I think I figured it out... maybe.
The reason why I might dislike the video game industry is because of its target audience. What pop culture classifies as "a gamer" is really upsetting to me. I hate the kind of gamer that is portrayed on TV or in the news. I hate the kind of people that are playing shooters on xbox live and screaming "you just got head-shotted NOOB!" into their headsets.
This fact is something I've known for a while: Society's "gamers" are annoying as shit. But what pissed me off most about the the whole video game spectrum may be that those "gamers" are what defines the genre. If you look at movies, you think of great films, shot composure, music, going to a theater; that kind of stuff. With music you think of instruments, beats, and the artists that record it all. With video games you think of the god damn gamers.
That's not to say that actual games and graphics and stuff don't come into your mind, but when I think of video gaming, I think of the people that play games and that bothers me. When you think about music, you never think about the people that actually listen to it, or the people that go to movies; but with games, those "gamers" have become part of its definition.
The more you think about it though, you realize it has to be that way, because video games are a social medium. You are actually having an experience and it is such that in many cases you can share your experience with others in a multiplayer environment. So when considering that kind of a situation, having the "gamers" be part of that overview of the genre makes sense. Regardless, that doesn't mean it's any less annoying.
Maybe I'm just crazy and that isn't how things are at all. This was just a little revelation that I had which helped me understand my own point of view.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Finally finished this thing
Ok, this is just a quick update. I finally finished this character. He's fully rigged and skinned. 6708 triangles with 100% hand painted textures.
So, now I can move on to more important models. Top priority now is to finish the mobile crane for Flaming Brain studios. I have the high poly mesh started and the low poly mesh is all unwrapped, so it shouldn't take too too long. After that, my portfolio needs props. I'm going to be making a lot of guns and probably some blades and shit too.
Also, after looking at my characters, I need a hot chick, and a big ugly monster. I technically have those already, but I need "good" ones. I also need some cartoony characters, but that stuff comes after props.
Let's see how much I can get done as fast as possible!
GO!
So, now I can move on to more important models. Top priority now is to finish the mobile crane for Flaming Brain studios. I have the high poly mesh started and the low poly mesh is all unwrapped, so it shouldn't take too too long. After that, my portfolio needs props. I'm going to be making a lot of guns and probably some blades and shit too.
Also, after looking at my characters, I need a hot chick, and a big ugly monster. I technically have those already, but I need "good" ones. I also need some cartoony characters, but that stuff comes after props.
Let's see how much I can get done as fast as possible!
GO!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Rolling
I'm getting my character done. I should have all of the texture maps done tomorrow (technically today). The BIG goal I have in mind is to actually master the Reaction Manager and have the character rigged by the end of the next day. I have a long history with the Reaction Manager and have groan to dislike it a lot, but I feel if I can master it: I can master anything. This character really needs to get done too because I need to move on to more important things link the mobile crane. If I don't finish this character now, I never will, so I have to hit things one at a time. After this is done, the rest should just start pouring out.
I finally obtained a second monitor today. Hopefully this can help my performance down the road.
All I know is that I really need to get my shit in gear. These models need done, my site needs updated, and I need to land a fucking job. The only way I see this happening is if my portfolio gets a drastic upgrade. I need more and better, FAST!
Buckle up
I finally obtained a second monitor today. Hopefully this can help my performance down the road.
All I know is that I really need to get my shit in gear. These models need done, my site needs updated, and I need to land a fucking job. The only way I see this happening is if my portfolio gets a drastic upgrade. I need more and better, FAST!
Buckle up
Monday, January 3, 2011
New Year = More Fear
I'm kind of stuck in a rut right now and I'm having quite the time trying to crawl out of it. My site sits online pretty much the same as it was when I graduated and I am still without a job. I know that it's practically impossible for my to get picked up unless I have new and better work in my portfolio, but it's so damn hard when you have no motivation.
Today I worked on my character model for about 3 or 4 hours, which is good considering. The new year hit and I made a couple resolutions. 1 being that I will open up 3Ds Max on my desktop at least once a day. Even if I just move a pixel, I have to do it. If I start to work on something, I'm more apt to actually "work" on something. I'm also telling myself to do at least 1 sketch a day because my 2D work has gotten kinda sloppy. If this keeps up, I should be back on my feet and ready to start applying to the big places again.
As far as the progress on my self portrait model, I have the high poly completed (although I'll probably go back and tweak just a few minor things) and I have the retopped, low poly mesh completed as well! Now I can unwrap and start projecting. The entire model SHOULD be done, textured, rigged and skinned before the end of the month. I have spent WAY to fucking long on this model and I'm really pissed off at myself. But it should all work out soon.
I'm also working on a vehicle for Flaming Brain studios, but I've been slacking on that because of my character model. Everything's just kinda backed up right now. However, it will all get done. Especially now that I've kicked into overdrive (even though my current version of 'overdrive' would have been considered 'lazy' when I was still at school). Regardless, I have faith that I can get back to my 'work horse' state of mind and actually start busting ass.
It's weird. I am free. I don't have to work, and I'm out of school. There is nothing for me to do and yet I feel more stressed than I ever have before.
I'm ready for a change, and I think that this is the year.
Today I worked on my character model for about 3 or 4 hours, which is good considering. The new year hit and I made a couple resolutions. 1 being that I will open up 3Ds Max on my desktop at least once a day. Even if I just move a pixel, I have to do it. If I start to work on something, I'm more apt to actually "work" on something. I'm also telling myself to do at least 1 sketch a day because my 2D work has gotten kinda sloppy. If this keeps up, I should be back on my feet and ready to start applying to the big places again.
As far as the progress on my self portrait model, I have the high poly completed (although I'll probably go back and tweak just a few minor things) and I have the retopped, low poly mesh completed as well! Now I can unwrap and start projecting. The entire model SHOULD be done, textured, rigged and skinned before the end of the month. I have spent WAY to fucking long on this model and I'm really pissed off at myself. But it should all work out soon.
I'm also working on a vehicle for Flaming Brain studios, but I've been slacking on that because of my character model. Everything's just kinda backed up right now. However, it will all get done. Especially now that I've kicked into overdrive (even though my current version of 'overdrive' would have been considered 'lazy' when I was still at school). Regardless, I have faith that I can get back to my 'work horse' state of mind and actually start busting ass.
It's weird. I am free. I don't have to work, and I'm out of school. There is nothing for me to do and yet I feel more stressed than I ever have before.
I'm ready for a change, and I think that this is the year.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Shoes
This is just a quick update on progress. As you can see below, I have the shorts of my latest character model pretty much finished and have moved on to the shoes. You have to understand though that I am working at a very slow pace. I really haven't even worked on the model at all for the past 2 or 3 days; what with Thanksgiving and all. But I hope to start working on it again and get it done quickly because Dominance War starts up in January and I would really LOVE to enter it.
I also drove up to meet some YouTube friends the other day and I edited another video that we shot. It's a sequel to an older one, but it's pretty action packed.
I also drove up to meet some YouTube friends the other day and I edited another video that we shot. It's a sequel to an older one, but it's pretty action packed.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Working
My quest for a job continues. Lately I have been applying for more local jobs than industry ones simply because I want to be able to work and make money while I continue to build my portfolio. I need a lot more finished, industry level work in my portfolio in order to impress studio employers.
I am still working on my self portrait model. Here is what I have done of the high poly model so far:
I updated my site today with the Work in Progress of this model just to show that I'm not sitting around doing nothing, not to mention I think that this model already exceeds everything that is already on my site. Every model I make is better than the last. The rate that I'm completing things is slow though. This character model is taking way too long and I'm hoping to speed up the process soon so I can start working on my prop portfolio. Although, I fear a job would slow down this process even more.
It all boils down to the fact that I'm still adjusting to being out of school. It's only been a few months since I graduated and being at home with absolutely nothing to do is strange. Once I get accustom to a new schedule however, I should be able to begin churning out a constant stream of new content, posting on forums, and hopefully land some kind of work in the game industry.
I am still working on my self portrait model. Here is what I have done of the high poly model so far:
I updated my site today with the Work in Progress of this model just to show that I'm not sitting around doing nothing, not to mention I think that this model already exceeds everything that is already on my site. Every model I make is better than the last. The rate that I'm completing things is slow though. This character model is taking way too long and I'm hoping to speed up the process soon so I can start working on my prop portfolio. Although, I fear a job would slow down this process even more.
It all boils down to the fact that I'm still adjusting to being out of school. It's only been a few months since I graduated and being at home with absolutely nothing to do is strange. Once I get accustom to a new schedule however, I should be able to begin churning out a constant stream of new content, posting on forums, and hopefully land some kind of work in the game industry.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Adventure Time
The other day I finished this peice of fan art for Adventure Time. AT is one of my newest favorite cartoons so I really wanted to make something with its characters. You can see it here http://allthatisfuzzy.deviantart.com/art/Adventure-Time-182603852?q=&qo=
I'm currently trying to get a hook on an art style for a comic book project. It's taking longer than I thought, but I've been looking at more and more comics recently to try and pull different things from different sources. The Dark Tower comics have an amazing look to them, but I've also been re-reading Watchmen as well as read the Walking Dead for the first time. They all have very different looks and feels but I'm confident that I can come up with something that's unique for this new project.
Ontop of all that, I'm still working on my self portrait model. I finally got the hang of retopologizing my models in 3Ds Max using the freeform tools. That is VERY exciting. Once I get all of these other projects under wraps, I can finish that model and then hopefully make a shit-ton of props.
This last week I made a few more YouTube backgrounds for some folks that requested them. The one you can see at youtube.com/couchpotatotheatre and the other at youtube.com/emmyblogs These don't really take long to do so they haven't gotten in the way of my other work.
However, this weekend I will be heading up to Parma Ohio for the annual Ghoulardifest. I missed last year due to swine flu but the year before that I helped work the event with Mike from couchpotatotheatre as well as the rest of the guys from TheTriangleChannel. This year will be no different, so I will be up there working for at least two days, staying the night at a friends apartment in Cleveland. Come stop by and meet everyone!
That's all for now. I have to go draw myself out of a hole.
-Matt
I'm currently trying to get a hook on an art style for a comic book project. It's taking longer than I thought, but I've been looking at more and more comics recently to try and pull different things from different sources. The Dark Tower comics have an amazing look to them, but I've also been re-reading Watchmen as well as read the Walking Dead for the first time. They all have very different looks and feels but I'm confident that I can come up with something that's unique for this new project.
Ontop of all that, I'm still working on my self portrait model. I finally got the hang of retopologizing my models in 3Ds Max using the freeform tools. That is VERY exciting. Once I get all of these other projects under wraps, I can finish that model and then hopefully make a shit-ton of props.
This last week I made a few more YouTube backgrounds for some folks that requested them. The one you can see at youtube.com/couchpotatotheatre and the other at youtube.com/emmyblogs These don't really take long to do so they haven't gotten in the way of my other work.
However, this weekend I will be heading up to Parma Ohio for the annual Ghoulardifest. I missed last year due to swine flu but the year before that I helped work the event with Mike from couchpotatotheatre as well as the rest of the guys from TheTriangleChannel. This year will be no different, so I will be up there working for at least two days, staying the night at a friends apartment in Cleveland. Come stop by and meet everyone!
That's all for now. I have to go draw myself out of a hole.
-Matt
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