second year reflection

So it's come to the end of the second year. This will probably be my last blog on this address, as we'll be getting marked next semester. It's a bit of a shame we don't get taught stuff for the last semester, but that will give me some time to work on my personal stuff, maybe some summer projects.

This time last year, I learnt so much by working on the summer projects. It felt like I was putting all the things I had been taught into practice. This year, I hope in the next semester I can get a bit more comfortable with using UDK. I'm only just ok with importing things and building BSP, which obviously isn't going to cut it for the third year. I should be able to make a small level of my own in the time before summer. I need to get some nice looking things together for a portfolio. I have an idea which I have started working on, an Egyptian tomb.

To be honest, I am very worried about the next year. I have improved this last year, I am happy with the progress I am making. But I am not sure it's enough. I think, if I cannot get a job in the games industry at the end of this course, then that's ok. I guess my priorities have changed a lot this last year. It is an industry that I would like to work in, I just don't think I'll be up to an industry standard by this time next year.

I'm also a little bit worried I won't be hired in other jobs because of my degree. Potential employers might look at the degree, then think I've been taking a mickey mouse degree. I hope that doesn't happen.

Back to course related stuff. The feedback was ok, I've got a little work  to do over the Easter. A few visual design things need a little work. Like the presentation thing. I've also got to finish off some 3d, such as putting all the assets for the queens project into a BSP. There is not much I can really say about the feedback. In the game production feedback, it says that I lack confidence, which is very true. Visual Design I seem to be making progress as well.

The visual design project have been fun this year for the most part. We've got to do a lot more Imagineering. I kind of missed the going to different places and drawing part though, although it sure is nice not be out in the cold all the time. I really need to work on this over the summer though. I don't feel very confident with my work in general. The piece that I felt the least happy with actual turned out to be one of my better pictures, possibly because I spent so long trying not to make it not suck.

In game production, it was good to work as a team in this last semester. I got some good feedback, so I'm guessing my team mates thought I did alright. It was good to see our assets actually go into a game level, and to be able to interact with them. Its helped me see the bigger picture, and to realise that spending also much time on one asset is just silly.

So next year, need to gain more confidence, get good at using udk and also make some nice portfolio pieces.