You might remember Game Design’s Sasha Dunfee from around this time last year - he was the winner of the $25,000 EA Game Design Scholarship. Maybe, like us, you followed him throughout his year at VFS as he blogged the VFS experience.

Now Sasha, along with his Game Design classmates, has graduated - and he’s already signed on as a level designer with local studio United Front Games. We thought we’d bring the story full circle and catch up with him now that he’s completed the VFS journey.

(Left: Sasha 12 months ago. Right: Sasha at his recent grad, holding the “Best Flash Game” award.)

The last time we blogged about you specifically, Sasha, you were holding a giant cheque and just getting going at VFS. It’s only been a year - how far do you think you’ve come in that time, as a game designer?

Far. I’ve really learned a ton of stuff that just isn’t possible outside of this setting, and I can safely say that what I’ve experienced over the past year, along with the people I’ve met, has definitely put me on the right path. When I first started, I had a bit of experience with level design, and now I have so much more. [ed. Sasha's scholarship application included planning documents for game levels.] The great thing about the program is that it gives you a bit of everything, so that in the end you’re well rounded and ready to explore almost any part of the game design process.

In your year in Game Design, did anything really take you by surprise? Was there anything you enjoyed doing that you didn’t think you would, or something that was eye-opening about the industry?

Read the rest of this story »

Have you RSVP’d for the upcoming VFS Open House yet?

This Wednesday, July 23 event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get a first-hand look at all 13 programs at VFS, meet their Heads of Department and senior faculty, and see award-winning student work.

You’ll also have the chance to meet students and grads, including some we’ve profiled on this very blog - Nicky Forsman and Tihemme Gagnon are but two examples!

VFS Open House
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
6pm – 8pm
VFS Café
390 West Hastings Street

To register for this Open House, email openhouse@vfs.com or call 604.631.3590.

A chance like this doesn’t come along every day.

Join us on July 23, 2008 to experience a behind-the-scenes look inside all 13 of Vancouver Film School’s programs: an unparalleled introduction to a one-year education in every dimension of film, TV, games, and design, all under one roof.

This evening is not to be missed.

At this unique VFS Open House you will:

- Hear about our 13 programs: 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Classical Animation, Digital Character Animation, Acting for Film & Television, Acting Essentials, Digital Design, Entertainment Business Management, Film Production, Game Design, Makeup Design for Film & Television, Sound Design for Visual Media, Writing for Film & Television, and Foundation Visual Art & Design

- Meet our award-winning leaders, including the producers, writers, sound designers, makeup artists, and execs behind Zoolander, Three’s Company, The Butterfly Effect, Whale Music, EA’s NHL video games, and countless others

- See amazing examples of student films, reels, and portfolios from all of our programs, including incredible never-before-seen work

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
6pm – 8pm
VFS Café
390 West Hastings Street

To register for this Open House, email openhouse@vfs.com or call 604.631.3590.

We let you know when it was in production - now it’s only fair to keep you posted! Writing grad Adam Zang’s feature film Cole, directed by Carl Bessai, has finished shooting. Check out this article from the Vancouver Province for the scoop.

We love a little symmetry.

First, Game Design instructor Jacob Tran continues his appearances on G4TechTV’s The Lab with Leo Laporte, this time to talk about the development process and playtesting with Little Boy Games founder Ivan Tung. The indie developer had tapped our Game Design students to help test their XBLA game Go! Go! Break Steady. (Not a bad way to put some of the concepts our students are learning to work, by the way.)

Incidentally, Classical Animation grad Eric Montero was an animator on Go! Go! Break Steady. Small world!

You can see the segment - and this one, which has Jacob talking generative art - on Jacob’s site.

Meanwhile, a Game Design class - hard at work on their final games - had the chance to get valuable playtesting from a bunch of Grade 10 students recently. There’s a good mention of this on the Synchrony team’s dev blog.

We’re pleased to announce the winners of the Game Design Expo 2008 Scholarship winners! The scholarships were introduced at Game Design Expo in January as a unique opportunity for aspiring game designers to win one of seven scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $7,000 to the one-year Game Design program at VFS.

The generous scholarship sponsors included G4TechTV, EA, Big Fish Games, AnnexPro, Radical Entertainment, Crystal Dynamics, and Next Level Games.

After careful deliberation, VFS is proud to name the following recipients of the 2008 scholarships:

Billy Benjamin Lind, Delta, BC - $7,000 (G4TechTV)
Christopher Worboys, North Vancouver, BC - $5,000 (EA)
Robyn Sinclair, Surrey, BC - $2,500 (Big Fish Games) & $2,000 (VFS)
Andre Marentette, London, ON - $2,500 (Radical Entertainment)
Simon Cameron, Nanaimo, BC - $2,500 (Crystal Dynamics)
Jordan Dixon-Layne, Port Coquitlam, BC - $1,000 (Next Level Games)

“I’m always amazed at the quality of work that someone with a passion for games can put together, and this year’s scholarship winners definitely have that passion,” says Dave Warfield, Head of Game Design at VFS. “Their creativity and ability to express their ideas will drive them to be successful inside the Game Design program and beyond.”

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all the passionate and talented applicants! If you missed the deadline but are still interested in taking the first step toward a career in games, speak to a VFS Admissions Advisor now.

This week’s lead article in Vancouver’s West Ender is all about the booming local video game industry and how to crack it. Game Design faculty member Adrian Crook and his thumbs of steel are right there on the cover (no autographs, please). Adrian tells West Ender about how he went from a 14-hour-a-day video game habit in high school straight to 14-hour-a-day video game career at EA. That was way, way, way back in 1995, and Adrian’s the first to admit things have become a lot more competitive lately.

Dave Warfield, Head of Game Design here at VFS is also quoted in the article. “Our competitive advantage is to focus on creating a portfolio that showcases our students’ talents, by taking a game prototype from concept to completion,” he says. “It shows potential employers our students have been through the entire process of creating a game. Students also develop a comprehensive understanding of theory, design, team management, visual storytelling, and stronger communication skills.”

Foamzilla, the Game Design final project by Johan Eickmeyer and Mark Barazzuol that was a recent Student Showcase finalist in the Independent Games Festival Awards, is getting some press. It’s no surprise - games just don’t get foamier than this one, people.

Take a look at ModCenter’s great interview with Johan here, where he touches on the game’s development, the use of UT2004, and a little bit about the team’s trip to this year’s GDC as part of the IGF competition. You might remember Johan from our own interview last summer.

Last week, our own Head of Game Design, Dave Warfield, joined two other speakers at the Vancouver Public Library to discuss some of the biggest issues and ideas surrounding games today under the heading My Virtual World.

Well, the proceedings were recorded for CJSF Radio, and you can stream Dave’s 21-minute talk, Video Games: Heaven or Hell? right here.

In his talk, Dave discusses the polarizing effect on games in education, in the media, and culture at large. Fascinating stuff, and well worth a listen!

Last night in the VFS Café, students from across the school were treated to a unique talk with Ryan FitzGerald, Producer for New Media & Game Development for Nihilonaut Productions.

Ryan entertained and challenged the crowd, presenting his work with the alternative reality campaign Nine Inch Nails Year Zero — a project fusing viral marketing, interactive design, alternate reality gaming, and narrative, resulting in a groundbreaking promotional campaign in support of NIN’s concept album of the same name. Ryan also gave attendees a sneak preview of never-before-seen content from his newest project.

Students –and staff!– from Digital Design, Game Design, Sound Design, and Writing were wowed by this glimpse behind the scenes of ARGs.