Decisions...
polycounter lvl 18
Trying to decide which route I should focus on. Due to muscular dystophy, texturing anything is near impossible for me. My arm gets sore after just a minute or 2 of tablet use.
What I am looking for opinions for is whether I should focus on annimation, level creation, or modelling. I am comfortable with my modelling skills, but I don't think I could get work doing just modelling and uv mapping alone.
Just trying to find sort things out and opinions of others would be greatly helpful.
What I am looking for opinions for is whether I should focus on annimation, level creation, or modelling. I am comfortable with my modelling skills, but I don't think I could get work doing just modelling and uv mapping alone.
Just trying to find sort things out and opinions of others would be greatly helpful.
Replies
Straight modeling seems like a hard job to get. Animation can also be a popular job choice for many people. Have you considered particle fx and other types of visual fx? Level design is another cool option, but you've gotta be really good at design and able to think about lots of different gameplay related things besides aesthetics.
What do you enjoy doing the most?
Pardon my ignorance, but will this get worse, or better?
Scott
Show em Keg! Don't give up your dreams.
Have you thought about alternative input devices like pucks or such? Just supply your own at inteviews.
I'm okay with a mouse. Modelling is what gets me going. I love modeling and plan on doing more environmental models, but without texturing i'm afraid that won't help me much in getting work.
I've been without solid employment for quite some time now and am unable to afford custom interface controls, still wouldn't make texturing easier. I'm fairly good with a keyboard and mouse setup since I have things ergonomically setup. I'll try to post my demo reel from 2003 which has some animation to it, nothing i'm proud of, but it'll give most of you an idea where my animation skills are at.
The first thing you should do is excersize and make sure you work ergonomically. Just because you have a fancy desk, chair and monitor set up doesn't mean you sit correctly behind your pc. I personally went to see a cesar therapist, somebody who specialises in anything related to 'working physique'.
I also started using a tablet instead of a mouse, which is more ergonomically any day. It hepled mainly because using a tablet forces you much more to be in a proper, upright position, and it also releases a lot of strain from your forearm by not having the ulna and radius twisted. Either way take it as easy as possible and slowly build on from there. It took me quite a lot longer to heal because I figured a simple change in my working pattern would turn things back to normal.
Not to pry, but is it the kind that weakens your heart as well Keg?
If you focus on cars and whatnot, there isn't much in the way of textures to do. Mostly shader setup.
High poly, movie studio stuff may be what you'll want to aim for if you want to do just modeling.
Just some thoughts.
If you want, I can ask a friend who works there what the programming course is like.
He said that you should avoid it like the plague. That it's not even a programming course anymore. Better off going to SFU, which I hear has a games program that is really shaping up. The game design course is based around the book Rules of Play, which I'm told is a very good text. When I asked him why it was so bad, he said that they don't teach any programming that's relevant to game programming.
Of course, just keep this information in mind and do your own research into things.
My best friend Richard is in his 3rd year of programming at Seneca college and is specializing in videogame programming. His course was specifically programming with the option of choosing a specialization in his last year.
If you're thinking of doing computer programming, perhaps you can do what Richard has done.
Hope this helps.
Have you tried mounting your tablet onto a desktop easel? Having it in front of you at a 45 degree angle might be more ergonomic than holding it flat on your lap. At my last place I had a Cintique at my station (that I miss oh so much) and I found it was set up in a way that I never got any kind of strain from it.
Big problem I really have is not having the motivation to start projects or to follow through with them. which isn't helpful when trying to put together a portfolio. The free lance work i've done i've been quite proud of, but it's not the type of stuff for use in a portfilio aimed for a gaming position. I'm applying for jobs here and there, that I know I don't have much chance of getting, but apply in hope that someone is willing to take a small chance on me.