Monday, December 10, 2012
Capstone Reflection
I feel that Capstones are important. There are a few different reasons why I think this. I also think that capstones could be improved upon so that more students can use them for their intended purpose. I understand that they are in a constant state of evolution that the faculty wants them to be as beneficial as possible for the students. I hear that they will be pushing a team concept for capstones which I think is an excellent idea, rarely in the industry will you be on an island only working with yourself.
First the capstones are meant to show the culmination of a students time in the program. They should ideally mix in different things that they learned while at school. I do not feel they should be contained to only one aspect of the skills they have learned. Secondly it gives the students an opportunity to see who they may be competing for jobs with out in the industry and what they may need to work on to be ready for that. And perhaps most importantly it gives them exposure to those potential employers that come to see what our school turns out. So to echo what someone from class said it is really important for us as students to put our best foot forward. If we do not empress those employers they may be less likely to come back for future classes.
Capstone Questions
Nate Moody
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
I wanted to further extract my abilities in storytelling.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
I actually didn't have to change it.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
It was useful because I needed some guideposts to go buy, but they were never really concrete, just guide marks.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be?
I wanted to have more physical materials but couldn't make it happen due to cost.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
I’d say do something you’re familiar with--don't delve too deep into uncharted territory. Don't do something completely different that you’re not comfortable with.
Ben Mausbaum
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
It sort of happened by chance--It was something that started as a documentary about the Pogue Run Tunnel and it ended up that all the information was coming at me from so many angles concerning it. My father who is in the film and works for Citizen’s Energy knew a lot of people and he knows alot about as well, so it seems like an obvious thing to make a documentary about.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
Like I said earlier, It was originally going to just be about the history of the Pogue Run Tunnel, but then it expanded into more issues, like water quality and pollution. A lot of people are concerned about these issues--this is a subject that unless you’re a big geek like I am, you probably don't know a lot about it. It was really something that could educate, as well as entertain.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
I made it after I was done with the capstone. I never do that. I just look at it from, “here I am doing something, and this is how long I have to complete it”. You can't really plan for certain things that spontaneously happen.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be? I feel like I can do it all on my own--if I don’t have the greatest equipment, I’ll just make due with what I have. I really should have used more of the schools better equipment. There are certains shots that are jiggly, or the lighting is exactly as I want it. It would have been nice to have a gib and a monitor and a dolly--all kinds of stuff like that.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
Honestly, if you’re anything like me, you’ll plan ahead of time. Take advantage of independent studies if possible before capstone. It will really give you a chance to research and do a lot of intangible stuff that doesn't have a lot of payoff. Don't be afraid to bite off more than you think you need. You will always want more later than you were able to get together.
Xian
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
Because I always wanted to do 3D art and be a character artist.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
I originally was going to do three 3D characters, but ended up only doing 2. I was also originally going to do fun cartoon characters, but they didn't really turn out.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
Everytime I set my plan as 100% I only get 80% done, so I tried for 120% to make sure I could get everything done on time.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be?
First I would never do the hair (on 3D character) like this because it doesn't work out in Maya. Second, I would have a simple scene to set the characters in made of simple geometry.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
Watch out for your scope starting out.
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
I wanted to further extract my abilities in storytelling.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
I actually didn't have to change it.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
It was useful because I needed some guideposts to go buy, but they were never really concrete, just guide marks.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be?
I wanted to have more physical materials but couldn't make it happen due to cost.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
I’d say do something you’re familiar with--don't delve too deep into uncharted territory. Don't do something completely different that you’re not comfortable with.
Ben Mausbaum
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
It sort of happened by chance--It was something that started as a documentary about the Pogue Run Tunnel and it ended up that all the information was coming at me from so many angles concerning it. My father who is in the film and works for Citizen’s Energy knew a lot of people and he knows alot about as well, so it seems like an obvious thing to make a documentary about.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
Like I said earlier, It was originally going to just be about the history of the Pogue Run Tunnel, but then it expanded into more issues, like water quality and pollution. A lot of people are concerned about these issues--this is a subject that unless you’re a big geek like I am, you probably don't know a lot about it. It was really something that could educate, as well as entertain.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
I made it after I was done with the capstone. I never do that. I just look at it from, “here I am doing something, and this is how long I have to complete it”. You can't really plan for certain things that spontaneously happen.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be? I feel like I can do it all on my own--if I don’t have the greatest equipment, I’ll just make due with what I have. I really should have used more of the schools better equipment. There are certains shots that are jiggly, or the lighting is exactly as I want it. It would have been nice to have a gib and a monitor and a dolly--all kinds of stuff like that.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
Honestly, if you’re anything like me, you’ll plan ahead of time. Take advantage of independent studies if possible before capstone. It will really give you a chance to research and do a lot of intangible stuff that doesn't have a lot of payoff. Don't be afraid to bite off more than you think you need. You will always want more later than you were able to get together.
Xian
1. Why did you choose this for your capstone project?
Because I always wanted to do 3D art and be a character artist.
2. What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?
I originally was going to do three 3D characters, but ended up only doing 2. I was also originally going to do fun cartoon characters, but they didn't really turn out.
3. What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?
Everytime I set my plan as 100% I only get 80% done, so I tried for 120% to make sure I could get everything done on time.
4. If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be?
First I would never do the hair (on 3D character) like this because it doesn't work out in Maya. Second, I would have a simple scene to set the characters in made of simple geometry.
5. What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?
Watch out for your scope starting out.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Capstone Timeline
Going about creating a timeline for my capstone was very quick but far from painless. Putting your idea of a schedule down really shines light as to how little time we actually have before we are going to be presenting. The good news is that I feel we have enough time left I was able to schedule work in a way that gives us more time for each task than I think we will actually need to complete them. Sort of a worse case scenario as far as time goes. So as we complete our tasks sooner than was scheduled for we will be able to start on new tasks or be possibly be able to expand the scope of our capstone in bits.
Basically the first half of next semester will be concentrating on getting the art assets completed with the last half compiling the code and testing the game. I feel the art will be the most time consuming aspect. I think we have a solid plan and while it does make you anxious to see our finite amount of time to work on this, the timeline also lets you see each part broken down into manageable items.
Basically the first half of next semester will be concentrating on getting the art assets completed with the last half compiling the code and testing the game. I feel the art will be the most time consuming aspect. I think we have a solid plan and while it does make you anxious to see our finite amount of time to work on this, the timeline also lets you see each part broken down into manageable items.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Peer capstone support group
Categories my capstone falls into:
- 2D
- Game
- Interactive
- Animation
- Actionscript
- Flash
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Arcade Cabinet
Class Discussion
I grouped up with Bekah Crowmer to discuss and pitch our capstone ideas to each other. It was a very informative and helpful activity.
Blind pitching an idea that is still very much in development to someone that has no preconceptions about it was a bit intimidating. Bekah was very receptive to the concept and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the Poundtown concept. Just hearing myself deliver the pitch and seeing how it was received gave me ideas on how to improve or explore new ideas.
I was very impressed in hearing just how much Bekah has developed her idea for capstone. She has been working on it for sometime now and every question I asked her about it she immediately was able to elaborate with very fine detail without any hesitation. Loved how well she knows what she is doing inside and out.
Blind pitching an idea that is still very much in development to someone that has no preconceptions about it was a bit intimidating. Bekah was very receptive to the concept and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the Poundtown concept. Just hearing myself deliver the pitch and seeing how it was received gave me ideas on how to improve or explore new ideas.
I was very impressed in hearing just how much Bekah has developed her idea for capstone. She has been working on it for sometime now and every question I asked her about it she immediately was able to elaborate with very fine detail without any hesitation. Loved how well she knows what she is doing inside and out.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Capstone Ideas
Myself and Adam John are working on our capstones together. Our capstone will be a 2D side scrolling platformer/action game. (think Contra, Metal Slug or Blackthorne) It will feature all original pixel art, sound effects and music. It will probably be a little bit slower paced than Contra and Metal Slug, but quicker than Blackthorne.
Pound Town will be a noir story with bright saturated colors, kind of like Dick Tracy. It will have over the top game play with a cover system. It will feature the look of 8/16 bit graphics, not the smooth flash art of today.
We hope to present the game in a custom built arcade cabinet and are very excited to be working on a project like this.
Pound Town will be a noir story with bright saturated colors, kind of like Dick Tracy. It will have over the top game play with a cover system. It will feature the look of 8/16 bit graphics, not the smooth flash art of today.
We hope to present the game in a custom built arcade cabinet and are very excited to be working on a project like this.
Monday, August 27, 2012
What is capstone?
A capstone is the culmination of your undergraduate career where you hopefully tie in multiple skill sets you have acquired to create a product. The end result can range from a prototype to a polished product. The capstone should neither be too simple or too extravagant. You want something manageable that will maximize your chances at succeeding in that which you have set out to do.
I hope to come away from this capstone with a game that feels like a finished product. I want it to 'just work' with as few bugs as possible. I want it to feel like a professional product that is self contained(i.e. I do not want it to feel like a level just designed in a level editor). The most important thing that I want is for the game to just be fun.
The faculty want students to spend at least 2 semesters working on their capstones because the pre-production phase should probably easily account for as much time as the production phase of the capstone. Nailing down just what you want to do and how best to accomplish that I believe sets a bar as to how successful your capstone can be.
I hope to come away from this capstone with a game that feels like a finished product. I want it to 'just work' with as few bugs as possible. I want it to feel like a professional product that is self contained(i.e. I do not want it to feel like a level just designed in a level editor). The most important thing that I want is for the game to just be fun.
The faculty want students to spend at least 2 semesters working on their capstones because the pre-production phase should probably easily account for as much time as the production phase of the capstone. Nailing down just what you want to do and how best to accomplish that I believe sets a bar as to how successful your capstone can be.
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