Monday 18th September (Week 1) - Pub Quiz, Small projects & FMOD, University talks.

The start of the University year has been great. Most of the summer I took off so that I could get away from burnout, however I did work on some small projects. My day job in GAME became a main priority as my hours were doubled as university was over for the year, this helped me with understanding managing peers as well as gaining experience with KPIS ( Key performance indicators) and PDPS' (Personal Development Plans). I had to watch over other employees to make sure that they were doing their best as well as helping them improve by providing them will better methods of selling products as well as sending them to the right people when they asked for help, I believe this is significant as it isn't too far off what someone in a production role would have to do within the games industry.

PUB Quiz:

On the induction day of the University year, I helped hold the "Game Design Pub Quiz" for the "Summer of Fun". I organised it with Mathew Price (University Lecturer) Samantha Monaghan (Graduate Student) and Eamonn Devlin (Final year student). It took us around 3 weeks to organise, I helped with some of the power-point questions, mainly suggesting changes as well as debating whether questions are too easy or hard. My main deal was suggesting prizes, a lot of prizes as well as going to get them on the day. Myself and Samantha prepared them before hand, shopping around in Belfast. On the night of the pub quiz, I acted as a door man, greeting every person taking part, giving them glow sticks, as well as making small talk, asking if they were new etc. Once the quiz started, I used a google sheets document to take down the names of all the teams, as well as their points each round, creating a formula that would add them all up at the end. Overall the entire Quiz was a success, despite some Wi-Fi difficulties.

Small Projects:

Over the summer I worked on some smaller projects, the two main projects being a small zombie project that has a few mechanics, as well as a small city builder project with a few mechanics. Below are some videos that show off the zombie project, I will add videos of the city builder at a later date. As well as these projects, I started working with FMOD studio a sound software that works with Unreal Engine. I originally started using it as there was an opening for a placement with the Belfast based studio "Imaginati Studios" they are working on a game called TimeQuake, in which they use FMOD for the sound within the game. This fell apart as I didn't qualify for the position in the end as two of the requirements were:

• The applicant cannot be in further education.

• The applicant cannot currently be employed.

The reasoning for these requirements were because the placement was being run through the job start NI scheme.

Below are some examples of what I created using FMOD studio.

Radio: https://youtu.be/u9_dbQLMr_Y

Bird Song: https://youtu.be/g4sfteZyIfc

Zombie project link: https://youtu.be/J9rVSjRQu48

University Talks

For the start of this week and going into week 2 I have been talking to 3 different people to come into the university talks.

• Water (Hypixel Studios QA)

• Samantha Monaghan (Previously Hypixel, now working alongside Kippie/Pixel Mill, Production)

• Willem Delventhal ( Paradox Interactive, Head of the Indie Game Academy)

I am working on securing these three speakers for 3 separate university talks. Water is an acquaintance I made during the Hypixel Game Jam last year, a great person who is very well spoken, I have talked to them about dates and I am waiting on hearing back about whether they can get it booked off. Samantha is a good friend and an ex student, I believe she will be able to come in for a talk no problem, possibly bringing in Kippie with her to give a talk about diversity and inclusion. Willem was introduced to me through an exchange student, Lucas Wolf. Lucas was in my group last year for launch title and has become a good friend. Willem is planned to come in for a talk on how to get into the games industry as well as a talk about how to succeed as an indie studio, as I believe this will help our placement students.

All of these talks are still to be confirmed, but It is allowing me to continue to develop my contacts within the industry.

Over the course of the next week I would like to gain an improved idea on how I am going to be handling this year, I have already been working on this such as looking at courses on Udemy, upskilling, letting Belfast based studios know that I am currently on Freelance for Production. My next step going into next week is to get my hours changed in GAME so that I only work at the weekends.