Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts’ Post

I had a great time at the Pixeltree Usabilitree workshop last week. The guys at Pixeltree clearly know their trade, I learned a lot about effective design sprints from that session which we can apply straight away. In my career, I've had the (fortunate?) opportunity to work for tech enterprises which religiously stick to waterfall methods, despite attempts from the tech teams to go agile. Slow processes, 12/18 month build cycles before any feedback and not uncommon for the main stakeholder to have changed their mind by the time it's delivered. "Oh, I forget you were build that - we aren't doing that now... just shelve it". 🤯 Fast design sprints are the key. Involve all the stakeholders, agree a design, test it with stakeholders/potential clients, then the gateway - will this work or not? Not a line of code written. Only a week wasted if it's binned, and lessons learned. What a revelation! I can see why PixelTree are doing so well! Great advice, met great people and ate decent pizza 🍕 Thanks guys for a great evening.

I was planning to summarize my DICE experience sooner but all the kids were sick when I got home - they call it a “present” but I strongly disagree. 6 urgent care visits later (they’re fine), I’m ready to share my DICE experience! I was feeling a somewhat cynical write-up was warranted given the state of the industry and how it was being reflected at the show, but it seems all my peers beat me to the punch. I’ll opt for something more positive instead - I guess it’s hard to stay negative when you WIN THE POKER TOURNAMENT LIKE A BOSS. So I may be biased, but I think this year’s show brought some good highlights: 1) Game development is evolving to embrace wider audiences of content creators. 2024 is going to be a huge year for Virtual Space companies, and I don’t just mean Roblox or Fortnite. Platforms like Rec Room, VRChat Inc., and Spatial are growing steadily and still haven’t implemented UGC monetization features. A few of these companies are reaching their “year 10” milestones this year (which is right around the time Roblox started seeing huge revenue and user growth). Don’t sleep on them. 2) Funding has fundamentally changed for developers, but it’s not gone. Developers who are seeking funding and have more than 5 FTEs are unfortunately being squeezed, but I spoke with a dozen VCs and indie/mid sized publishers and they were (for once?) aligned on their “sweet spot” amount - $500K. From the indie developers I’ve spoken with (and advised), they’re motivated to make it work for them. The VCs and publishers also agreed that a second funding round (which varied from $2-50M) would be likely for companies approaching early access with a solid game and decent following. It’s harder than it was during Covid, but getting funded is still doable. 3) People are making interesting tools, and it doesn’t HAVE to be about AI all the time. Given my work at Unity, I tend to interact with tool makers more than anyone else. I met with a lot of really cool companies, but 3 stood out. Quago - Game intelligence has an awesome anti-cheat tool as well as a unique approach to game analytics based on user input. Snapser accomplishes what UGS is trying to do by making the onboarding and operation of backend services a snap (see what I did there?). Lastly, Powder is an AI based tool that will take 8 hour streams and generate your best clips automatically. All these demos blew me away at their quality and robustness, and all 3 companies have top investors and customers backing them. If you want an intro just ping me - I’m happy to evangelize these folks. It was great seeing so many of my industry friends again, and I’m looking forward to doing it once more at GDC next month!

A bit late to the party but here it is, FLITE is finally out and I’m so happy to see the final result of what was A LOT of work and passion from all of us, in the real time team at Framestore My main tasks were: - workflow development at the beginning of the project. Which helped us build most of the big layouts in a pipeline friendly manner. - Development of data transfer from Houdini to Maya to unreal within our in-house pipeline. - Houdini hdas and scripting to manage all kind of environments and bake sVFX assets into real time assets. - Leading and managing most of the outer environments’s layout and assets. (Model/texture/lookdev) - Leading and helped building/upresing indoor environments/assets such as corridor and apartment. (Model/texture/lookdev) - Tool making in unreal, BPs and Python to help the team with repetitive and time consuming tasks. So yeah… It was a real ride but I learnt so much and I’m so grateful that I was part of this. An amazing experience for sure, can’t wait for the next one!! #flite #framestore #unrealengine #realtime #pipeline #development

Excited to share my debut Short Reel with you all! If you find the content helpful, please consider showing your support by liking, commenting, and following me for more valuable content!" "Small space, big ideas! 🌟🪑 Check out our foldable table that transforms our balcony into the perfect kids' corner! Creativity & playtime in a compact spot ✨ #SmallSpaceBigIdeas #BalconyVibes #KidsSpace #FoldableMagic"

Welcome to another edition of our "Meet Our Team" series. The series where I introduce you to a member of the Southleft team in exchange for likes and follows. 🚀 Meet Chris Wahlfeldt: Blending Art, Code, and Music at Southleft 🚀 We're excited to introduce Christopher Wahlfeldt, a talented individual whose journey from creating show flyers for his bands to becoming a key part of our web development team is nothing short of remarkable. Chris's story is a fascinating exploration of creativity and technical prowess, merging his passions for design, programming, and music into a career that challenges and fulfills him daily. 🎨 What makes Chris's approach unique? - His early start with Photoshop and flyers, leading him to digital media. - A commitment to accessible design, ensuring everyone can enjoy the digital world. - A thoughtful stance on AI, balancing its benefits against the importance of preserving the human element in creativity. 🎮 Beyond code: Chris shares his ideal way to spend an unexpected day off – a blend of e-commerce, gaming, music, and family time, revealing the multidimensional person behind the code. Curious about how Chris would use a magical button to add more joy to his life? Take a look at the article below and dive deeper into his world to discover the values that drive one of Southleft's most innovative minds. Read Chris's full story here: https://lnkd.in/gypvZqtZ #meetourteam #webdevelopment #frontenddevelopment #teambuilding #alookinside

Shoutout to our amazing 6-year-old participants and their awesome parents for bringing this prototype to life! Their feedbacks and excitement have created an interactive, fun, and easy kids' nomination process for the Mega Game Convention. Check out how young gamers can join the excitement of this incredible event! Can't wait for our next collaboration! #KidsRule #MegaGameFun #uxdesign #userexperience #userresearch #uxui #kidsonlinesafety #prototyping #responsivedesign #desktop #mobiledesign

Sneak peek - Five years ago, we spoke with former Bioware general manager Aaryn Flynn as his new Edmonton-based development studio was announced as part of the cloud computing startup Improbable. The studio has since severed ties with Improbable and adopted the name Inflexion, and with it launching its debut game Nightingale into Early Access this week, we speak with Flynn about what he's learned from the experience of shepherding a new studio to this point. It's a broad and open-ended question (perhaps obnoxiously so), and Flynn thinks for a moment before choosing which learning to share. Read more🔴 The Next Big Wave Of Video Game Layoffs Is Here 🌊: Studios big and small are laying off game developers 🎮. To ensure your studio can keep production costs down and profits up, consider kaedim3d.com for AI that turns images into models in minutes ⏰. Use code A836A7X to get 1 month of Kaedim’s Starter Plan free (up to 10 credits) on Kaedim3d.com 🆓. If you’ve already searched for a 3D AI generator, you know that Kaedim3d.com alternatives will only leave you with unusable meshes and wasted time ⌛. The Kaedim3d.com image to 3D AI engine can be used with Unreal Engine, Unity, Omniverse, and Blender or via API for seamless integration into your workflow 🔄. The best part about 2D to 3D AI is that you now have unparalleled access to allow user-generated content like never before 👥. Used by more than 200 studios, the Kaedim3d.com 3d model AI generator adds levels of quality control to provide the best 2d sketch to 3d model option on the market 🏆. Remember to use code A836A7X on the Kaedim3d.com Starter Plan for 10 credits for new customers 🎁. You will not find a comparable AI 2D to 3d converter 🔍. #GameDev #UnrealEngine #GameDevelopment #GameDesign #GameIndustry #GameIndustryUpdates

Wanna build a high-retention product? Get your avid fans involved early. When the Rock Band team started prototyping, we didn't go straight to our target users. Instead, we tapped into a small group of superfans who loved Guitar Hero. These superfans helped us transform our crude mockups, with actionable feedback. Later, we tested with casual gamers & built an onboarding experience for the mainstream. But it was these early superfans who made the game what it is—from prototype to hit game. Watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/gaBbD_wT #superfans #productretention #prototyping

In today's digital age, crafting unforgettable experiences is paramount for brands striving to leave a lasting impression. As an experience designer, I've delved deep into the essence of what makes an experience truly memorable. Here are three vital factors that consistently stand out: Emotional Connection: Beyond mere functionality, successful experiences evoke emotions that resonate with users on a profound level. Whether it's a sense of wonder, nostalgia, or joy, fostering emotional connections is key. It's about creating moments that leave a lasting imprint on the heart and mind. Details with a Commitment to Quality: The devil truly is in the details. A meticulous attention to every aspect of the experience, coupled with an unwavering commitment to quality, sets exceptional experiences apart. From the smallest interaction to the overall journey, each element should reflect excellence and thoughtfulness. Multi-Layered Mediums: Today's audiences crave immersive experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. By incorporating multi-layered mediums such as AR, VR, and interactive storytelling, we can transport users to entirely new realms of engagement. It's about creating dynamic, interconnected experiences that unfold across various platforms and touchpoints. One exemplary embodiment of these principles is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In my article, I delve into how this immersive theme park experience masterfully intertwines emotional storytelling, impeccable attention to detail, and a multi-layered approach to mediums to bring the magic of J.K. Rowling's world to life. Let's continue to push the boundaries of experience design and create moments that captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting legacy. #ExperienceDesign #EmotionalConnection #QualityCraftsmanship #MultiLayeredExperiences #WizardingWorld #HarryPotterMagic #ImmersiveStorytelling #InnovationInDesign

How well do you know your clients/users? What you don’t know might be costing you.   Clients and users, like basketball players, have tendencies.   In college basketball, before every game, we get a scouting report on the other team. This is a piece of paper that breaks down the other team, their players, and what we need to do to win.   It talks about each player individually, their strengths, weaknesses, their favorite move to go to, and what makes them frustrated.   With this information, we can stay a step ahead, always being on the offensive. Without this, we would be entering a game blind, which drastically lowers our chance of winning.   So how well do you know your clients/users?   Do you know what value means for them?   Who influences their decisions?   How do they like to make decisions?   How do they like to interact with you or your product?   Check out my last posts to see how you can better understand users!   Taking the time to personally know your client/user base will pay dividends in the future, setting you apart from the competition.    #UserCentric #UserCentricDesign #DesignThinking #EmpathyInDesign #UserExperience #TechThreads