Futureworks
Foundation in Game Art
Award: Futureworks Certificate of Completion
Duration: 32 weeks, Part-time
Learning Format: Instructor-led lectures/workshops & guided practical sessions
Start Date: September 2013
Fees: £1800 or 8 monthly payments of £250
For more information
Call: 0161 237 7570
Email: admissions@futureworks.co.uk
Overview
Designed to introduce gamers and aspiring artists to the working methods of a professional artist in the games industry, our Foundation course is designed to give you the advantage over other higher education students. Furthermore, it is a highly practical course, focused on creation, workflow and delivery. The course requires commitment and passion, as you are expected to attend all lectures and work to strict deadlines – just as you would in the industry, so be prepared to put in extra hours outside of class time!
In addition to lectures, students benefit from one-to-one teaching throughout, as well as group tasks. Course documentation and tutorials are provided on a weekly basis so you can build your own library of must-have information, ranging from techniques in 3ds Max, Photoshop and Zbrush, to learning the texturing and concept art design pipelines.
Being an artist is not just about making eye-candy. It’s about saturating yourself with information from all sources, ultimately broadening your point of reference, analysing games, films, paintings, books and music that you love... before you get down to image creation. Our Foundation in Game Art course pushes you to develop quickly, and become the artist you want to be.
Course Details:
MODULE 1: Game Art Fundamentals
We introduce you to 3ds Max and Photoshop right at the start, including basic interface, standard primitives, basic polygon modelling and basic texturing. You will also learn how to render to specific dimensions and light specifications, to export into Photoshop for touch-ups and refinement. We also touch on camera animation, as well as export to video to create your very own animation.
A Final Module Project deliverable is focused on putting your newfound 3D skills to the test, and making a start on building your portfolio. The first module deliverable consists of a simplistic environment project, focussed on using low polygon modelling and basic texturing. As a new artist, you will also learn how to document the process of creating an environment, presenting it as a customised professional artist’s document.
Consistent in-class workshops and practical sessions enable students to constantly evolve and learn at a progressive rate, and in this module, there is a lot to learn.
MODULE 2: Conceptual Design and Asset Creation
In this Module, we take a step back from tutorials and really get stuck into modelling. With week-by-week tasks set, we start to build up a substantial amount of portfolio material. Any new techniques are introduced iteratively, as well as refreshing on previous module content.
In Module 2, there is another Final Module Project deliverable, this time focusing further on documentation. As artists, we all have our own ideas for games. In this module, we learn how to construct a basic concept document, complete with a fleshed out story, game mechanics, environment descriptions and character profiles, all centred on your own game idea. This pushes students to look further than just creating pieces of art; you'll learn how to research, document, refine and transform an idea into something special.
You will also start to learn more advanced methods of modelling including High Polygon (including geometrical theory and echoing geometry), UVW Unwrapping (including Pelt Mapping) and Low Polygon discipline.
MODULE 3: Concept Art and Story Representation
The final module is a culmination of all learning outcomes, and is assessed on performance, dedication and attitude. Students are expected to direct their own management of assets, and liaise on a consistent basis with the course tutor.
The final module is predominantly focused on building the later stages of a strong portfolio. You will also learn how to construct each section appropriately, and undertake preparation for interviews and higher education study.
Students are encouraged in this module to show off their own unique style and artistic flair, whilst working within a loose brief.
