Long time, No see!

Hey,

It's been a while huh!

Well, I've been busy cracking on with the course which I got 100% in my last TMA and am now waiting for my final course book for Section 1!

My computer is fried, again! Which means I haven't been able to complete any practical design doohickeys which is annoying but I am currently raising the cash to spring for a much needed upgrade :-)

I'm glad to see a couple of people are using my experience to help them with their's and which I am more than happy to help with. Hey that's what this blog is mainly about so...

Other than that It's business as usual.

As always any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me either here or on the T2G forums.

All the best,

InCOGnito.

TMA 4 is completed and I am waiting for the results...

I have recently completed the 4th tutor marked assignment which gave quite a good glimpse at the type of work that I'll be aiming to achieve and how to write the first link in the chain- the high concept document (HCD for short). I had to write several HCD's for the different platforms i.e. the consoles, online and PC.

I also said that I would post pics of the level that I was designing which is incomplete due to my computer once again having a massive bender! This time the damage is quite a bit more severe and requires me to get a new motherboard, and being the tech nerd that I am I thought that the processor could do with being changed as if I fit a new mobo I'm restircted if I plan it around an old processor and of course the new mobo requires new RAM. So after replacing the graphics card recently at the cost of about £200 I now need to upgrade the mobo, processor and RAM in short- Good bye cash!!

And on another note T2G has announced that after students complete their section 1 exam we will be able to apply for an NUS card. This new treat for train2game students comes in in September. Yet another nail in the coffin proving the merit of this course.

Anyway, lets not start all that again. All the best and enjoy the pics :-)

InCOGnito.

Onwards and Upwards!

So I 've passed my TMA 3 exam getting 90%, not bad. And that completes section 1 part A! Yay!

Onto section 1 part B and while I'm waiting for that to arrive- I have recently started playing with UDK, Unreal Development Kit, which is responsible for Gears and Unreal Tournament and designing my own level for the T2G design challenge. I shall post pictures of my level once complete just to show you some of the things that possible on the engine.

Until then take care, and as always any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

All the best,

InCOGnito.

Believe it or not...

Hey Peeps,


Believe it or not I have already completed TMA 3. This was a short section on marketing, snooze, but a necessary string to any game designers bow. Although it was short it was still quite a tricky exam. I actually think that it's not my knowledge that's lacking but rather my interpretation of the question that can mean I have a couple of answers which are potentially correct. Whether this is my failing to understand what's being asked of me or the tutors wording that is a little crafty is still unknown.

Any way I will find out my results in a few days and then I shall be onto Section 1 Part B, unless I fail miserably and have to resit lesson 3...

Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

All the best,

InCOGnito. (My new alias, thoughts on a postcard...)

TMA 2 Done! Fingers crossed for a full house...

Hey Guys and Gals,

Last night I sat my second tutor marked assignment and am quietly confident that it went well. As for the course so far- It's great! I'm loving the fact that my tutors are on the other end of the student portal if I need them, the previous TMA had personal notes in it and wasn't just a robot marking the exam, and they seem to be handing out info for new starting development groups in live web seminars (webinars) and online classes.
The course is really getting the knowledge across well, which I feel is preparing me for a strong start in my future career.

I now find my self yurning to get on with my coursework which I haven't had with previous courses I've had to complete before.

All in all I'm loving it and can't wait to start the practical stuff!

As always any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. (I am literally dotted all over the internet atm!)

All the best,

Tommy.

TMA 1, Done...

Hey Guys,

My first TMA has been done and I am now waiting on the results. I have found that the DVD has a version of the booklet on which I was supposed to be using in conjunction with the booklet as what one misses the other fills in, however, I have found it to be a good revision method before I sat the exam so we'll see how it pans out and maybe I'll use them seperately for the next lesson on purpose!!

Hope this Blog is of use to someone, somewhere!

And as always any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

All the best, Tommy.

Heeerrrreee's TOMMY!!

Hey Guys,

I'm back!! Sorry for the incredibly long gap between posts but I return with an update :-)

I have sunk my teeth into section 1 of the course book and have arrived at my first Tutor marked assessment! *panic!!

So far the course book has been well written with only a few spelling mistakes which, let's face it, is not a big deal. The self marked assessments have been quite good too although some have been slightly unclear as to what they actually want from you. The sections on genres and sub-genres did get a little tedious but were very informative. The book gives you the info and then asks you to do some research of your own which is a pretty typical teaching method used in schools etc so you don't feel like you have to learn a whole new method of learning. All in all the course book gets a thumbs up as it gives you the core details and sets you up nicely for the rest of the course. I now can't wait to get to the interesting stuff (I had a sneaky peak).

I will sit my first TMA (Tutor Marked Assessment) soon and let you know how I get on.

As always any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. All the best, Tommy.

P.s. It's good to be back ;-)

A Slight Snag...

Hey Guys,

I have received all of my passwords and user I.D. now so I can start my training.... or at least I could if my computer were working!! so no updates yet on the course but I will keep you informed when I finally get started.

Hope you all had a good Christmas and New year.

All the best,

Tommy.