Misc: side project during unit:

During this year I was asked to design some art for a mate. I was asked to design a image of an almond nut in a straight jacket. This is the resulting design:

Evaluation

For this project, I do believe I was able to some extent improved with time management, or at least when it came to blog post. With the blog post, unlike before left them to the last moment before hand in – this I will admit. However, this year I did manage to keep on top of them and also what I learnt from last year is not to post them straight away. I waited for a few day, went back to read them to see if they were readable and understandable, then posted them. 

I still need to improve with time management for the rest the project, but I do believe I am improving.

With UE4, there’s still a lot I need to improve on, as I have yet to fully understand blueprints. Though I can get basic blueprints done such as movements, sound triggers, looking and UI. But there’s still a lot I need to learn. Next time or if I had the chance to re-do the project I would look at a lot more tutorial for blueprints. But I am pleased what I’ve produced with the game prototype and I am very pleased with what I produced with the pitch document.

For the art tests I am somewhat pleased with what I have done, nevertheless there’s still a lot more that I could improve on. I could learn a lot more about Xnormals and try to get better bakes done for my models. If I had the chance to re do the art test I would try to look at more tutorials and practice more with Xnormals. From my experiences though, I found that using Photoshop to correct the normal maps can help. For one instance I found using both a high and low ploy bake and using a height map to generate normal maps can give a better result.

Also next time I wish to use Zbrush more to add extra details to my high poly models in Maya. I briefly experimented with this but unfortunately I didn’t get the results I wanted. I have learnt from the experience and wish to pursue this further and do more experimentation in my own studies. 

Research for essay

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens work has influenced many either with film, illustrations and in some ways games.

His books were kind of evaluation and analogy of the society he was living in. For instance Oliver Twist was evaluation on how poor people had to live in the Victorian era. 

Christmas Carol was an analogy on how the society treats each other and how we ignore those in need. Scrooge was an analogy of upper classes refusing the acknowledgement of the poor and help them. But he's more than happy to begin with to take their money.

This is a quote from Christmas Carol that best define society. People are more than willing to take and always wanting more, but always willing to feign ignorance and push others aside if it inconvenience them.

'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down uponthem. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.
This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,
and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,
for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out
its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye.
Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse.
And abide the end.'

Games these days often do the same thing with the over dramatize versions of current events that we face today or at least bring attention subjects that are effecting people in today's society.

Case and points: In Dragon Age they show that what LBGT community in a bright light and they are fact just normal people and should be accepted like any other person. This in turn show how better everyone would be if we accept others. This also reflects current events in real life that LBGT is now being accepted.

Another example of a game being an analogy of real life is Fifa 16 as it has now a woman's world cup in it. This shows that now that women are now getting equal light like their male counterparts.



Research for essay

Whilst researching for my essay, I have some interesting articles about how the game The Last of Us is in fact influenced by a comic. Something which I didn't actually know about before hand.

The comic that influenced the game was in fact the comic of the same name "The Last of Us American Dreams"

As stated by The Last of Us director, the comic influenced the actual development of the game ( interview with the games director: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-23-how-the-last-of-us-comic-book-influenced-the-game).

Neil Druckmann explained that the comic explores and go into Elllie's backstory and her friend whom was only mentioned in the main game - However this was explored in the games dlc.

It also influenced some of the Parodies within the main game. But the main influence the comic had for the game was with it's dlc (as mentioned above) as Neil Druckmann stated in another article that without the comic, the dlc Left behind would of not been created.

Within the same article, it states that comics can not only influence a game but expand the game world itself.

http://www.vice.com/read/exploring-the-art-of-turning-video-games-into-comics-855

Other articles I looked at:
https://shadowproof.com/2013/10/24/edward-snowden-comic-books-and-video-games-inspired-motivated-whistleblowing/

http://vgtribune.com/the-last-of-us-comic-influenced-the-games-lore/