Wow my first year is over. That was fast and I feel like I’ve
added 10 terabytes of brain capacity in the process. The worst thing about it is
that sounds like a joke but I’m being serious. This year was a seriously steep
learning curve up an unforgiving hill. However I’m here, through all the
metaphorical cuts, bruises and aches I made it.
 |
| The tired warrior finds the light. |
Don’t get the wrong impression though I make this course
sound terribly dull and painful when actually it was quite fun. I’m not going
to sugar coat it though, to any first years getting ready to join this course
who may read my blog, Video Game Art Design IS NOT a Game, it is the
painstaking professionalism that delivers the quality of games of today.
Now that I have flexed my proverbial war wounds I can talk
about the good times I’ve had on this course. When I first got here I remember
feeling anxious yet composed. All these new faces and tutors struggling to
remember everyone’s names but at the same time giving you good direction. It’s
not the same as school or college where they guide you throughout the path it’s
more like they point you north and say if you keep going you will make it to
the light. What they don’t tell you is that the road curves a little to the
left and the nearest rest stop is five miles in the opposite direction. But why
would they you only asked which way is to get home you didn’t think to ask
where is the nearest rest stop at the time. That teaches you a lesson because
the next time you venture out you are aware of some of the pit falls you will
come across and things that your body needs like food and rest.
The path to success is a spaghetti junction
I’m being very metaphorical but that how I am as a person. To
me everyone’s perception of a situation is different but when you explain it
with visual representations I find it creates a better understanding of what
one is trying to communicate.
Anyway what I’m trying to say is that on this course you are
given your objective and a deadline to complete it. If you are unorganised you won’t
take into account things like sleep, food, relaxation anything that eats into
the 24hours given each day. As a result you can get the feeling that you haven’t
got enough time to do what you need to do when actually you did you just didn’t
share the hours out properly. I’m not saying that like I’m a fantastic time
keeper, I myself have had many sleepless nights to return to the labs looking
like shit. But that doesn’t meant I don’t understand the importance of being
organised and I don’t try to keep a better hold on my time management; It’s just
that particular party looked a bit too much fun to be stuck at home working.
Who's a hard-core raver?!
I’m not going to lie being a student is far more difficult than
the 9 to 5 on campus. I had to cope with all the distractions the sexual
attractions the monetary worries, all of that stuff and still aim for a half
decent grade this year. To someone who hasn’t been to uni yet they are probably
thinking “oh c’mon it’s not that bad I’ll be able to do it easy.” That’s what I
said before I got here... oops. To someone who has finished uni long ago and
now has a full time job with a girlfriend, fiancé or wife and maybe some kids
will be like “Yeah boy wait ‘til you get to the real man’s world.” At which
point I look to the sky and imagine my older cynical self; with a beard.
what you say boy ?!
All jokes aside this
has been an interesting year. I have learnt a lot especially in 3d and I think
that goes for the majority of my peers. It’s primarily because a lot of the
class hasn’t had any previous 3d experience. I’m growing to like 3Ds Max but
when I first got here I hated it as it is not the most friendly of software to
get to grips with. For visual design it
has been fun to go out and about across Leicester to see the beautiful places
like Abbey Park and Bradgate Park to take in some of the sites. I liked the
design briefs the most as that’s what I enjoy doing. I come from a design
background so I like concepting and refining an idea all the way to production.
I also liked critical studies though some of the topics struck me as weird at
first. But when I began to research and formulate my own opinion I think it
gives you a deeper understanding into the mechanics of a game and all of the
layers that one does not notice at first glance.
Anyway that’s my final captain’s log for this year. I’m off
to patrol the neutral zone for a while.
Catch ya’ later.
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