Sử Dụng Bộ Công Cụ Thiết Kế Game Phù Hợp

Trên thị trường hiện nay là một loạt các bộ công cụ miễn phí đi kèm với các tính năng tuyệt vời để phục vụ cho quá trình thiết kế game 3D. Vậy nên, để tìm được sự lựa chọn thích hợp là một việc khó khăn. Sau nhiều năm xem xét và đánh giá, các nhà thiết kế ở khắp nơi trên thế giới đã chọn ra 4 bộ công cụ xuất sắc và hiệu quả nhất: Source 2, Unity, CryENGINE và Unreal Engine. 4 bộ công cụ này được lựa chọn dựa trên các tiêu chí như sau:

·         Đây có phải là game bắn súng nhập vai hay không?

·         Bạn có muốn tạo ra một sản phẩm game chạy được trên điện thoại di động hay không?

·         Game ở dạng 2D hay 3D?

Dưới đây là phần giới thiệu sơ qua về các công cụ này để bạn có được một quyết định đúng đắn:

·         Source 2

Là phiên bản đã được qua nâng cấp của Source, bộ công cụ này được sử dụng để tạo ra một số game được ưa chuộng hiện nay như là Half-Life 2 và Counter-Strike: Source. Một thông tin được công bố gần đây cho biết các nhà thiết kế game sẽ được sử dụng bộ công cụ này hoàn toàn miễn phí. Thêm vào đó, Source 2 cũng sẽ tập trung vào việc hỗ trợ các nhà thiết kế để tạo ra sản phẩm mang tính chất sáng tạo. Không những thế, bộ công cụ này còn cho phép người chơi góp phần vào việc thiết kế game mà mình yêu thích. Nếu như thiết kế game 3D còn quá mới đối với bạn, đây sẽ là sự lựa chọn phù hợp để bạn bắt đầu làm quen với lĩnh vực này.

·         Unity

Với một loạt các tính năng và giao diệndễ sử dụng, không có gì đáng ngạc nhiên khi Unity là một trong những công cụ được ưa chuộng và phổ biến nhất hiện nay. Ưu điểm lớn nhất của bộ công cụ này là nó cho phép việc sử dụng và chuyển đổi game giữa điện thoại di động với Windows 8, Blackberry, Android và cả trên phần mềm iOS.

Unity cũng hỗ trợ các tiện ích từ nhiều ứng dụng 3D phổ biến như Maya, 3Ds Max và Blender. Tuy nhiên, bộ công cụ này không chuyên về chỉnh sửa và nó không có một mô hình thực tế hay tính năng chuyên về xây dựng định dạng sản phẩm nào ngoài một số tính năng cơ bản. Nhưng bù lại, nó đi kèm với một thư viện tiện ích tuyệt vời mà bạn có thể tải về để sử dụng.

·         Unreal Engine 4

Unreal Engine 4 là bộ công cụ mới được công ty Epic Games giới thiệu ra thị trường và nó đi kèm với hàng loạt các tính năng đồ họa vượt bậc như tạo ánh sáng động tiên tiến và hệ thống hạt mới với chức năng quản lý đến một triệu hạt trong cùng một cảnh và tại một thời điểm. Là sự lựa chọn lý tưởng cho thiết kế game 3D, bộ công cụ này có nhiều thay đổi đáng kể so với các phiên bản trước như là việc đi kèm với ngôn ngữ lập trình. Nếu như bạn đã có kinh nghiệm sử dụng UDK, bạn sẽ dễ dàng làm quen với những tính năng mới của Unreal Engine 4.

·         CryENGINE

Được thiết kế để sử dụng cho game trên máy tính, tính năng đồ họa của CryENGINE được xem là vượt bậc hơn cả UDK hay Unity và không thua kém gì Unreal Engine 4. Bộ công cụ này đi kèm với tính năng tạo ánh sáng ảo chất lượng cao, hình ảnh thực tế rõ nét cùng với hệ thống hoạt hình tiên tiến. Lợi ích lớn nhất của CryENGINE chính là khả năng thiết kế thông minh của bộ công cụ.

Tùy thuộc vào nhu cầu và mục đích, bạn sẽ lựa chọn được một công cụ phù hợp để giúp bạn đạt được mục tiêu thiết kế game một cách tốt nhất.

Tóm tắt nội dung:

Với một loạt các công cụ thiết kế game có sẵn trên thị trường hiện nay, việc lựa chọn được một công cụ phù hợp là nhân tố quan trọng ảnh hưởng rất lớn đến chất lượng sản phẩm game mà bạn thiết kế. Bài viết này giới thiệu sơ lược về các công cụ chính mà bạn nên xem xét trước khi bắt đầu dự án của bạn.

After Effects Plug-ins that Every Motion Graphics Designer Must Have

Using plug-ins is an excellent way to add extra functionality to your motion graphics project on After Effects. Regardless of whether you are new at the Motion Graphics game in Singapore or you are a seasoned veteran, here is a list of plug-ins you want to make sure you use to take your skills up a notch –

·         Trap code Particular

This particle system plug-ins enables users to create customized particles such as rain, dust, smoke and clouds on After Effects. This particular plug-in is believed to have better functionality than the in-built feature on After Effects since it makes use of extremely realistic physics. This plug-in helps you create particle based lines, patterns and shapes in a 3D space with great ease.

·         Element 3D V.2

This popular plug-in enable user to upload and make use of 3D models on Adobe after Effects. If you aren't familiar with using modeling software such as Cinema 4D or Maya, this tool helps you easily import and edit 3D models in a quick and efficient manner. This tool works extremely fast and its latest version introduces new features such as lighting presets and ambient occlusion to your imported 3D models.

·         Plexus 2

This tool takes layers and helps break them up into objects that are smaller. With the .obj support this tool allows experts in Motion Graphics from Singapore to import models from most other 3D graphic programs and have them broken up in the 3D Space. These objects can act as forms or containers that can be used by Plexus. This tool allows you to create 3D connect dots design and bezier splines where you can adjust the lines in 3D space.

·         Optical Flare

Lens flares are an excellent route through which you can create visual interest in your scene. While there are a variety of lens flare generators to choose from, most designers swear by this one. This plug-in allows you to create custom flares which work on 3D spaces. These flares are designed to look very realistic and make use of a variety of effects that add to the realism. This tool also comes with a preset library.

In addition to this, plug-ins such as Newton 2, a 2D physics engine; Continuum Complete – a plug-in with hundreds of plug-in effects in one and Twitch, a tool that adds glitch effects to your motion design are extremely popular among designers.

Summary: This article discusses some of the most popular plug-ins you must invest in if you plan on working on a motion graphics project on After Effects.

Essential Guide to Creating a Fabulous Visual Effects Demo Reel

When creating a demo reel, you want to make sure that you put your best foot forward. In addition to channeling all that you learned in your visual effects courses, here are a few other approaches you want to incorporate to impress your potential clients or bosses-

·         Using Nothing but the Best

When creating your demo reel make it a point to take this approach very seriously. Make sure you include only your top notch work and actively avoid your sub-par artwork. Missing out on selecting your best work is a sure shot way to get your demo reels into the garbage can. Take into account that those who are in charge of hiring you are essentially spending their entire day looking at hundreds of demo reels. You want to make sure you stand out among the clutter by putting forth your best work.

·         Avoid the One Size Fits All Approach

After finishing your visual effects courses in Singapore you may be qualified for more than just one position. However, at no point should you assume that you can use a generic demo reel to apply for two relatively different job descriptions. For instance, if you are applying for a job with a texture artist as well as an environmental artist you want to make sure you include some artwork that is distinct and relevant to the position in question.

·         Follow the Instructions

Many companies provide very specific instructions about how and what to submit a demo reel. Make it a point to go through the website or the job opening in detail and jot down any special requests they may have. This may include factors such as the type of artwork to include in your reel, the length of your reel and some other technical specifications.

·         Showcase your Strengths and How you Do you

Leverage your learning’s from all your visual effects courses and show the work that is able to prove what you do and highlights how you d it. Employers are looking for more than just a finished product. They are interested in knowing how it has been created. For instance, if you have written great software, incorporate some work that you may have done using the software.

Finally, professors in every visual effects courses in Singapore cannot overstate how important it is for you to invest time in revising and polishing your artwork before you are actually ready to submit it.

Summary:

If you are currently applying for jobs on the basis of your visual effects expertise, this article discusses the considerations to make when creating and submitting a demo reel.

Awaken Your Fantasies – Create and Develop Your Own Game

Designing your own game is no cakewalk, but if you have an idea that can have you rolling in millions by the end of the year, it would be unwise to not act upon it.

There are various software’s out there to assist in creating the game of your dreams, whether you want to create it for cell-phones, tablets, laptops or gaming systems. However, having taken a Visual Effects Course helps colossally, as it facilitates perspective and advanced illustration techniques that make your work easier and the game more appealing. Visual appeal is an essential requirement to attract gamer. And the best part about these courses is that they aren't heavy on the pocket!

Here’s a Guide to Creating a Video game:

(1)    Decide the Game’s Genre: Ascertain the genre for your game beforehand to make the creation process easier. After deciding the type, you could look at other games in that genre for inspiration and to know what works.

(2)    Choose Software that Suits your Requirements: Choosing the correct platform for the game dictates the games controls and considerably impacts the games development. Some examples include touch and tilt based, keyboard and mouse, console, stick controls, etc. Game Maker Studio is popular for 2D while Unity is recommended for 3D. Many other such engines are available.

(3)    Make an Initial Prototype: List the basic features of the game before investing time and energy in creating the artwork. You need to know whether your vision is actually going to work, therefore, it’s best to start with a simple rough framework and test it while adhering to the games rules. This way, if it doesn't work you can either make appropriate changes or abandon the idea.

(4)    Create Graphics: Once you have succeeded in making the game work, the next step is to create graphics. Write down the littlest details and create them. Now, if you aren't very good at it, you can definitely outsource it for payment or even give credit to the graphic designer. Alternatively, you can also add photographs using Photoshop or like software or create an easy-to-build pixellated screen.

(5)    Add Music and Sound Effects: Today it is relatively easy to create a unique tune for each accomplishment or occurrence during the game. Readily available tunes can also be added to your game.

(6)    Market Research: You will definitely be the first one to play your own game, but it is primate to test the waters by making a few friends play your game before launching. You may be surprised to find that they may play the game in ways that you hadn't envisaged. Bug testing is paramount before unveiling the game and also, the controls need to be refined.

And finally, you can launch your game; however, don’t expect to mint money overnight or you can be thoroughly disappointed.

Is Professional the Way to Go?

The best way to figure if you should enroll in a professional program is to first create games by yourself and see whether you are enjoying it. After launching a few relative successes, you can sign up for top of the range Game Development Education courses that offer promising career opportunities too.

Summary

Follow the above mentioned steps to create a phenomenal game that will take the world by storm. Bring alive your fantasies, because in the virtual world of gaming everything is possible.

Jumpstarting Your Creative Career

Is your creative career in a rut? It might be time to shake things up a bit.

Let’s be honest, taking the path to become a creative can be a road filled with disappointment. Like myself, the majority of the creatives who are just starting out find that the reality of it is not as rosy as one may have pictured. Those who choose the creative path are often lured by the idea of not being deskbound, and are avoiding the humdrum of a 9 to 5 job. Perhaps the idea of chasing after a passion, of doing what they liked for a living also helped to draw them into their field of choice. For those who have already taken the leap, like myself, can tell you that the reality of being a creative is bleak for those who come unprepared.

For starters, the competition out on the freelance market is simply astounding. The market is filled with cutthroats who are willing to cannibalise on their brethren’s work, and undercut prices to the point where it devalues the work of their fellow creatives. For example, a case study recently done on graphic design, took the service portal known as Fiver into question. Fiver is a website where logo designers can promote their services online, for cheap, some promising design services for as low as five dollars. If that did not sound dubious enough, the case study revealed that many of these designers were blatantly stealing or taking designs and altering them slightly from existing logo designs (what creatives refer to as cannibalising). The case study touched on two main topics; how the general public viewed design work to be of little worth, and how websites and some unscrupulous “designers” themselves are compounding the matter by undercutting the market.

Creatives can also tell you that there is little to no freedom as a creative working in a firm. Forget 9 to 5, creatives are often expected to slave away long hours without overtime compensation in most cities, and are grossly underpaid for their time and effort. These creatives, who often have crippling student loan debts to pay off, often lose heart in their first two years within the industry, and often cite feeling undervalued as the reason for leaving and jumping to a different industry. Career progression and job satisfaction is also a large issue; most creatives find that there is no difference between what they do, and the humdrum of a 9 to 5 desk job. Firms often do not take input from the creatives, often directing the project based on their own or client needs. The creative thus finds himself nudged out of the creative process, and leading the life of a disgruntled worker. In fact, designers and artists who work in firms have often described it as working in a “factory line”, where they are just given a task and a deadline to complete it by, with no questions asked. Financially, a job in the creative line is nothing to hoot about either – designers can expect a starting annual salary of as low as 20,000 USD in some developed nations!

With both freelancing, and full-time employment facing such issues, the creative industry is facing an ever shrinking pool of talent – with larger numbers leaving the industry every year. But all hope is not lost yet.

My advice for aspiring creatives, is to start out by working in a firm. This will allow an iron rice bowl for at least a year or so, while easing you into the long hours of being a creative. Don’t get too comfortable though, because the idea is to essentially meet potential future clients during your time there and removing that cap on your earning power.

When you’ve made the leap into being a freelance, remember not to underprice your services! Creatives who are just starting out fear that due to the lack of their experience, clients may not feel justified to shell out a decent sum for their work. However, this is no excuse for offering a measly sum of money in return for your skill and time. You’ve spent years learning your craft, and your work will take time to do, so charge in accordance to the amount of hours you will be spending on your work. Remember, if you charge obscenely low prices for your services, you are not just devaluing yourself, but hurting the image of all creatives in the field.

Lastly, remember that as a designer, learning never stops. The advancement of technology demands that we keep ourselves constantly updated with the digital tools that are out on the market, and picking up a new skill doesn’t hurt your chances of making it in the industry either. For example, considering how most industries are moving away from print media, graphic designers may want to consider looking at motion media courses, in order to be able to integrate their design principles into dynamic media platforms, such as the web, film and television.

Game designers can also take a leaf out of their book. Game development with Unity 3D, the revolutionary engine that takes programming languages out of the equation, allows designers and artists to easily pick up the scripted language in order to effect changes without the help of a programmer – shortening the development pipeline to more than a quarter in the case of most games.

With that, I hope to wish my fellow creatives the best in their future endeavours and to not buckle under the initial harshness. Speaking from experience, with a  little bit of luck, your hard work will pay off, granted you make smart choices along the way. Here’s to a fulfilling career as a creative. Cheers!

Baby Steps: Game Development at its Infancy

Game Development in Asia in Singapore can still be considered to be in its infancy. While it has been around for over a decade, it has come nowhere near to fulfilling the potential that a nation of its stature should be able to. Now, before you start screaming foul play… that was in no way a criticism of the industry here. 

The truth is that Singapore boasts perhaps the best infrastructure countrywide in the world. Political stability, state-of-the-art technology and excellent funding from the government has meant that the stage is set for companies to set up on the island and take the world by storm with its games. In fact, with the tools at their disposal, one would expect them to be rivaling traditional game dev powerhouses such as the United States.  So, why aren't they? 

Most people who are not from the industry tend to point fingers at the lack of creative talent in Singapore, and to be honest, they could not be more wrong. In truth, Singapore’s creative education sector have in the past 10 years, unearthed some diamonds in the rough. Heard of Portal? Yes, that very same game from Valve which took the world by storm was made in Singapore – and by students no less! The game featured revolutionary game play and mechanics for a first person shooter, and the founder of Valve was so impressed with their initial build that he hired the entire student team that built the game. The game’s quality and planning was living proof that the standard of game level design courses and that other technical aspects of its education was up to scratch with the very best. The fact that it featured ground-breaking game play mechanics also meant that the creativity of the local developers were nothing to sniff at. So why then? 

The truth is that the larger household studios who come here don’t give enough opportunities for the local creative talent to flourish. The common complaint for local game developers working in large local firms is that they have no creative input into the games that are being made. Take for example, Ubisoft and EA, both of whom have made Singapore their Asian hub. It’s been several years since the two giants have settled here, but there has been no noteworthy titles coming out of their Singapore headquarters. Those employed in this part of the world, are given bit part support roles to their American and European counterparts. How then can the country’s talent be expected to flourish? 

The solution is simple, and it is something that the nation has started to see. For one, it is no secret that the country is stepping up efforts to support local development studios, with only Gung Ho Entertainment the recent addition to multinational companies added to the list of game developers in recent years. Educational institutions are also doing their part, ensuring that students are up to date with the latest development tools. 2013 saw a large spike in the number of schools that started integrating 3D game development with Unity 3D. Even the media is doing its part, with the Straits Times creating a new category for local games in its yearly awards – “Best Made in Singapore Game” in 2014. 

 Whatever the case may be, the future looks set to grow brighter for local game developers in Singapore, and this reporter for one, cannot wait to see what the little island of innovation will come up with next.

Studying Abroad: Where Should I Go?

With globalization these days, it is common for parents to send their children abroad for their education. Considering how easy it is to get around and stay in touch with today’s technology, parents are less concerned with sending their children to countries with a more established education system. While the traditional western destinations like the United Kingdoms and the United States remain a popular destination, Asian countries in particular have climbed up the rankings tremendously in the past decade. In fact, 4 out of the top 5 best education systems in the world rank as 1) South Korea 2) Japan and 3) Singapore 4) Hong Kong and 5) Finland with the United Kingdom taking the 6^th spot and the United States hovering outside the top 10 at 14^th spot.

Of course, that is not the only variable when it comes to choosing the ideal location for your child. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of the top 3 education systems in the world.

1) South Korea

The country itself is a beautiful place, and the weather there is beautiful as well. For a developed country, it is also relatively cheap to live in, and the country itself is steeped in culture. The only con is the language barrier. Only a minority of Koreans speak English, and most lessons are conducted in their own native tongue. South Korea is known for their advancements in hardware and software technology, citing a strong education in the IT sector as a factor.

2) Japan

Very much like Korea, Japan is a developed nation with beautiful scenery and weather. They are also renowned for their food, and not unlike Korea is steeped in culture. However, they also suffer from the language barrier, and while English is more widespread in Japan than it is in Korea, most foreigners will have to adapt to the Japanese language to be able to survive in Japan. Cost of living is also more expensive than it is in Korea.

3) Singapore

Singapore is the first nation amongst the list where English is the most widespread language in use. Singapore is a mish-mash of different cultures and foods, being a country of immigrants, and while they are a small nation, is as much a developed nation as anyone on this list, if not more so. Boasting the 2^nd lowest crime-rates in the world (behind Switzerland), and many world-class amenities (world’s best airport, world’s best port… the list goes on), and has even been listed as the number 1 spot to visit by the Lonely Planet for the year 2015. With regards to education, Singapore has always been known to produce some of the brightest minds, and of late, the island nation has begun to focus on creative education as well. Those seeking Game Development Courses, or say, a Diploma in Graphic Design will find that there are many world-class institutes offering these programmes as well. Cost of living is reasonable, although housing can be expensive. There is however, a large number of student hostels that are relatively cheaper than the average house.

Well, that’s it for today; but for those who wish to add on to the other countries or have any questions, please feel free to do so in the comment section below. In the meantime, good luck with your search, and take care!