What should I have on my portfolio for applying to a Games Art MA at Hertfordshire?

Stu2Prof

Hi guys

I am looking to attend the Games Art MA at Hertfordshire but am finding it difficult to decide what work I should include in my portfolio. Has anybody attended this course and would be willing to help me figure out what I should include in my application?

I am a graphic designer by profession with a Fine Art degree so some of my work is not standard Game Art stuff but I'm hoping I can still find work that will show off skills that the lecturers will find of interest. 
It has always been my dream to work in the Games industry and hopefully next year I can make that a reality.

Thanks for any time you can spare

RobeOmega

@littleclaude may be your best person to ask as I believe he is the course leader 

For the BA course at least I believe they asked for:
Life drawings of nude figures (not from photographs)
Perspective drawings
Colour work
Traditional or digital paintings that show composition, use of colour and perspective
Sculpture 
Photography
In addition for the Games Art course they asked for example levels or game mods created in industry editiors such as UDK, UE4, Cryengine but not essential.

This may not be 100% correct for the MA course and @littleclaude may be the best person to private message about this.

Bedrock

My folio was 90% drawings and paintings with a really basic weapon, character and vehicle 3d model on top (none of them in a real time engine). I don't think the 3d models are that important when it comes to quality, their main purpose is to show that you have tried 3d modelling and that you don't hate it! That was my first and last time I've modelled a car for instance..

Having said that, I'd probably include a 3d model for that exact reason. Something relatively simple that you could UV and texture. I think having it in a real time engine is a bit overkill though, but I'm sure Neil will chip in on that.

littleclaude

Hi Bedrock

Good to hear from you. We have a student forum if you would like to talk to current students - www.3dhit.co.uk  

Feel free to PM me your portfolio website or a link to a drop box. From there I would be happy to give you advice on areas that you might be missing or need to work on.

We have a Polycount thread that you can look through, it has some information and advice on Page 1 on areas you should be looking into as a digital artist to help point you in the right direction. - http://polycount.com/discussion/68766/games-art-course-at-the-university-of-hertfordshire 

Talk soon, Neil