UNIT 9

Why do companies implement micro transactions?

Companies implement micro transactions because they might want to add more content into their game so that it can stay fresh and interesting. Another reason could be that companies want to make more money.

What companies use them?

Ubisoft, EA, Activison

How much money can a company make from transactions?

Roughly about £69,635 

What is your view of micro transactions?

I don't mind them if they are only skins for characters or weapons as they don't affect the game like give an advantage(more damage, faster, etc) to a player

Are micro transactions a form of gambling?

Some micro transactions involving lootboxes are very similar to gambling as lootboxes are usually brought with real money to randomly generate a reward for the player; even though its similar to gambling, the player can still earn a reward even though it may not be what they had originally wanted.

Do you think there should be restrictions in place for micro transactions?

I am on both sides of the argument as i feel like they should be restricted as it is similar to gambling and may result the player gaining a gambling habit that may affect them in reality. However i think that as long as lootboxes don't affect the gameplay (mainly for online games) then they are fine for gaining rewards like cosmetic items and skins for weapons, vehicles, characters, etc.

What restrictions would you imply?

Restrictions i would apply would be to limit the amount of lootboxes one player can buy, for example, a player would only be able to buy 5 lootboxes first then would have to earn more lootboxes to buy by levelling up; 1 lootbox for each player level up.

Would you be put off a company that implement micro transactions?

I would not be put off the company as micro transactions are very common in the gaming industry and so i would struggle to get a job in a company.

Would micro transactions put you off buying a game?

Nope

Do you think micro transactions would be the downfall for AAA studios?

Slightly if they go further with them and implement micro transactions that effect gameplay

Skills Audit

Job Roles

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Environment Artist – Graduate	Technicolor	Can use Maya  Passion for modelling	£24-29k per year	London, England
Environment Artist – Junior	Ubisoft	Good communication skills          Able to create interesting environments         Able to adapt to new process         Basic gameplay and level design knowledge	£27-34k per year	Royal Lamington Spa, England
Environment Artist	Rockstar	2+ years of 2D and 3D art production            3+ years as a 3D artist within game industry            Has good shader techniques            Superior 3D art skills            Expertise in Photoshop            Strong communication and time management skills	£32-41k per year	Leeds, England
Environment Artist – Senior	Cloud Imperium games	5+ years professional game production experience            Previous experience creating high quality environments for AAA games            Thorough knowledge of the game development process           Evidence of being a leader and role model, within their trade           A strong ability to create believable environments within a games engine            Strong knowledge of 3DS Max, Photoshop and Zbrush / Mudbox as well as experience in using editors to lay out environments            Ability to derive a well-structured lowpoly model from the high poly model           Strong understanding of efficient UV layout for lowpoly objects            Experience creating environments using modular systems            An understanding of effective asset creation and optimization            A strong understanding of shader functionality            Strong knowledge and/or experience with PBR            An understanding of effective asset creation and optimization            Passion for pushing the state of the art in asset fidelity and production techniques            Passion and constant drive to stay up to date with latest technology and new techniques            Expert in time management, verbal and written communication skills            Focused, motivated and effective on all tasks through completion            Keep a positive team-oriented attitude            Be proactive and self-motivated, work without direct supervision            Ability to complete tasks within given time constraints            Excellent English communication and written skills	£45-52k per year	Manchester, England

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Vehicle Artist – Graduate	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Vehicle Artist – Junior	Dovetail games	Great communicator and team player with a can-do attitude Ability to create art assets to a high standard A keen interest in creating realistic vehicles Experience of Unreal Engine 4 beneficial Strong 3D Studio Max and Photoshop / Quixel / Substance skills Ability to critically evaluate 3D art and provide effective feedback Good understanding of most CG techniques and technologies A passion to deliver quality simulation software	£27,000 per year	Chatham, England
Vehicle – Artist	Cloud Imperium games	Hard surface modeling experience. Strong working knowledge of 3DS Max and Photoshop An eye for detail while maintaining efficient model making Experience applying and tweaking shaders. A keen eye for Industrial Design Excellent sense of form, mass and volume. Passion for pushing the state of the art in asset fidelity and production techniques. High degree of self-motivation and initiative. International travel may be required as part of the role.	£32,800 per year	Manchester, England
Vehicle Artist – Senior	Rockstar North	·         Extensive experience using 3DStudio Max for modelling, and Adobe Photoshop for texturing. ·         Extensive experience of Maxscript for writing tools. Python and C# will be a bonus. ·         Experience of creating complicated rigs for mechanical animation. ·         Knowledge of Motionbuilder and/or Maya for setting up complex rigs for animators. ·         A full understanding of all current generation production workflows, as they pertain to vehicle art asset production. ·         A critical awareness of the expense/cost of a game asset relative to the target engine/rendering requirements – poly counts and texture sizes.	£31-35k per year	Edinburgh, England

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Asset/prop artist – Graduate	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Asset/prop Artist – Junior	Engine House VFX Ltd	Proficient with the Adobe Suite, especially Photoshop and AfterEffects - Has demonstrable experience with one of the major 3D packages, ideally a cool 3D character you made or something similar. We'd rather see 1 simple idea executed well than a whole showreel of stuff that you didn't quite have the time to get to where you wanted. - Willing to relocate to Cornwall. - Creative thinker - Driven and proactive	£22-25k	Redruth, England
Asset/prop – Artist	Blizzard Entertainment	2+ years of experience in game development concepting, modeling, and texturing objects Experience animating objects is a plus Understand real-time game development needs Able to collaborate closely with other Artists Ability to explore a wide variety of ideas that push the World of Warcraft style Software experience such as 3ds Max or Maya	$44-52k	California, USA
Asset/prop – Senior	Ubisoft	Expert knowledge of asset creation within the game development environment. 3D modeling tools such as 3D Studio Max Expert knowledge of 3D sculpting tools such as ZBrush and Mudbox. Expert knowledge of texturing tools such as Photoshop, Substance Designer and Mari. Strong artistic ability to visualize entire levels and detail with minimal concept and direction. Professional experience with commercial or Ubisoft proprietary game engines like Unreal, Anvil or Snowdrop preferred. Passion for pushing the state of art in asset fidelity and production techniques. Robust understanding of technical limitations and budgets. Assist Technical Directors in designing, implementing and maintaining art pipelines. Good communication skills to mentor others in the art team. Being able to manage and organize work in order to meet deadlines. International travel may be required.	$52-60k	North Carolina, USA

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Weapon Artist – Graduate	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Weapon Artist – Junior	Hi-Rez Studios	·         Proficiency with industry software tools & pipelines (3dsmax, Zbrush, Photoshop, Maya, etc.) ·         In depth knowledge of weapon/hardsurface modeling as related to game development ·         Ability to re-create photo realistic weapons and other hard surface props, with a meticulous attention to detailExcellent sculpting skills in Zbrush ·         Excellent Hard Surface modelling skills ·         Strong understanding of workflows and techniques in regards to first person weapons ·         Strong grasp of form, scale and proportion ·         A keen eye for design in regards to weapons and hard surface elements ·         Ability to work collaboratively and communicate with multiple teams ·         Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment	$25-34k per year	Georgia, USA
Weapon Artist	Datascope Recruitment	At least two years’ experience in modelling and texturing weapons and/or props. Strong communication skills, a great team-player attitude and a passion for games. Excellent working knowledge of 3DS Max/Maya and Substance Painter.	£32-40k per year	Nottingham, England
Weapon Artist – Senior	Frontier Developments	·         Mastery of Photoshop and digital painting techniques tailored for hard surface concept ·         Minimum of 3 years industry experience in games, film or TV. ·         Great understanding of proportion, scale, perspective, lighting and colour ·         Strong grasp of real-world machinery, weapon function engineering; the kind of knowledge which makes your designs feel authentic ·         Experience with 3d software of some kind which can prove indispensable for blackout stages ·         Degree in relevant traditional art skill, i.e. illustration, fine art etc.	£36-44k per year	Cambridge, England

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Character Artist – Graduate	Engine House VFX Ltd	·         have an art portfolio demonstrating a range of work and originality of style ·         be able to draw from life  ·         have knowledge of anatomy and architecture ·         be able to convey facial expressions and emotions ·         have a flair for colour, composition, perspective, modelling and texturing techniques, lighting and mood ·         have skills in comic book art and/or storyboarding  ·         be able to work as part of a team and independently ·         be imaginative and creative ·         pay close attention to detail and have strong powers of observation ·         have good communication skills ·         be able to work to a style guide ·         have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedure	£24-27k per year	Redruth, England
Character Artist – Junior	Hi-Rez Studio	·         3+ years of experience creating AAA quality character assets for games, film or animation. ·         Portfolio demonstrating exceptional character designs with animatable topology. ·         Strong grasp of composition, colour theory, value, form, scale, shape language, and silhouette. ·         Strong knowledge of human/animal anatomy and proportions. ·         Ability to embellish concepts with technical constraints in mind while maintaining overall aesthetic. ·         Ability to work collaboratively and communicate well with multiple teams outside of the Character Modelling Department. ·         Comfortable prototyping and working with iterative development process. ·         Comfortable receiving constructive group criticism and making artistic adjustments to meet performance guidelines. ·         Excellent work ethic, self-motivated, organized, and able to meet deadlines. ·         A passion for creating and playing video games.	$28-34k per year	Georgia, USA
Character Artist	Warner Bros. Entertainment Group	At Least a 2-year 2D/3D art degree, architecture degree, or equivalent. BFA is preferred. Three or more years of art and design experience on previous video game development teams. Involved in production on at least 1 title that has been previously released. Must possess good artistic skills and a working knowledge of 2D/3D art production. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Ability to work well under pressure and deadlines. Strong interest in computer or video games. Must be proficient in one or more types of 3D software (Maya, 3D Studio Max). Maya is preferred, and a working knowledge of Maya is mandatory. Understanding of physically based material systems and rendering. Experience with Substance Painter/Designer. Experience with Marvelous Designer. Experience with high polygon sculpting in ZBrush or Mudbox. Strong 2D digital painting and/or drawing skills in Photoshop. Experience with modern real-time 3d engines is a plus, Unreal is preferred. Rigging experience not required, but a plus. Additional art skills are preferred: fine arts skills, including drawing and painting; traditional sculpting; strong figure drawing skills that demonstrate a deep understanding of human anatomy and proportion. Receptive to direction and perform well within a team environment.	$37-47k per year	Chicago, USA
Character Artist – Senior	Certain Affinity, Inc.	5+ years of experience making character art for games Shipped a AAA title as a character artist Portfolio showing off your work. Incredible communications and interpersonal skills. Expertise in hard surface modelling. Fine art background and a strong understanding of colour structure and silhouette in respect of modelling Basic understanding of rigging and articulation. Proficiency with Photoshop, 3d Modelling programs such as Max, Maya, Fusion 360, Mol, ZBrush, Substance Designer, etc. Solid knowledge of current high end real-time character creation and the ability to take us into the future. High attention to detail and the ability to faithfully translate concepts and ideas Work with Art Director, Lead Character Artist and Character Team in technical/aesthetic problem-solving efforts Experience with creating PBR materials. Passion and ability to work as a positive, collaborative, enthusiastic, ambitious and contributing team member with a real desire work with the team to find solutions	$49-58k per year	Texas, USA

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
3D Generalist – Graduate	SubVRsive	3D modelling and animation experience in 3DS Max or Maya Texture creation in Photoshop. PBR texture creation Game editor experience in Unity and Unreal At least 1 year of professional experience at a game studio A portfolio or demo reel demonstrating your relevant artistic abilities	$25-32k per year	Texas, USA
3D Generalist – Junior	The Mill	Demonstrative experience and knowledge of advanced 3D modelling and texturing for VFX.  Junior level modelling and texturing in Maya, ZBrush and Mari  Advanced rendering skills  Skills in Tracking  Familiarity with pipeline issues and a typical post production environment  Expertise in general compositing principles  Strong aesthetic sensibility, good use of colour  Confident in the visual exploration of abstract concepts  Creative and design oriented, excellent communicator, good with teamwork  Self-motivated problem solver  To be considered please send across a copy of your CV/Resume and a link to your show reel.	$37-46k per year	Los Angeles
3D Generalist	Zwift	·         2-5 years’ experience working on 3D video games on PC, mobile or console ·         A portfolio demonstrating ability in stylized game art which is similar to our product ·         Experience in Maya and Photoshop ·         Good eye for form, colour, design and composition ·         Technical problem-solving abilities	$29-38k per year	Long Beach, USA
3D Generalist – Senior	The Virtual Reality Company	Develop generic systems to support the functionalities of the specialist programmers (AI, 3D, sound, animation, etc.) and ensure their integration (engine, editor or middleware) Work with team lead to design and program new solutions for virtual reality software: interaction, interfaces and devices Research, Develop, and Implement current virtual reality software technologies in the industry Support the production team by making sure their tools are stable and effective Program in a clear and structured manner that is in keeping with performance, maintenance, modularity, scalability and compatibility requirements Monitor performance and memory budgets Debug and optimize existing systemsDocument your work to ensure knowledge transfer and help users understand the new systems and features	$46-54k per year	Los Angeles, USA

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
Concept Artist – Graduate	Id Software	·         Excellent traditional artistic skills with a strong grasp of composition, anatomy, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment, architectural, creature/character, costume and graphic design.  ·         Proficiency in life drawing (drawing from life and reference) as well as a strong imagination and a willingness to push the envelope, to innovate within the parameters of the game's world.  ·         Strong communication, excellent visual storytelling and written skills.  Strong interpersonal skills-able to interact with team members of different disciplines.  ·         Good positive attitude and outlook, self-motivated, and a great team-player.	$23-27k per year	Texas, USA
Concept Artist – Junior	Angle Technology	You have a strong focus on the fundamentals. Your proportions, anatomy, brushwork, values, and use of color help create lifelike worlds and characters that leave lasting impressions. Experience with 3D. Whether sculpting with clay or with polygons, you’re comfortable creating killer concepts in the 3D medium of your choice. You love to experiment with new mediums and can apply your skills to novel workflows. You’re driven by fantasy. You have a massive visual library to pull from and often lose yourself in creating captivating worlds from your imagination. You’re the master of the micro. You pay attention to the thousand details in a piece that add up to create an overwhelming sense of immersion and consistency. You have a keen intuitive sense for what works, and you’re always trying to improve your abilities.	$29-35k per year	San Francisco, USA
Concept Artist	Blizzard Entertainment	A minimum of 5+ years' experience in game development, building environments using Maya, ZBrush, Substance Designer/Painter and Photoshop. Amazing asset sculpting and modeling skills. Deep knowledge collaborating with a lead artist or art director in developing a distinct and consistent modeling and texturing style for environment assets. Proven problem-solving and prototyping abilities. Excellent eye for light, shade, color, and detail in crafting texture maps. Really good at working creatively as part of a large or small group. Ability to mentor junior environment artists and provide meaningful feedback. Dynamic, excellent communicator, big-picture minded and a model team-player.	£28-36k per year	Irvine, Scotland
Concept Artist – Senior	IGT	·         Degree in Art or 7+ years of Game Art or Agency experience Professional portfolio demonstrating your Senior-level experience in layout/composition, illustration, graphic design, color theory and typography Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite plus 3D software of your choice Ability to design in a variety of artistic styles Advanced creative, technical, and organizational skills Ability to work with a large degree of independence Practice good humor and be responsive to feedback Mentor fellow Artists - providing guidance in their specialty, troubleshoot issues, estimate time/effort involved in assignments Maintain awareness of larger game/team objectives and accommodate changing priorities In touch with visual trends in Entertainment - Television, Film, Mobile and Console Games Desire to bring the best ideas in Entertainment to Casino Gaming	$44-51k per year	Las Vegas, USA

Job Role	Company	Experience/skills Required	Salary	Location
QA Tester	Survios	minimum 3 years’ experience as video game QA tester. Experience with Atlassian product suite including JIRA and Confluence. Experience with bug tracking databases like DevTrack, DevTest, Jira and/or Bugzilla Experience with writing and executing test cases Strong communication skills - verbally and written Strong understanding of PlayStation 4, Xbox One and/or PC testing Has passion for Virtual Reality games and supporting game development.	$33.77 an hour	California
Lead Artist	Survios	·         2 minimum shipped games as an Art Director/Lead Concept Artist ·         8 years’ experience in traditional PC/console game development ·         F.A. or equivalent arts degree ·         Strong technical ability and experience across a broad variety of 2d/3d software such as Unreal Engine 4, Photoshop, Maya, Keyshot/Marmoset/any rendering package and Zbrush ·         Exceptional understanding of the fundamental principles of design and ability to articulate them to the team ·         Exceptional artistic and creative problem solving skills ·         Experience managing art teams, giving feedback, and facilitating productive, artistic discussion ·         Thorough understanding of game design process and methodology ·         Strong artistic leadership ability	$52-58k per year	Los Angeles
3D Animator	Technicolor	1-3 years’ experience A degree in animation or computer graphics Familiarity with Maya Familiarity with Linux operating systems knowledge as well as experience of Windows General knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, CAD and Nuke/After Effects An understanding of hair dynamics, animation rigging/set-up and 3D character animation Knowledge of the software and hardware used in the post-production process. Demonstrate and understanding of the Visual Effects and associated pipelines	$43-50k per year	New York, USA
Texture Artist	Technicolor	2-3 years’ experience Maya ZBrush Mari	$35-40k per year	Los Angeles, USA

Overcooked

Spartan Test

Artist Statement

Brandon Evans-Grant

Expedition of No Return

I created concept art in Photoshop of a pirate ship being attacked by a kraken in a stormy sea using techniques like the golden spiral and lighting. I was greatly inspired by the Pirates of The Caribbean movies and Old sea maps that would show sea monsters that were popular myths back in the mid 1600’s. I have created an artist interpretation of Karol Jazwinksi’s artwork which helped me understand ships more. I have visited a museum in Bristol to gather pictures of the SS Great Britain to help me better understand ships.

Artstation link
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/9JxYy