January 2011 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Re: [Skunkworks] One for the developer engineers, what separates them from the enterprenuer crowds - good post but
by m mugo 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Hi William. Good post bit I think that it's fair practice that when you get stuff online and post it, at least mention or give credit to the guys that posted it, in this case OEDB.org Alternatively, instead of copy-pasting such a long page why not just have put the link up and people will follow it? http://oedb.org/library/features/video-game-degrees-and-careers On Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 5:14 PM, William Warero <wwarero(a)gmail.com> wrote: > This is kinda OT, but also related to aki's post with reference to gaming > and engineering. > > Its an interesting read . > > > Here's a breakdown of what you *might* be expected to know before you even > apply to a college for a degree in game and simulation programming<http://oedb.org/online-programs/arts-humanities/game-art-design/bachelor-of…>, > let alone in an application to a game company: > > - *Know your Games: *An understanding of video games, including a > history of developments over the past decade, will help you to understand > what to expect in the future. If you're a gamer with years of experience, > then you have this essential under your belt already. If you haven't played > many games, spend as much of your spare time as possible to learn to > play as many games in a wide number of gaming styles. > - *Participate in forums and start a gamer blog.* You can also learn a > lot about the gaming industry through gamer Web sites or blogs and even more > if you start one. If you're an experienced gamer, you probably are > passionate about this industry, and that's one attribute that commercial > game developers want in an employee. Try to write in complete sentences and > use correct grammar as you communicate in forums and blogs, as this writing > experience will help you if you plan to go to the top of the game > development ladder. > - *Volunteer to host games or to become a beta tester.* Some companies > might even pay you for the hosting, but don't expect to get rich. It's all > for the experience. If you offer your services for beta testing, report your > experiences in complete sentences and with correct grammar just like you did > in the previous step. Stay on top of Blue's News<http://www.bluesnews.com/>to hear about new beta offers. > - *Learn about Game Components: *If you know how to build mods, you > have an advantage over someone who doesn't know how to build levels or > worlds. Quake <http://www.idsoftware.com/games/quake/quake4/> (ID > Software) offered an opportunity for gamers to alter sounds, graphics, or > scripting that resulted in new versions of that game as well as the > opportunity to create bots, or surrogate players for multiplayer modes. An > ability to build mods is crucial for success in the gaming world, because > your participation in Mod Development Teams, forums, and clans is a preview > into working in a corporate team. This "leave your ego at the door" policy > and a team-player mentality are two more attributes that commercial game > developers look for in an employee. *Note: *Part of learning mods is > understanding game licensing. Study ID Software's Technology Licensing<http://www.idsoftware.com/business/technology/>to learn how one company views modifications on existing software, > especially if you plan to build games with a 3-D engine, a licensed > engine for game development, or any real-time 3-D application. > - *Try your hand at Game Engine Development: *You might want to take > mods one step further by building a game engine. You're in luck here, as the > Genesis3D <http://www.genesis3d.com/> is an open source game > development software that is free to download and use. Genesis3D supports a > community that you could tap for help in your gaming construction, but you > might want to note that this site may expire soon due to lack of interest. > Instead, take advantage of the Genesis3D links to other sites where gamers > are actively building game engines (like World of Genesis<http://www.genesis3d.com/%7Ewog/>) > or to sites that offer tutorials. > - *Attend trade shows:* Dress neatly and speak with intelligence when > you talk with game company representatives at trade shows. Be enthusiastic, > but also be sincere. On the other hand, don't talk at all unless you've > actually played the game in questions or a previous version of that newly > released game. Also attend board game trade shows, comic book shows, toy > shows, and any other trade show that might create an impact on the industry. > In other words, train yourself to be the "first to know." > - *Learn Your Strengths: *One way to learn your strengths is to try all > the above and more. Learn how to draw. Use as many software development > programs as possible to understand how they work. Build a portfolio and a > Web site that showcases your abilities. Read books. Read online magazines > like Game Developer <http://www.gdmag.com/homepage.htm> or Game > Informer <http://www.gameinformer.com/default.htm>. Read Sloperama's > Game Biz Advice <http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html> and don't skip > any articles. > - *Make a Demo: *Make a well-crafted and "pretty" demo. Vince at > Articulate Babble<http://www.articulatebabble.org/archives/2004/02/01T161146.php>states that "[job] candidates with demos always go to the top of my stack," > because people with demos show a passion for the industry. > - *Become an intern: *Paying dues in this industry is no different than > any other industry, and you want to get into that game industry door any way > possible. An internship — even if it's a job where you answer phones — is > one way to get there (and provides a place to leave your demo). Even if that > internship doesn't turn into a "real" job down the road, you have a line > item <http://www.zenofdesign.com/?page_id=335> to plaster onto your > resume, according to Zen of Design's Damion Schubert<http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,41468/> > . > > The Career Choices > > I don't want to be too negative about the gaming industry; but, after some > experience in this field as a freelance scriptwriter and after talking with > other gaming employees, I know that this field is hard to break into and > easy to dislike if you harbor fantasies about how this industry works today. > On the other hand, once you get inside the game industry, you can meet some > great people who are creative, intelligent, and who love games — > undoubtedly attributes and interests that are similar to yours. Plus, you > have a number of ways to enter this industry, and not all of them are devoid > of personal influences on how a game is developed. > > Computer programmers provide the profile most commonly associated with > making games, representing approximately 50%<http://www.igda.org/breakingin/BreakingIn_letter.pdf>[PDF] of the game development population. Equally important are the digital > artists, game designers, producers, musicians, and many others who > collaborate in the making of a game and who provide maintenance and support > for everything from computers to testing the games. In addition, any job > will probably entail experience with several types of games from the > highly graphic Myst to puzzle games like Tetris. Finally, you might notice > from the job descriptions below that some people might wear more than one > hat. That situation would depend upon the size of the company: > > - *Game Developer:* According to Psychochild<http://www.psychochild.org/?page_id=75>, > "[M]aking games is not the same as playing games." You, as a game > developer or *Project Manager*, will usually work on games that are not > your ideas, especially if you work for a large company. It's easy to burn > out after dealing with bosses' ideals, marketing folks' objections, and > programmers who cannot figure out how to make that original idea work. And, > it all falls back onto the your shoulders when it doesn't work. On the other > hand, you can work for a fledging company or start up one of your own and > learn first-hand about the long hours and dedication involved with this > position. It's not all bad: game developers are often the ones who make the > most amount of money — next to the producer and publisher, of course. You > also have the most responsibility, as you take charge of the complete game > process from concept to final product. You also need to have more than a > passing knowledge about all the jobs listed below, and a high skill level in > one or more of the following positions (most likely programming). > - *Art Director:* Also included in this category is the *Creative > Director*, because a person may hold both titles. The art director is > usually a designer who knows how to write system design documents as well as > have great skills in both 2-D and 3-D renderings. The system design > documents, which are usually accomplished in close accord with the game > developer, tell other designers and programmers what they need to do to > accomplish the game design. Brandon Reinhart<http://www.extropica.com/2007/01/elements-of-system-design-doc.html>has written an extensive article about the system design doc that should be > required reading for anyone who wants to work in this field. The art and/or > the creative director is usually responsible for directing the art > department, both at 2-D and 3-D levels.. > - *Concept Artist: *If you like to draw or paint with traditional tools > and if you've discovered that you have an affinity with computer paint and > drawing programs, you might pursue a job as a concept artist. This job > entails working closely with a game art director and scriptwriter to help > programmers and 3-D artists visualize a game's concept. You would build > structures, textures, and backgrounds in game worlds that are somewhat flat, > but that provide precise guidelines for 3-D artists to follow. Save up your > pennies for Photoshop <http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/> (you > might want to wait for Photshop CS3<http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/photoshopcs3/>edition to premiere after the beta version has been thoroughly tested this > year), because this software is the standard for this industry. This job > could lead to a position as a creative director or art director. This type > of artist may also be the levels artist. > - *Levels Artist:* The levels artist (may also be the 3-D artist) > creates, organizes, and implements layouts and walkthroughs for all levels > in a game (such as puzzles, enemy placement, etc.). This artist must also > know how to analyze and debug levels as necessary. Strong organizational and > problem-solving skills are plusses, as well as an ability to take and apply > direction and criticism. Get a grip on modeling programs like 3-D > Studio Max<http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=5659302&siteID=123112>, > Maya<http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7635018>, > and SoftImage <http://www.softimage.com/>, as these software programs > are standards in gaming businesses. > - *3-D Artist:* A 3-D artist could also be a levels artist, but this > artist adds characters, buildings, landscapes, and objects that make up a > 3-D world at various levels. This artist would need to learn or know the > same software as the levels artist, and work closely with the animation > artist. (Alternatively, this artist may also be the animator.) One way to > get a foothold into this part of the gaming industry is to become an active > member of the CG Society <http://www.cgsociety.org/> (a site that also > lists jobs). > - *Animator: *This is a specific skill that requires patience and an > ability to withstand criticism. This artist would work closely with all job > descriptions listed here to develop a world within certain parameters for > levels, scripts, and sound. Macromedia Flash<http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/flashpro/>, > Alias/Wavefront<http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/home?siteID=123112&id=129446>, > 3D Studio Max and Lightwave 3D <http://www.newtek.com/lightwave/> are > the programs to know in this situation. This artist may also be the 3-D > artist and/or the levels artist. > - *Scriptwriter:* If you're a gamer who can write and who has > experience with theatre, you could work your way into a game business with > scriptwriting skills. Maurice Suckling<http://www.themustardcorporation.com/maurice.htm>, > for instance, represents a writer who scripts stories for crime, adventure, > action, and sports game worlds. He often directs the voices for these > stories, so he works with actors who lend their voices to computer > games. While this job might sound luxurious, he warns<http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/03/11/043239.php>, > "[Y]ou...have vast swathes of people looking over your shoulder and chipping > in — producers, designers, animators, programmers, artists — there are a lot > of people to try and keep happy." He also states that a scriptwriter spends > time with clients, and this means that the writer must have a clear head and > an ability to handle a variety of people. The advantage to this job is that > you could work for a number of companies in succession as a freelancer. But > expect to sign non-disclosure agreements and also expect to be turned down > for jobs as a freelancer if you choose to work for companies that are fierce > competitors. > - *Programmer:* It seems that gaming companies always need programmers, > but this field is also highly populated. So, if you plan to go this route, > you must be very good at what you do. On the other hand, this is also a very > wide field, as you could find jobs from traditional programming to designing > databases or software to creating artificial intelligence. You can also > break into this part of the game industry as a computer maintenance and > repair technician. > - *Other Positions:* Musicians can find work sometimes as freelancers, > like Justin at Edgen Music <http://www.edgen.com/music/>, a company > that produces music for games and films. (He's also a digital artist.) > Usually most game companies will keep an audio tech on board for fitting > that music or sounds to games. Editors for scripts are sometimes needed > at larger companies, and all businesses need an accountant, business > manager, and legal aid. Researchers are needed to provide background > materials for the game and also for marketing. Testers, or "quality > assurance" teams are also essential. Sometimes these jobs are sourced out, > but larger companies may provide these jobs on site.. > > One great way to learn about job descriptions is to hunt for jobs in the > gaming industry. Several good sources include Gamustra<http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/jobs_display.php>, > Blizzard <http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/>, and job postings on craigslist<http://sfbay.craigslist.org/>or on job search engines like > Monster <http://www.monster.com/>. Of course, the best descriptions for > jobs can be found at a gaming company's job opportunities page. > Educational Possibilities > > A solid educational background in game programming or design will help open > doors to a variety of game development careers. Listed below in alphabetical > order are some of the top English-speaking degree programs worldwide: > > - *Academy of Interactive Entertainment<http://www.aie.edu.au/index.php> > :* With campuses located in Canberra and in Melbourne, the AIE > continues to contribute to the development of the games and interactive > industries in Australia. AIE offers vocational training in computer game > development (animation and programming) and 3D animation for screen. Entry > to the 3D art stream of study is by portfolio and interview while > programming students sit a test in C++ before interview. AIE graduates can > complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Information Technology degree > at the University of Canberra after completing courses at AIE. > - *DigiPen <http://www.digipen.edu/main/Main_Page>:* This school is > located in Redmond near Seattle, Washington, and it's authorized to offer > computer science, computer engineering, and fine arts degree programs > related to the field of digital interactive entertainment technology. The > school is dedicated to computer science instruction as it applies to > real-time interactive simulation programming (R.T.I.S.), computer > engineering and 3D computer animation. The highest degree offered is a > Master of Science in computer science. > - *Full Sail Real World Education <http://www.fullsail.com/>:* In > January 2003, Electronic Gaming Monthly <http://egm.1up.com/> named > Full Sail one of the "top five game-degree programs in the world," alongside > DigiPen, University of Advancing Technology <http://www.uat.edu/>, The > Art Institutes <http://www.artinstitutes.edu/>, and the Academy of > Interactive Entertainment. Located in Winter Park, Florida, this school is > gaining notoriety among gaming companies for well-rounded grads for entry > levels. You can achieve several different degrees here, game development > being one of them. Obtain a bachelor's degree within 21 months. > - *Guildhall at Southern Methodist University<http://guildhall.smu.edu/> > :* The biggest names in game development partnered with SMU to build > The Guildhall and its 18-month digital games education program. Graeme > Devine, Levelord, Tom Hall, Paul Jaquays, John Romero, and more helped to > write the curriculum, and students work in teams to build three complete > games for their portfolios. The professional certificate program in > digital game development is an intense, 21-month (seven-term), professional > development program for digital game developers. The Master of Interactive > Technology degree in digital game development melds theory and practice and > is composed of game-related coursework, transdiciplinary team game > production, and directed individual work in the student's chosen area of > specialization. Students are expected to complete a thesis, > project-in-lieu-of-thesis, or graduate exhibition. You can specialize in art > creation, levels design, or software development. > - *Media Design School <http://www.mediadesign.school.nz/>, New > Zealand:* Located in Auckland, the Media Design School provides > specialist undergraduate and graduate qualifications in 3D animation, > graphic design, digital media, visual effects, creative advertising and > video game development. The Game Development division is a two-year, level 7 > graduate qualification that is generally completed in a compressed 18-month > timeframe with graduates teaming up over the last six months to develop > their own team game. Game art applicants are generally drawn from the > school's 3D animation, digital media or visual effects and motion graphics > diplomas, or from the diploma of interactive gaming for the game programming > stream. Entry to the graduate qualification streams is also open to game > programmer applicants who can demonstrate a high-level of C++ and math > (programming stream) or art and design (arts stream) through another > relevant qualification or industry experience. Graduate qualification > students are expected to be able to work independently resolving issues and > also contribute effectively to team projects. > - *Westwood College<http://oedb.org/online-programs/technology/computer-programming/bachelor-of…> > :* Westwood offers a Bachelor of Science degree in game software > development at their campuses in Denver, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This > degree program can also be completed online. In addition to their game > software development degree, Westwood also offers a game art and design > degree<http://oedb.org/online-programs/arts-humanities/game-art-design/bachelor-of…>for those who are more artistically inclined. > > You can find many more schools located around the world at Breaking In<http://www.igda.org/breakingin/resource_schools.php>, > but the list doesn't contain descriptions so you'll have to do some hunting > to discover the schools that may carry the courses that you want. Another > list, provided by gamedev.net<http://www.gamedev.net/reference/list.asp?categoryid=77>, > lists over 50 schools along with descriptions. This list can help you to > sort out some possibilities. > > You'll find a few big-name universities that are toying with the serious > side of video games on these lists. And, you might find other schools that > disguise "video game studies<http://www.animationarena.com/majoring-in-video-game-design.html>" > as "interactive media" or as "digital arts." These names hide the even more > serious studies in computer science, art, and sociology. So if you decide on > a school that offers more than games as a focus, you might end up with a > diverse education that would appeal to a baby-boomer boss (especially if you > take some business courses). But, the more closely that game companies > team with colleges<http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/350/what_game_companies_want_from_.…>, > the more relevant your academic experience could become. > > When you go to these school sites, look closely at what the college expects > from you for your application. Some colleges expect demos and engine > building experience even for certificate programs. Other colleges that offer > master's degrees expect much more, including a working knowledge of C++ or > other programs for entry. But the college degree may be worth your time and > investment, as designers can make $50,000 or more<http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2002-12-03-video_x.htm>within a year after graduation, and much more if they are part of a team > that produces a hot game. > Conclusion > > Perhaps the ultimate guide to video game degrees and careers is to inform > you that you can burn out in this industry just like any other industry. > This is especially true in gaming, where many companies that are here today > are gone tomorrow. The larger and more stable companies aren't devoid from > this stress as they attempt to produce the next hit video game constantly. > But, if you enjoy games and if you understand that this industry is a > business and not a game, then you might find your niche even without a > college degree. > > Once the gaming bug bites you, it can be hard to let go. Even Shenck, a pro > who's left the gaming industry behind, currently works on projects that > utilize everything that he's learned throughout his gaming career. Which > goes to prove that you can find your niche — even as a lone eagle — if > you're passionate about working on games. > > *William Warero* > ** > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke >

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100% Local webhosting
by Peter Karunyu 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Skunkspeople, Suppose I have a website whose 99% target market is Kenyans and I want to make sure that it is available even when TEAMS/Seacom/EASYY etc are down, is my line of thinking below correct? Possible solution 1. Find me a webhosting company that actually locates the servers here and somehow 'peers' at KIXP. Are there such companies? Possible solution number 2. Co-locate a server at one of the local providers of such services and get me a public IP address and host my own stuff. Are there other possible solutions?

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E-Gov services in Kilifi
by [Brainiac] 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Hello listers, A while back i read somewhere that a number of centers had been deployed countrywide through the partnership of the ICT board and some service providers. Im in need of info on where the nearest one to kilifi town is located. It is a shame, that today i finally meet someone that lost an ID card go to the police station and get denied an abstract, actually asked to come back in november (obviously a ploy to solicit monies). (I can give the names and numbers of the officers to whomever can act on it but that is besides the point). My point is, 1: Can the abstract be printed from the net and taken there to be filled by those guys (of course with a pen and ink for the stamp just in case). 2: After that, is there a way of ensuring this process is more transparent? (I checked the http://www.identity.go.ke website but there seem to be bugs on the search box). Anyone with a suggestion on how to do this better to please assist... -- *“The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy”* ~ Alex Carey ~ Tel No: 0x2af23696

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A reflection of open source programming, privacy and the advent of the Cloud
by Joseph Mayaka 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

An interesting read http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/374833/smoke_signals_facebook_death… cheers

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Adroid-3.0 (Honeycomb)
by Odhiambo Washington 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Google has given you the Honeycomb<http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/honeycomb-preview-35-screenshots-of-…>- what to look for in new phones as the manufacturers continue to play with your money! Now, those with IDEOS should be ready to shelve it soon, so as to get a device that will run Honeycomb. As happens in the M$ world, here too I believe you need better specs. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Damn!!

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www.etranzact.net (Kenya) :Looking for a PRSP [urgent]
by Jangita Nyagudi 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Hello, A new international switch has opened offices in Kenya and require a PRSP for SMS and USSD banking and notifications. Please contact chris.ochieng(a)etranzact.co.ke directly with 1. Introduction to PRSP 2. History of the company 3. Proposal to offer service to eTranzact Kenya which includes - architecture (etranzact servers are accessible via internet) - costs - set-up per short code, per USSD - monthly per short code, per USSD - any other information - per message cost for notification 4. implementation time lines (estimated) that includes - work plan and responsibilities (PRSP/eTranzact) They require this by Wednesday morning so that they can sign up by end of week this week. Thanks! J

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SquidNT optimization
by Simon Mbuthia 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Hi guys, I installed SquidNT on my Windows 2003 proxy server and I have noticed that it has become slow lately. I am guessing that the reason for this is the many files that squid has to read and write to coupled with NTFS performace issues. I'm just wondering if there are certain settings in the squid.conf file that I could tweak to enhance its performance. I do not want to switch to a Linux box yet because of some other reasons that I do not need to list here. My LAN has about 20-25 active internet users and my link is 1mbps symmetric. Anyone with some tips that could help? Me.

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DATA RECOVERY
by Dave Kirirah 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

ST9120822A Momentus 5400.3 Ultra ATA/100 120-GB Hard Drive | Seagate Hi everyone, am looking to recover data from a similar harddisk as the one mentioned above. I need a donor drive for a few parts. If anyone has this please contact me immediately on 0720816546. Thank you. -- Direct your attention to the best... http://www.bigbang.co.ke/

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spam
by boniface njoroge 30 Jan '11

30 Jan '11

The public Ip is via DHCP, the network has a mail server running mdaemon.But the spam filter is located at the ISP side

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SSL
by Zack Githinji 30 Jan '11

30 Jan '11

Dear All, Want to know if there is a Kenyan company offering SSL services, if yes please share the info. Thanks. -- Regards, Zack K. Githinji Website : www.wizglobal.co.ke "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

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