Newsletter
Newsletter
Launch a Video Game Career
The video game industry is booming, and new technology and developments are creating competition - and more job opportunities - than ever before. If you're interested in a career in video games, here's how to get started.
A video game developer is responsible for developing and managing the software of a video game. They must love playing video games in order to understand how a game is to be developed and marketed. It's also important to be extremely creative and highly imaginative, as well as knowledgeable in computer programming and video graphics.
Video game development is a team effort. Developers must be strong team players and have excellent interpersonal skills, as they're required to work with graphic designers, programmers, animators, and game testers to come up with the final product.
With video games becoming the number one form of entertainment, outranking both television and movies combined, the demand for video game developers is exploding and the industry is growing rapidly. Not only are video game developers in high demand, but also mobile game developers, who design games for smartphones. Job opportunities are available with large companies, but you can choose to be your own boss, as many people are creating their apps for mobile phones.
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Fall 2011 Newsletter
Mobile Games That Every Smartphone Owner Should Have
Check out these popular mobile games that every smartphone owner should have!
Infinity Blade - The first mobile game powered by Epic Games' cutting-edge Unreal Engine 3 technology, Infinity Blade is about a knight's pursuit to save civilization. It takes handheld gaming to impressive heights with amazing visuals, stellar battles, and spectacular 3D characters and environments.
Tiny Wings - A one-touch gameplay that's easy to learn, but hard to master, Tiny Wings is an example of simplicity done right. Take control of this bird who dreams of flying, but whose wings are just too tiny!
Dead Space - Featuring ominous lighting and eerie sound effects, Dead Space is action-packed, suspenseful, and scary as hell, especially when played in the dark with your headphones on.
Words With Friends - Similar to Scrabble, opposing players create words using individual letter tiles to score points in a friendly competition with friends, family, and strangers.
Which mobile games do you think everyone should have? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter!
Wanted: A Little Female Intuition
Lots of women play video games, but only a small fraction develop them, and the video game industry is trying to change that.
Although women represent nearly half the gaming population, the industry continues to be dominated by men. However, girls are clearly making waves in the industry by attracting more women to the development side of video games. For instance, Silicon Sisters Interactive is the first game studio in Canada to be owned and run by women. Based in Vancouver, they are committed to games that are made by women and girls, for women and girls.
Realizing that women bring different perspectives and story ideas to the world of video games - such as designing games that are more social, personalized, and story-based - companies are hiring more women in order to create content that's appealing to females.
Interested in pursuing a video game career? Keep your eyes peeled for new programs at VCAD this winter!
Halloween Costume Contest!
We can hardly wait for Halloween! Each year students amaze us with costumes that range from cute to downright scary.
This year, we want to give you a chance to share your Halloween costume and win a cool prize. This is the perfect time of year to let your creativity shine, and enter VCAD’s Halloween Costume Contest!
To enter, take a photo of yourself in your costume, in front of a VCAD logo and post it on our Facebook wall or send us a tweet from October 11, 2011 to November 6, 2011. From November 7-13, 2011, our Facebook fans will vote on their favorite entries and we’ll announce the winners on November 16, 2011. The costume with the most votes wins a $100 iTunes gift card. Second and third place winners earn $50 and $25 iTunes gift cards.
Brown Bag Lunches
Brown bagging is a healthier and cheaper option to buying your lunch every day, but it can be challenging to make creative and healthy choices. Make brown bagging fun with these simple yet tasty ideas!
Sneak in an apple a day by adding fresh apple slices to your sandwich. It'll give a regular sandwich some crispy flavour, and keep the doctor away!
Homemade roasted chickpeas are a great source of fibre, iron, and folate. They're easy to make, and can be stored for future snacks.
Instead of the standard sandwich, make a heart-healthy wrap out of a whole wheat tortilla filled with your favorite meats and vegetables.
Tired of eating the same salad every day? Mix quinoa or couscous with some grilled vegetables to make an interesting and delicious salad.
Have any quick and easy lunch ideas to share? Post them on Facebook or Twitter!
A Career in Costume Design
Are you intrigued by how costumes are conceptualized? Do you have excellent design skills and an eye for detail? If so, then a career as a costume designer might be for you.
Costume designers are responsible for designing the costumes worn by actors and singers in the entertainment industry. They develop outfits, footwear, and accessories to be used in theatre, film, and television productions.
In order to ensure that costumes accurately portray the time and place of a production, costume designers must work closely with directors, producers, set and lighting designers, and make-up staff. A day’s work not only means designing and sewing, but also scouring thrift stores, vintage shops, and antique sales to find ready-made costumes.
Interested in costume design? Find out more in the Fashion Design program at VCAD!
Fall 2011 Newsletter
Finding Interior Design Inspiration in Vancouver
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but where are some great places for interior designers to get inspired in the Lower Mainland?
Nature is one of the best sources for design inspiration. Spend a day in a natural space like Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver to observe the massive trees, rocky cliffs, and rushing waters of the creek. Surrounding yourself with beautiful scenes from nature may help inspire rustic decors and natural textiles and fabrics.
Downtown Vancouver will offer a completely opposite perspective. City life has so much energy and personality - just take a look at the architecture! Whether it's modern minimalism or art deco, each building, with its specific lines, shapes, and details, can tell a story. Gastown, in particular, is a great place to find inspiration with its rich history and heritage buildings.
Colour makes a powerful statement. Take in the radiance of the sunset at English Bay. The bright colours emanating from the sun setting over the horizon can inspire you to leave the neutral zone behind and embrace a wider colour palette.
Where do you find design inspiration? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!