Application
This unit applies to concept artists, matte painters, game designers, animators and other personnel working in the game development industry.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Research and analyse brief requirements | 1.1 Interpret brief and clarify design requirements in consultation with client 1.2 Identify design and technical constraints and innovative features of the environments 1.3 Identify software, media and file formats for digital imagery 1.4 Identify production workflow requirements and develop production pipeline to meet client requirements |
2. Design and visualise environment | 2.1 Develop concept illustration for environment consistent with game genre 2.2 Conduct focus testing of concept illustration with client and representatives of target market audience 2.3 Submit to client for approval and feedback 2.4 Make adjustments to concept illustration based on comment and feedback |
3. Verify and validate environment | 3.1 Create environment prototype according to design brief, guidelines and feedback on concept illustration 3.2 Conduct focus testing and seek recommendations for the further enhancement of the environment prototype documented 3.3 Make adjustments to environment prototype based on comment and feedback 3.4 Submit to client for approval and feedback |
4. Develop and evolve environment | 4.1 Further enhance environment prototype based on the recommendations generated from focus testing 4.2 Submit to client for approval and feedback 4.3 Finalise environment design 4.4 Save and archive files in agreed formats and repository |
Required Skills
Required skills
analytical skills to evaluate technical requirements of environment design against resources and timeframes
communication skills to liaise with project team and clients
initiative and enterprise skills to:
devise efficient and innovative approaches to texturing and shading
provide practical support and give feedback to colleagues and management
literacy skills to read technical documents and specifications
planning and organisational skills to manage time and resources
technical skills to:
collect, interpret and communicate focus testing results objectively and effectively
create environment artwork within style and quality guidelines
design and run focus testing
exercise a high level of creative ingenuity in environment design and innovation
manage environment evolution and change with effective processes and procedures to mitigate risk and improve environment quality
use related computer graphics applications
visual research skills to source reference materials for the creation of unique environments.
Required knowledge
budgeting and scheduling considerations for environment creation in games, with consideration given to human resources
different environment requirements for different genres of game
how to interpret environment design briefs
role and position of interactive environments in commercial game development, game duration and quality
processes and procedures to facilitate quality and innovation of environment development
prototyping tools and techniques for commercial environment development in games
research methods used to stay abreast of the latest developments in game environment design.
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: use 2-D and 3-D software applications to develop and realise characters for games develop environment designs that comply with games design brief and client requirements develop environment designs that are innovative and competitive with characters in games currently in the marketplace test responses to environment designs for aesthetic suitability with intended audience and act on feedback. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: computer hardware and software input device, such as stylist tablet, keyboard and mouse output device, such as monitor, TV, printer and speakers game design document or specifications style shots appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: discussion and written report of the nominated techniques applied to environment design and realisation discussion with learner and observation of the integration of environment design and evolution into the overall production pipeline verbal questioning regarding reasons for use of particular hardware and software options project or work activities that show research and reference sourcing of material to inform environment design written and verbal reports or documentation showing research and production plan review of portfolios of evidence completed textured, shaded and rendered exemplars. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Brief may include: | background stories descriptions of desired look and feel, i.e. aesthetic style game design document game overview, including list of special features and selling points game walkthroughs illustrations or graphics that enhance the comprehension of the document intended audience list of buildings list of levels or missions list of non-player and player characters list of vehicles references to existing bodies of graphical user interface (GUI) artwork and styles references to existing game environments storyboards verbal instructions written instructions. |
Client may include: | 3-D artists animators art directors designers external clients modellers technical directors. |
Design and technical constraints may include: | budget design specifications file formats for output and end use genre and platform technical requirements technical specifications. |
Environments may include: | exteriors: alien fantasy historic natural underwater urban interiors: building confined spaces vehicle. |
Software may include: | 3-D Studio Max Animator Pro AutoCAD AutoCAD Revit 9 Blender Bodypaint Cinema 4D Combustion CorelDraw Deep paint Electric Image Form Z Houdini Illustrator Lightwave Maya Photoshop Pixie POV-Ray Renderman Rhino Shake Soft Image or XSI Z Brush. |
Concept illustration may include: | 2-D hand rendered drawing 2-D or 3-D digital illustration 2-D sketch collage or montage photograph storyboard. |
Game genre may include: | adventure alternative reality ancient casino cyberpunk educational edutainment fantasy first person shooter flight shooter flight simulation futuristic god simulation massively multi-player online game massively multi-player online role-playing game medieval modern multi-player post-apocalyptic puzzle racing shooter racing simulation real-time strategy role-playing game science fiction side-scrolling shooter single player sports strategy, including: action strategy turn-based strategy tactical combat. |
Focus testing may include: | documentation of high-level focus test objectives focus test implementation plan (test plan) document to realise focus test objectives and the procedures and processes to be followed test group members based on test plan, examples of criteria may include: age sex location other socioeconomic factors appropriate environment and facilities for focus testing based on test-plan requirements documentation of focus test results according to test plan. |
Environment prototype may include: | a modelled and textured environment in which characters and objects interact simulated game play, where the camera follows a game character through the environment demonstrating as many of the environment’s features as possible simulated fly through, where the camera follows a predetermined path through the environment demonstrating as many of the environment’s features as possible. |
Sectors
Game development
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.