Looking for some new emerging talent or to see the types of projects MSc in MM students can create?
DCU students of the 2006/2007 M.Sc in Multimedia degree will showcase their end of year projects on Thursday the 1st of November, 2007 from 12 to 8pm. This will include a grand opening at 5 pm.
The showcase will be held in the Mezzanine Cafe, located above DCU’s main restaurant, and will offer a chance to meet with the creators.
For further info please log onto:
www.dcumultimedia2007.com
Looking for some new emerging talent or to see the types of projects MSc in MM students can create?
DCU students of the 2006/2007 M.Sc in Multimedia degree will showcase their end of year projects on Thursday the 1st of November, 2007 from 12 to 8pm. This will include a grand opening at 5 pm.
The showcase will be held in the Mezzanine Cafe, located above DCU’s main restaurant, and will offer a chance to meet with the creators.
For further info please log onto:
www.dcumultimedia2007.com
On the 9th of November TCD is hosting a workshop of high level research papers in the domains of dynamic simulation and physical interaction in virtual reality environments.
see http://www.vriphys.org/workshops/vriphys07/ for more details.
On the 9th of November TCD is hosting a workshop of high level research papers in the domains of dynamic simulation and physical interaction in virtual reality environments.
VRIPHYS2007 is the 4th workshop on VR Interaction and Physicals Simulations dealing with research on dynamic simulation for games, medical simulation and virtual environments.
While the closing date for papers is past you might be interested in attending the event. It is organised in association with the GV2 research group in Trinity and SFI.
see http://www.vriphys.org/workshops/vriphys07/ for more details.
The school of computing at DIT will be running a one day workshop on computer game design for second level students and it will take place on Saturday 24th November. Ernest Adams will once again be in town to run the workshop.
Aphra.
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Last years workshop was attended by over 100 students from more than 11 secondary schools.
The workshop which is sponsored by the DIT, The Irish Computer Society and Microsoft Ireland is hosted by games industry guru Ernest Adams. Ernest Adams is a freelance game designer, writer, and teacher, working with the International Hobo Design Group. He has been in the game industry since 1989, and is the author of three books, including the university-level textbook “Fundamentals of Game Design” with Andrew Rollings. Ernest was most recently employed as a lead designer at Bullfrog Productions on the Dungeon Keeper series, and for several years before that was the audio/video producer on the Madden NFL Football line for Electronic Arts. Ernest is also the founder and first chairman of the International Game Developers’ Association.
This is a day-long exploration of the basics of the craft of game design, covering core mechanics, gameplay, user interface design, concept art, level design, and even a small story. It begins with a lecture, then challenges you to apply what you’ve learned to flesh out a new game design concept. The classes will then be divided the into teams and each team will work on a different game idea. At the end of the day, you’ll present your results to the group and we’ll discuss how they came out. Everything is supplied and there are no pre-requisites, all you need is a love of games!
Participation in the the day is FREE (but space is limited so apply early) and all participations will receive lunch and a DIT tee-shirt. We will also be raffeling 3 XBOX 360’s and loads of XBOX 360 games!
To reserve a place for you or your class, please contact Hugh McAtamney: hmcatamney@comp.dit.ie
Phone: + 353 1 4023282
For more information see http://www.comp.dit.ie
DOCUMENTARY FILM in the 21st Century 01-02.NOV.2007
International Conference 2007 at the National Film School, IADT Dun Laoghaire
DOCUMENTARY FILM in the 21st Century
Bringing academics, practitioners and policy-makers together in a series of panel discussions and key-note addresses, alongside documentary screenings, this conference provides a forum for an interactive debate from diverse perspectives on documentary in the 21st century.
The conference will focus on three challenges to the documentary form: the increasing dominance of the reality television format, the current impact of documentary in the public sphere and the changing nature of the form in the digital age.
ORGANISERS: IADT, Dun Laoghaire, D O’Connell and H Doherty.
see http://www.mediaconference.ie/?p=22
The school of computing at DIT will be running a one day workshop on computer game design for second level students and it will take place on Saturday 24th November. Ernest Adams will once again be in town to run the workshop.
see http://www.comp.dit.ie
The call for students to apply for 25 IGDA scholarships to GDC is now open with a closing date of Dec. 7th.
for application forms see http://www.igda.org/scholarships/
The Dublin Electronic Arts Festival is taking place this year from
THURSDAY 25th to MONDAY 29th October 2007 at various sites around Dublin.
While the festival has a focus on experimental and digital arts this year its focus is also on Asian culture – defined fairly broadly.
there are loads of gigs around town and Asian DJs and visual arts around but I have to say the de Pong Game projection and public interactive installation caught my eye.
For more see www.deafireland.com
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de PONG Game™ – Projection & Public Interactive Installation
Artists: Benjamin Gaulon aka Recyclism www.recyclism.com
Date: Friday 26th, Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th October
Venue: The Globe & Georges Street architecture
Address: Georges Street, Dublin 2
Admission: Free
Time: 7pm – 10pm
WIG 2008 will take place in Warwick in the UK in association with the University of Warwick and Rare next Sept. See first announcement below.
Aphra.
The Women In Games conference encourages research and seeks to promote careers for women within the games industry. Making this career path attractive from a female perspective doesn’t just make good business sense, it’s vital both commercially and artistically.
Modern gaming is a cutting-edge industry on the forefront of technology and interactive storytelling. But for it to become a true sister medium to music and cinema, it needs greater balance in its audience and its workforce.
Even in the industry’s traditional areas of interest to women, such as art and animation, female representation is low – lower still in more scientific disciplines, such as programming. Without women taking on a greater role in the creative process, how can the end result – the games themselves – ever consistently appeal to female tastes? More broadly, what is the industry missing out on through the domination of male perspectives in the creation of games?
Women In Games was established to address such issues. A major theme of Women in Games 2008 is exploring ways of encouraging more women to enter games and increase their prominence across the industry, ultimately demonstrating how the female perspective can provide a rich new angle on the gaming experience. Other themes will focus on the latest game research with a particular emphasis on areas that affect, or are affected by, women.
Women In Games 2008 will be organised by the Department of Computer Science at Warwick University and Rare Ltd, a leading games development studio based in the UK and responsible for such classics as Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark and Viva Piñata.
• Location: Warwick University
• Date: 10th – 12th September 2008
See http://www.womeningames.com/
The Dublin Electronic Arts Festival is taking place this year from
THURSDAY 25th to MONDAY 29th October 2007 at various sites around Dublin.
While the festival has a focus on experimental and digital arts this year its focus is also on Asian culture – defined fairly broadly.
there are loads of gigs around town and Asian DJs and visual arts around but I have to say the de Pong Game projection and public interactive installation caught my eye.
‘This project explores the concept of Augmented Reality by using and interacting with urban architecture. The game is projected on a building and the limits of that building become the limits of the game area.’ Catch it at the Globe on Georges Street from 7-10 om on the 26th, 27th and 28th.
For more see www.deafireland.com
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de PONG Game™ – Projection & Public Interactive Installation
Artists: Benjamin Gaulon aka Recyclism www.recyclism.com
Date: Friday 26th, Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th October
Venue: The Globe & Georges Street architecture
Address: Georges Street, Dublin 2
Admission: Free
Time: 7pm – 10pm
The call for students to apply for 25 IGDA scholarships to GDC is now open with a closing date of Dec. 7th. We know people who got them before so we encourage you to apply so you can attend GDC for free!!! You pay your own travel though!
Aphra…
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The IGDA will award 25 scholarships to send qualified students to the 2008 Game Developers Conference. GDC is where game development professionals gather to share ideas and build the skills that the industry needs. Located in San Francisco, California, this year’s GDC will be held February 18-22, 2007.
Qualifications & Scholarship Details
* Scholarship applications must be submitted on or before Friday, December 7th, 2007.
* Only full-time university (or similar) students are eligible, and must be 18 years of age or older as of February 18, 2008.
* Applicant must be an IGDA Student Member in good standing. If you are not currently a Student Member, you must join the IGDA before applying for the scholarship. All applications will be verified.
* Past scholarship recipients are not eligible.
* Recipients will be awarded one Main Conference Pass, with access to all sessions, roundtables, and keynotes. Breakfast and lunch included.
* Students are responsible for all travel arrangements and costs.
* Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of professional game developers.
* Each scholarship recipient will be paired with an industry mentor.
* Scholarship recipients will participate in a local studio visit and orientation session on February 19th.
* Recipients will be announced before January 16th, 2008 (the early rate pricing deadline).
Judging Criteria
To help students hone their applications and to better understand what the judges are looking for, here’s the basic criteria that judges will use to rate applicants:
1. Relevance – Will attending GDC help the student achieve his or her specific educational and/or career goals?
2. Initiative – Has the student demonstrated continued dedication to game development and effort to educate themselves?
3. Special Circumstances – Has the student overcome any unusual challenges or obstacles?
4. Communication – Are the ideas expressed in the essays communicated effectively and efficiently?
5. Tilt Factor – Overall, does it seem like this student would be fun and interesting to have around at GDC?
see http://www.igda.org/scholarships/ for the application forms
Speakers for forthcoming Serious games event in Derry have been announced.
See http://www.noribic.com/sga/default.asp?sec_id=6 for more
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Professor. Paul E. Fullwood
Paul Fullwood has been appointed Professor and First Chair of Computer Games Technology at the University of Abertay – Dundee. He is the Director of IC-CAVE (the International Center for Computer Arts and Virtual Entertainment) an EU-funded video games research center. Paul is one of the founders of LoudWolf Holdings Ltd. He is also President and COO Digital Animation Inc. A founding partner of Edison Research Labs and chairman of The First Fruits Charities Inc. Formerly, Paul was Vice President, Head of World-Wide Studios for Hasbro Interactive also Vice President, Product Development for Lightspan Inc., and Founder and President of Accent Media Productions Inc.
Paul is a board member of various other companies. He is also a member of Senate for the University of Abertay.
David Wortley, Director, Serious Games Institute
David Wortley is Director of the Serious Games Institute (SGI) at Coventry University. He is responsible for the development of the Institute as a brand new self-financing initiative to establish a centre of excellence for the emerging serious games application area. Working with academics, regional development agencies and leading computer games companies, David aims to make the SGI a thought leader and focal point for games based learning, simulation and immersive 3D virtual environments.
David`s career began with a university scholarship from British Telecom to study electronic and electrical engineering at Birmingham University. After graduation, his commercial career has been spent in the converging technologies of telecommunications (British Telecom – where he also spent time as a Management Tutor at the BT Management Training College), computing (IBM – corporate sales), and digital media (Mass Mitec) with a focus on technology for competitive advantage, education and business communications.
Claus Nehmzow – PA Consulting
Claus heads up PA Consulting`s thinking in business applications of participatory media and virtual world like Second Life. He has almost twenty-five years experience in technology and strategy consulting as well as operational management experience.
Claus has broad international experience in global business development and consulting as well as from having lived for many years each in Germany, Switzerland, USA, and the UK. Claus was COO/ International Business Development director at mobile startup Shazam, Managing Director of Viant Germany, an Internet consultancy, Partner and Vice President at Booz-Allen Hamilton in London and New York, Senior Manager at accenture/Andersen Consulting. In Zurich, New York, London
Professor Lizbeth Goodman, SMARTlab Digital Media Institute, and Magic Gamelab
Dr Lizbeth Goodman is Professor of Creative Technology Innovation, and Founder/Director of the SMARTlab Digital Media Institute, and Magic Gamelab, based at the University of East London and at international sister sites globally. She is the Director of Studies for a large cohort of UEL`s practice-based PhD students Digital Media Performance Technologies: a team of professional new media artists, technologists, urban planners, and engineers conducting collaborative research into the transdisciplinary fields of technology development and art, e-health, e-inclusion, haptics and art-sci`. Her main fields of speciality are gender representation in the digital media (performance, film, moving image and games/virtual environments) and the creation of learning games developed WITH, not only for, people with disabilities and non-standard gamers`.
Lizbeth was previously founder and Director of the SMARTlab Centre at Central Saint Martins College of Art andamp; Design (2001-5). In an earlier incarnation, she founded and led the INMPR (Institute for New Media Performance Research) at the University of Surrey, following on from eight years leading the BBC Open University`s multimedia research teams in Shakespeare, Drama, Gender Studies and Literature. She has worked extensively for the BBC as a researcher, writer and presenter of Learning and Arts/Media: some of her pioneering work in multimedia perspective-driven drama and theatre games won awards and sold as bestsellers` through Routledge and BBC Worldwide in the 1990s. She is also a regular reviewer/validator for many independent courses, publishers and broadcasters, and for major funding bodies and award panels internationally. Professor Goodman won the Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer service to women and children in 2003, and has just been named Microsoft Community Affairs Senior Research Fellow on Creative Technology Innovation.
Roo Reynolds, Metaverse Evangelist, IBM
Andrew (Roo) Reynolds is a Metaverse Evangelist based at IBM`s Hursley Park laboratory in the UK. He is part of a team which facilitates the use of Virtual Worlds within IBM. All of this work is made all the more enjoyable thanks to a large world-wide community who are learning to collaborate and get things done in totally new ways.
He was previously an Emerging Technologies Specialist in which his role included attempting to keep on the early-adopter curve. While acknowledging there are not enough hours in the day to claim to be an expert in everything, Roo still reads and writes far too many blogs and tries to keep his eyes open.andnbsp; He enjoys exploring and building in the metaverse that is Second Life, uploading his photos to Flickr, keeping his bookmarks on del.icio.us, updating his playlist on Last.fm tracking his location on Plazes and what he is doing on Twitter, as well as indulging in any number of other bleeding-edge alpha geek social software type activities. Roo is married to an artist, who tries her hardest to keep him balanced.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing (Games Design and Development)
Course Code: TI018
Academic Year: 2008/2009
Location: Thurles
Number of Places: 20
Duration: 4
NQF Level of Programme: 8
Accrediting Body: HETAC
Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirements for standard entrance are a Pass in 6 subjects with two higher C3 grades and four ordinary D3
Programme Coordinator: Philip Bourke
Telephone: 0504 28258
Email: pbourke@tippinst.ie
Objectives:
This programme is designed to produce graduates with an in-depth knowledge of the critical aspects of game design and development. They will acquire the necessary knowledge to cope with the changing nature of the games industry throughout their careers. Students will be taught techniques for analysis, design and development of games for platforms such as mobiles, handheld consoles, PC’s, games consoles, interactive TV and online games in a variety of computer languages. Students will develop problem specifications and their respective solutions related to games design and development. In addition participants will be required to complete a substantial project under the guidance of an ICT Specialist. Graduates can expect to take up employment in industries ranging from small or medium-sized entertainment media enterprises to large multinationals.
Outcomes:
Graduates of the programme will understand the theory, concepts, methods, practices and principals pertaining games design and development. They will also be exposed to software development methodologies and will have an appreciation for the professional, social and ethical issues within the games development industry. The programme will provide the theoretical and practical knowledge of gaming devices. Technological and programming skills will be developed for standalone and networked platforms & operating systems. Graduates will be exposed to, team based and individual games portfolio development opportunities.
Further Study:
Graduates will be able to gain employment in different areas of entertainment media enterprises such as Mobile Application Design and Development, Design, Games Development, Interactive TV, e-Learning and Online entertainment applications. Specific jobs appropriate for graduates to consider include:
• Entertainment Media Tester
• Entertainment Media Designer
• Level Designer
• Games Developer
• Entertainment Media Project Manager
• Software Developer
• Software Designer
• Software Analyst
Tipperary Institute is a partner of the IGDA
Semester 1
Intro. to Computer Programming
Intro. to Systems Analysis & Design
Computer Architecture
Mathematical Fundamentals
Operating System Fundamentals
Fundamental Accounting
Semester 2
Introduction to OO Programming
Introduction to OO Design
Computer Organization
Mathematical Methods
Data Communications
Developing Your Potential
Semester 3
Procedural Programming
Electronics
Statistical Data Analysis
Operating Systems Management
Professional Development
Database Planning and Design
Semester 4
Data Structures
Human Computer Interface Design
Computer Systems Hardware
Internetworking
Database Systems Implementation
Work placement
Semester 5
Enterprise Client Server Programming
Computer Graphics
Software Security & Testing
Algorithms
Network Services & Applications
Semester 6
Advanced OO Programming
Introduction to Embedded Systems
Artificial Intelligence
Team & Self Management
Management and Control
Project (10 credits)
Semester 7
Programming Games Engines
Concurrent Programming
Advanced Methods in Systems Design
Graphics and Audio
Game Physics
Semester 8
Platform Games Development
Games Design
Games Artificial Intelligence
Networked Games Games and Modern Culture
Games Project (10 credits)
Graduate Profile
Graduate Profile
Pieter Vos
J2ME Developer
Nephin Games
I always wanted to be a games developer and on graduating from Tipperary Institute I was hired by Nephin Games. Tipperary Institute helped me secure a work placement in a games company, which is what, helped me to fulfil my dream of becoming a games developer. During my time in college at Tipperary Institute I got involved in events such as Robocode and got to show second level kids how to develop their own games. Tipperary Institute has an ICT Society and when I’m not programming or playing computer games I get involved in events like paintball or adventure treks organised by the college. When I left second level I looked at going to a number of colleges, after seeing what goes on in Tipperary Institute, I put their degree on my CAO. I am really glad I made that choice as the staff there helped me to achieve my dream.
For more see http://www.tippinst.ie/courses/course_details.aspx?id=31
A month of events in Brighton…including some with an irish flavour…for more see
http://www.brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/events.php
dSCAPE/07 Animation Night
Date: Wednesday 14 November
Time: 6.30 – 10.30pm
Venue: Salis Benny Theatre, Brighton
Cost: £10, register here
The dSCAPE/07 Animation Night will bring together Irish and English animators to showcase their work and discuss the socio-political influences that have informed its inception and development. This will include reflection on current economic prosperity in both the UK and more dramatically in Ireland, cultural issues such as religious conflict, immigration as well as the historic context in the British and Irish cultures of animation as artistic expression. The format will include screenings and facilitated panel discussion. Presenter details to follow soon!
Buy tickets for the event here
16th Nov
Festival Opening Night, with special preview film in Storm Cinemas, Belfast
16th-18th Nov
Cinemagic Stars Acting Masterclasses
23rd-25th Nov
Cinemagic Young Filmmaker in association with First
Light Movies: Competition showcase and masterclasses.
29th- 30th Nov:
Talent Lab masterclasses, and awards ceremony on 30 Nov.
2nd Dec:
Festival Closing Night.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS PLEASE TELEPHONE CINEMAGIC ON (from RoI +0044) 028 90 311 900
see also http://www.cinemagic.org.uk/festival07.asp
The IIA and Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards 2007 will be held on 15 November in Dublin’s Mansion House featuring the band Jungle Boogie.
All the nominee details are online so get voting before the closing date of 19th October. The final three shortlisted in each category will be posted on 26th October.
see http://www.netvisionary.ie/vote2007.html
Autodesk and Eurotek announce a new 3D seminar to showcase the first Irish public showing of the new features of both Max and Maya 2008. Max will begin shipping towards the end of October and animators will be given a sneek peak of the new features of 2008 at the show. Maya users will also see the new features of Maya 2008 which began shipping in September.
The event takes place on the 30th of October 2007
The Morgan Hotel
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Registration: 3D@eurotek.ie
More information at www.eurotek.ie
November must be games fes time across the water as Brighton have a month of digital media and game related events following on from London Games Festival. Part of the Brighton festival includes an animation night for Irish and English animators.
Might be worth checking out cheap flights to Gatwick or heading down if you are over there….
see dSCAPE/07 Animation Night
Date: Wednesday 14 November
Time: 6.30 – 10.30pm
Venue: Salis Benny Theatre, Brighton
Cost: £10,
The dSCAPE/07 Animation Night will bring together Irish and English animators to showcase their work and discuss the socio-political influences that have informed its inception and development. This will include reflection on current economic prosperity in both the UK and more dramatically in Ireland, cultural issues such as religious conflict, immigration as well as the historic context in the British and Irish cultures of animation as artistic expression. The format will include screenings and facilitated panel discussion. Presenter details to follow soon!
for more on the event see http://www.brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/programme/dSCAPE_animation.php
Or you can head early and catch the London games festival from the 22nd of Oct until early November and then head down to Brighton. See http://www.londongamesfestival.co.uk/Home.aspx
Event includes a Women in Games mixer event i.e. a social night out!
This might be of interest to some. It is also in a nice central location which is easy to get to.
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Computer Game Analysis, Film Theory and the Future of Screen Studies
November 9th 2007
10 am – 4 pm Elvin Hall
Institute Of Education,
University of London
London WC1H 0AL, UK
At this one-day seminar speakers will address the relationship between computer games, film and film theory for a post-graduate Film Studies/Media Studies/Game Studies audience.
Programme
Introduction: David Buckingham
Session 1: Games, Play and Players
Diane Carr, Helen Kennedy, David Surman
Chair: Esther MacCallum Stewart
Session 2: The Horror Session
Ewan Kirkland, Natasha Whiteman, Tanya Krzywinska
Chair: Greg Singh
Session 3: The Question of Adaptation
Barry Atkins, Alex Sulman
Chair: Andrew Burn
To book a place and register for this event please go to:
http://igrs.sas.ac.uk/events/conference/conf_vidgames1.htm
£10.00 full fare, £0.00 students. Places are limited.
For more information, abstracts and presenter details please go to:
http://playhouse.wordpress.com/gamefilm-event-9112007/
This is a London University Screen Studies Group event hosted by the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media, IOE, University of London, convened by Diane Carr.
The University of London Screen Studies Group is composed of film and media scholars from various institutions within the University of London, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Institute of Education, King’s College, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway, School of Oriental and African Studies, University College, and the School of Advanced Study.
Announced already on the boards and also in today’s Digital Ireland supplement of the Irish independent here is the full press release on the news that Blizzard Entertainment is setting up a customer support centre in Cork.
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Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today (19th September 2007) announced that Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., with the support of IDA Ireland, will establish a European customer support centre in Cork City. An initial 50 positions will be created by this investment, rising to over 100 within three years.
Blizzard Entertainment®, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a world-renowned developer and publisher of entertainment software, including digital titles such as World of Warcraft®, Diablo® and StarCraft®. The company’s industry leading subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game[1]World of Warcraft allows thousands of people to play and interact simultaneously in a shared online environment. More than 9 million players worldwide subscribe to World of Warcraft.
Blizzard is establishing the European customer support centre in Cork City in order to meet the demands of its expanding player base and substantially increase the level of support it can offer European players. The Cork facility will complement and strengthen Blizzard’s existing primary European offices, located near Paris, and also work closely with the company’s global teams to provide high-quality customer service and online infrastructure maintenance.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Martin said: “Blizzard Entertainment is a global leader in the entertainment software industry, setting the standard for online gaming on the personal computer. This decision by Blizzard to establish a new European customer support centre in Cork is further evidence of how Ireland is viewed internationally as a leading location for cutting edge investment in the exciting world of digital content.”
“Interactive entertainment is one of the fastest-growing and most popular recreational sectors globally, and this demand is creating new opportunities for Ireland as a platform for this highly innovative industry,” added Minister Martin. “It is a strategic target for IDA Ireland and we are fast becoming a location of choice for many of the world’s most advanced Internet and digital content companies, as Blizzard has shown today.”
Mike Morhaime, President and Co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, expressed confidence in the ability of the Cork office to strengthen the company’s support offerings throughout the continent. “We are fully committed to increasing the scale of our services as demand for ‘World of Warcraft’ and other Blizzard games continues to grow in Europe,” he said. “With this new office in Ireland, we’ll be able to continue providing our European players with a high level of support for many years to come.”
Ends/ETE1787
See http://www.entemp.ie/press/2007/20070919a.htm
Notes to Editor
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft and the Warcraft®, StarCraft, and Diablo series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard-europe.com), a division of Vivendi Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard’s track record includes ten #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active users.
For further information:
Blizzard Entertainment SAS –
Julia Gastaldi, Director of Communication and Community, Europe
Contact at jgastaldi@blizzard.com
Dundalk Institute of Technology offer a B.Sc. (Honours) in Computing in Games Development.
For more information on this course see http://ww2.dkit.ie/schools_and_departments/informatics_music_and_creative_media/computing_mathematics/dk820
The course is located within the School of Computer Science & Statistics in Trinity College Dublin and was launched in 2007.
This one year MSc builds upon existing undergraduate and MSc level courses offered by the School and it interfaces directly with research groups within the School including the Graphics, Vision and Visualisation group which is the primary contributor to the course.
The course has been designed in collaboration with leading academics and industry and is focused exclusively on the technology driving the future of entertainment, media and communications.
There is a specific focus on interactive and real-time systems and this is reflected in the course syllabus.
For full details, see:
http://isg.cs.tcd.ie/IET/
The LUDO course at Ballyfermot College of Further Education pre-empted the demand for third level training in computer-games design and development.
LUDO was initially intended for those who would like to enter the industry from leaving certificate but who failed to achieve the standards at second level demanded of other relevant third level courses. However, increased demand and the growing complexity of games development has required that entry requirements be increased.
The course, which has a duration of one year, covers the basics of C++ programming, 3D modelling and animation and analysis and design of games. There is a final project requirement, which takes the form of a partially implemented example of a game concept and design presented as a kind of “pitch” for an idea. There are no options during the course. On successful completion students receive the FETAC Level 2 Award in Information Technology.
We spoke to Diarmuid O’Brien, the vice principal of Ballyfermot College and he underlined that the course is intended as a solid foundation for anyone with the intention of working in games development. The course, he said, introduces the techniques and concepts behind audio, video and programming with application to interactive entertainment solely in mind.
In 2002 the intake was expanded and the course now takes in 40 students each year. Entry to the course is based on a basic leaving certificate or equivalent, an interview and a portfolio. The portfolio can include animations, artwork, multimedia – it is important that candidates display, above all, an interest and enthusiasm for games development.
Essentials:
Location:Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10.
Course: LUDO – Training in Computer Games and Interactive Entertainment Development (FETAC level 2 Award in Information Technology)
Duration: 1 Year
Course Strengths:
3D, Audio and C++ programming.
Course Weaknesses:
The course is short and provides only a foundation in computer games design.
More information: http://216.240.136.7/bcfe/courseinfo.php?course=31
Contact: Main Office: 01 626 9421 or info@bcfe.cdvec.ie
This two-year diploma course in computer games design commenced in 2003.
Running in Ballyfermot alongside LUDO, the now well-established 1-year games development course, the emphasis of the diploma is firmly upon the development, by students, of a game or end product before their completion of the course.
3D modelling using 3DSMAX, C++ programming, sound design, game analysis and business theory are all included on the proposed syllabus. There is no plan to provide options in the course but Diarmuid O’Brien, Vice Principal of BCFE, told us that a streaming system for those who might prefer 3D, audio or programming as electives may be implemented.
It is intended that a lot of “cross-fertilisation” between courses at Ballyfermot will occur, with animators and games designers in particular being encouraged to work together on final projects.
The entry requirements state 2 honours in the Leaving Certificate. There is an interview requirement and it is recommended that applicants have a good command of mathematics in order that they can cope with the programming modules. The course includes small business development modules in order to encourage graduates to start games development businesses of their own in the future.
Essentials:
Location: Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10.
Course: Higher National Diploma in Computer Games Design
Duration: 2 Years
Course Strengths:
3D, Audio, C++ programming, business, games theory and analysis. Access to a state of the art graphics engine for all students.
Course Weaknesses:
The short 2-year duration.
More info: http://216.240.136.7/bcfe/courseinfo.php?course=31
Main Office: 01 626 9421 or info@bcfe.cdvec.ie
Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) offers a range of courses in Film, Animation, Multimedia and TV production.
For the aspiring animator BCFE provides a course focusing solely on animated computer generated images. The Higher National Diploma in Classical and Computer Animation is firmly rooted in the skills of classical drawing and the course applies these skills to development of images in modern imaging packages including 3DSMAX and Photoshop. The course lasts 2 years and has no part-time option.
Mark Byrne, who teaches on the course, emphasizes that the art skills, particularly life-drawing, are integral in the philosophy and subject matter of the course which was built with games development in mind. Students learn to incorporate these traditional art skills in 3-D images through production practices including the scripting and storyboarding stages. The course has healthy industry links with a lot of production companies in the U.K. Graduates have been hired by Rare, Lionhead and Codemasters the latter of these hired 20 new employees in 2001, 12 of whom were BCFE graduates. However, the course is not to be confused with a game development course – there is no programming content nor theory of game development covered.
Pre-requisites for the course include a portfolio presentation and some art qualification; a higher C3 in Leaving Certificate Art or FETAC level 2 award (obtainable through BCFE’s Animation Studies course) will suffice. Mature students are welcome to apply and details of application procedure, fees etc. are all available from the college website. There are 36 places on the HND course every year. The course holds an open day in May each year which those interested in applying should attend.
Essentials:
Location: Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10.
Course: Higher National Diploma (HND) in 3-D Computer Modeling and Animation.
Duration: 2 Years
Course Strengths: 3DSMAX, Life Drawing Skills, Photoshop – the course produces fully qualified computer animators.
Course Weaknesses:
There is no programming or game development theory covered.
More info: http://216.240.136.7/bcfe/courseinfo.php?course=23
Contact: Main Office 01 626 9421 or info@bcfe.cdvec.ie