Portfolio for Game School Searching

Jakob Gavelli

Hey!

Next year I'll be done with upper secondary school here in Sweden, which means I'll be applying for a couple of Game Schools. Currently The Game Assembly and Futuregames looks the most appealing. I have no clue at what level I should be before I apply. The better I get the worse I feel!

With that in mind, please take a look at my current "portfolio", I don't know of schools look for quantity or quality, fancy art or the whole game workflow?

http://jakobgavelli.carbonmade.com/

Here's my current WIP scene, if that helps more with gauging my level =/

Justin Meisse

Your work lets better than most game school graduates, I'd say you're on the right path.

Johan3043

Your 3D skills looks good! I'm also from Sweden and i graduated from Upper Secondary School this year and to my surprise the Game Schools here in Sweden doesn't really look that much on your 3D work but more on your 2D Art. Cause of this i didn't got in even tho i have been working with 3D for years and done alot of paid jobs etc. I did apply to both schools you mentioned.

So yeah i can't see any 2D art on your portfolio so i really recommend to start doing 2D art.

Good luck!

Spazzme

Hey!
I'm a 3D student from Futuregames.

Did you apply this year or are you aiming for next year?
Your portfolio looks good and should get you an interview.

I can rly recommend Futuregames!

Regards
Daniel

Sel

Hey, Another Swedish 3D student here. And I have to say the artwork in your portfolio looks way better than most graduate work I have seen. And judging by your work I would actually suggest an alternative to you; don't go to a Swedish game school, instead look into online vocational schools such as Gnomon or CG Master Academy. Might cost a bit at first but it will advance your skills a lot faster (which means getting you ready for a job in the industry earlier) and you'll have better teachers with loads of industry experience (and connections!). Do well enough in these classes and impress your teachers and they'll write letters of recommendations for you which is worth more to most game companies than any degree you'll get from the Swedish schools.

I'm currently in a 2 year art & animation program in USA because I wasn't impressed with the schools in Sweden and found them lacking in experience. But I know the cost of american schools doesn't make it option for most people.

Jakob Gavelli

@Justin Meisse : That's nice! It's really hard to know, you know.

@Johan3043 : Thanks! Well, I've done some crappy concepting but I'm a big fan of handpainted graphics so I guess that kind of counts. Too bad on the rejections, up and at it!

@Spazzme : Heya! I'm currently just starting out my third year, by fall next year I'll have my grades ready to apply for some higher education. So I've got alot of time to think about my choice and get the montage going!

@Sel : Seems like I have alot to think about, heh. Do you know anyone who've gone this route, and what they thought of it? I've gotten used to the whole Futuregames goal for so long that I haven't really thought about it for a while. Will definately look into Gnomon and CG Master.

The main reason I consider the Swedish schools at this point is to work in a team environment on projects with clear deadlines of different scopes. My whole upper secondary school experience has been studing 100% from home. When it comes to actually producing high-quality 3D it feels like it has to happen in your spare time anyways, wherever you study, maybe I'm under the wrong impression, but that's the reason why a Swedish school like The Game Assembly or Futuregames appeals to me.

Thanks for the answers guys, I feel alot calmer, and I have alot of thinking to do.

CarlCraft

I think your reasoning behind going to a school on-site is spot on. I just started my third year here in Sweden aswell and have started a company with classmates, something you will probably miss out on studying online.