Been a busy day today with a 8:45 start at the media design school in Auckland. This was an opportunity to see students in action on a game that they developed at the end of there 32 week course in the undergraduate course in game development. Think radioactive penguins that are anti social, and the only way to kill them is with ice, and they can kill you. Also looked at development of a fps with the unreal engine, set in a 1960's diner, the detail that goes into those things is amazing. One of the end products that we looked at was a game called Goliath, this won awards from the International Gaming Association. I will be adding this to my course once I figure out how to bypass some of the schools security features, damn windows firewall.
I keep getting asked at the event if I am a graduate student or someone who is looking at getting into the gaming industry. You should see there faces when I tell them that I am secondary school teacher who is currently teaching his students game development using gamemaker. They want to know more, and I want to know more from them, what skill sets do the students need. Most people talk about needed Maths and Physics, this is going to become a shock to those students who don't like maths and drop it. They don't see the current Computer Programming courses in schools as worthwhile. This needs to be looked at, what are teachers teaching in school, what are there aims with the courses.
Back at the event at the town hall we were shown the Microsoft xbox 360 game lost odyssey again, wish I had pulled out my camera for this a little sooner, it had a great graphic of IT graduates and the lack of them being produced now. But it did give the change to take a few shows of the XNA slides, which will be posted here later. Once I open my pc, as the safari interface for blogspot is crap!
A few more presentations took place looking at Sidhe Interactive, a game development company based in wellington, founded in 1997, 70 person studio, and is one of the top 4 independent studios in Australasia.
One of the latest games that the company has developed is gripshift, developed for the PlayStation portable, now being ported to the PlayStation 3.
Collaborative Digital Projects, looking at the use of bluetooth technologies to help with there business in the nightclub industry in Auckland, people being able to use there mobile phones to interact with the music and experience, publish there own photos to the VJ screen and interact with the artists.
Social game groups, a Auckland based volunteer group to help people develop and produce games, most work is done in a collaborative environment and they meet once a week for face to face meetings, just to help with the enthusiasm for the project,
International Collaborations
Looking at how game development takes place when all of your team are around the world and in different time zones.
Second Life demonstration, this turned out to be a talk about how second life originated and the development of second life and how objects are created and distributed. No Internet connection was available for the presenter to show us. Only had trailers to show us.
Indie Game development, this was an interesting presentation, a sole game creator and the products that he creates and sells online, I didn't realize that they have there own community and followers. Seriously interesting, Have to look at incorporating pixel art into my courses. It is so cool what you can do.
I have been thinking about one of the other conferences that I went to a number of years ago. There was a presenter that was developing learning games based on the quake 3 engine. I am wondering where he has gone and what he completed as part of his research. Navcon 2004 I think was the conference in Christchurch.
Showing posts with label g3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label g3. Show all posts
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Friday, 13 July 2007
G3 - Keynote
This will have more detail in it later,
however, I will put a note here for now
XDA Xbox Developer, if you have a xbox 360 you can get access to this.
xbox dse
http://xbox360homebrew.com/
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/default.aspx homepage of xna
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb197292.aspx Connecting to Your Xbox 360 Console with XNA Game Studio Express
Possible course http://xnatutorial.info/ check back regularly
Wonder if I could get an xbox 360 for my classroom, or should I get a wii, maybe I will have to add a vote?
however, I will put a note here for now
XDA Xbox Developer, if you have a xbox 360 you can get access to this.
xbox dse
http://xbox360homebrew.com/
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/default.aspx homepage of xna
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb197292.aspx Connecting to Your Xbox 360 Console with XNA Game Studio Express
Possible course http://xnatutorial.info/ check back regularly
Wonder if I could get an xbox 360 for my classroom, or should I get a wii, maybe I will have to add a vote?
G3 - More
Metia Interactive
From Graphics to game design
This company was created in 2003
Developing original IP
First Idea, The Guardian, a female maori as the main character, solving and completing various tasks in a game play.
First published idea "The Cube"
The Guardian, action adventure game
-lot of character building
-story
-technical, creating, moving, game engine.
-story line
-concept
-model
-game engine, too big for the company.
Developed a simpler game, "The Cube"
This originally started off as a idea
Developed the concept
From here, they developed the concept, developed a trailer (mockup), no prototype.
Targeted the PSP, as it had only just came out on the market.
Puzzle Game
Feedback that was given by the testers was implemented.
They had a 10 month time line from the development of the trailer, through to it being published. It took 12 months to get it out.
Cube released 30th April 2007 on the American market, yet to be released on the European and japanese market.
They have had to change the game and name of the game depending on the country it is to be released in.
More to be put in
From Graphics to game design
This company was created in 2003
Developing original IP
First Idea, The Guardian, a female maori as the main character, solving and completing various tasks in a game play.
First published idea "The Cube"
The Guardian, action adventure game
-lot of character building
-story
-technical, creating, moving, game engine.
-story line
-concept
-model
-game engine, too big for the company.
Developed a simpler game, "The Cube"
This originally started off as a idea
Developed the concept
From here, they developed the concept, developed a trailer (mockup), no prototype.
Targeted the PSP, as it had only just came out on the market.
Puzzle Game
Feedback that was given by the testers was implemented.
They had a 10 month time line from the development of the trailer, through to it being published. It took 12 months to get it out.
Cube released 30th April 2007 on the American market, yet to be released on the European and japanese market.
They have had to change the game and name of the game depending on the country it is to be released in.
More to be put in
Games, Girls and Graphics - the event
G3 Games, Girls and Graphics
Opening of the event: Mayor Dick Hubbard
Talked about Auckland city wants to encourage the creative industry and is working to upgrade broadband in the central city. Showed background information on what the want to achieve with the auckland strategy that has just been approved. As a city we want to support, support the needs, requirements of the creative industry. At the moment there is only 2-4% of Girls in the IT industry, want to see this grow. To be able to understand and foster the relationships of different digital industries. Auckland is a lifestyle city. If auckland wants to attract top creative industry they have to promote themselves as a creative city. Auckland city wants to put emphasis on event promotion and have the top events. Auckland city, creative and innovative beat.
Fresh Kiwi thinking
Overview of the New Zealand Game Industry
Mario, President of the NZGDA
There are a number of companies in New Zealand who are in Game Design, and game development, all types of game development is being created, from console, handhelds and computer games. This is a very diverse area.
There is industry support in New Zealand.
NZGDA - New Zealand Game Developers Association Multiple Game Development Courses, Massey, and Otago, Media design school in auckland. Multiple Academics Undertaking Research, games and usability, game development. Government Support, Auckland City Council in funding this event, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Media, Amateur, Grass Roots, Interest, this is a new art form that we need to push forward to the world.
We have had early success in the game industry, We are developing new and innovative Intellectual Property (IP) Some have been
PS3 Gripshift which received 2 IGN Honors PSP Cube
PC Chocolate Castle, Darwin the Monkey, The Kitchen
Largest ever NZ Game deal signed, however the release date is yet to be confirmed.
The third year of graduates coming out of the media design school.
G3 Event, without a number of people this event would never have taken place.
There is more success to come, more games in all consoles and devices are being developed and will continue to be developed.
Opportunities
Strong creative and innovation is happening in all areas
Collaborative potential within the industry and with film/tv/music
Digital Distribution, being able to distribute through the internet without having to find publishers, games go to the market, easier, faster than ever before.
Rapidly expanding Asian markets
Increased interest form investors, they did not understand the business model before, now investment capital is happening.
Links to research capability, universities, individual, they are able to get to the heart of gaming, what it is about, usability...
Challenges
Losing currency value advantage, kiwi dollar used to be 45c, now we are looking at 80c there is starting to be some difficulty with certain markets
Lack of depth to business development experience, the industry in New Zealand is really only 10 years old.
Foreign relationships expensive to build.
Difficult scaling, more jobs than people. In the 1990’s there were 3-4 companies, in 2007 there are hundreds of companies.
The skills sets are the same for a number of industries, film, visual effects, the pool is drying up. Companies competing for the good quality graduates.
Content is key.
Technology is not an issue. Using other peoples engines(middleware) means that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Opening of the event: Mayor Dick Hubbard
Talked about Auckland city wants to encourage the creative industry and is working to upgrade broadband in the central city. Showed background information on what the want to achieve with the auckland strategy that has just been approved. As a city we want to support, support the needs, requirements of the creative industry. At the moment there is only 2-4% of Girls in the IT industry, want to see this grow. To be able to understand and foster the relationships of different digital industries. Auckland is a lifestyle city. If auckland wants to attract top creative industry they have to promote themselves as a creative city. Auckland city wants to put emphasis on event promotion and have the top events. Auckland city, creative and innovative beat.
Fresh Kiwi thinking
Overview of the New Zealand Game Industry
Mario, President of the NZGDA
There are a number of companies in New Zealand who are in Game Design, and game development, all types of game development is being created, from console, handhelds and computer games. This is a very diverse area.
There is industry support in New Zealand.
NZGDA - New Zealand Game Developers Association Multiple Game Development Courses, Massey, and Otago, Media design school in auckland. Multiple Academics Undertaking Research, games and usability, game development. Government Support, Auckland City Council in funding this event, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Media, Amateur, Grass Roots, Interest, this is a new art form that we need to push forward to the world.
We have had early success in the game industry, We are developing new and innovative Intellectual Property (IP) Some have been
PS3 Gripshift which received 2 IGN Honors PSP Cube
PC Chocolate Castle, Darwin the Monkey, The Kitchen
Largest ever NZ Game deal signed, however the release date is yet to be confirmed.
The third year of graduates coming out of the media design school.
G3 Event, without a number of people this event would never have taken place.
There is more success to come, more games in all consoles and devices are being developed and will continue to be developed.
Opportunities
Strong creative and innovation is happening in all areas
Collaborative potential within the industry and with film/tv/music
Digital Distribution, being able to distribute through the internet without having to find publishers, games go to the market, easier, faster than ever before.
Rapidly expanding Asian markets
Increased interest form investors, they did not understand the business model before, now investment capital is happening.
Links to research capability, universities, individual, they are able to get to the heart of gaming, what it is about, usability...
Challenges
Losing currency value advantage, kiwi dollar used to be 45c, now we are looking at 80c there is starting to be some difficulty with certain markets
Lack of depth to business development experience, the industry in New Zealand is really only 10 years old.
Foreign relationships expensive to build.
Difficult scaling, more jobs than people. In the 1990’s there were 3-4 companies, in 2007 there are hundreds of companies.
The skills sets are the same for a number of industries, film, visual effects, the pool is drying up. Companies competing for the good quality graduates.
Content is key.
Technology is not an issue. Using other peoples engines(middleware) means that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Games, Girls and Graphics
The New Zealand Game Developers Association is running a free two day event in Auckland from Friday 13-Saturday 14th July to help inform and encourage young women about careers in interactive media in a non threatening environment.
The last event run a couple of years ago was very successful, drawing in 150 attendees. This year there is a great speaker lineup which includes a number of strong male and female role models. Although the event is skewed slightly towards females, it is completely open for males and all age groups to attend (the last event had a 50/50 mix).
The event is free of charge and registration is essential. To view the programme and register your interest see the online registration and programme.
With New Zealand's youth rapidly increasing their digital awareness, and girls showing they aren't afraid to have a go, the games and graphics industry is thriving.
Join New Zealand's Game Development Community as they converge on Auckland's Town Hall to celebrate our most digitally advanced creative industry. With two jam-packed days of National and International speakers, G3 will be both interactive and spectacularly informative.
The event is free of charge and registration is essential. To view the programme and register your interest, please follow this link http://www.shoko.co.nz/g3/
Note: This is something I saw during my travel through other peoples blogs dealing with education. I am just working out how to get into the event on Friday and Saturday. I have registered
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