curriculum / portfolio questions

NAIMA

Hello , since years I am used to modify games, I am not into game development but I love do to art for them , I am an engeneer and have not much relation with that wich is my hobby. But at a certain point I tought if I could actually work in that field as well as freelance artist or contacted one .

I am not sure if I can ask this here but what should I need to do to create a portfolio or a curriculum? As i cannot write in it that I worked for that big company X and Y and I am not a youngster coming out of the colledge .
I am not sure if either I am a good at it as I think there is always someone much better .
I have experience though with a lot of different engines, modded games since 2001 , I have created thousands of models and textures for each specific game but of course most of the stuff is outdated compared to the new things .
So a modder that is not as young as the fresh out of colledge guys , ( on my 35 ) does have any chance of getting into that kind of work ?
I am also selective as I am not much interested in doing jobs of what I am not particularly interested in ... like I wouln't like to model 3d cars but I woudl love to model medieval fantasy buildings and the like ...

should I even try ? Shoudl I even propose myself to project teams or companies tht I like ? and in case what shoudl I write in curriculum or portfolio? I gues that my background in engeneering is completely useless in that field .

A sample of my work ...

a 3d model and textured in low poly . 1 and 2

Snader

Age isn't much an issue. If your work's good enough, you can get a job.

The bigger issue is "I only want to model X or Y" because that makes you less useful.

Your work doesn't look too bad, but without wireframes, texturesheets, and only two lowres screenshots it's kinda hard to judge.

NAIMA

ok what do I need to put up , using as example those two items to be considered? I have others but I guess to make samples is better to use those atm ?

Anyway my "I only want to model X or Y" is not much for the model theme but for the game company theme I don't see me applying to a company that makes car games or Fifa like games .

jfeez

Have a nice hi res render of the mesh, i enjoy marmo and keyshot atm for rendering, have a wireframe shot then have a texture flat image, so your diffuse,spec,normal etc. Im guessing you have particular studios in mind so do things that could fit into their game universes but dont discount working in other studios that do different things, theres alot to learn from working on other styles and it is difficult to get yourself into a dream studio straight away

NAIMA

I have some high res model but I have not painted over them so is ok to post a clay material render of Zbrush?

Chandler

NAIMA wrote: »

I have some high res model but I have not painted over them so is ok to post a clay material render of Zbrush?

Yeah, as long as it looks good that's fine. I usually just take a bpr screenshot (though afterward you may want to gussy it up in photoshop with a custom background or whatever so it fits with your site.) I like the examples you posted as well as the island/vegetation work you did, and I agree you should include wireframes, texture flats, etc. I find with a portfolio it's best to try and strike a good balance between quality and quantity- you want to have more than just two or three pieces in a portfolio if possible, but having less to show is still better than putting up stuff you're not proud of just to fill space.

Mordin

You definitely need a portfolio. Most companies I know wont hire you without a portfolio of work.
dont lie about your work history. You will probably want to put it down as an employer will want know what you've been doing for the last few years. If its not relevant then keep it brief. One reason to show you have job history is show you havent been in prison etc! They can also contact past employers and get references.
I've been told by several agencies to not put my date of birth on my CV. Theres never a good age. Age bias cuts both ways. I've never put my age on my CV and worked in the games industry for several years.
And what the other guys said- you cant be selective, you can have a preference for what you like to model, but you may have to model anything in the job you get.

Get a portfolio website together and post a link on here. Get some feedback.

NAIMA

ok thankyou , so a good number of things could be some models , some props , some of the environment images I did n past and some new stuff? so perhaps like 6 elements ? Its seems to me that most portfolio do not have a dozen things but just a few very selected ones.