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Maya Modeling Challenge! January 21, 2009

Posted by sfdm in : Announcements, Competition, Game , comments closed

We are challenging you to create a unique virtual model using Maya. It could be person, place or thing, so put your imagination to work! (Need inspiration? Check out some of Michael Ingrassia’s work)

Winners will be selected from two categories: amateur and professional. Finalists in each category will be chosen by YOU through a voting system. And don’t be sloppy! Judge Michael Ingrassia will be inspecting the finalists’ working files to make sure the job was done right.

Winners will receive a cash prize and their artwork featured in Computer Graphics World Magazine! (More info on the prizes coming soon)

The deadline to enter is March 31, 2009.

Are you up for the challenge?

Visit www.focalpress.com/mayamodelingcontest.aspx for more information on how to enter. Good luck!

Have you seen our latest catalog?

Complete with linkable features,new releases, and many of our backlist favorites- now updated for fall/winter 08!

Attention Tell Your Students! Digital Art Competition September 24, 2008

Posted by sfdm in : Announcements, Competition, Game, Interactive , comments closed

The Japan Media Arts Festival is coming soon and is accepting applications and submissions now. Its aim is to promote the creation and development of media arts. The Festival highlights creative works of art, entertainment, animation, and manga. At the same time, it also presents a broad range of creative activities. The Categories for submission are:

Art Division: [Interactive, Installation, Visual Image, Still Image (including digital photograph), Web Work, etc. ]

Entertainment Division: [Game, Electronic Play Equipment, Visual Image (VFX, CM, etc.), Character, Web Work, etc.]

Animation Division: [Long Animation (Movie, TV, Original Video Animation), Short Animation, etc.]

Manga Division: [Story Manga, Frame Manga, Web Manga, Independent Manga, etc.]

If you want to apply, you can fill out the application online. Please go to their website at: http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2008/entry/guideline.php

The Deadline for Entry is Sept. 26, 2008.

Special Student Rates for SIEGE September 22, 2008

Posted by sfdm in : Announcements, Game , comments closed

The Southern Interactive Entertainment and Game Expo, Oct. 3 – 5 at the Hyatt Regency Suites hotel in Marietta, is offering special rates for students. Students can attend the entire weekend of events, including the career fair, panels, plenaries, competitions and parties, for only $45. You can register at www.siegecon.net . Our speakers include Rich Taylor, vice president of the Electronic Software Association (ESA), Dr. Ian Bogost from Georgia Tech, the head of product development for Capcom, and all the leading developers in Georgia, including numerous representatives of CCP, Hi-Rez, Tripwire and more. Attend sessions on game art, programming design, marketing and much more. SCAD is a leading sponsor of this event, and SCAD’s own Brenda Brathwaite will be running a Game Improv competition.

In addition, you can reserve rooms for SIEGE at the SIEGE web site. These are large suites that can easily fit four people, and they only run $109/night. Split four ways, these rooms are almost as much a bargain as SIEGE itself, and mean you can stay on site for the entire weekend. www.siegecon.net .

Interview with with SCAD BFA Grad and MFA Candidate Nick Otto July 17, 2008

Posted by in : Alumni, Game , comments closed

Nick Otto got his BFA in Interactive Design and Game Development at SCAD in 2004 and stayed through to work on his MFA Candidate in Game Development. Nick works for Activision as a 3D Scanning Technician.

What are you working on? (feel free to say “unannounced 360 title” or something similar)

Call of Duty 5, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, James Bond Project, and four other unannounced titles for multiple platforms and probably more during the course of the year.

Which games have you worked on since leaving SCAD?

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter, Cabela’s Trophy Buck, History Channel: Battle for the Pacific, Monster Jam , Soldier Of Fortune: Payback

Were there any experiences or classes at SCAD that really prepared you or assisted you in your current gig?

The most important thing I got out of SCAD was the technical skills that were developed during my 6 year career there. Scanning is still a relatively new technology for the game industry (Activision has only begun looking into it about 3 years ago) and the ability to jump from one program set to another is a very good skill to have. I think we use close to 10 different programs to get our job done, so problem solving skills are a must. And I can’t stress the importance of NETWORKING. The only reason I found out Activision even had a Scanning team was a classmate (who was working for Activision’s Motion Capture Studio) called me out of the blue while I was working at Bahama Joe’s and a month and a half later I was in LA.

Any particular professors that left an impression on you?

Both Brenda Brathwaite or Aram Cookson.

Alumni Feature – Vlad Neykov, Level Designer May 16, 2008

Posted by in : Game , comments closed

Who are you, where are you working and what’s your title?My name is Vladimir Valentinov Neykov, born in Sofia, Bulgaria. As of September 2007 I have been working at Kaneva Inc. located in Atlanta, GA. My title is Level Designer.

Year of graduation and degree?

I graduated SCAD in 2007 with the degree of Master of Fine Arts. I completed my Thesis in March 2008.

What are you working on?

I am working on Kaneva’s “World of Kaneva” virtual world.

List of your games

World of Kaneva
Within (Thesis Project)
The Village (Serious Game project done for Brenda Brathwaite’s Independent Study Class along with Justin Gardner and Chris Quinn)

Was there a particular experience or class at SCAD that helped you in your current position?

While there were many classes I’d like to name, I will mention in particular the Independent Study Class with Brenda Brathwaite as it was a great eye-opener. The diversity within the gaming industry and the number of positions one can hold there can sometimes leave an individual baffled as to what they should pursue. The freedom to selecting a topic one is passionate about and having the guidance and experience of a knowledgeable professor to see it through to completion not only helped me understand what was involved in such a process but also reinforced my interest in projects which affect a great number of people.

As far as experiences go, the interview for an internship position I got through the ITGM department was by far the most beneficial for my current position, as it led to two consecutive internships and eventual recruitment by my current employer.

Any particular course recommendations?

And pretty much every other class I took!

2008 Game Dev. 2D/3D Environment and Character Design Competition May 7, 2008

Posted by sfdm in : Competition, Game, Interactive , comments closed

The 2008 Notes on Game Dev 2D/3D Environment and Character Design Competition is now open for entries. Art will be judged by some of the top talent in game development today including Damian Pannell (Artist,Relic, Vancouver, British Columbia), Doug Oglesby (Concept Artist, Red Storm Entertainment), Jesse Brophy (THQ, Phoenix, AZ), and Nate Purkeypile (World Artist, Bethesda). Participants may enter one submission in each of the four categories: 2D Environment Art, 3D Environment Art, 2D Character Art, and 3D Character Art.

Submissions are due by June 15. Winners and runners up will be announced on July 1 in the Notes on Game Dev and Notes on Design Blogs and in their respective newsletters that include 40,000 global subscribers.

Excellent prizes for winners include a full Game Art Certificate Program from Sessions Online Schools of Game Art, membership in IGDA,and subscriptions to Game Developer Magazine.

Go to this website for more information: http://gamedev.sessions.edu/nogd-awards/

If you are interested please contact Suzan Ertumen at sertumen@scad.edu and Brenda Brathwaite at bbrathwa@scad.edu.

$1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest April 24, 2008

Posted by sfdm in : Competition, Game, Interactive , comments closed

The ultimate modification competition brought to you by Intel and Epic Games.

“This contest is for all kinds of creatively talented people including programmers, artists, 3D modelers, designers and even aspiring film directors.”

To participate you create modifications (“mods”) for the PC version of Unreal Tournament 3 in a wide range of categories including environments, characters, weapons, gameplay, tools, vehicles and more. There are 21 Different Categories judged upon.

Through the contest, players can unleash their creative skills, make new content and game experiences using cutting-edge game technology, and reap rewards on many different levels. The content created for this contest will be freely available to players of the PC version of Unreal Tournament 3 worldwide.

The contest will be conducted in four consecutive phases. The closing date for submissions for Phase 1 is June 27, 2008. The closing date for submissions for Phase 2 is October 17, 2008. The closing dates for submissions for Phase 3 shall be May 15, 2009 and the closing date for submissions for Phase 4 shall be August 31, 2009. Winners will be announced on the official contest web site (http://www.makesomethingunreal.com).

You must fill out a registration form on online at www.makesomethingunreal.com