Web Dev Modulette

Portfolio Time

What to add, where to host etc

Questions to ask yourself

•What purpose does it serve?•Who is your portfolio for?•What does it say about me?

You might need to work out a few things first

This is how not to do a web portfolio

This is how not to do a web portfolio

Basic Website structure

2D Art

3D ArtContact

Index Page

An example:

Remember lots of artists have more then one avenue

e.g.

• A professional blog• A tumblr for rough

ideas / sketches• Prints for sale on

Studio 6 or RedBubble

Your website should work for all of the avenues to host your work

http://papersails.blogspot.co.uk/ vrs http://www.rolandtheillustrator.com/

Websites - Templates• Work out your domain– Make it stand out– Future proof it– Make it easy to remember

• Work out what works for you– If you go with a template how much

freedom does it give you– How easy is it to update– Are there hidden costs?– What about bandwith?

You don’t need to be a HTML wizz- Look at templates- Understand the basic

structure- Don’t be afraid to ask

for help- Work out what can be

hosted elsewhere e.g videos

http://www.freewebsitetemplates.com/http://www.templatemo.com/

Examples - www.wormella.com• current incarnation since 2005• Blogger blog (google) – 2nd generation of blog• Domain www.wormella.com – 16th birthday

present, domain transferred to vidahost also includes e-mail so blah@wormella.com goes to my gmail

• No actual hosted space – possibly costs £6 a year

• Works well for personal blog postsWork blog,

Afternoon Play & food blog not too dissimilar format

Examples Pistol Pete Wearn / .44 Pistol

• Hosted Space & Domain (Vidahost again)• E-mail forwarding• Both designed by a modified template• Some elements pulled in (videos, gig lists)• Separate areas not linked from main index for

press packs• Total Control & easy to update

Portfolio Hosting SitesCarbonmade - https://carbonmade.com/Behance - https://www.behance.net/Shown’d - http://shownd.com/

An easy answer – not necessarily free- Benefits from being part of a community- Might make it harder to stand out

Key things to remember

• Don’t get tied up in the HTML– Use templates / existing blog services

• The address needs to be easy to remember, scribble down at the end of a night’s ‘networking’

• Think about your e-mail address too

What should you put in your portfolio?

• http://games.wiki.staffs.ac.uk/Placements/Examples_of_Portfolios

• Do some research – look at other portfolios– DON’T COPY SOMEONE ELSES PORTFOLIO STYLE

• Look at the websites of artists & designers• It should be YOUR BEST WORK• WIP is fine, if it's followed up by finished work• Documentation – in moderation is fine – if it’s

backed up by a game – even a prototype

2009 Advice that still holds true if you’re sending / building your portfolio

Basic Presentation• Dress = business casual (no ties).• DVD in plastic case with professional looking cover.

– Links are easier to misplace than DVDs.• DVD should automatically start when inserted into drive – no data disks.• No flatbooks.• At the beginning of your reel, don’t use flying logos or text.• Open your reel or your website with a killer image, not your bio. They don’t

care where you’re from or what you’re about (not yet, anyway). Include your basic identifying information.

• Do not use Quicktime or anything else which requires frequent updates. This makes recruiters insane.

• Only your best work. You are only as good as your weakest piece.• Proofread your resume, site and cover letter.• Be selective when including previous experience on your resume. Jobs at gas

stations aren’t necessary to list.• On resume, state your objective, list your skills/abilities, separately list the

software you can use, list awards.

http://bbrathwaite.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/what-should-i-have-in-my-portfolio-fall-2009-edition

/

Game Artists in General

• Asset creation is based on and placed in current-generation game engines. It is suggested that students use either Epic’s Unreal3 or Valve’s Hammer editors and engines.

• Show separate renders with a separate normal map, texture map and wire mesh.

• If you show cars or motorcycles in your reel, make them creative expressions, not duplicate factory models (i.e. crazed ice cream truck vs. Chevy Impala).

• Know if the company is a 2D or 3D house, and reflect that in the work you show.

• Show how you might differentiate a single thing through a variety of different color palettes. Show color palette.

Character / Creature Artists

• Study the existing work of the studio to understand what appeals to them.

• For many game companies, the following applies:– Strong silhouettes.– Superhero proportions.

• Vibrant colors.• Show things in different poses.• Note software used.• Note # of polys.

Texture Artists

• Show hand-painted textures placed on material in a game engine.

• Showing hand-painted textures on objects not in a game world is also okay, provided that you also show some in a game engine.

• If you use models from else where make sure you credit them

Animators

• Animation sets created for games and placed in a game. Companies like to see game-themed animations. Showing a baby crying could be game-themed, but is probably not going to be. Not everything needs to be in a game engine, but some of your work should be in a game engine to show that you know how to integrate your work.

• For presentation purposes, be sure to include Max or Maya renders for clarity’s sake.

• Note software used.• Collections of walk cycles.• Great execution of the 12 principles.

Level Designers / Environment Artists

• Fully playable and complete level with props and with gameplay ready to go.

• Map of level including all trigger points, spawn points, etc.

• Props for use in levels.• Show environments that tell a logical story.• Note software used.

Game Designers

• A blog is not enough, unless you already have a solid ludography.

• Fully playable and FUN games, at least one but preferably two in a digital format.

• Show articles written professionally.• Show photographs of game and possibly play sessions.

Provide rule sets of non-digital games.• Link to design documentation sample.• Link to narrative content sample, if applicable.• http://bbrathwaite.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/hello-

world/

Programmers• A small sample of code which you consider to be your best work.

Make sure it does something interesting but not too complex.• Make sure it is well commented, formatted consistently and uses

an industry standard naming scheme. This shouldn’t be longer than 2-3 pages.

• A copy of a working game that you programmed (or helped program) with description of how to play the game. Be sure to specify what parts you worked on if it is not entirely yours.

• Be prepared to provide additional code samples based on the specific needs of the hiring manager. They will tell you what they need. Listen to these instructions. Don’t simply ignore them and give a piece of code which doesn’t fit their request.

• Be prepared to take a programming test. You can find sample tests online.

Audio• You might want to look at Soundcloud (

https://soundcloud.com/) to host your audio pieces or use Youtube to show it in situ with the game footage

• Remember you want to make sure your music is easy to access and works on devices – not so that it needs to be downloaded

Producerhttp://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2749/so_you_want_to_be_a_producer.phphttp://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson42.htm

This is really a different kettle of fish- Less portfolio – more cv / linked in- You need to prove you can manage people &

products to completion- No one wants to see a gantt chart or your trello

boards – but mention it if you use them

Bonus Info

• Make sure you get social media and Facebook games.• If you’re hesitant about putting work in your portfolio

because they ask for only a specific type of work, have a “backup” of work handy on your PSP, iPod or iPhone.

• Be prepared for catastrophic internet failure. Have a copy of everything locally.

• Don’t ask dumb questions that waste their time.• They don’t care how long you spent working on your

portfolio, your favorite color or anything like that.

Portfolios that Inspire you• Logon to Blackboard > LEVEL 6 PROJECT &

PORTFOLIO > Modulette Sign Up > Semester 1 - Web Portfolios & Social Media > File Exchange

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• Find a portfolio of someone you admire in any field

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