Peter Lewis’ Portfolio

Back in Portsmouth for the Easter break to visit my parents. It’s nice and sunny here because unlike Middlesbrough the sun’s rays don’t have an impenetrable layer of smog to get through.

I have updated the links on the right. They were still game development oriented, which was not really very appropriate given my choice of career. I have now removed some of the links and added a new category. I’ve also shuffled the order of the groups, too. I started writing a list of visual effects companies that are currently still operational today, but during my search I actually found a more comprehensive one. It’s a pity that it lacks a search feature or more detailed information. The link is available on the right.

I have decided what is going to happen to me over the next stage of my life. Unfortunately, I will not be returning to Teesside University next academic year for a Masters because they are unable to fund me. However, I am beset with the Masters idea and so I will be doing one in a place that I can hopefully afford to live in, namely my home city of Portsmouth. Portsmouth University have started an MSc in Computer Animation, which mixes 3D animation, stop motion, programming and other stuff. This large scope of topics is actually more of what I wanted from a Masters, so I guess it’s for the best, actually. Despite this, Portsmouth have never run this degree before, so I remain just a little skeptical.

It is sad that I won’t be returning to Middlesbrough, even though it is a total dump. I have made good ties with various people there and it would be a pity to have to pay nearly £90 to go and see them. Yes… £90. You can see it for yourself. However, because Portsmouth is my old home I do still have friends here, but I still despise the city. It’s a lot prettier than Middlesbrough, but because of it’s sheer enormity I feel overwhelmed by the amount of places to do things, but the distinct lack of stuff to actually do. I feel - well - oppressed here. Not by any particular individual, but by the actual city itself.

Anyway, Jack Churchill was a dude.

There are two main things to cover in this post as I haven’t posted in ages.

First, I handed in my final year dissertation on Monday. It went very smoothly (almost boringly so) and there were absolutely no problems. All on schedule and everything. Actually, I tell a lie: the actual program doesn’t work on the University computers, but that’s not such a big deal. At first I thought this project was going to be great, but after my supervisor and I discussed it I lost heart in it. However, after working on it and seeing what it can do I became enthused again and I hope that my enthusiasm carries through to my document. Maybe my supervisor will also see that we weren’t barking up the wrong tree all this time too.

Second, I am totally screwed next year. There are a number of problems and they all conflict. However, they all hang around this Masters that I wanted to do. I feel that I am not yet quite good enough to go into the film industry. I think a bit of animation would help, but to be honest I do feel like I am a Film Industry Virgin. I have been told frequently that I am more than capable of getting a job in the games industry, though, but that’s not where I want to end up. However, despite what these people claim I feel that my portfolio lacks any game-specific work, so I’m not sure I’d have the prerequisites to get in there.

So, my answer to this was that I would do a Masters in CGI. Now that Masters is very much what I want to do, but I went to speak to Matthew Holton, an assistant dean at the School of Computing, and he told me that the Masters was unlikely to run. This, unfortunately, screws me over a lot. Not that I could afford it, anyway. I’ve looked into Masters elsewhere, but one is too expensive and the other is only running for the first time next year, so I’m not sure I should trust it. The latter is in my home town, so it would be much cheaper to live there. However, that’s bad as I don’t really want to leave Teesside, despite that it’s a rubbish place. My friends are here and I know the lecturers (and more importantly I know their skills).

Another factor that makes this more complicated is funding. However, this could be potentially solved: I have been offered a job at a start-up games company that a few friends of mine are starting. They have funding and the talent, so there’s not a problem there. Though of course, I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. They’re also applying for jobs, though… and as I say, they have the talent, so I’m reasonably sure that this company isn’t going to go ahead. But if it does go ahead it is definitely my preferred choice to stay here and work on my film portfolio in the meantime.

I’m now nearly at the end of my degree. This makes me feel very naff, to be honest. I will be separated from a lot of very good friends and not to mention my girlfriend. I was convinced that I’d be back next year, doing a Masters and living with my mates in our shiny new house, but this seems not to be the case any more.

It sucks.

To do this week:

• Finish re-installing everything
• Finish the Nintendo Demo for Halch (gulp)

To do in general:

• Get my raytracer working on Linux
• Start my AI project
• Start my physics project
• Start my visual simulation projects
• Check out Portsmouth Uni
• Sort out next year

I am going to die.