hi im new and need advice

[Anonymous]

hi, im new here.

I really need help with this, at the minute i am a 3d modeller( just doing home projects and learning as i go), im 18 years old and am looking for courses for 3d modelling in Ireland, would anyone have names or links to courses in Ireland that concentrates mainly on 3d modelling and animation. I have looked around the main GD.ie site and have found some good courses, the only problem is they also teach you how to do things like program and other things that I have no interest in, is it required to learn these other aspects of game development if I want to go on to become a professional 3d modeller and animator? or can i choose my subjects in the collage???

I would be very greatfull if someone could answer this for me

thank you

shane murphy.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at iadt animation? You need a diverse portfolio and you need to have an interest in traditional animation techniques too. Fair to say its not centered on 3D but you can always bend the brief for assignments in an arty College.

http://www.iadt.ie/en/ProspectiveStudents/SchoolsCourses/SchoolofCreativeArts/BAHonoursinAnimation/

[Anonymous]

thanks for the reply, ill look into it.

[Anonymous]

Also check out Ballyfermot’s animation Hnd. It’s 2 years with the opertunity to progress into a 2 year degree programme if you wish. It gives you the flexibility to change direction and not waste a few years, which is always worth bearing in mind. It’s classical and computer animation but dont let that put you off. Having a solid foundation in classical art can be a HUGE help when it comes to 3d, so no matter where you end up going, if its taught take advantage of it.

http://216.240.136.7/bcfe/courseinfo.php?course=23

Some of the guys coming out of there are very very good. I know a good few people that have gone into this in college, the best advice I’ve ever heard is "you’ll get out what you put in".

[Anonymous]

I would say your better off doing something with a strong traditional element in it like the animation course David advised. Its artist skill and knowledge that will get you the job, and 3d is just another tool, Proficiency in 3D is no guarantee for a job.

If you are weak in traditional art, then I would advise you do maybe one of the 3D courses that dont require a background in art and learn it yourself in your spare time. If you do have a good traditional background then definitely a college that teaches you more traditional is way better for you in the long term. The traditional art skills you acquire will teach you alot more faster than 3D will and allow you to adapt to new technologies easier.

Not saying dont do 3D art, I am a 3D artist myself, just dont get caught up in the hype that if u learn a 3D app u create good art. Most of the great 3D artists u c, if not nearly all, have come from a traditional background like painting or sculpting. 3D is great but it again, is just a tool it wont hide the lack of art skills.

good luck.

[Anonymous]

This is a topic a made, I know its about stuff in the UK but below are three quotes from the topic that are worth a read.
http://www.game-artist.net/forums/general-discussion/4030-looking-recommendations-game-art-degrees-uk.html

My initial advice would be that you might do better to skip a games art degree get a degree in a related field but in something that still interests you (a course based around traditional art or storywriting, for example) and go about learning and experimenting with the games stuff in your own time. It’s not often the degree that matters, only that you have one.

If you do go for a games art course (including Teesside, I’m on that course now) I can’t stress enough not to take everything you’re taught as absolute law and don’t wait on the course to teach you things – go and learn them under your own initiative. Make an effort to do as much, if not more, 3D work outside of the course than inside it.

Ultimately, what I mean to say is that you should be ok so long as you don’t rely on the course to teach you all you need to know (and as you’re around on forums such as these already, it looks as if you won’t :P).

As for universities… I’m told that Swansea, Hull, Huddersfield and Teesside are up amongst the best in the UK for games art. Can’t really verify any of those claims, though :P
[/quote:661a392aed]

Which ever uni you go to, it’ll always come down to the effort you put in outside the course.
At the moment, I’m on my second year at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communications in London. I don’t think the time we spend during the class hours is enough to gain you a decent knowledge. A lot of class mates only learn or fiddle with the 3d tools only at college and just party the rest of the time.

Make sure you invest a lot of effort outside of the class
[/quote:661a392aed]

I’m on my final year at staffordshire university on a games design course, all I can say is that modeling/texturing is not something that can really be taught, its just up to you how much you want to learn – pretty much everything can be found online anyway.[/quote:661a392aed]

[Anonymous]

thanks everone, im actually at a course now for traditinal art, but my tutor says she does not think its the right course for me to be doing, for alittle more info for veryone, Im a pritty decent artsit( i started off as a 2d artist, one of those people with a talent for it, lol) and i have been doing 3d for th last maybe 2 years, i could show some examples for anyone interested??

[Anonymous]

Great then you should perhaps doing something more 3D intensive so, the course that John advised is a good one from what I have heard. And sure some artwork around is always nice.

[Anonymous]

You will get out what you put in to whatever course that you do, and I would certainly recommend that you put at least as much effort into your traditional art as 3d modelling. All of this having been said, i would not in all conscience recommend an animation course to anyone whose interest is in modelling.

If this is truly where your skill and interests lie you can look forward to nothing short of derision from some of the tutors in ballyfermot. ("Whats the difference between 3d modellers and bananas? 3d modellers are 10 for a penny")

Look at some of the courses in the uk. I’m a bit out of touch now but from what I recall 3dworld magazine did a league of the best schools in the world a couple of months ago. (neither Dublin schools came anywhere in the Uk and Ireland category even)

Ask any college that you are thinking of applying to if you can contact some graduates….they will give you a good idea of what the course is really like.

Don’t worry about the actual qualification,(degree, diploma, certificate). Concentrate on your show reel. There are lots of people out there with degrees in animation who have never and will never work in the industry.

Invest in good books and training dvd’s and try to attend industry events, where you can pick up a lot of great information from industry experts. (GDC, Siggraph, etc).

Work really hard, and compare yourself to the standard that you see in published games and feature films, not to your tutors or classmates.

http://www.3dworldmag.com/page/3dworld?entry=3d_world_98_s_cgi

[Anonymous]

Hum valid point Archimage3d about there being a bit of an elitist attitude amongst animators (and everyone else for that matter), I have heard that phrase bandied about. You can focus on modeling there and become very good at it but I suppose you would have to be passionate about animation too. Your choice in the end.

Oh and Archimage3d I’m pretty sure if you check that supplement that came with Edge again you’ll find the Ballyfermot came in the top 10 schools in Uk/Ireland.

Also college’s wont give out contact details about any of their students. First off if they have anything to hide they wont want to and second there is the Data Protection Act.

Where ever you end up though I do agree that you should compare yourself to the standard that you see in published games not to your tutors or classmates.

[Anonymous]

I’m a bit out of touch now but from what I recall 3dworld magazine did a league of the best schools in the world a couple of months ago. (neither Dublin schools came anywhere in the Uk and Ireland category even)

http://www.3dworldmag.com/page/3dworld?entry=3d_world_98_s_cgi%5B/quote:9edcd268d0%5D

That’s surprising.

The list is based on "The world’s top 20 animation schools, ranked by the number of student films shortlisted at international festivals during the past five years"

/Maybe Irish schools don’t submit a lot of films

[Anonymous]

Forget what you may be told about the abundance of modellers by your tutors or anyone else. Graduating from college with a fruitbowl and a walkcycle project under your belt may make you a modeller, but it doesn’t make you a good modeller. There is an unprecedented amount of work for good, fast modellers in this country in the field of achitectural visualisation. The company I work is always looking out for good modellers and 3D generalists. 3D opportunities are something I’ve looked into over the last 14 months or so, as I changed jobs in June and am about to change again after Christmas.

[Anonymous]

so theres alittle lack of respect for modellers in some collages? I compare alot of my work to professionals work, its a good way to sharpen your eye for detail in a way.

[Anonymous]

Agreed that there is always work for good modellers. They are incredibly hard to find and almost every game project I’ve worked on has had a ratio of about 10 modellers to 1 animator.

I really feel that the staff in places like Ballyfermot are pretty much out of touch with industry. (whether in the animation course or the games specific courses)

While I do think that the animation staff there are pretty good at what they know, they are not as great at preparing people for the real challenges which face them in a games company. (The people from the games course were not much better, and in some cases significantly worse)

Staff on the 3d animation and modelling course were happy to let people graduate who could not actually use the software competently, after 2 years.

Apparently that would be alright because they would learn it when they got a job. (I would be very surprised if these people did get a job working in the 3d field) This is an absolute crock.

Agreed that Irish colleges don’t submit a lot of films to festivals, probably because rejection is a bit confronting.

I have seen the work produced by students from Supinfocom, Gobelins, Baden wurtemberg and others at the festivals. It is scary how good these are.

I have seen graduation films from both schools of animation in Dublin. It is honestly disappointing that standards are set so low. It does the students and the institutions no favours. I know from personal experience that the calibre of students is high.

Forgot about the data protection stuff….well attend the end of year shows, and ask for specific numbers of graduates working in games/ animation companies.

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