Well as of Friday the 18th I have 2 more projects to go until I am finished at University. Am I sad about leaving Uni? No chance.

On May 15th I had my Portfolio hand-in, a project where oddly enough I had to create a portfolio for my work. The portfolio had to be in a digital format, so basically that meant either CD, DVD or Website. Well, having made several website layouts in the past and also knowing that it’s the best way to show your work to companies, I opted to go with that route. As part of the website route we had to sign up a web-address, design (or utilise an existing layout – cheating!) a layout, make it navigatable and show our final year project and any other projects you deem necessary, obviously I opted for my final year project and Middlesbrough 2105, a similar project I did in 2005. If I’m being happy, I’m not really happy with either of them, but I could always go back to them (though I doubt it – I’d rather model something new).

Playing off the existing ‘Nokkon Wud’ alias, an alias I have used since around 2002 (maybe earlier – I can’t remember), I wanted something else phonetic that plays off the name, so I opted for http://www.thenokkoneffect.com (The Knock On Effect), which I may play alongside my blog in the future, though I’m not sure; I may just continue using the blog. The website layout isn’t great, nor are the colours, but I wanted something more traditional looking – clean, crisp and fully html with little in way of images. The reason for Terracotta is that it is completely none-offensive and short of using blue (over-used) and grey (too morbid) it was the only one that I liked (note: I had to make the website in sub-90 minutes because I left it til the last second). Personally I wanted pink to go alongside the blog, but at the same time I didn’t want to lose points with the marking panel for something that was ‘too’ out-there for a 3D Artist – though after the marks have come back there will be some changes .

The other module handed in was ‘Games Interface Design’, a module straight out of left-field, I had to create a fully functioning front-end to a video game on either the Playstation2, Xbox360 or GameCube, which was to be made in Photoshop and then imported into Flash where it was to be worked into an swf file that a user could use. Well, considering I haven’t used Flash in just over 7 years it goes without saying that it was interesting. I’ll use this little space here to thank Matthew Laverick, as I wouldn’t have had a hope in hell of completing it without his help, he’s a star.

The idea for the game was to be original – i.e. based on an IP and not a sequel to an existing game, so I chose to base it on the TV Series ‘The Lost Room’, allbeit not a duplication of the show, it was merely to be based in the world of TLR, so new objects could be created if I wanted to. There were a few stipulations, namely 8 pages and 6 Icons. I modelled all the objects in 3D using 3D Studio Max and textured them, then used renders at 1280×720 (HD resolution for Xbox360 – My chosen console), and had the menu infront of these (all pages had different backgrounds). I also had to create an original font for use in the menu’s. This was pretty much my least favourite module I’ve ever done at University, it was so boring and not exactly in keeping with what I want to do.. I mean, Flash!? WTF is that all about? Anyway, despite thinking it wasn’t going to be possible to get it done I handed it in (although not complete - I was missing an inventory menu (which is what I actually modelled the objects for!) – but something handed in is better than nothing – Graphically it’s okay, so I hope it passes).

That leaves me with 2 modules – Games Production (May 22nd) and Games Futures (June 1st), both of which are written report jobs, although I have made some artwork for Games Production (a module which is a group effort – and you won’t believe the trouble we’ve had with it – I’ll explain more on Tuesday). After then I’ll be building my portfolio full of stuff for use in hopefully getting a job at some games company. Infact, I am entirely willing to take requests, then I have no choice on what’s easier or harder, stuff like environments or assets to a game (crates, health-packs, venting machines, road signs etc…).

I’ll be posting direct links to both my Portfolio and Games Interface Design modules as soon as I upload them.

 Just to let you know, I am still around, just busy, though as I mentioned, that’s soon to end.
Karl.

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