Year 2 students on the NFTS' Games Design and Development MA wow’d the audience at a presentation of their innovative games projects, which included a demo of the Oculus Rift (3D virtual reality headset) - hailed as "the future of gaming."
The Oculus Rift is a headset through which the player enjoys a completely immersed first person 3D view of a game environment. Prototypes of the Rift have only been made available to select developers and the full consumer device will not be released until well into next year.
Year 2 Games Design and Development student Albert Bentall is using the Oculus Rift to envelop the player in a dream-like narrative experience for his graduation game project- the Sandman - which explores ideas around mortality, the subconscious and the transformative journeys within a sleeping child's mind.
NFTS Head of Games Jon Weinbren said: “While most developers are excited about the Oculus Rift's potential in traditional First Person Shooter games, Albert's project uses the technology in a less obvious and much more interesting way. Throughout the department we're not just embracing new technology; we’re always looking for ways to push things forward creatively. In other work we've developed our own new pipelines for character performance and facial expression using new tools and techniques whenever the current tech doesn't work the way we would like it to."
Other Games students’ projects cover a wide range of game play and narrative styles, including Richard Cridford - 'Starrworld'(Working Title); Alexander MacLeod's 'Voice Of The Silent Land'; Richard Metson and Pontus Schonberg's 'Off Grid'(Working Title) and Bojan Brbora's '4PM'.
You can watch a Showreel of their Games projects in progress here. They’ll showcase their projects at trade and consumer events in the autumn.
“There’s an imaginative spark and strong narrative to all of our Games projects,” adds Jon Weinbren. “The caliber of their work is also a credit to the collaborations with students on other NFTS courses such as Screenwriting, Sound Design, Composing and Production Design.”
Students on this course have come from diverse backgrounds ranging from theatre directing, philosophy, physics, psychology, architecture, television and cinematography. There are a few spaces left on the Games Design & Digital Effects Open Day at the NFTS on 29th May.
Don't miss out on your chance to join the Games Design and Development MA, the Digital Effects MA and other courses - apply before the June 6, 2013 deadline.
(Pictured is student Albert Bentall with NFTS Director Nik Powell trying out the Oculus Rift headset)
DIGITAL EFFECTS MA
For the first time, Digital FX students on this year's Take One Painting project were trained to use 3D scanning technology in the VFX pipeline; something which is increasingly prevalent in the industry as a whole. 3D scanning broadly divides into two sectors:
To create precise and complete 3D computer models of spaces, places, locations and sets there is increasing use of LIght Detection And Ranging or LIDAR scanning technology. These 3D scanners use lasers to bombard the scene, capturing millions of individual measurements that precisely map out the exact geometry of the environment used within the filming. Applications of this LIDAR data range from simple camera tracking and match moving through to highly-detailed photorealistic 3D CGI.
The second application of advanced measurement technology in VFX has been termed Cyber scanning. This involves the use of 3D scanners to precisely measure and model people and props. These digital characters, known as ‘digi-doubles’, and props are then used in high end CGI animation in which the digital and live action elements are seamlessly blended.
All of this 3D technology has become commonplace in virtually all modern movie production, not just in the myriad, effects laden, blockbuster films such as Iron Man 3 or Thor 2, but also in the more subtle period drams such as Great Expectations and Les Miserables.
NFTS Head of DFX, John Rowe, commented, “We are extremely grateful to Duncan Lees and 4DMax for making this happen. The students have benefitted tremendously from using state of the art techniques very early on in their DFX MA course. It sets the bar high and encourages them to explore and understand the very latest VFX techniques.”
Following a more traditional SFX route, the DFX MA students also understand how pyrotechnics are used for a variety of explosive effects! As part of their training in pyrotechnics, students last year had the opportunity to work under the supervision of instructor Richard Conway (28 days, Indiana and the Temple of Doom) to explode a Saab 9-3 convertible car, and film it at high speed (slow-motion). This popular video of the car exploding has attracted over 33,000 website hits so far. http://jalopnik.com/5982270/this-is-what-a-saab-9+3-looks-like-when-it-explodes-very-very-slowly
“Despite being a Digital FX MA it is vital that our students understand the design and creation of practical special fx," said John Rowe. "Understanding practical SFX is very much a core part of the FX courses we run at the NFTS, and will continue to be so, as it allows our students to be fully conversant with using both digital VFX and practical SFX in the storytelling process. It’s also fantastic fun!”
Over eight years, nearly all (95%) of the DFX graduates have gone straight into the film and television industry. Here’s what some of the DFX Alumni have to say about this course.
"If I hadn't been to the NFTS, I would never have...worked on over half a billion dollars worth of movies! My time at the NFTS has allowed me to work with the highest echelons of film makers.”James Osborne DPP Grad. 2007 Credits include: The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian; The Chronicles of Narnio: Voyage of the Dawn Treader;Jack The Giant Slayer; I Give It A Year.
"If I hadn't been to the NFTS I wouldn't now be a co-owner of one of the most successful prosthetic and creature effects companies in the UK. The School guided me towards a career so amazing that I thought it only possible in dreams; I'm still pinching myself!” Kate Walshe, SFX/VFX GRAD. 2007 Credits include: Doctor Who; The Wolfman; Being Human.
“If I hadn't been to the NFTS, I would never have got a Job in the biggest European VFX house, and got to work on BAFTA, VES and Oscar winning Films. I would also not have been able to stick an axe in the back of a zombies face, so its win win!"John Seru, SFX/VFX GRAD. 2007 3D Artist/Sequence Leader Double Negative. Credits include: Skyfall; Total Recall; Captain Americ: The First Avenger; Inception; Kick Ass
Don’t miss out on your chance to apply for the Digital effects MA course –Apply before the June 6 deadline.
