Posted on - 1 Comment on Nakajima Labs moving to GAME!
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Nakajima Labs moving to GAME!


Professor Masayuki Nakajima and his famous Nakajima Labs moves from Tokyo Institute of Technology to Gotland University GAME! Nakajima Labs has been doing bleeding edge research and development in convergent media at Tokyo Tech since 1975, and they will be fully established at our campus by March 2011.

Prof. Nakajima has run several international research teams, published 20 books and more than 250 scientific papers with a focus on Artificiell Intelligence (AI), augmented reality and virtual worlds. One of his goals for the new lab at Gotland University is to continue working on his “Autonomous Agent System: K4”.

K4 is a unique AI that understands both speech and body language. With a simple microphone and video camera, K4 allows you to communicate with a computer just as if it were another human being. With our advanced Motion Capture studio, GAME provides an opportunity for Nakajima Labs to improve the AI’s own body language – giving the artificial person an even more human expression by utilizing natural motion as a part of its communication.

One of the first projects for the team will probably be to translate the Japanese language engine to English. 🙂

Posted on - 1 Comment on Virtual Reality
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Virtual Reality

We’ve invested in virtual reality gear for our Motion Capture studio. The kit consists of a pair of goggles worn by the actor, allowing a real time view of the simulated world – including the actor’s own digital representation!

This system makes it easier for actors to get in to character, to act and react on the virtual world. Balancing on a high ledge is rendered more convincingly if the actor can see the landscape spreading out hundreds of meters below her feet. Acting terrified for and battling with a huge monster is easier if you can see the monster and your own sword- and shield.

Today was just a test run and we are really looking forward to seeing what our students manage to produce with this new hardware.

Posted on - 1 Comment on Ernest Adams on Developing Backwards and in High Heels
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Ernest Adams on Developing Backwards and in High Heels


Our dear Professor Ernest Adams is back to open your eyes and blow your minds.

In this lecture, he’ll show you the past and future of women in gaming: what they contributed to the early development of the medium and how they will change it in the 21st century. He examines several different aspects of the question, including the way women are portrayed in games; women as designers and developers; and the wants and needs of the female player.

“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.” Women game developers must also work backwards and in high heels — backwards because they are usually developing games for a male market; in high heels because they are often impeded by a masculine development culture.

This talk is open- and highly recommended to all game students!

Time: Friday, October 1st, 13:00
Location: E22

Posted on - 1 Comment on Daniel Leaver from Media Molecule
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Daniel Leaver from Media Molecule

Media Molecule is a British video game developer based in Guildford, Surrey. The studio was founded in 2006 by the same people who produced Rag Doll Kung Fu while still at Lionhead Studio, but you guys probably know of Media Molecule as the creators of LittleBIGPlanet for the Playstation 3. 🙂

Daniel Leaver designed and created levels for LittleBIGPlanet and LittleBIGPlanet 2. And to quote the fluently persuasive and articulate video game critic Ben Croshaw –

[…] the level design is really, really good. Like something good. That’s… made of chocolate.

Daniel also helped in most design areas, from gameplay elements to scoring and the online aspects of the game. The content of his talk is currently kept under wraps, but his enthusiasm is promising. 🙂

Daniel Leaver (Media Molecule) discussing level design in Little Big Planet
Daniel Leaver (Media Molecule) discussing level design in Little Big Planet

The objectives of this lecture is to familiarise the student with common AAA level design techniques using examples from LittleBigPlanet. We will look at the process of designing a level from “white box” to completion using motifs. Gameplay flow and player direction as well as co-operative gameplay will be discussed. Finally we will also have a look at team work when doing level design at a game development company.

This talk is open for the public, with priority for students taking Level Design II.

Time: Tuesday, September 28th, 13:00
Location: E22