BA5 - Industry Focus - Art Test's

The Brief

Finally we are onto BA5, this project introduces us to ‘Art Tests’; these are used as part of the recruitment process into games studios and vary from company to company depending on scale and development methods. A wide range of game studios have supplied us with the art tests they use so that we can develop an understanding of what will be required from us in the recruitment process and critically evaluate our strengths and weaknesses. 

Monday (05/01/15)

The first round of Art Test our ones that the NUA staff have created for us, and then the second round will be from actual links in the industry. This is for us to learn what is expected from us by studios in the interview stages.The test's cover 3D Environment Artist, 3D Character Artist, Character Concept Artist, Environment concept Artist, Concept Pre-Visualisation, UI Designer, and Games Designer.

I found myself attracted more towards both the Environmental based Test's, Im having trouble deciding between a 3D Environment Artist Test and the Environment Concept Artist test. Both Test are based on the Valve game Half-Life, which I am very passionate about as I grew up playing on it on the PC and have seen it develop over time. 

Task Description: (for both environment concept and 3D)

Gordon Freeman, in his final call to action, is returning to where it all began and walking back into the sprawling nexus that is Black Mesa. The 30 years since the resonance cascade have not be kind to the scientific complex. How have the Combine modified and taken over the ruined or destroyed facility? What has G­Man’s bomb left standing? 

Task Requirements: (For 3D)

Create 2 environment assets that encapsulates a consistent part of Black Mesa. Using the images below, create faithful redesigns of the objects and bring them up to a current gen standard. Show how it has been overrun, distressed or destroyed. Create game ready models and textures which will be submitted as well as in­ engine screenshots.

Task Requirements: (For concept)

Create 1 environment painting that encapsulates a consistent part of Black Mesa and show how it has been overrun, distressed or destroyed. From this painting, create 2 asset sheets that describe objects in the environment in greater detail ready for production.

I feel that the concept task has more freedom on what I can do however I am interested about learning more in depth 3D skills and getting better at 3D, and perhaps use the test to put in my portfolio if good enough by the end. I think it would be better for me to do the concept task as this gives me more artistic license.