News

The University Centre Barnsley were extremely pleased to welcome Ian Bowden, Art Director for Rockstar Games (makers of the Grand Theft Auto computer games) to the University Centre Barnsley on Friday 29 June 2007.

Ian was working with secondary school pupils from the Barnsley area and presenting them with prizes following their completion in the University Centre's 'Create a Creature Competition'.

Students were asked to design a character that had two arms, two legs, a head and a body which must be their own original design. Successful students then visited the University Centre and worked with University lecturers students and Ian Bowden using 3D modelling and a motion capture suit to bring their character to life.

The motion capture suit allows students access to state-of-the-art special effects equipment allowing them to create realistic looking animated characters from their own designs.

The most famous example of a motion capture suit being used was in the creating of the character Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy but they are being used more frequently in gaming animation.

Students were filmed talking to their characters and then made into a short movie which they took away on CD. Ian Bowden told us ‘This has been such a great day.

The level of work that these students have produced in just one day is amazing. It’s great to see them working with such advanced technology with such ease and enthusiasm. Projects such as this are so worthwhile for future generations of designers,’

Degree students on the University Centre's new BA(Hons) Digital Film and Visual Effects Production course will be using the motion capture suit as part of their course from September 2007