Dear Final Fantasy, What Happened To You, Man?

I played Final Fantasy XIII. I waited a long time. I didn’t like what I had heard – the linearity, lack of exploration, and unfortunate embracement of seemingly every shitty JRPG stereotype turned me way off – and so I can’t say that it was, despite the fact that the FF series contains some of my all time favourite games, a first day pre-order.

What happened to this once glorious series? FFX, despite doing a spectacular job on a technical and gameplay level, failed to excite me in the same way previous entries had; FFXI is a not terrible, but negligible entry in the MMORPG canon; FFXII, despite some restoration, bounced back in the story and drama department a big plus, but the gameplay felt like a chore; and FFXIV, which I admittedly have not played, seems to have been a failure from the word go. And in the middle of all that is FFXIII.

FFXIII is a disappointment coming from a much loved geek of Final Fantasy, I do not think I have been this disappointed with a game before. They make us wait years for a new title and this is what I get. I just hope the part 2 is a better game

Task 23: Life Changing or Career Building?

Education in games is something not everyone is familiar with, I know this because my grandmother still tells me “what the heck are you playing at, why don’t you learn something that will benefit you in the future”. No-matter how many times I try to explain it to her she still thinks that studying Law or Physics is far more beneficial than studying about Game Art.

This seems to be the general conception on everyone’s minds. But more and more people are accepting that you do not need a degree on something that everyone’s does to get a decent future.  

Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance and career prospects, which allow the person to be recruit-able in the long term if he/she is looking for a job. Soft skills are great for developing as a sociable person; however this alone would not be sufficient as a job prospect.

We do not know exactly what sort of requirements are needed for the future, but we can prepare ourselves. One way we can do this is by going to the right places to find the right education that suits you. I think if the industry is to grow then we as students need to grow, we need to adapt to new learning methods whilst keeping and following the specific technical skills that have already been set. I don’t mean constantly being told to learn new software and packages.

Having a learning structure on the basis of a game companies needs is very difficult to maintain. As game companies are always changing in terms of what they want from students, it is hard to keep up with demands. The competition is tuff, when there are game companies going bust leaving ex-employees searching for jobs, is there a chance of us newbie’s getting a job. It’s hard to say. 

Game companies want people who are versatile in what they can do and achieve for their company. Some game companies wanting 2d artists and some wanting programmers. It’s good that most education facilities are versatile in this way the student can benefit from both worlds. He/she can never expect to for-see the future. At one point he wanted to be a concept artist but at the end of the course he changed his minds and wanted to be an environment artist which is fine as he studied both. So he gets the best from both worlds.   
Nearly done all the blogs for this year, just got one more blog to go, the review of the year which I will do after the formative assessment.  

Task 22: Creativity, the talent myth and craft

Being a creative person is central in our daily lives, we tend to asses things with our mind without even realising, but it’s the people that are creative who asses things differently. Creativity is used a lot in the media world where creative minds come together from all corners of the world to make a project whether it is big or small.

There was a recent article on CNET, which talks about kids being more creative because of video games. I don’t think kids become more creative just because their playing his/her favourite game, it’s more to do with the experience and issues they have to deal with within the games. This makes the kids more aware of what is happening within the game, making him think more. Kids in their early ages are always learning and experiencing new things in life, and gaming is just one of those things that kids can enjoy and learn at the same time.

When creativity in books is compared to creativity in games, video game requires more involvement and creative input and it also offers opportunities to be active and sociable. Lucy Prebble, who is best known for her financial satire Enron mentions that people’s misconception of fat boys and girls playing games and eating crisps all day is just a delusional way of neglecting the use of video games. She said gaming was similar to writing, in that both are private, creative activities very different to watching films or reading books, which involve less input.

Video games require the user to make decisions, giving them the chance to influence the story and even in part design the world in which the game is played out. Creative minds are not limited to only in the art sector, it can also be found in programmers, technicians and even writers.

We as human beings are all creative, no one is born being very intelligent or being very creative, it’s the things we do in life that makes us who we are. Some people say that reading is the best form of broadening your mind. I don’t think this is entirely true. It’s not the best, I would say the best for broadening your mind is going out and exploring the world.

There was quote by Auguste Rodin on being a creative artist which really fascinates me and gets me thinking:

"The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation."

Links:

http://www.gladwell.com/2002/2002_07_22_a_talent.htm

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20129058-247/new-study-links-video-gaming-to-creativity/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/video-game-news/9077458/Video-games-more-creative-than-reading.html

Task 21: From generalist to specialist?

I have heard a lot of people talking about how the games industry is not all fun and games. Bruce from bruceongames.com says “Playing video games is fun, it is entertainment. So you might think that making video games is fun. It isn’t. Not more or less than other jobs. Because that is what it is, just another job”. Although this is true, if a gamer has a similar passion in making games as to playing them, then I think making games should be equally fun. At the end of the day a job is still a job, you work to earn money and thus make a living. But if you earn money whilst working on something you enjoy, surely that’s something to be happy about isn’t it?

It’s hard to say as I have never worked in the games industry myself. Growing up playing games since I was a wee lad, I have always been fascinated by the games industry on how things move when I tell it too or how we get attached to a certain character. This has always been my motive and still is.  

There are some points that I agree with, Bruce states “Being keen about video games is no qualification whatsoever for working in the industry. Being a good computer programmer or artist is a much better basis. Game companies want people with the skills to make games and being an enthusiast isn’t a skill. Game companies will not take on future employers just because they played all the games out there. They will look at how you would benefit them in general terms, how you could make them money.

Millions of people play games and thousands of people want to work in the industry, but the games industry are very strict in who they recruit. So many game companies are closing down just because they are not selling games. Even Electronic Arts has got rid of 1 ,500 people. This leaves good game developers looking for jobs, so do we newbie’s have a chance?

Its hard times, getting a job is not an easy task whether it be game job or an office job. Once I finish my studies I will be on the hunt for a job in the games industry. But before that I would like to get work experience from a game company, even if that means not getting paid for work. I think getting firsthand experience is vital in landing a proper job. I have always been passionate about games, regardless of what people say and I will strive to be a part of the games industry.

Links:

http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/11/12/you-dont-want-to-work-in-the-video-game-industry/

http://kotaku.com/5344934/want-to-work-in-the-japanese-gaming-industry-heres-how

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/

Task 20: Elements of game technology, part three: interaction design

Developers use a lot of interactive elements to make a game more compelling and interesting. They also use game mechanics; this allows the user to come up with their own ideas in executing how the player reacts to certain buttons being pressed. For example in Tekken the player has to input commands so that the AI can do moves, but it is up to the player what moves he would like to do, this works well with combos.

Seeing the success of the Wii’s motion controllers Microsoft and Sony have implemented their own take on motion controllers. The Wii has managed to outsell the other competitors in terms of sales this is due to Nintendo trying something different with the Wii. The Wii has changed the way we play games using a remote followed by the movement of the body. This has managed to gather not only young customers but also the older customers, where the older customers play titles which allow fitness training; no longer would you need to go to the gym to get your own personal trainer.

I do not think that control pads would ever seize to exist, however I do think that motion controllers would have a more positive role in the future. The control pad is limited in terms of how many buttons can be pressed but a motion controller is almost limitless not only does it have buttons to be pressed but also the gestures you make with your body. This is apparent in the new PS Vita it has got buttons on the front with a touch screen interface; it has also got a touch pad at the back. This allows the user to press buttons and have touch screen all working together at the same time. Developers know that just having buttons will not satisfy the needs of gamers any more if they wish to obtain new customers.

Sony and Microsoft have also come up with their own take on motion sensors. Sony with the Playstaion Move and Microsft with Kinect. The Move is pretty much on-par with the Wii, however it’s the Kinect that intrigues me. It allows the player to move about freely without the need of a controller. It gets rid of the burden of holding on to a controller whilst you are working out on the fitness games.

The need of a controller will always be there but given 2 or 3 years in the future its quite fascinating to see what the big companies come up with. I for one think the next gen would allow the AI to be controlled by the brain, leaving your hands free to do as they please (no dirty thoughts please). 

 

Links:

http://bokardo.com/archives/game-mechanics-for-interaction-design-an-interview-with-amy-jo-kim/

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LewisPulsipher/20091108/3505/Interaction_in_Games.php

Task 19: Elements of Game Technology, part two: sound for games

Sound is used in all most all games whether it be for consoles, Pc’s or mobile devices. Sound in music allows the player to hear the atmosphere and allows the player to feel the situation. For instance in Residental Evil sound is used when a zombie jumps out in front of you, this builds up tension. When I was young I really hated the Residental Evil franchise just because of the background music they had.

While you are playing through the level the music was calm but when you begin to open a door to get the other room the door would make an eerie sound. Not only that but when you actually get to the other room the level would go in to a cut scene and a loud noise would be playing instantly to emphasize a zombie munching on a body. To make matters worse the camera would zoom right in to the zombie face. To this day I have not forgotten that moment.

There are many music composers out there, but one great composer is Bill Brown. He composed music for the Command and Conquer franchise, Tom Clancy’s: Ghost Recon and Tom Clancy’s: Rainbow Six franchises. However a composer that stands out to me as I am a Final Fantasy fanboy is Nobuo Uematsu he is the legendary music composer for the Final Fantasy series. He is so well known that he had gigs in cities across the world to play all of his music. He will always be my favourite composer. Favourite song would be “Zanarkand” from Final Fantasy 10. Aaaah brings back memories.....

Music composers are out there in their thousands but a true music composer is the one that could capture the feelings and emotions of what the player is seeing.         

Task 18: Elements of Game Technology, part one: game engines

The Unreal Editor founded by Epic Games is a powerful engine that utilises various components to make up a modern Unreal-based game, these components are brought together to give you a quality real-time experience.

The first game that would utilise this engine is called Unreal this was launched back in June 1998, it received a warm welcome from the PC gaming community. It was arguably one of the best looking games released at that time.

 Epic spawned off many more games using the Unreal Editor

List of games:

1.       Unreal (June 1998)

2.       Unreal Tournament (November 1999)

3.       Unreal Championship (September 2002)

4.       Unreal 2: The Awakening (February 2003)

5.       Unreal Tournament (March 2004)

6.       The list goes on.....

The unreal engine can be used by anyone as it is a free software that consumers can download. It’s mainly used for aspiring mod makers or fledging game designers. Also for anyone who has ever wondered exactly what kind of work goes into making his favourite game.

The next engine that I would like to talk about is the Cry Engine developed by Crytek the makers of Crysis. The engine was first used as a technology demo for Nvidia, but when the company saw its potential they turned it in to a fully fledged game. Resulting in games like Farcry and Crysis.

List of games:

1.       Farcry (2004)

2.       Crysis (November 2007)

3.       Crysis 2 (March 2011)

 

The Cryengine is also a free non-commercial software that anyone can try out for free. The cry engine is mainly used for first person shooters this is where it has got its recognition from. Whereas the Unreal Engine can be used for a variety of games. The graphics that are used in the Cryengine look mature and lend more towards the realistic sides of things, whereas the Unreal Engine has a graphics system where almost any format of game would fit perfectly with the engine.

More and more developers are using Unreal Engine this is because of its usability to port a game on existing platforms, it has also spawned a fair amount of successful titles such as Gears of War and Unreal Tournament most of the reviewers commenting on the vibrant graphics. I think the Cryengine is still in its early days so it may take years for developers to start taking the engine seriously. I know that THQ has acquired the licensing rights to develop the successor to Homefront on the Cryengine so things are looking bright for the engine.

Links:

www.udk.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unreal_Engine_games

www.mycryengine.com

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryEngine

Book:

Mastering Unreal Technology published by SAMS

Task 17: Elements of game design, part six: documentation

I am going to create a fantasy based game where the world would be seen as a third persons view. My aim is to create a world where the player is always amazed by the amount of colour and vibrancy that the atmosphere has to offer. I want the player to find himself comfortable in the area he his in where he will be greeted by the public, whereas in games the player has to go up to the AI to interact with them.

The platform it is going to be on is the PS Vita reason being is that I want to take full capabilities of the touch screen on the front and back. My audience would likely be from ages 6 and over as there won’t be any sort reference for adult material.  I would be developing on UDK this is because I am most familiar with this engine, also it is more suited to the specific graphics I am looking for. I will be using 3DS Max 2012 for modelling assets and Photoshop for texturing. I will also be using Zbrush for high poly modelling.  

The lead characters name is Leon he is the protagonist of the game, the whole budget of the game will be under 700 000 tris including the main lead. Leon’s tri limit will be under 50 000 tris. The actual game would not last more than 30 minutes. A lot of detail would go in to the main character and minor details to the secondary characters. The rest of the tris would go in to the lush environments.

There would be one vehicle where the player would need to cross over the river he would be travelling on a boat. This would be during the middle of the game. The area where the player would be in is full of richness of saturated colours making it seem almost surreal to the human eye. The area would be using a lot different lighting aspects, to create the atmosphere that is needed. The area would be built entirely from scratch so I would need to research on what sort of elements would go in to building this level:

·         Futuristic

·         Clean area

·         Heavily lighted

·         Sun reflecting areas

·         Particle effects

The props are more of static meshes that are really there for the player to see and admire, such as:

·         Clock tower

·         Statue

·         Apartments

·         Skyscrapers

·         Trees/bushes

·         Boat

Specifications

Character

The theme of the character should be a fantasy based where he would wear a full futuristic gear. Concepts are needed. 

Characters must be created in 3D max using Photoshop and Zbrush. Fully rigged.

·         Main character – under 50 000 tris

·         2 Secondary characters – under 7 500 tris each (15 000 in total)

Environments

The area should be worth interesting to look at along with interactive objects. Should look modern there should be no areas of oldness, everything should look new. Almost as if the area was just built. Concepts needed

·         500 000 tri limit for the whole of the environment excluding props.

·         Efficient use of lighting.

·         Sounds should also be included

Props

Concepts needed

·         Clock Tower - 20 000

·         4 Apartments – 15 000 each

·         Statue  – 10 000 tri

·         Skyscraper – 5 000 tri

·         2 Trees – 5 000 tri

·         Boat – 5 000 tri

The 30 000 tris left will go on anything else I could add.

PS Vita’s crazy pricing for games

The PS Vita has been out for couple of weeks now and the buzz around it is actually pretty good considering the Nintendo’s 3DS performed quite bad at launch, it was only the after the 3DS got a price cut things started to pick up pace.

I have not got a PS Vita yet, but I will get one eventually. I have seen in many places that the games are ridiculously expensive for a small card, ranging from £25 for small games such as Ridge Racer and upwards to £45 for bigger games, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

Things are changing fast in the gaming industry and everyone has a budget on how much money they can spend on games. Sony has met competition from OnLive and other cloud gaming services, and millions of people are jumping towards app gaming, which will certainly damage Sony’s market share no matter how good their PS Vita is.

Millions of people are moving towards the app generation where they spend little amount of money on games where they can pick up and play anywhere. However for hardcore gamers the PS Vita is gaming haven for graphics and gameplay in a small compact device. The games have got great reviews but a change in pricing needs to take place or else the economy would fall in to the cheaper app generation or else Sony could face losing millions of customers.

I think any games that are over £40 are too expensive, and anything below is great. In my opinion the PS Vita is on a different world for full on true gaming, and I don’t even own the BLOODY THING!!!

http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=141806&articleId=162279&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151

www.techradar.com/reviews/gaming/handheld.../ps-vita.../review