2.0 Professional SpotlightJeff Houchens

ODT-1000 Section 9Term: 201412

Game Design Video 1This video is an interview with Mark Cerny who

has been a game designer for the last 30 years. It talks about the evolution of game design during during his last 30 years. Mark explains that one of the big hurdles is re-inventing yourself as the technology changes because it just changes so fast. One of the major changes with games is the story telling. Mark discusses how narration should and can be successfully added to a game, but it’s a challenge finding the right balance between narrative and gameplay.

One of the main things I found interesting was that back in the 80’s, people really weren’t sure if video (arcade) games would be around for very long. There were massive layoffs in the industry and there was a good chance that we wouldn’t have what we do today. Just thinking about it, it’s really mind blowing. If there were no video games, would Full Sail University even be around?

http://youtu.be/EACNI6N0ICU

Game Design Video 2This is a short video from Extra Credit that talks

about what it takes to be a game designer. The most valuable discipline a game designer can have is communication, which is something I already kind of assumed. I know I’m not an artist and I don’t want to just be a programmer. I want to be that middle man that helps all the teams collaborate on one idea, which is exactly what he’s talking about. As a game designer, I’ll be working with programmers, artists, directors and other departments.

Another asset to have as a game designer is the ability to take criticism, which is also something I kind of assumed. No game is perfect right from inception. It takes tweaking, fixing and reinventing to make things just right. Players are one of the most important parts in having a successful game. They’re the voice of the game and suggest many different ideas that do make a game better.

http://youtu.be/zQvWMdWhFCc

Image Source: http://bit.ly/15NrGPO

Game Arts Video 3

http://youtu.be/2rAfOfTx7u0

This is an interesting video on the basics of game art using a typically editing program. The instructor is describing how to create a barrel that will be used on a pirate ship. I can tell that he is extremely skilled at what he’s doing by the way he moves around with hotkeys. I like how he explains the use of polygons on a simple cylinder and that you really don’t want more than 4 sides to each. He obviously moves very fast and makes it look pretty simple, but this is just a simple barrel (for him).

One of the major things I take away from this video is that game artists really have an understanding of geometrical shapes. I haven’t heard the term geometry or polygon since my seventh grade in junior high school. Understanding the shapes is the foundation of how objects, buildings and people are created. Each can be unique by simply moving one piece a little differently than the others. A cup can become a barrel and a car can become a truck.

Image Source: http://bit.ly/11NmJ7n

Computer Animation Video 4This video is actually from Full Sail University

and is about the fundamentals of computer animation. In the video, course director of 2D animation Kathy Blackwell explains that to show change in motion an object sometimes needs to change shape, but not volume. She demonstrates by using a water balloon to illustrate a bouncing ball. One of the other interesting things she mentions is that being an animator is an ongoing process. It’s not something that is just retained over the years.

I can see that art and animation will be fundamental components in my game design career. The artists will come up with different sketches for ideas of the game. Animators will then bring them to life by adding movement. It looks as though art and animation are intertwined though. Animators not only bring things to life, they also have to know how to draw, which is interesting.

http://youtu.be/dJr87-ngSrc

Image Source: http://bit.ly/12kzdmP