Week 14 - Building Your Network and Portfolio

 
 
 

There will be a quiz on Tuesday. It will be discussion based, so please don't miss it.

 

Tuesday will be the last day of class. Please bring your Final Paper to class. If you do not feel your paper is ready, you have until Saturday to hand it in. I must have a physical copy of the paper. If you are unable to turn it in on Tuesday, then you can meet me in ATC 3.701 on Saturday from noon until 2PM.
 
You will have until Wednesday, the 11th, at 11:59PM to post comments to the blog in order to receive full participation points. You can go back and post comments in previous weeks, including before midterm, and I will still give you full credit.

 
 

This will be the last blog post. Good luck on your Final Papers, and I wish you all a fun, and hopefully productive, winter break.

For participation points for the week...

Think of one piece you would like to include in your personal portfolio or demo reel. This can be a model, textured model, concept art, animation reel, audio file, analog game, etc. It can be a piece you have completed, but more likely will be one you haven't started or still needs a lot of work. Now, explain what that piece is and why you feel it will be a good fit for your portfolio or demo reel. Why will it capture the attention of a potential employer? Is there any way you can refine it to be more impressive?   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 13 - Industry & Careers

Check your email!! Digital Quiz #12 has been administered. It is worth 50 points! If you have not received it by tomorrow, send me an email. This is your responsibility.

 
 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, December 3rd

Sound Design with Caden Gunn

Next week we will discuss putting together a portfolio and building a professional network. On Thursday, guest lecturer Chip Wood will speak to the class on the importance of networking and how to build your professional network. I suggest you all attend.

For participation points for the week...

Explain one way in which the use of social media has personally changed your life. Has it been for the better, or for the worse?   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 12 - Emerging Media and Communications

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, November 19th

Sound Design with Caden Gunn
Sound Design with Julianne Dao

Thursday, November 21st

Sound Design with Meagan Parrish
Emerging Media and Communications with Melody Jackson


Note: On Tuesday the 19th, we welcome visual effects artist from ReelFX, Edward Whetstone. Mr. Whetstone will discuss his experiences in the animation industry and what it takes to get your foot in the door. Don't miss it!

For participation points for the week...

Consider the questions of digital ethics in the digital world we discussed last week. Traditional ethics may no longer apply, or at least apply differently, in the digital space as opposed to the "physical world." Consider the example of bullying. Is there a difference ethically between bullying someone in person and bullying someone through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube? Assume that neither examples of bullying include physical violence.   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 11 - Sound Design

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, November 12th

World Building with Skylar Shackelford
World Building with Daniel Grossman

Thursday, November 14th

World Building with Rachelle Duncan



Note: There have been a few snags in getting our EMAC guest speaker this week. As a result, we may have an alternative guest speaker on Thursday, or I may speak on a different, course related topic instead. This week's quiz will not be until Thursday and I will be an in-class quiz.

For participation points for the week...

In your apartment, turn off your television set, music that may be playing, and mute your computer. Try to get your apartment as SILENT as possible. Now shut your eyes and listen to the silence. Spend at least 2 full minutes just listening, taking the space in. Once you have finished, describe all the sounds that you heard in the "silence." These should be sounds that you normally would not notice because of all the noise you create in your environment, i.e. your television set, music, video games, etc.   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 10 - Level Design, Scripting & World Building

 

For those that feel the topic of World Building was neglected during the week, I have found some additional resources for you. Please review them as you feel necessary.

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions by Patricia C. Wrede

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, November 5th

Transmedia & New Media with Caitlin Shamess
Level Design & Scripting with Dylan Orgeron

Thursday, November 7th

Level Design & Scripting with Marissa Covarrubias
Level Design & Scripting with Brian Lin

For participation points for the week...

Provide one example from a video game, film, TV show, or book in which the setting can be considered a character in the metaphorical sense. Explain.   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 9 - Interactive Narrative

Since we had two guest lecturers this week, the quiz will cover the content of those lectures. I reserve the right to send the quiz digitally this week, although there is no guarantee of that. Please watch the videos below as they are supplements to the topics discussed by the guest lecturers, Dr. Adam Brackin and Dr. Monica Evans, and to get better understanding especially if you were not paying attention or were absent for either Tuesday or Thursday.
Narratology vs. Ludology
Improv Everywhere - Who You Gonna Call?
Extra Credits: ARGs
Planescape: Torment - And why it is different from other role-playing games.
Interactive Narrative in Mass Effect 2 (Part 1)
Interactive Narrative in Mass Effect 2 (Part 2)
You Play THE WALKING DEAD - Interactive Edition (Chapter 1, part 3)

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, October 29th

Prototyping with Colt Bush
Interactive Narrative with Katie Cottle

Thursday, October 31st

(costumes encouraged but not required)
Interactive Narrative with Marre Strickland
Interactive Narrative with Joey Ulfsrud


Note: I did not receive answers to Quiz #8 from everyone. Please remember to check your UTD email on a regular basis. This is your responsibility as a college student and adult.

For participation points for the week...

Let's write a collaborative story! Read all the comments that have already been posted to this week as though they are one continuous narrative, and then post at least one sentence (and no more than 100 words) that continues the story.   Use the comments below to post your reply, and have fun with it!

Week 8 - Game Mechanics & Prototyping

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, October 22nd

Game Mechanics with Daniel Boling
Game Mechanics with John Woodlee

Thursday, October 24th

Game Mechanics with Chao Chang
Prototyping with Michelle Woon


Note: I will try to check the blog for comments throughout the week so that participation grades will be as up-to-date as possible. However, since grades are due on Friday, there is a chance I will not be completely up to date. As said before, I will reevaluate participation grades based on blog comments before the end of the semester, so if you don't like your participation grade, it is never too late to change it.

For participation points for the week...

Pick a AAA (not indie) video game released in the last five years. Impose a limitation on that game. How might that limitation change the game mechanics? Alternatively, post your great video game idea, BUT impose a limitation on your idea. How might that limitation change the game mechanics?   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 7 - Interactive Design

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, October 15th

Interactive Design with Zac Cooner

Thursday, October 17th

Interactive Design with Richard Ra

For participation points for the week...

Observe people using a common product or service (but NOT filling their gas tank as that example was already used by Professor Nazir). Explain one way in which you think the user experience could be improved.   Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 6 - Digital Video Production

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, October 8th

Digital Video Production with Rocquel Carpenter

Thursday, October 10th

N/A

Note: I'm still seeing minimal activity on the blog. Please take the time to comment on each week's post. You can do so retroactively. I am not going to check the date. Participation grades for Weeks 1 through 4 will go up later in the week.

For participation points for the week...

Name one technique you could use to increase the chance that your idea for a game, film, or product would be successfully funded on Kickstarter. Be as conventional, or as creative, as you'd like.  Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 5 - Complex Networks

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, October 1st

Complex Networks with Tate Eskelund
Complex Networks with Kaitlyn Shelley

Thursday, October 3rd

N/A

Note: Kyle Kondas' lecture on Digital Video Production has been pushed up to Tuesday. With two presentations scheduled for Tuesday as well, I may need to push the quiz to Thursday. As for the Complex Networks quiz, don't be too bogged down by details. I will be asking more general questions, and as long as you were paying attention during Dr. Schich's talk and during Thursday's lecture, you should do fine.

For participation points for the week...

In what ways can other disciplines, such as the Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, or History, interact with and have a positive impact on ATEC?  Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 4 - Modeling and Simulation

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, September 17th

N/A

Thursday, September 26th

Modeling and Simulation with Audon Archibald
Modeling and Simulation with Elissa Mroski

For participation points for the week...

Brainstorm an 'original' idea for a serious game to inform, educate, and/or train the player in any topic/skill-set you feel passionately about. This is just an exercise to get your creative juices flowing. There are no right or wrong answers.  Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 3 - 3D Animation and Rigging

 

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, September 17th

3D Lighting with Kyle Ruffin
3D Animation with Ivey Barr

Thursday, September 19th

Rigging with Zak Freeman

The quiz for this upcoming week WILL include information from Eric's rigging lecture on Tuesday, as well as the 3D animation notes in the Prezi above.

For participation points for the week...

Choose 1 principle of animation and then list a scene in a 3D animated film or short, or a 3D video game, that illustrates this principle.  Use the comments below to post a reply.

Week 2 - Modeling, Texturing, & Lighting

Presenters for next week...

Tuesday, September 10th

3D Modeling with Emily Grams
3D Modeling with Sean Miller

Thursday, September 12th

Texturing for 3D with William McNeal

As described in the syllabus, there will be a Quiz next Tuesday!  Be prepared!  And yes, it will cover today's lecture from our guest speaker.

For participation points for the week...

Note: This is your opportunity to get participation points for this week if you are absent for the day, or did not feel like participating in the lecture, and do not want to lose participation points.  It is not a replacement for texting or being disruptive in class, but rather an additional outlet to help students that are not as comfortable speaking or could not attend class for that day.

Give one example of a 3D model, the textures on a 3D model or models, or the lighting in a 3D animation, video game, or film.  Explain why the model, textures, or lights that you chose help to form part of a cohesive visual story of the animation/game/film, or explain why the model, textures, or lights fail to do so.  Use the comments below to post a reply.