VFX Advice

Chase187666 · 08-03-2010, 02:44 PM

I am currently looking into learning VFX for games. I have been doing tutorials and what not and Im interested in trying to find some online courses or even some advice or Anything. Ive been focusing on UE3 and Im wondering if anyone can recommend an online course or just advice or some good tutorials or learning DVDs for VFX for games.

Should I be focusing on a different software? I was told the game engine is used for VFX.

Anything is greatly appreciated

Ex-Ray · 08-03-2010, 07:07 PM

Yeah stick with UDK/UE3.

Tutorial dvd:
Unreal Cascade - An Introduction and Application | Feed Your Brain!

Free UDK tutorial vids, including one on particles:
UDN - Three - VideoTutorials

Advice on this podcast
Episode 16: VFX and UI « Games Industry Mentor

Chase187666 · 09-03-2010, 11:03 PM

Thank you very much Ex-Ray

Another thing; I also heard that you dont really have to go to school for most jobs in the gaming industry including VFX, its more so how good your portfolio and work is. Any clue if this is true? And do you know of any online courses by any chance?

Thanks again.

Chase187666 · 10-03-2010, 01:34 AM

Thank you Ex-Ray.

Another thing; I was told that in the gaming industry you dont really have to go to school, its more so how good your work is in your portfolio. Is anyone able to confirm this?

Ex-Ray, Do you happen to know of any online courses for VFX?

Thanks again

Ex-Ray · 10-03-2010, 09:19 AM

It's true in the past that schooling was not so necessary to get into the industry but nowadays, current gen with much emphasis on specialized skills needed for higher fidelity in games it's much tougher to get in without some form of education in the field you want to work in.

Yes it's true that a kick ass portfolio is very important and can get you into the industry with or without schooling. It all depends on the company that is hiring, some require the relevant qualifications while others don't.

Another way to think about it is, say there are 2 similar candidates applying for a job with equal portfolio & equal mentality, one had a degree while the other one didn't. Who would you hire?

I don't really know much of online courses, I heard of this place though:
Computer graphics, animation, VFX & games courses - Escape Studios

You can always check his thread out:
http://www.game-artist.net/forums/general-discussion/57-game-art-courses-schools.html

mathes · 22-03-2010, 10:59 PM

Eat3D is a good resource for learning particle effects in Unreal. You'll also want to learn how to make effects in a 3D program (Max, Maya, Houdini, etc). Gnomon has good DVD's for fluids and particles.

joe_k · 04-07-2011, 11:07 AM

A showreel is probably the most important tool you will have to get the job, but an academic qualification is probably just as important to get you through the initial shortlisting process. Many of the top VFX houses demand a degree level education now days, even for the entry-level runner jobs so if you can afford to go to university it is definately an option worth considering.

If you do decide to go to university, make sure they have strong industry links as there are a number of universities offering "mickey mouse" degrees just to get bums on seats. Bournemouth University is a good option, but there is also a new institute opening which is based in a real working VFX studio. You can't get closer then that IMO.

Check out www.bournmouth.ac.uk for Bournemouth University.

The studio based institute is The VFX Academy, their website is The VFX Academy - Home.

08-03-2010, 02:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chase187666 New Member 7 - 0	VFX Advice I am currently looking into learning VFX for games. I have been doing tutorials and what not and Im interested in trying to find some online courses or even some advice or Anything. Ive been focusing on UE3 and Im wondering if anyone can recommend an online course or just advice or some good tutorials or learning DVDs for VFX for games. Should I be focusing on a different software? I was told the game engine is used for VFX. Anything is greatly appreciated

08-03-2010, 07:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ex-Ray Senior Member 279 - 131	Yeah stick with UDK/UE3. Tutorial dvd: Unreal Cascade - An Introduction and Application \| Feed Your Brain! Free UDK tutorial vids, including one on particles: UDN - Three - VideoTutorials Advice on this podcast Episode 16: VFX and UI « Games Industry Mentor Last edited by Ex-Ray; 09-03-2010 at 10:18 AM.

04-07-2011, 11:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
joe_k New Member 1 - 0	Studying VFX A showreel is probably the most important tool you will have to get the job, but an academic qualification is probably just as important to get you through the initial shortlisting process. Many of the top VFX houses demand a degree level education now days, even for the entry-level runner jobs so if you can afford to go to university it is definately an option worth considering. If you do decide to go to university, make sure they have strong industry links as there are a number of universities offering "mickey mouse" degrees just to get bums on seats. Bournemouth University is a good option, but there is also a new institute opening which is based in a real working VFX studio. You can't get closer then that IMO. Check out www.bournmouth.ac.uk for Bournemouth University. The studio based institute is The VFX Academy, their website is The VFX Academy - Home.

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09-03-2010, 11:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chase187666 New Member 7 - 0	Thank you very much Ex-Ray Another thing; I also heard that you dont really have to go to school for most jobs in the gaming industry including VFX, its more so how good your portfolio and work is. Any clue if this is true? And do you know of any online courses by any chance? Thanks again.

10-03-2010, 01:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chase187666 New Member 7 - 0	Thank you Ex-Ray. Another thing; I was told that in the gaming industry you dont really have to go to school, its more so how good your work is in your portfolio. Is anyone able to confirm this? Ex-Ray, Do you happen to know of any online courses for VFX? Thanks again

10-03-2010, 09:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ex-Ray Senior Member 279 - 131	It's true in the past that schooling was not so necessary to get into the industry but nowadays, current gen with much emphasis on specialized skills needed for higher fidelity in games it's much tougher to get in without some form of education in the field you want to work in. Yes it's true that a kick ass portfolio is very important and can get you into the industry with or without schooling. It all depends on the company that is hiring, some require the relevant qualifications while others don't. Another way to think about it is, say there are 2 similar candidates applying for a job with equal portfolio & equal mentality, one had a degree while the other one didn't. Who would you hire? I don't really know much of online courses, I heard of this place though: Computer graphics, animation, VFX & games courses - Escape Studios You can always check his thread out: http://www.game-artist.net/forums/general-discussion/57-game-art-courses-schools.html

22-03-2010, 10:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
mathes New Member 6 - 0	Eat3D is a good resource for learning particle effects in Unreal. You'll also want to learn how to make effects in a 3D program (Max, Maya, Houdini, etc). Gnomon has good DVD's for fluids and particles.