Call of Duty is very unrealistic, the games are more ‘Hollywood’ than anything close to realism, the handling and firing of the weapons is unrealistic. They haven’t made the games for realism, there aimed at hitting the market quick, so most of the time the physics are just reused from previous titles, hence why they get old fast. A weapon system is a finely crafted machine, sometimes taking years to build into a piece of machinery capable of the battlefield. A lot of time “goes into games like Forza, the cars are amazing; why not do that with a FPS? Remake it but real.”

“I would love to study in a university but, I have commitments and would not be able to full time study. I pretty much study Train2Game anywhere I can, but I have studied during the monsoon season! The ship was rolling so bad my fridge in the cabin shot across the room!! Lucky it didn’t take me out.

“I continue my studies at sea, all my stuff is put into my Dropbox, my books are scanned and my disks I take with me, I work six hours in the twenty four on-board the ship. So now I have gone from having no time to pretty much as much as I need, while also continuing to make money for my family.”

“While I’ve been working as Armed Security, I’ve completed portfolio pieces on my Train2Game course, and I’m averaging 1 -2 games a month for my site as practice. I’m working on my own, I wouldn’t mind working with some guys, help me turn out more games quicker. That’s when I’m not enjoying the beaches of Sri Lanka, Madagascar or Goa….. Love it!”

“The ship in the pictures is the Bottiglieri Sophie Green, an Italian ship, roughly 230 meters. She’s on her way to Japan now. The photo of the super tanker I sent is MV Ilma, she is HUGE! Carries two billion dollars of oil, and approx. 330 meters long, 65 meters wide and 21 meters freeboard! She delivers only to China and America, nowhere else is big enough for her. One lap around her deck is 1km, big prize for piracy, I do super yachts too… but there restricted info, and the company can get hit hard. Protecting a boat like that you would have a four man team, carrying HKg3 7.62 x 2, and 2 x Steyr Scout sniper rifle 7.62 long… hunting rounds.”

“We don’t move around the deck, when transiting the HRA (High Risk Area) it can be quiet dangerous, and we need quick access to our weapons if the situation ever arises!  The furthest out we go would be right in the middle of the Indian ocean… so maybe a thousand plus miles.”

“We see lots of marine wildlife; sharks, dolphins and whales, even dead camels and horses that are thrown overboard. We see loads of turtles, dolphins, and sharks. Watching the whales at night is great… when it is just the moon and starlight, nothing around for hundreds of miles! Very relaxing, helps concentration.”