In introducing new students to video game development, there are two crucial components to consider: design and implementation. Unity 3D and PlayMaker Essentials: Game Development from Concept to Publishing provides theoretical background on topics such as characters, stories, level design, interface design, audio, game mechanics, and tools and skills needed. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic, with topics building upon each other so that by the end of the book you will have looked into all the subjects relevant to creating your own game. The book transitions from discussion to demonstrations of how to implement techniques and concepts into practice by using Unity3D and PlayMaker. Download boxes are included throughout the book where you can get the version of the game project under discussion or other content to add to the project, as well as any supplementary video tutorials that have been developed. Addressing both theoretical and practical aspects, Unity 3D and PlayMaker Essentials enables you to understand how to create a game by having you make a game. By gradually completing your own design document through the course of the book, you will become familiar with core design principles while learning the practical skills needed to bring your unique game to life.

OpenGL ES is the standard graphics API used for mobile and embedded systems. Despite its widespread use, there is a lack of material that addresses the balance of both theory and practice in OpenGL ES. JungHyun Han's Introduction to Computer Graphics with OpenGL ES achieves this perfect balance. Han's depiction of theory and practice illustrates how 3D graphics fundamentals are implemented. Theoretical or mathematical details around real-time graphics are also presented in a way that allows readers to quickly move on to practical programming. Additionally, this book presents OpenGL ES and shader code on many topics. Industry professionals, as well as, students in Computer Graphics and Game Programming courses will find this book of importance. Key Features: Presents key graphics algorithms that are commonly employed by state-of-the-art game engines and 3D user interfaces Provides a hands-on look at real-time graphics by illustrating OpenGL ES and shader code on various topics Depicts troublesome concepts using elaborate 3D illustrations so that they can be easily absorbed Includes problem sets, solutions manual, and lecture notes for those wishing to use this book as a course text.

This book teaches students and entry-level novices how to create games using the GameMaker engine. Readers will quickly hone their design skills with tutorials that are written so that beginners can quickly start building games while also providing lessons on how designers can 'level up' and add advanced options to their games. Readers will also have access to a website containing all the assets and resources to create their games, including sprites and animations, walk-through video tutorials of each lesson and music composed by professional musicians. Also provided are rubrics for instructors to use when grading student work or for readers learning on their own to evaluate their own work.

Go behind the scene of the behind the scenes to learn how the business of producing the dazzling visual effects we see in movies and on TV works.
With decades of combined VFX production and supervisory experience in Hollywood, the authors share their experience with you, illuminating standard industry practices and tips on:

* preproduction planning
* scheduling
* budgeting
* evaluating vendors and the bidding process
* effective data management
* working on-set, off-set, or overseas
* dealing with changes in post-production
* legal issues (contracts, insurance, business ethics), and more

Also included are interviews with established, successful Hollywood VFX Producers about their career paths and how they got to where they are now.
From pre-production to final delivery, this is your complete guide to visual effects production, providing insight on VFX budgeting and scheduling (with actual forms for your own use) and common production techniques such as motion control, miniatures, and pre-visualization. Also included is a companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/finance-9780240812632) with forms and documents for you to incorporate into your own VFX production workflows.

Digital 3D has become a core feature of the twenty-first-century visual landscape. Yet 3D cinema is a contradictory media form: producing spaces that are highly regimented and exhaustively detailed, it simultaneously relies upon distortions of vision and space that are inherently strange. Spaces Mapped and Monstrous explores the paradoxical nature of 3D cinema to offer a critical analysis of an inescapable part of contemporary culture. Considering 3D's distinctive visual qualities and its connections to wider digital systems, Nick Jones situates the production and exhibition of 3D cinema within a web of aesthetic, technological, and historical contexts. He examines 3D's relationship with computer interfaces, virtual reality, and digital networks as well as tracing its lineage to predigital models of visual organization. Jones emphasizes that 3D is not only a technology used in films but also a tool for producing, controlling, and distorting space within systems of surveillance, corporatization, and militarization. The book features detailed analysis of a wide range of films-including Avatar (2009), Goodbye to Language (2014), Love (2015), and Clash of the Titans (2010)-demonstrating that 3D is not merely an augmentation of 2D cinema but that it has its own unique properties. Spaces Mapped and Monstrous brings together media archaeology, digital theory, and textual analysis to provide a new account of the importance of 3D to visual culture today.

Focal Press adds a new star to its brightening constellation of superb Animation titles: The "Tradigital" line of books. "Tradigital" titles bridge the gap between animating with a particular software tool, and applying the 12 principles of animation to your work. The first three titles in the series cover: Maya, 3ds Max, and Blender. The 12 basic principles of animation were introduced by the Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, who wanted to codify the efforts of the leading Disney animators from the 1930s onwards to produce more realistic animations. The principles mainly teach animators how to create characters that look like they are adhering to the basic laws of physics. The principles also deal with more abstract issues, such as emotional timing and character appeal. Today, the core Disney principles are generally adopted by animators around the world. Though originally intended to apply to traditional, hand-drawn animation, the principles still have great relevance for today's more prevalent computer animation. Lee Montgomery presents "Tradigital Maya" which shows animators how to use the Maya controls, while applying the classical principles of animation and core techniques. With our new "Tradigital" series, we are finally bridging the gap between software-specific instruction and the world of classical animation.

Combining art and design principles with creative storytelling and professional savvy, this book covers everything a serious motion designer needs to make their artistic visions a reality and confidently produce compositions for clients. In this updated second edition of Design for Motion, author Austin Shaw explores the principles of motion design, teaching readers how to creatively harness the essential techniques of this diverse and innovative medium to create compelling style frames, design boards, and motion design products. Lessons are augmented by illustrious full-color imagery and practical exercises, allowing you to put the techniques covered into immediate practical context. Industry leaders, pioneers, and rising stars contribute their professional perspectives, share personal stories, and provide visual examples of their work. This second edition also includes updates on the following: Illustration techniques Typography Compositing Visual storytelling Incorporating 3D elements Social/mobile-first design Portfolio and concept development How to develop a distinct personal design style, and much more Plumb the depths of core motion design fundamentals and harness the essential techniques of this diverse and innovative medium. An accompanying Companion Website (www.routledge.com/cw/shaw) features video tutorials, a student showcase, and more.

Combining art and design principles with creative storytelling and professional savvy, this book covers everything a serious motion designer needs to make their artistic visions a reality and confidently produce compositions for clients. In this updated second edition of Design for Motion, author Austin Shaw explores the principles of motion design, teaching readers how to creatively harness the essential techniques of this diverse and innovative medium to create compelling style frames, design boards, and motion design products. Lessons are augmented by illustrious full-color imagery and practical exercises, allowing you to put the techniques covered into immediate practical context. Industry leaders, pioneers, and rising stars contribute their professional perspectives, share personal stories, and provide visual examples of their work. This second edition also includes updates on the following: Illustration techniques Typography Compositing Visual storytelling Incorporating 3D elements Social/mobile-first design Portfolio and concept development How to develop a distinct personal design style, and much more Plumb the depths of core motion design fundamentals and harness the essential techniques of this diverse and innovative medium. An accompanying Companion Website (www.routledge.com/cw/shaw) features video tutorials, a student showcase, and more.

This book offers a perspective into a phenomenon becoming more and more common: AAA developers 'going indie'. Written through the personal story of the author finding his way into the AAA games space, only to retreat back to indie games and consulting work and finding a new-old life making games for himself, and finding fulfillment in doing so. It is both a word of warning to creatives seeking a corporation and a call for disillusioned developers to break free and do something wild, creative, and unexpected. It is critical of common industry issues such as structural crunch, health issues, work life balance, and more, but is also a personal story of mismatched needs in doing creative work. Key Features Under-explored viewpoint of the games industry, someone who worked for years to 'break in', then worked for years to 'break out'. Offers a unique look at making an indie game life both financially and mentally feasible. Encourages developers sitting on the fence to take the plunge.

Go from 'beginner' to 'expert' with this professional, tutorial-based guide to Maya 2016 Mastering Autodesk Maya 2016 is your professional hands-on coverage to getting the most out of Maya. If you already know the basics of Maya, this book is your ticket to full coverage of all Maya 2016's latest features, and showcases the tools and methods used in real-world 3D animation and visual effects. From modeling, texturing, animation, and effects to high-level techniques for film, television, games, and more, this book expands your skill set, and helps you prepare for the Autodesk Maya certification exam. Filled with challenging tutorials and real-world scenarios this book provides valuable insight into the entire CG production timeline. Take your Maya skills to the next level with step-by-step instruction and insight from the industry professionals. * Learn professional techniques used in real-world visual effects * Master Dynamics, Maya Muscle, Stereo Cameras, mental ray, and more * Expand your skills with advanced techniques for cloth, fur, and fluids * Understand everything you need to know for the Maya certification exam

Is art created with computers really art? This book answers 'yes.' Computers can generate visual art with unique aesthetic effects based on innovations in computer technology and a Postmodern naturalization of technology wherein technology becomes something we live in as well as use. The present study establishes these claims by looking at digital art's historical emergence from the 1960s to the start of the present century. Paul Crowther, using a philosophical approach to art history, considers the first steps towards digital graphics, their development in terms of three-dimensional abstraction and figuration, and then the complexities of their interactive formats.

Good or bad level design can make or break any game, so it is surprising how little reference material exists for level designers. Beginning level designers have a limited understanding of the tools and techniques they can use to achieve their goals, or even define them. This book is the first to use a conceptual and theoretical foundation to build such a set of practical tools and techniques. It is tied to no particular technology or genre, so it will be a useful reference for many years to come. Kremers covers many concepts universal to level design, such as interactivity, world building, immersion, sensory perception, pace, and more, and he shows how to apply these concepts in practical ways, with many examples from real games.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-conference proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Next Generation Computer Animation Techniques, AniNex 2017, held in Bournemouth, UK, in June 2017. The workshop was held in conjunction with the 11th International Conference on E-Learning and Games, Edutainment 2017. The 17 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 27 submissions. The papers are structured according to the four main themes: simulation and rendering for computer animation; character modeling and dynamics; user centered design and modeling; computer animation systems and virtual reality based applications.

Use solid and practical exercises to master the fundamentals of Adobe Animate CC. This is one of the first comprehensive books on Adobe Animate CC to thoroughly examine and demonstrate how to create and deploy interactive and motion design content to mobile, tablet, and desktop screens. Using a series of carefully developed tutorials, Beginning Adobe Animate CC will lead you from basic Animate CC document workflows to the point where you can create animations, interactive projects, and anything else using a variety of techniques. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of Animate CC and then lets you take over with a series of "Your Turn" exercises that let you create amazing projects based on what you have learned. Beginning Adobe Animate CC focuses on the core skill set needed to master Animate CC and while you are at it, you will be guided to the mastery of the fundamentals, such as drawing tools, movie clips, video and audio content, text, graphics, external data, components, and a solid overview of the code you need to know to take your skills to the next level. What You Will Learn: Create and deploy animated and interactive content for the HTML 5 universe. Create images and vector graphics for use in Animate CC. Examine a variety of animation techniques that make full use of the Animate CC timeline. Add video and audio content to an Animate CC project. Use many of the graphic creation tools in Animate CC. Publish your projects to a variety of formats. Who This Book is For: Those who are proficient in creating and publishing animated and interactive web-based content. It will also help those who are proficient in using Adobe Flash Professional CC to understand the improvements and new workflows found in Adobe Animate CC.

Affordable 3D printers are rapidly becoming everyday additions to the desktops and worktables of entertainment design practitioners - whether working in theatre, theme parks, television and film, museum design, window displays, animatronics, or... you name it! We are beginning to ask important questions about these emerging practices: * How can we use 3D fabrication to make the design and production process more efficient? * How can it be used to create useful and creative items? * Can it save us from digging endlessly through thrift store shelves or from yet another late-night build? * And when budgets are tight, will it save us money? This quick start guide will help you navigate the alphabet soup that is 3D printing and begin to answer these questions for yourself. It outlines the basics of the technology, and its many uses in entertainment design. With straightforward and easy-to-follow information, you will learn ways to acquire printable 3D models, basic methods of creating your own, and tips along the way to produce successful prints. Over 70 professionals contributed images, guidance, and never-before-seen case studies filled with insider secrets to this book, including tutorials by designer and pioneer, Owen M. Collins.

An Introduction to Computer Graphics for Artists is an application-independent, reader-friendly primer for anyone with a serious desire to understand 3D Computer Graphics. Written by a veteran of the computer graphics industry whose previous career included film animation and various spells as Art Director for video games, Andrew Paquette draws on his experiences both as an artist and a manager. Far too often artists, even professionals, lack a basic understanding of the principles of computer graphics. The result is inefficiency and lower quality of work. This book addresses these issues by providing fundamental information in a university course format, with theoretical material, detailed illustrations, and projects to test the reader's understanding of the concepts covered. Opening with the first and most basic elements of computer graphics, the book rapidly advances into progressively more complex concepts. Each of the elements, however simple, are important to understand because each is an essential link in a chain that allows an artist to master any computer graphics application. With this accomplished, the artist can use technology to satisfy his goals, instead of the technology being master of the artist. All students wanting to learn more about computer graphics from an artistic viewpoint, particularly those intending to pursue a career in computer game design or film animation, will find this book invaluable.

Physics for Flash Games, Animation, and Simulations teaches ActionScript programmers how to incorporate real physics into their Flash animations, games, user interfaces, and simulations. * Introduces Flash physics in an accurate, but approachable way, covering what is required to produce physically realistic simulations (as opposed to animations that look roughly right) * Packed full of practical examples of how physics can be applied to your own games and applications * Addresses the diverse needs of game developers, animators, artists, and e-learning developers The book assumes a basic knowledge of ActionScript and Flash. However, no previous knowledge of physics is required - only some very basic math skills. The authors present everything from basic principles to advanced concepts, so you'll be able to follow the logic and easily adapt the principles to your own applications. The book builds on your physics knowledge, enabling you to create not only visual effects, but also more complex models and simulations.What you'll learn * Basic math and physics you'll need to incorporate realism into your games, animations and simulations * How to incorporate a wide range of forces, including environmental forces such as gravity and friction, and forces due to fluids, such as drag and upthrust * How to build a number of realistic simulations, like submarines and flight simulators * How to model particle systems and use them for generative art and to create effects, such as smoke * Numerical subtleties, including accuracy and stability of integration schemes and handling boundary conditions properly; and how and when to use approximations and analytical solutions Who this book is for Flash developers interested in incorporating real physics into their games, animations, simulations or generative art projects. Table of Contents * Introduction to Physics Programming * Selected ActionScript 3.0Topics * Some Math Background * Basic Physics Concepts * The Laws Governing Motion * Gravity, Orbits, and Rockets * Contact and Fluid Forces * Restoring Forces: Springs and Oscillations * Centripetal Forces: Rotational Motion * Long-Range Forces * Collisions * Particle Systems * Extended Objects * Numerical Integration Schemes * Other Technical Issues * Simulation Projects

A uniquely interdisciplinary look at storytelling in digital, analogue, and hybridised contexts, this book traces different ways stories are experienced in our contemporary mediascape. It uses an engaging range of current examples to explore interactive and immersive narratives. Critical Encounters with Immersive Storytelling considers exciting new forms of storytelling that are emerging in contemporary popular culture. Here, immersion is being facilitated in a variety of ways and in a multitude of contexts, from 3D cinema to street games, from immersive theatre plays to built environments such as theme parks, as well as in a multitude of digital formats. The book explores diverse modes and practices of immersive storytelling, discussing what is gained and lost in each of these 'genres'. Building on notions of experience and immersion, it suggests a framework within which we might begin to understand the quality of being immersed. It also explores the practical and ethical aspects of this exciting and evolving terrain. This accessible and lively study will be of great interest to students and researchers of media studies, digital culture, games studies, extended reality, experience design, and storytelling.

If you are an ActionScript developer and you'd like to work with 3D in Flash, this book is for you. You will learn the core Flash 3D concepts, using the open source Away3D engine as a primary tool. Once you have mastered these skills, you will be able to realize the possibilities that the available Flash 3D engines, languages, and technologies have to offer you with Flash and 3D. * Describes 3D concepts in theory and their implementation using Away3D * Dives right in to show readers how to quickly create an interactive, animated 3D scene, and builds on that experience throughout the book * Each chapter contains a number of tutorials that focus on one specific feature or group of features What you'll learn * Use Away3D to incorporate real-time 3D into your Flash productions. * Enable users to interact with your 3D content. * Use lighting and shading to make your scene look realistic. * Animate your 3D scene in real time. * Use visual effects such as reflection, filters, and normal/bump mapping. * Use Away3D along with other frameworks (e.g., for real-time simulated physics). Who is this book for?This book is for Flash developers wanting to learn to use 3D effects within Flash using open source tools.

AdvancED Flash on Devices beginswith a discussion of the mobile development landscapethe different players, tools, hardware, platforms, and operating systems. The second part of the book covers Flash Lite and how to take advantage newer features supported in Flash Lite 3.x. Then, the book covers AIR applications for multiple screens and includes topics such as: How to utilize new features of AIR 1.5 and Flash 10 as well as pitfalls to be aware of when building an AIR application for mobile How to include platform and context awareness for better adaptation How to adopt an application on multiple devices using dynamic graphical GUI Creating two full working real life touch screen mobile application

The last part of the book covers creating Flex applications running Flash 9 and 10 in mobile device browsers and includes topics such as: How to adopt Flex for multiple mobile device browsers How to create various video players for Flash Lite and Flash 10 and optimize your content. How to take advantage of Flash Media Server

Experienced Flash and ActionScript programmers who want to extend their skills to mobile platforms should find this book a great help in developing in this exciting and expanding marketplace. What you'll learn Create Flash Lite-based widgets on Nokia Series 60 devices and other Flash enabled devices Extend device capabilities using both Sony Ericsson Capuchin and Nokia S60 Platform Services with Flash Leverage Flash Video on smartphones and other Non-PC devices Approach migrating existing Flash content into native iPhone content using 3rd Party Developer tools Create two full working real life touch screen Flex mobile applications Who this book is for

AdvancED Flash on Devices, written for existing Flash developers and other interested mobile professionals, covers both mobile and device development with Flash Lite, as well as Flash 10 for smartphones and other non-PC devices. Table of Contents The Mobile and Device Landscape Flash Lite Platform Fundamentals Flash Lite 3 Tips and Tricks for Developing Flash Mobile Applications Mobile and Device Widget Platforms with Flash Flash Lite User Interface Components and Frameworks Extending Flash on Mobile and Devices Using OEM-Based Solutions Porting Flash Lite Applications to the iPhone using Third-Party Tools Adobe Integrated Runtime on Mobile Devices Adopting AIR for Mobile Devices Developing Cross-Platform Air Applications Mobile Applications and Development Strategies with Flex 4 and Flash Catalyst Adopting Flex for Multiple Devices Building Mobile Applications Using Test-Driven Development Creating a Cross-Platform Video Player and Optimizing Content

We've all sneaked the odd five minutes here or there playing the latest Flash game that someone sent round the office, but creating those games is trickier than it looks. The aim of Foundation Game Design with Flash is to take you, even if you've minimal multimedia or programming experience, through a series of step-by-step examples and detailed case studies to the point where you'll have the skills to independently design any conceivable 2D game using Flash and ActionScript. The book is a non-technical one-stop-shop for all the most important skills and techniques a beginner game designer needs to build games with Flash from scratch. Whether you're creating quick blasts of viral amusement, or more in-depth action or adventure titles, this book is for you.Focused and friendly introduction to designing games with Flash and ActionScript Five detailed case studies of Flash games Essential techniques for building games, with each chapter gently building on the skills of preceding chapters What you'll learn Learn how to build interactive movies and objects with Flash Get a thorough grounding in ActionScript 3.0 and good programming practices, with minimal prior programming experience required Discover how to build interactive storybooks, space-shooter, adventure and drag-and-Drop games. Master collision detection, Enemy AI systems, player control, managing game data, basic physics and trigonometry. Make use of design patterns and object-oriented programming techniques to build robust games. Understand the strategies for making games fun to play and easy to build. Who this book is for

This book is for a non-technical creative person who wants to learn the art of video game design, but has no idea where to start or where to look for help. It is a lucid, friendly and step-by-step guide though all the technical and creative issues involved in game design with Flash and ActionScript. The book treats the art of programming as a creative artistic tool, and will help anyone who may be afraid of programming to love the subject as much as the author does. The techniques in the book are comprehensive enough to form the basis of career as a game designer, and form a solid foundation for continued study of programming and ActionScript. This book is the missing link that will guide and inspire any curious and creative person turn a good game idea into a reality. Table of Contents Programming Foundations: How to Make a Video Game Making Objects Programming Objects Controlling Movie Clip Objects Decision Making Controlling a Player Character Bumping into Things Object-Oriented Game Design Platform Game: Physics and Data Management Advanced Object and Character Control

During the last decades, computer-aided engineering (CAE) methodologies have deeply changed the way of designing and developing products, systems and services. Thanks also to significant hardware and software improvements, CAE techniques are widely used by designers from the early conceptual phases up to the final stages of engineering processes. At the industry level, these methodologies have become a fundamental tool to be competitive and to ensure high quality standards. In industrial engineering, computer-aided methodologies typically are instrumental for design teams in shape modelling, behavioural simulations, digital mock-ups and realistic animations. They are able to follow the development of a product from conception to production, also managing its life-cycle. Character animation is one of the key research areas in computer graphics and multimedia. It has applications in many fields, ranging from entertainment, games, virtual presence and others. This new important book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this dynamic field.

After Effects for Designers teaches design students, artists, and web, graphic, and interactive designers how to design, develop, and deploy motion design projects using Adobe After Effects. Author Chris Jackson balances fundamental aspects of time-based design with related techniques, and explores the principles of animation; composition and layout; visual hierarchy; typography; cinematic storytelling; 3D modelling; compositing, and more. Each chapter contains unique, step-by-step project exercises that offer timesaving practical tips and hands-on design techniques, teaching readers how to effectively use the tools at their disposal in order to conceptualize and visualize creative solutions to their own motion design work. Readers will build professional-world examples in every chapter and, as a result, learn how to both design effectively using After Effects and practically apply these skills in client-based work. An accompanying companion website includes complete project files for the book's chapter exercises, and additional video tutorials.

This book will provide insider tips, traps, and techniques on how to create 3d assets for use in computer games and simulation systems. The book will consist of a series of tutorials, starting with simpler models and moving up to more complex builds. As the book comes to us directly from successful game artists within commercial game development circles (Gahan and contributors) aspiring game artists will also find keen insights on how to get ahead in the game industry, i.e. how to prepare your personal portfolio to provide an edge in this extremely competitive world of game development. The strength of this book is that it teaches all of the important game modeling elements of 3ds Max: character modeling, environment modeling, mapping. The book covers how to model, texture and animate credible game characters and levels using 3ds max. As readers move from tutorial to tutorial, they will be building their own portfolio of high quality work. The DVD contains countless examples of what's hot and what's not in 3D modeling and also enough support images and photos to keep the budding artist busy for months. Features of this title include: step-by-step project files for each chapter; all the relevant texture files and source photos used to create the texture maps applied to the 3D projects; extras - panoramic skies, small scene objects and a many texture maps and models so that artists can create whole scenes very quickly without starting from scratch each time; royalty free stock photos that artists can use in their own texture maps, models and scenes; and, additional material on the book's bonus website. Author Andy Gahan is a seasoned professional and leading industry expert. Gahan is a key member of an award-winning game team recently scoring number 1 hits in Japan, Europe and America with the Playstation 3 smash hit MotorStorm. Game Modeling techniques offered in this book with artist's potential portfolio in mind. Find out what Art Directors and Managers are looking for. Essentials of 3D game modeling covered - Characters, Vehicles, Assets and Scenes - including lighting and rendering. Find additional tutorials and even contact the author on the book's website.