Blogs - SinKing

0 comments by SinKing on Mar 14th, 2013

Jeez - I'm looking for work in my town Hamburg, Germany. If you ever look for work in games, don't come here. Last year Bigpoint released some 200 developers and they are still swarming around here. It's virtually impossible to even get as much as an internship.  

After 3 years of studying and looking back on all the things I can do (write, paint, model/texture) that is quite a setback. So what to do?
The only thing I know to do is to apply worldwide now. I hope to find a position, where I can learn writing for games or work as a consultant to the writers. Since I worked as storyliner before, I might be able to help. However, if I find work in a bigger studio it will probably be so specialized, I won't have much time to think about other things. 

I wonder what the work situation is like out there for "ordinary" people. I have gone to college and took some extra courses. I got degrees in English and Spanish Language, wrote and co-wrote several books and screenplays AND I learned 3D and most everything involved. You'd think that would score me a job, right? Polly want a cracker?

0 comments by SinKing on Mar 10th, 2013

I've always been wondering, why people who learn 3D prefer to work in advertsing or on non-realtime projects. I kinda get it now. The 3D for games runs through multiple stages of simplyfying, cleaning up, texturing and sorting out. In comparison, the rendered projects I did during the 3D study were simplicistic. Making games is a shitload of work and when you just look at a model you don't even notice the different processes that come together in it. 

Basically, when you are finished and ready to render in a 3D studio, you still have 3/4 of the work ahead of you, if you want to make game assets. So, yeah - it is a lot of work, but to me this is the only 3D work worthwhile. Some modelers cherish making something that looks photorealistic. I don't, and I don't even see the point any more. Haven't we had enough close up of electric shavers and other hovering hardware? The real deal is making games. It's the King's Discipline of 3D and everything else is just wayyy below it, for me.

0 comments by SinKing on Oct 2nd, 2012

school's out forever ^^!

I managed to end it well, and ever since that burden of getting the final presentation done left my system, I am working on game-assets on full steam. I really like how I can work with the tools, unwrap and texture things. It's great how you can send files front and forth, between XSI, PS and Mudbox. 

It's a lot of trial and error, looking at what others did and how to improve the workflow of my modeling. What I find cool about the whole 3D job, is that I can actually use the PC to build something on it. It's not the same feeling, like writing a text on it or sending a mail. Modeling, texturing - all of that - are part of a big, imaginative circle that usually starts with an idea in my head, then becomes drawing, multiple sketches and finally: reality.

It just feels neat to be able to do creative tasks with a machine. I can't wait to do bigger, better, more :)

0 comments by SinKing on Sep 6th, 2012

It's the final phase of my projectfor"school". 

I'm currently working on the documentation. It's alright to work with InDesign, but the whole project strikes me as completely meaningless for my carreer. I was willing to work hard to put something together for my game portfolio and finally have a map for UDK done. However that's the kindof 3D my school doesn't encourage.

So what happens then, is you are stuck with a project that is imposed upon you, and which you feel not passionate about at all. It's just a job, just routine. This is what life is like when you have no dreams. On the other hand: what good is life when you have only dreams?!

I'll have to work on getting that game portfolio done until the end of the year myself. All my school does for me at the moment is cost money, time and nerves. There are no practical applications to my project.  It's like I'm doing it completely for someone else. This is the reason, why I think you cannot learn 3D very well at a school. In the same time they teach you 1000's of things you don't need, you might as well concentrate on the ones you care about.

0 comments by SinKing on Jul 20th, 2012

I'm bored, so it's time for a new entry. 

I'm not doing what I'm supposed to, instead I waste time drawing cartoons and trying some modeling again. I find myself most efficient not doing what I'm supposed to and doing everything else, instead.

Also, I'm hungy. Could be a good day for pizza :)

Apparently Moddb doesn't allow pointless blogs, so I have to add this line in order to get enough characters to let me upload this. Holy cow! And now you've read it. So pointless.

0 comments by SinKing on Jul 7th, 2012

I have started with my final project for university. It's not really useful to me, since it's got nothing to do with games, but that can't be helped now. I want to go through with it and finally close that chapter, so I can move on to the more interesting things. 

Of course it's hard to work on something you have zero interest in, but for large parts of it that's life!

On the bright side: I've done some interesting work lately, found good people who are willing to help and share their wisdom. I also find myself becoming more useful to projects, since I'm really getting a grasp on 3D and texturing now.

So the summer of 2012 is work, work, work. I originally wanted to concentrate on the final project only, but since my school gave me no chance whatsoever to work with mudbox and high/lowpoly objects, I feel forced to take up some side jobs again. I'll see you around.

0 comments by SinKing on Jan 22nd, 2012

I'm still waiting to start working on the project I've been signed for. The bigger the project, the harder to release its budget, it seems. While I'm upset about the wait, I also learned something important; even though you are getting payed work, don't stop there - look for more projects, always!

My current projects are:

- AAA title, budget on hold 
- MMO fairly known Korean/Japanese MMO, which needs more assets and new worlds; anime style
- Mech Override - A.D. 2078, my pet project for many years is about to see a trailer this year

I'm learning, always learning (concept art, modeling, sculpting...), but it's hard when things aren't moving forward. Sorry doesn't seem to be the hardest word, money does. I wonder, why companies keep losing money while deciding if they should really do a project, if most projects could build a workng prototype with a fraction of the time and money the discussions take. It's annoying and non-sensual to produce games like this.

0 comments by SinKing on Nov 8th, 2011

Hi everyone,

I have just been cast onto a 20 member strong, commercial development team and I will earn money doing what I love. 

It's been a bumpy road, but considering I didn't draw as much as a twig five years ago, and I was looking for a concept artist myself back then, this is some major progress. To be employed as a Concept Artist when I only started concepting, because I couldn't find decent, reliable concept artists, is pure irony.

Of course I enjoy it and understand how much more Concept Art is than pretty pictures. Infact prettyness is only a tiny part of the whole deal. And the cinematic, moody concepts have their right to be, but by no way are they the majoritiy. 

I cannot talk very much about the project or company, as I am bound by Confidentiality Agreement. The game will be released in December 2012. Until then I will work part time as Concept Artist, while developing my own project "Mech Override" and finishing my 3D school with a degree. Man, I will have serious chores in 2012...

0 comments by SinKing on Jan 18th, 2011

As of today, I joined the team remaking Duke Nukem 3D, as Storyboarder and Concept Artist. I'm very happy this position was offered to me, since these are two things I want to experiment with. In case you're intersted, check out the website of this team:

Dukenukemreloaded.com

I think the game has great potential and it is already watched and approved by Gearbox, who gave permission to use the IP. Hail to the king, baby!

0 comments by SinKing on Jan 6th, 2011

happy new year to everyone - most of all to me: I really need it!

2010 was ups and downs. Friends got married, I joined a mod with little to no leadership and got flamed for trying to progress it. It wasn't easy, all in all. 

I'm still studying 3D, learning animation and several editing software to make and edit movies. 2D is still the most fun to me, but I see how I can enhance my 2D with 3D skills. It's becoming more interesting all the time.

I wish I had more time and what little I have wasn't wasted on people, who have no appreciation for other people's commitment. I'm writing, painting, working, going to the school/workshop and I still try to find time to help others. Maybe I should just stop doing that. I'd make a lot more money and frankly I start to believe that some people cannot be helped; actually most of them.