Bring Your Career To Life With A Computer Animation Degree

With technology pushing the limits of what video games can do, a computer animation degree is one of the most sought after career certifications around. The video game industry is one that is definitely booming with no end in sight. This type of degree can lead to a fulfilling career that goes as far as the imagination leads.

For the majority of video games, animation is the heart of the product. While many never think past the shiny finished package that ends up on store shelves, there's a whole world of preparation that must occur before a game can be allowed into the market. From concept to finished product, a video game relies on a capable animator to keep up with the slew of changes that occur before it is finished.

A vast number of elements must work together if a game is to be considered successful out on the market. With a computer animation degree, one will learn how to work with these various elements to create a viable product. Animators must also work with editors, programmers and even marketers to get the product out in a feasible amount of time.

Those who choose this line of work often do so because they love video games, technology and the plethora of gadgets that make gaming even more fun. They are able to see workable concepts and solutions in nearly every aspect of problem solving and have an aptitude for detail. With video game production being a largely collaborative effort, they are also one who enjoys working in teams.

The amount and different types of technology used in the world of video games means a computer animation degree will definitely be required to break into the industry. It is not likely one will be able to walk in off the streets and obtain a career with little or no training. One must spend time in an accredited program learning about animation from the ground up to even land an entry-level position.

Many who opt for this type of degree find learning the curriculum to be quite enjoyable. At times it can seem like there is much to learn; however, those who choose this career have such passion for what they do, it becomes more than easy to take in. With a career as a computer animator, one will literally be able to display all that they have learned.

Although many choose video game production, the world of computer animation can lead to a vast number of other options also. This means that one will not be destined to remain in only one aspect of a career path. Over the years one can shift their career in just the direction they need to coincide with life's changes.

Making the choice to pursue this career path requires enrolling in an accredited program. A good program not only teaches up to date skills with state of the art technology, their curriculum is approved to meet all state requirements and standards. Upon completing the required set of courses one receives their degree, allowing them to legitimately pursue the career of their dreams.

To help students ease their financial burden, many accredited programs offer financial aid to students that qualify. A financial aid specialist can help determine what options are available and help map out a plan of action using any grants or scholarships that may be available. In some cases, previous college credits may even count towards getting one's degree.

When all is said and done, a computer animation degree can help bring a wonderful career to life. It allows one to work in a most professional but laid back environment with others who also love gaming and technology. The most satisfying career is one that combines passion with a paycheck.

About the Author
Andy West is a writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers many courses to help you obtain your Computer Animation Degree. Visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=63 .

A Blueprint For Success With Animation And Game Design

One look and it's not hard to tell how much animation and game design play a role in the world of media arts. The number of new technologies all rolling around together in the same pot is what ends up creating the stunning visual effects that leave people wanting more. The only limits there are seem to come with the boundaries of the imagination.

The soaring popularity of video games has a great deal to do with the lifelike animation. Great animation and other elements of game design work together to make the player feel as if he or she is actually in the middle of it all. When this happens, a game is considered to be truly successful.

Rarely does anyone stop and think about all the elements that go into animation and game design. The sleek and finished end product disguises months, if not years, of ground floor concept development all the way to marketing and public relations. Without the individuals behind the project working in cooperation, most concepts would never even get off the floor.

Those who enter the world of animation and gaming often do so because it is their passion. They not only love video games but the many facets of which they can consist. Luckily, there are now many educational options that allow the complete study of this type of media.

As technology continues to evolve, it takes the venues of animation and game design with it. Those who study in this area will not only learn the aspects of such things as CAD and 3D applications, they will continuously update their certifications in the field. A career in gaming and design means being at the forefront, and staying at the forefront, of all the latest technological developments.

Because of the need for high-level skills in 3D modeling or the concepts of game development, entry-level positions to this type of career will require at least a Bachelor's degree. Prospective employers of the gaming world are looking to be the best and want employees who walk in the door with phenomenal skills. Exceptional skills coupled with passion make for the most winning combination.

A Bachelor's degree is what gives students a foundation in the basic elements of both gaming and design along with their practical applications. From developing a story to character design and modeling, this is where many students begin to develop their portfolios. In no time, many find they are able to branch out into various areas of the career path that suits them best.

A Master's degree allows an individual to combine their experience and education to handle the responsibilities of running entire departments. Ensuring the collaboration of different departments is always a necessary aspect of game development. From visual concept development to public relations, each plays a very necessary role in ensuring a game's success.

Those who choose this vocation often do well because their job brings them such a high level of personal fulfillment. It is also a field that is growing by leaps and bounds and has a very solid future. A career that has such a strong foundation in technology can also mean a higher starting salary than other careers.

Animation and game design is an area that is catching on like wildfire. A laid-back field, rarely will one be required to wear a shirt and tie to work. At the same time, it is one of the most competitive occupations, requiring the best in high tech skills. In this vocation, individuals combine their passion and their career and that is the very recipe to their inevitable success.

About the Author

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers a professional Animation and Game Design program. Please visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=63 .

Get Familiar with Animation and Game Design

Here is that existential chicken/egg question again. Did media arts beget video games or video games media arts? Which began first might be a puzzler, but to where it has evolved is easier to decipher. The word animation conjures up visions of cartoon characters. No longer in the world of video games animation is becoming more lifelike with iteration. Its popularity is not just with the young, it is across the spectrum of humans everywhere. Just to view some of the animation of a video game is to peek inside the boundless imagination of man. Playing the game invites one inside the world of that imagination, and feeling apart of the game is what the creator of a great video game envisions.

Of course imagination is not the only ingredient to get a great video game off the ground. It requires teams of talented individuals from different areas to produce the end product. It begins with the concept, and is developed through to marketing and public relations, then into the living rooms of the players. This process often takes many months, perhaps years, to fully develop into the final spectacle.

One seldom just decides to become a game designer; one is often consumed with a passion to design video games. The passion of the game is not only in the playing of it, but in its guts, its component parts, and its ability to move someone to join in. That passion can be guided by an education in game design.

The education of the animator and game designer combines their imagination and passion with the hardware of game design. The study of CAD and 3D applications will put to practical use the creativity of the designer. Theirs is an avocation, because the environment is ever changing and lifelong learning is a requirement of a game creator. Certifications are continuously updated to assure they are always in the forefront of technological development.

A Bachelors degree would be a minimum requirement for entry level game development. Passion and imagination are just the entry level requirements to begin the education. High level training of 3D modeling is needed to achieve application of those traits, and takes time to learn. Once the combination is complete a highly skilled, passionate designer has emerged.

Some will consider parts of their education to be mundane. The story developer might not appreciate the heavy emphasis on the CAD programs, and the animator the story development, but all is needed for a well rounded portfolio. They can then follow the path that suits them, with an understanding of the other team member contributions.

After working in game development one might consider a Masters degree. This will allow an individual to oversee an entire department, or perhaps a position to ensure collaboration between different departments. As mentioned earlier, the necessary work that is involved in the presentation of a game involves many different people, working on many different aspects, to produce a single successful game.

The word occupation brings to mind a static job, where one simply works. Game development is a vocation, nay it's an avocation, because if it's not fun it's just not worth doing for a game developer. This field is growing rapidly and the pay is great, so if you have a passion it's a wonderful field of endeavor. Leave your suit and tie at home, these offices are usually laid back, and either busy with collaboration or intense with noses pointed at the computer screen. It's a competitive field so be prepared to keep learning.

About the Author

To learn more about Animation visit Animation FAQs

Start A Career In Video Game Design

If you are thinking of what to do for a career and you have an interest in animation, then you should consider video game design. This is an industry that is booming at an incredible rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In the past twenty years, there have been incredible advances in the video game design industry and you could be a part of it.

In only a few decades, there have been barriers broken that could never have been dreamed of in the past. Video games are so realistic now that you feel as though you are actually in the game. You can play a racing game and feel as though you are in the Indy 500 or play a war game and get a good glimpse into what World War Two was really like. The possibilities are endless but people are needed to come up with these ideas and innovations.

There are a few things that are needed in order to have a successful career in video game design. First of all, you need to have an interest in video games. You will be able to use all of the knowledge you have gained from years of gaming to your advantage. It is quite difficult to find a video game that is one hundred percent original. Most games borrow tricks and tips from other games and incorporate them into their own.

Therefore, if you have an extensive knowledge of video games, you will be able to use these tricks in your favor. Another important factor is an interest in computers, specifically animation. Video games are all produced on computers, so you will need to have a firm understanding of programming and animation. So if you have an interest in video games and a basic knowledge of animation, then you are set to begin the path of becoming a video game designer.

The next step would be to capitalize on your pre-existent skills. This can be accomplished by enrolling in a course that deals with video game design. These courses will be able to take the skills that you currently have and turn them into talents. Talents that prospective employers will be pleased to see.

You will be able to learn about every aspect of video game design. This includes all of the animation, development and concept of video games. You will not only be given the skills to create a video game but also how to plan it out and make it interesting to the gamer. Since this market is so gigantic, you need to have a good idea if you want your game to sell. With a course in video game design, you will have the ability to create a game that will fly off the shelves.

A lot of people think that making a video game is strictly done on computers. However, this is only part true. A large portion of the development of the game is done in the mind. You need to have the ability to visualize the finished product in your head before even beginning to program it. These types of courses will be able to train your mind to work ahead of your body to achieve the best results.

Another advantage of video game design is that it is a market that is guaranteed to stay strong. People of all ages are interested in video games today and the numbers continue to grow. So if you have an interest in video games and some computer knowledge, take the steps towards making video game design your rewarding career.

About the Author

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers a professional Video Game Design program. Please visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=63 .

Stan Medley - An Interview - On Animation

This interview was conducted on February 7, 2009.

DD: Well I can't help but notice that you are listed in many places on the internet as one of the sexiest men in America. How do you feel about that?

SM: Well it is nice. I don't take it seriously, but I take it as a compliment.

DD: Do you think that is why your IMDB ranking is so high? Today is February 7, 2009, I just went on IMDB pro, and you have a ranking of 18,630. That is a high ranking for a relatively unknown executive producer, and frankly some people who are on TV every day don't have that high of a ranking. For example, Harvey Levin of TMZ is behind you with a rank of 18,700! He is on TV three times a day.

SM: That is interesting. I didn't know that.

DD: Now I also see that Diverse Talent represents you and your agent is Chris Nassif. Don't you have some projects going with them too?

SM: Yes, I have several which we will be producing in conjunction with Diverse Media Group, Inc., which is the parent company of Diverse Talent.

DD: What can you tell us about these projects?

SM: Well, Talent Quest is still under wraps and I can't say much about it at this time. Regarding "Celebrities In Action" We are in negotiations with Diverse to acquire a 50% interest in Celebrities In Action, Inc.

DD: Now isn't the Celebrities In Action project a joint venture with Stan Lee's company, Pow Entertainment?

SM: Yes, the project is a joint venture with Pow Entertainment, but the name of our corporation is Celebrities In Action, Inc. Diverse is negotiating with us to purchase a 50% interest in our corporation, not the project itself.

DD: Ok, now I see you have recently posted some web sites featuring various historic clips - animations, movies, old TV shows, etc. What are you trying to do there?

SM: Nothing in particular. Just a hobby. These are just some fun sites to view some historic animations, TV shows, Movies, etc. from the 30's, 40's, 50's, etc. We get all our stuff from public domain sites.

DD: You must like animation as you have quite a bit of the old classics on your site.

SM: Well we have tons more on our internet TV Channel. Great stuff. I am particularly interested in the history and evolution of animation.

DD: That is interesting. What is the evolution of animation?

SM: Well man's intent to animate can be traced back thousands of years - they have found cave, burial and earthenware drawings depicting a series of illustrations approximating motion. Since we believe they had no way of actually showing the images in motion we typically don't call this animation. However, I don't know if that is necessarily true. That we can just arbitrarily say these cultures had no animation may be an error.

In modern times we have had paper flip books, which can "animate" a series of drawing. Every child had one or made one growing up. Who is to say that they didn't have some similar "flip book" technology back in those societies to actually implement their intent to animate? A "flip book" is an actual animation technology and it would mean that animation could have actually have begun 4000 or 5000 years ago. And who knows perhaps these early civilizations could have had a zoetrope type device.

DD: What is a zoetrope?

SM: A zoetrope is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid presentation of still pictures. It is cylindrical with slits cut vertically in the sides. On the inner surface of the cylinder are images from a set of sequenced drawings. As the cylinder spins around the viewer looks through the slits at the pictures on the opposite side of the cylinder's interior. The slits keep the pictures from blurring together so that the viewer sees a rapid succession of images which produces the appearance of motion.

Historians say the earliest zoetrope was created in China around 180 AD. This early device hung over a lamp and was driven by convection. The rising air turned vanes at the top from which were hung translucent paper. Pictures painted on the panels would appear to move if the device was spun at the right speed.

The modern zoetrope was invented in 1834 in England. It didn't become popular until the 1860s, when it was patented by makers in both England and America. The American developer, William F. Lincoln, named his toy the "zoetrope", which means "wheel of life" and which is the name we use for the device today.

But you see a device like this could have even been invented and used in what we consider prehistoric times. Then there was the phenakistoscope.

DD: Ok, what is a phenakistoscope?

SM: The phenakistoscope an even earlier animation device than the zoetrope. It was invented in 1831 simultaneously in Belgium and Austria. The phenakistoscope was a spinning disc mounted vertically on some kind of a handle.

Around the center of the disc were a series of pictures drawn in a manner corresponding to the frames of the animation; around the outside of the device were a series of radial slits. The viewer would spin the disc and look through the moving slits at the disc's reflection in a mirror. The slits across the reflected images kept them from blurring together and the viewer would see a rapid succession of images with the appearance of motion. Unlike the zoetrope, the phenakistoscope could only be used by one person at a time.

As technology along with popularity increased in the early twentieth century the phenakistoscope became know as a "Nickelodeon", (because they charged a nickel to operate it). The term "Nickelodeon" would eventually be used even more broadly to describe events charging a "nickel".

DD: Quite interesting. So now you are telling me little historical facts that I didn't know at all. Is there more to this animation evolution?

SM: Well all this information is on the internet. You just have to have enough interest to research and read it.

DD: I have heard that you have a photographic memory.

SM: Well actually I do...sometimes...for certain things I am interested in. I can recall a lot of the stuff that I have read on animation sort of photographically. But unilaterally I would not say I always have a photographic memory. But to continue with the answer to your question.

The praxinoscope was the successor to the zoetrope. It was invented in France in 1877. Like the zoetrope, it used a strip of illustrations placed around the inside surface of a spinning cylinder. The praxinoscope was an improvement on the zoetrope because it replaced the narrow viewing slits of the zoetrope with an inner circle of mirrors.

The mirrors were situated so that the reflections of the illustrations appeared more or less stationary in position as the wheel turned. When the viewer looked in the mirrors, they would see a rapid succession of images which appeared as motion. The praxinoscope also had a brighter and less distorted picture than the zoetrope.

In 1889 Reynaud developed the "Theatre Optique" a version of the praxinoscope capable of projecting images on a screen from a longer roll of pictures. This allowed the operator to show hand-drawn animated cartoons to larger audiences. But the popularity of the "Theatre Optique" was quickly overshadowed by the photographic film projector which was created about 1895.

About the Author

Durk Dugan is a journalist and publicist for AssociatedNews.US, a free news service for the media. For more information on AssociatedNews.US go to http://www.AssociatedNews.US. For more information on Stan Medley visit http://StanMedley.info.

Adobe Photoshop: Changing The World

"To see is to believe" is what most people say. However, this old adage, like so many others, has been negated by technology. Today, with Adobe Photoshop, you can create any image you want and share it to other people. This way, Adobe Photoshop is changing the whole world's perspective on reality.

For those who do not know, Adobe Photoshop is a program designed to let people edit various images on their computers. Its primary purpose is to let people perform touch ups on pictures before printing them. Of course, each succeeding version of Adobe Photoshop included more and more tools which let people add effects and do various other things to their photographs. The Adobe Photoshop of today actually allows people to add sound and animation to their photographs for sharing on the internet.

In the past, people who took bad pictures were stuck with them. A lot of things can go wrong in a picture. There's the usual red-eye, skewed angles, shaky focus and others. Adobe Photoshop was the tool that made all of these things disappear. With Adobe Photoshop, people can take pictures like amateurs and still produce images like pros!

However, Adobe Photoshop today has gone beyond image editing. Today, the software is labeled as an image manipulation tool. This somehow gives people the impression that Adobe Photoshop actually gives them a greater degree of freedom than other image-editing programs available today. In fact, it actually does.

If sight is reality, then Adobe Photoshop can help you create any reality that you want. With Adobe Photoshop, you will be able to create images of other worlds. You will be able to capture the beauty of the universe inside a glass jar. Your creativity will be unleashed. That's how much Adobe Photoshop can change your life.

In the world today, one can easily observe the impact that Adobe Photoshop has wrought on culture. Just like Google, Adobe Photoshop is now being used by people as a verb. When a person is said to be photoshopping something, it is always assumed that the person is editing an image of come sort, whether he or she is actually using Adobe Photoshop or not.

Adobe Photoshop has also led to a whole new level of art and animation. Did you know that tablets were developed specifically with Adobe Photoshop in mind? Artists of today have gone beyond using paints and a canvas. Today's painters make use of tablet sensors and Adobe Photoshop to produce their masterpieces. With the technology of Adobe Photoshop, people are able to take the art of drawing, add a bit of computer technology, and come up with a whole new genre of animation.

In the past, images had to be saved as specific file types in order to be usable for Adobe Photoshop. However, because of the proliferation of digital cameras and camera phones today, Adobe Photoshop can actually import the photographs directly from the sources. This means that the gap between taking the picture and sharing it is reduced.

Adobe Photoshop might just be a tool for some people. However, you should know that tools, when used by enough people can change history. In this age where everything is defined by computers, Adobe Photoshop is just another tool which, in the right hands, can change the world.

About the Author

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For a free photo shop tutorial and or to purchase a video photo shop tutorial checkout his website.

Comparisons of Various 3D Animation Products

The latest news surrounding Alias Maya involves a new agreement with BOXX Technologies whereby Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited software are bundled with Box professional workstations. Alias also recently introduced Maya Unlimited for the Mac OS X operating system.

Now available and priced at $6999, Maya Unlimited combines Maya Complete software with Maya Hair, Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Fur, Maya Cloth, and Maya Live for advanced special effects. This support maintenance, and education to Maya and Maya Personal Learning Edition customers.

Newel has announced its intention to port its Emmy Award-winning Light Wave 3D application, now in Version 8, to the Intel EM64T and AMD64 platforms. With this news, Newel becomes the first company to publicly reveal its plans to port a professional 3D graphics application to the 64-bit format.

The 64-bit version of Light Wave will reap the benefits of 64-bit technology, including increases in both processing power and memory. For the production of complex motion graphics and visual effects, this higher-performance version of Light Wave will benefit users with time-savings, increased efficiency.

The 64-bit edition of Light Wave 3D will become available when the 64-bit Windows operating system is released commercially.

Discreet has begun shipping Version 7 of its 3ds max professional 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software package. Version 7 benefits not only from an update to Mental Images Mental Ray Version 3, but also from the full integration of the companies own Character Studio.

Helping streamline film production, Version 7 also incorporates normal mapping, a technology designed for game development in which detail is added to low-polygon models with high-resolution maps. 3ds max 7 is priced at $3495. Upgrades from Versions 5 and 6 are priced at $1295 and $795, respectively.

In other news, Discreet revealed that 3ds max enjoys an installed base of more than 280,000 registered customers, including 3D artists and designers in film, television, games, and visualization.

Maxon Computer has unveiled the ninth incarnation of its Cinema 4D software solution. Release 9 offers a re-engineered modeling core, new modeling tools, an enhanced user interface, and more than 100 new features.

Eovia has introduced an upgraded version of its Carrara 3D animation, modeling, and rendering application. Version 4 is available now in Standard and Professional versions, priced at $579 and $279, respectively.

Softimages new pricing structure for all versions of its XSI Foundation for $495, Essentials for $1995, and Advanced for $6995continues to be a topic of conversation among industry professionals. Yet, Softimage has been extending XSI functionality through key partnerships.

The company has announced a strategic alliance agreement with Criterion Software, a provider of middleware for the gaming industry, that offers Criterion Render Ware users access to plug-ins and import/export tools that enable the integration of 3D content created in XSI.

Also, Softimage has entered into a technology alliance with Virtuous, maker of interactive 3D authoring tools. As a result, characters, scenes, objects, and animations created with XSI software can be exported directly into the Virtuous Dev 3 environment, thanks to a new Virtuous exporter for XSI software.

Caligari has announced TrueSpace 6, with roughly 24 general enhancements and more than 120 fixes to various tools and functionality. UV editing is improved by UV vertex welding, whereas the built-in particle system now provides interaction with TrueSpace physics, environments, and objects.

Particles also have real geometry, enabling them to reflect and cast shadows. A new Viewer frees users to preview scenes and objects in Windows Explorer. And Version 6 boasts performance gains: Real-time preview of an animation is reportedly 300 times faster.

Also, electric rain has introduced Mac OS X versions of its recently upgraded Swift 3D 4 stand-alone applications and Swift 3D Xpress plug-in. Swift 3D Version 4 aids designers in creating and exporting vector and raster 3D animations to Macromedia Flash or another format.

Designed for advanced and beginner animators and priced at $299, Animation master from hash is newly available in Version 11 for the Windows platform and Version 10 for Mac OS X and 9.

The program offers spine-based modeling, animation, and rendering, as well as IK, UV decal mapping, lip-sync key framing, motion libraries, and skeletal, morphing, and bending actions. It also provides channel-based motion control, patch-based animation, rot scoping, onion skinning, and other features.

Having acquired Kaydara, Alias has unveiled Motion Builder 6, an upgraded version of its character animation software. Alias Motion Builder 6 incorporates hundreds of enhancements.

Also, it includes improvements to key frame animation and character animation capabilities, the story timeline, scene management tools, and a simplified user interface. Motion Builder 6 Standard is priced at $995, whereas the Pro version includes 12 months of support and upgrades at a cost of $4195.

Curious Labs has released its Poser 5 figure design and animation solution for the Mac OS X operating system. The OS X version of Poser 5 sports displacement mapping, collision detection, procedural textures, photo-based facial mapping, new 3D human figures, Dynamic Hair, Dynamic Cloth.

The company also introduced Shade 7, a 3D graphics suite for designers, illustrators, and architects that encompasses modeling, rendering, and animation tools. For the creation of 3D imagery and animations, Shade offers Bezier curve/ surface modeling, integrated plug-ins, and a global illumination renderer.

About the Author

MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software,Fast Download Software, Cheap Download Software,Shop On Web, Buy Fast Software Discount Download Software,OEM Download Software