Unit 13 Understanding the Computer Games Industry

Monday, 19 January 2015

HA4 Task 5 Progression – Training

Use the government’s apprenticeship site to familiarise yourself with the process of choosing and applying for apprenticeships. Do not register at this stage.

Create a shortlist of ten apprenticeships that you would consider applying for and include a short profile on each. You may find it very difficult to find an apprenticeship in a field directly linked to your interest in the creative media sector. However, you may find an interesting alternative.

Apprenticeship Graphic Designer - Salford
Duration: 15 months
Wage: £109.20 PW
Hours: Monday-Friday 10-6 (40 hours)
Entry requirements: Creative qualification no higher than Level 2, GCSE's in Maths, English and ICT. (Not essential)
Overview of apprenticeship: Looking for an individual who is interested in graphic design. They wil be responsible for contributing their ideas towards creative content and marketing activities. They will also update the design layout and content of design material.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/501067

Creative Design and Digital Media Apprentice - Level 3 - Stockport
Duration: 15 months
Wage:£141.00 PW
Hours: 37
Entry requirements:No formal qualifications needed. However good literacy, numeracy, design and IT skills are desired.
Overview of apprenticeship: Daily duties include: taking and editing photographs, shooting and editing in house films, creating leaflets/flyers and creating booklets. You will need a creative and enthusiastic approach towards the rest of the design team.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/488041

Advanced Apprentice Graphic Designer - Staffordshire
Duration: 12 months
Wage: £112.50 PW
Hours: 37.5 Monday-Friday
Entry Requirements: GCSE's English & Maths (A-D) required
Overview of apprenticeship: Answering telephone calls and answering queries from clients as well as making orders. Create product listings and description and also liase with suppliers. The role also includes social media, marketing planning and execution.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/498857

3D Designer and Animator Apprentice - Warwickshire
Duration: 1 year
Wage: £108.00 PW
Hours:9-5 Monday to Friday 36 hours PW
Entry Requirements: No specific qualifications are required. Desired: Draw/Design skills, creative mind set.
Overview of apprenticeship: 3D designer and animator will have good knowledge of specific software. Working on animation or movies or short.

Role Requirements
• Follow brief set by Creative Director
• Evaluate your own work flow requirements
• Be able to apply yourself to software packages
• Sculpture models/text and paint
• Rig and animate subjects within your projects.
Skill Developments/Requirements
• Diverse and adaptive personality
• Show draw/design skills
• Creative mind set
• Ability to work within a team and individually
• Time allocation and management
• Be able to quickly pick up new software packages
• Strong time allocation and management

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/495323

Studio Design Apprentice - Chester
Duration: 12-24 Months
Wage: £150.00 PW
Hours: 40 hours PW Monday-Friday
Entry Requirements: 5 GCSE Grades A-C (Including Maths and English)
Overview of apprenticeship: Playing a leading role in the graphic design team. Your role will involve dealing with customers, proofing and amending artwork, monitoring emails, following specifications and being responsible for projects from start to finish.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/488838

IT Technician Apprentice - Newcastle
Duration: 12-18 months
Wage: £134.62 PW
Hours: 37.5 hours PW Monday-Friday
Entry Requirements: Good level of English & Maths Grade C GCSE - Any IT qualifications
Overview of apprenticeship: The IT apprenticeship will include the following duties:
-Technical Support
-PC Hardware Repairs
-PC Software Installation
-In-House Software Maintenance and Modification
-Networking Set-up and Configuration
-External Support for our Software and Data Loggers

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/505756

Apprentice Photographer - Sheffield
Duration: 12-15 Months
Wage: £109.20
Hours: 40 PW
Entry Requirements: 5 GCSE's or equivalent (A*-C)
Overview of apprenticeship: The Photography apprenticeship will include to following duties:
-Prepping stock for photography
-Setting up the lighting for photo shoots
-Photography of stock for website and social media
-Editing images so to the requirement of the website
-Uploading images to the website
-Writing content and product descriptions for stock
-Picking and packing web sales as and when needed
-Producing images and posting to social media
-Re-sizing supplier images and uploading to the website
-Assisting in the all aspects of the day to day running of the website

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/502621

Media Digital Asset Apprentice - Norwich
Duration: 12-18 Months
Wage: £109.20 PW
Hours: 40 PW
Entry Requirements: 5 CGSE's Grade A*-C desired but not essential.
Overview of apprenticeship: This role is creative and involves asset management.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/503291

Video Editor Apprentice - Brighton
Duration: 12 months
Wage: £150.00 PW
Hours:30 PW
Entry Requirements: 5 Grade A*-C GCSE's
Overview of apprenticeship: Video editor with working knowledge of Final Cut Pro X, to cut together footage and music (mainly creating social media-ready short videos). Need to be able to work to a brief, be literate, and possess a talent / interest in current video editing styles. In addition, we have a library of images to treat and file, and constant new images coming in to treat and file.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/501214

Digital Hub Design Apprentice - Essex
Duration: 12-15 Months
Wage: £250.00 PW
Hours: 40 PW 9-5
Entry Requirements: N/A
Overview of apprenticeship: Pooling our group talents we create multi-media advertising campaigns that launch companies, breathe life into brands, boost careers and change consumer behaviour. Permanently.

Source: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/494723

HA4 Task 4 Progression – Higher Education

Use the UCAS site to familiarise yourself with the process of choosing and applying for higher education courses. You can also find out about the financial aspects of studying at university. Do not register at this stage. You may also want to look at the Skillset accredited courses for games in addition to company websites. But remember that you have a wide range of options and do not have to stay within the field of games design.

Create a shortlist of five courses that you would consider attending and include a short profile on each, type of course, duration, entry requirements, overview etc.

Games Design and Development - The Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration: 3 years
Study mode: Full time
Entry requirements: IT, Science - Grade: Merit, Merit, Distinction
Overview of course: The course is designed to help develop skills and knowledge of game application and mobile devices. The course enables you to design and develop software linked to games design, multimedia design, mobile and web. The course leads up to creating your own computer game in the final year for both mobile and web.

Source: http://search.ucas.com/course/summary/266344/games-design-and-development?Feather=10&flt99=1613&Vac=1&AvailableIn=2015&SubjectCode=16&MaxResults=1000&page=3&ret=providers#coursedetailsmenu

Computer and Vieo Games with Industry placement - Salford University
Duration: 3 years
Study mode: Full time with a placement (sandwich)
Entry requirements: MMM-DMM
Overview of course: Training in the production of video games. You will look into gaming, user interaction, basic art and design and game programming. This course offers a unqiue mix of both creative and technical work. The staff which work on the course have links with the games industry which may lead to future employment.

Source http://www.salford.ac.uk/ug-courses/computer-and-video-games

Games Art - University of Bolton
Duration: 3 years
Study mode: Full time
Entry Requirements: 260 UCAS points. 5 GCSE's (including English & Maths)
Overview of course: The course includes different modules which include: modelling, texturing, lighting, rendering, concept art, traditional art and level creation. Throughout the course you will create 3D models and 2D mobile games. The course does not only include digital art it also includes traditional art to help with modules such as form and texture.

Source: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Subjects/Games/Games-Art/Home.aspx

Computer Games Development - UCLAN
Duration: 4 years
Study mode: Full time
Entry Requirments: DMM-DDM - English & Maths (GCSE Grade C)
Overview of course: You will learn by using the purpose built games lab to develop your own games. You will develop a good knowledge of programming using maths and problem solving. The course ultimately involves you making your own game and using the correct software which you will learn how to use throughout the course.

Source: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bsc_hons_computer_games_development.php

Computer Games Technology - The Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration:3 years
Study mode: Full time
Entry Requirements: 260-280 UCAS points. IT and Science. GCSE Grade C English & Maths.
Overview of course: You will study game software at a variety of levels and develop your knowledge of software such as Unity and Unreal Engine 3. The course ultimately is aimed for a career in programming. You will learn skills such as 3D programming, architecture and game logic.

Source: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2015/11917/

HA4 Task 3 Skills Audit and Personal Statement

Produce an ideas map exploring the soft, transferable skills you possess and those that you need to develop. Use this to produce a personal statement that introduces you as an individual, rather than as a candidate for a job. This should include you identifying areas for improvement and the setting of goals. Wherever possible, try to use examples to illustrate your skills.

Ideas Map for Personal Statement

Personal Statement

My generation of today are a world of game players. Coming from a generation where gaming takes up a lot of time in an individual’s everyday life I have developed a keen interest for Games Design. I am interested in working for the Games Industry as either a Technical Artist or Sound Engineer. I feel that a Technical Artist could be a good career choice as I possess the skills that the job requires. I have good organisational skills and a creative mind. I am able to take leadership and work effectively as part of a team. I have good knowledge of some software which is used for developing games. On the other hand I also think that a sound engineer may be a good career choice.

I have good organisational skills and can work to deadlines. I am confident at communicating with other people and am able to work independently in order to manage my schedule well. Overall a career in the Game industry best suits me as I have an enthusiastic approach towards any concept of Games Design.

I possess a wide variety of different skills. I would say my strongest skill is IT. I have completed a Level 1 IT course and have good knowledge of software. I feel confident using a computer and programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

I also work effectively in a team. I am not reluctant to take a lead role and am confident at expressing my opinions and ideas. I consider other people’s ideas and ensure that everybody’s input is included.
Since studying Games Design I have developed my knowledge of gaming software such as Unity and Game Maker. Using Game Maker I have successfully created a 2D game. Using Unity I have created a level for a 3D game. When producing both of these products I have to manage my time effectively and ensure I referred back to the tutorial videos and tutor to see what I was producing was correct.

Last year (2014) I carried out a three day work placement at Tesco in Salford. Here I worked as part of the Click and Collect Department. Part of this job role meant I had to work as part of a team assisting with deliveries and customer service. I felt confident talking to customers and other employees. I had to ensure I was punctual as the team were relying on my input.

I have put together a portfolio which includes all of the work I have produced for my Games Design course. This shows my self-presentation skills. I am able to explain how I have developed each individual piece of work and elaborate on positive and negative experiences during this.

I possess good ICT skills. I have completed a Level 1 IT course. The class I was with were quite disruptive which could have had a negative impact on my learning. However I didn’t let this affect my progress and ensured that I completed the course to the best standard possible.

I worked as part of a team in my Creative Media Production (Games Design) class. We had to produce a script for a game, produce a PowerPoint and present it to the rest of the class. Working as part of a team at times was challenging but enjoyable at the same time. We had to consider each-others opinions and ideas and work together to make sure we had the best outcome. It involved lots of listening and commitment from both members.

My main interest is Games. I enjoy playing Games on a regular basis. I enjoy playing game which are first person shooters such as Call Of Duty. I find these games challenging and enjoy the gameplay itself. However I like a wide variety of games such as Fifa, Sunset Overdrive and GTA.

I used to be part of a wheelchair football team. This gave me the opportunity to use effective teamwork and show leadership skills when I was chosen as the team’s captain. It involved lots of communication and was an enjoyable sport.

I enjoy listening to music, mostly recent tracks that are in the music chart. I used to play the keyboard at High School.

I enjoy watching films and have a good knowledge of them especially action (superhero) films. I enjoy going to the cinema to watch new releases.

I support Manchester United football club. I sometimes attend their home games and collect the match scarves. If I’m not watching the match at the stadium then I will watch it on the TV at home. I enjoy football as it is a competitive sport and I enjoy a bit of competition.

I have two dogs and have previously had a rabbit because I like animals.

HA4 Task 2 CV

Prepare a CV by customising the supplied template. Please make up the personal information highlighted in red as the document will be posted to your blog, but ensure that the rest of the information is accurate. Make sure that you include all pending qualifications, as well as those achieved.

HA4 Task 1 Portfolio

Create a portfolio of your work from the units you have completed this year. You only need to include the final outcome for each assignment. This may involve artwork, animation, screen capture, sound files and presentations. Make sure that you use headings to make it clear which unit and assignment the work you are presenting relates to. This is your chance to reflect on what you have achieved. You will also be able to evaluate what your strengths and weaknesses are and what you did and didn’t enjoy.

I used Illustrator to create a vector image of Will Smith's portrait which I chose myself.

I used Photoshop to create this Rasta image. I used different picture of people and took different features to create a new person.

Unit 78: Digital Graphic for Computer Games

HA2: Transformation

I was asked by Lazy Eye Media games studio to reinvent myself as the main character within a new game as part of their recruitment process. I had to devise the setting, genre and storyline for the game. This is the game I created from what I had learnt using Illustrator and Photoshop. I had to come up with my own story line about a person having an accident and being made into a cyborg. I used myself as the inspiration of the character.

Unit 70: Game Engines

Develop a 2D game in Game Maker. The game must be playable to industry standards. I used the Game Maker program to make a Halloween shooter game. The aim of the game is to move the Pumpkin character up,down, left and right and dodge the skeletons/zombies bullets.

Develop a new prototype using Unity 3D engine.This is the 3D level i created in Unity. It was a sci-fi style level. It didn't include any characters it was just an environment.

Choose a domestic product which is used everyday. I chose the telephone. I researched the different types of telephone, found information about when the phone was invented and who by. I developed my ideas in a sketchbook and this was my final design for a poster.

The task was to create and design a character. I firstly made a character profile which included all the different features which made up my character. I presented my ideas and designs in a sketchbook. After doing many different designs this was the final idea i came up with.

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

HA3 Task 7 Professional Bodies Supporting the Industry

UKIE

UKIE pronounced you-key stands for UK Interactive Entertainment. This is a company which promote businesses in the Game Industry. Their mission is to make the UK the best place to make games. They are the only trade body in the UK for games. They provide service users with support guidance and discounts when you join their company.

Sources

http://ukie.org.uk/sites/default/files/cms/files/UKIE%20logo.jpg

http://ukie.org.uk/

IGDA

IDGA stand for The International Developers Game Association. This is a non profit organisation which is international which serves all individuals who create game. They work with producers, QA, programmers, artists, writers and localisation. Their mission is to enhance the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers and promoting development.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Game_Developers_Association

http://www.igda.org/

http://igdalondon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/igda-logo_base.jpg

Women in Games

This is a company which was created to look at women in the Games Industry and the gender imbalance within games. The companies aims are to give support to both women and men and to give them networking opportunities between one another. It also focuses on research into games, game culture, game industry and education.

Sources

http://www.womeningames.com/

http://www.eylesm-dev.myweb.port.ac.uk/mark/wig/graphics/wig-logo-tilt.jpg

BAFTA

BAFTA stands for The British Academy for film and television arts. They have recently added a game category to these awards. The company recognise the producers and teams behind the most groundbreaking and technologically advanced work ever seen.

This is a video clip taken from the games BAFTA awards 2014.

Sources

http://www.bafta.org/games/awards

http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/worldofwork/worldofwork_images/bafta_logo.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe0fPF7b1lc

MEF

This is a project that was created by 3 friends who were passionate about Mobile Technology. Their aim was to help other people who like them love all things mobile. The website includes frequently asked questions by mobile users, new cool devices and the latest app reviews.

Sources

http://mobileentertainmentforum.org/wp-content/themes/theme_011010/images/header.jpg

http://mobileentertainmentforum.org/about/

HA3 Task 6 Legal and Ethical Obligations

Legal and Ethical Obligations in The Games Industry

Legal

Copyright

Copyright is a legal right which is created by the law of a country in order for the creator of original works to have exclusive rights to its use and distribution. It essentially gives you ownership of the things you create. The law grants the owner several rights which include: the right to reproduce to work, to distribute copies, to perform the work and to display the work publically. Copyright has a well-known symbol which marks your work ©.

Example of Copyright

This is a legal copyright document for Activision which states what copyright is for the game.

Trademark

A trademark is a recognizable sign, design or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others. The trademark owner can be a business, individual or a legal entity. The trademark may be located on a label, a voucher, a package or the product itself.

Example of Trademark

This is Trademark for Fifa and EA Sports.

Patent

A patent is a set of rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of an invention. An invention is a solution to a specific technological problem and is a product or a process.

Example of Patent

These are Patents for the Wii U and the XBOX 360.

Registered Designs

A registered design is protection given to the outward appearance of a product or part of a product. The shape or appearance of a product is what is most easily recognised by a consumer. Registering a design prevents it being copied by someone else.

Example Registered Design

This is Registered Design for XBOX.

Ethical

Violence

People often feel that playing games which involve violence may lead to them being violent themselves. There are many games which include violent behaviour as well as other content which relates to violence.

Do violent video games lead to real violence?

In 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conneticut Adam Lanza tragically shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members. This crime was researched by mental health experts, the media and bereavement counselors. One of the main issues at the forefront was whether violent video games played a part in this shocking event. Adam was reportedly addicted to violent video games. There is lots of speculation as to whether video games alone could have caused this or whether there are other problems.

Personally I think that having violence in video games makes the game better because it makes the gameplay more exciting and fun to play. Games such as GTA make the violence in the game like real life however some games go over the top like Gears of War.

Ratings

Rating – Age ratings are important as they ensure that video game content is clearly labelled for the minimum age group that it is appropriate for. PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) is a recognised company used throughout Europe for both new consoles and PC games. In the UK PEGI 12, 16 and 18 ratings are legally enforceable. This means the company selling the game are forbidden to sell it to anyone below the required age. There are both age ratings and descriptions on a game. The age ratings will just state the suitable age. However the description will give detail of what the game may involve.

I think that ratings are important because it stops the younger children from accessing games which have more mature themes. However some parents still buy the games for the children despite the rating.

Education

Education - There are many different things that video games can teach us. Some of these are negative whilst others are positive. The positive effects of non-educational video games are that it can motivate individuals, help them to use their initiative and cooperate with other people. However there are many negative effects such as aggression, addiction and gambling.

Positive

Brain Training was a smash hit on the Nintendo DS. It encouraged people to do a daily simple exercise to keep their minds sharp. The game included lots of different gaming styles such as: Maths, English, Logic, Puzzles and determining your brain age.

These are examples of how Education is used positively in games. I think that it is good to have games that make you think. It makes the game more of a challenge.

Stereotyping

In the current Games Industry Stereotyping is an issue. In most games the main characters are men as oppose to women. It is rare that you see women being the strong main character. The male characters are usually strong and well built and the women are usually portrayed negatively.

In GTA V the women are portrayed very negatively. They appear in strip clubs, lap dancing bars and as prostitutes. This makes women appear to be one dimensional and seem worthless. They don't appear to be used for any other aspect than to please men. However using women in GTA has introduced more female gamers to the gaming world. You are also able to play as a female character online.

In Street Fighter men appear to be very muscular and strong individuals. This is an unrealistic portrayal of real life because not all men have this image. However due to the genre of game you would expect the characters to have this image as they are fighting so would need to appear strong.

Personally I think it is good to have both men and women in games, however the characters should be more realistic so the player can relate to them.

Addiction

Addiction – There has been increasing evidence which shows that video game addiction is becoming more and more real. People of all ages especially pre-teens and teens are sometimes suffering severe consequences which have been associated with compulsive game play. Video games are becoming more realistic and it has been found that many teens would rather stay in and play new video games than go out with their friends. Results have shown that ten to fifteen percent of gamers exhibit signs that meet with the world health organisation’s criteria for addiction. Video game addiction is becoming a public concern and has a negative image. Many parents are concerned about their children’s welfare due to video game addiction. Many teens are becoming withdrawn at school due to the constant use of game consoles.

Case Study – A quiet killer – Why video games are so addictive!

In early February 2012 a binge game Chen Rong Yu was found dead in a Taiwanese restaurant in a gaming chair. He had engaged in a marathon gaming session of League of Legends a multiplayer online battle arena computer game. He had been playing the game without breaks for more than nine hours and was still in a gaming position when found. Chen had suffered suspected cardiac arrest. Chen had obviously ignored physical cues to tell him something was wrong. There was much speculation about gaming addiction because of this case. It was believed that Chen was addicted to video games and this brainwashed him into forgetting about his own physical needs. This in turn made him exhausted, dehydrated and starved. This could have all been contributions to his death.

I play video games almost everyday and I am fine. I don't think that I am addicted to games although some people may say that I am. This case study probably happened because he spent such a long duration of time doing the same thing.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/stopping-internet-plagiarism/your-copyrights-online/1-what-is-a-copyright/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent

http://www.withersrogers.com/faq/registered-design-specific

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/nintendo-wii-u-patent-gun.jpg

http://www.typhone.nl/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/patent-logo.jpg

http://www.really-learn-english.com/image-files/registered-trademark-symbol.jpg

http://www.copyrightfrance.com/images/copyright_image_3.jpg

http://www.contving.lv/wp-content/uploads/Design-symbol-cropped.jpg

http://www.fansshare.com/gallery/photos/11125890/fifa-game-logo/?displaying