Next Please!

Programmer´s Wanted! it´s a thrown away concept...back to the drawing table

Cintiq review!

As you all know, we are using a cintiq since February. Ofcourse you are all dying to know what we think of it? We'll break it down for you: Our cintiq review!

pro's:
-You have more control over your linework. It's more precise and it works faster.

-You can draw more intuitive like working on paper. And it has different pen points, to compensate the feeling that you're drawing with a pencil on a glass window.

cons:
-The screen gets f***g hot! Well, that's a little bit exaggerated, but it sure feels like asphalting a highway on a hot summer's day, and it leaves you with a burning sensation on your face without getting a tan.

-Your workflow changes, because you don't have 'relative' distances anymore. Compared to your wacom tablet, which is proportional to the screen, you can point to any spot on the screen without picking up your pen.

-Righthanded people using the right mouse-click cover the drop down menu with their hand and need to learn left hand typing, because of the keyboard positioned on the left side of the cintiq.

overall: it needs time to relax while sitting behind a cintiq and it literally is a rotatable canvas!

advice: BUY MORE!

New Cintiq!

Look! a new cintiq! our second one. And as you can see our artwork gets better by the minute...

No more Mrs. Nice Guy!

Maybe someday...

Some concept art

from private care, when private care was still a little baby...

Some concept art

from private care. It's the clinic. We also got one on a sunny day. We create these concepts to make this world alive, get a sense of scale and volume. It's basically to see how we can make a hospital feel heartwarming and hospitable.

Some would say: A Hospital is no place to be sick. Well, we created a place where you want to be sick and maybe even stay a little longer...

First sketches for a revolutionary script!

taken from our game Private Care.

Master assignment

This Master Assignment episode is mainly about gesture drawing. Walt Stanchfield is full of it. I should was full of it. In the 1970s, Stanchfield focused his efforts on establishing a training program for new animators along with veteran animator and director Eric Larson. Stanchfield held regular weekly drawing classes and lectures for the crew, and among his students were young talent that went on to become prominent figures within the animation industry: Brad Bird, John Lasseter, Don Bluth, Joe Ranft, John Musker, Ron Clements, Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, and Mark Henn, among others. In The Walt Stanchfield Lectures: Volume One, chapter 39, page 79: "In our class, time and again there has been a pose where the model, having brought a prop, has built a pose around the prop; for instance, opening an umbrella. Last week, 5 minutes into the sketching, there were, out of 17 drawings, only 3 or 4 umbrella's sketched in. The "first impression" should have been "woman opening umbrella".

So if we look at this sketch of a heron, there should be a reason for him to act and pose the way he does. His 'umbrella' is obviously out of this frame. We'll look into that the next week.

And in the category...

INSPIRE OR GET INSPIRED...:

Mood Chart

Here’s a rare publicity photo of Dave Fleischer with a “story mood chart” indicating story beats for Mr. Bug Goes To Town (1941). I found it on cartoonbrew.
If we can manage to achieve this in our games then we're f***ng K*NG!

Full circle!

In 1970 Simon & Garfunkel recorded a song about him on their album Bridge over Troubled Water. And it has been said that Paul Simon wrote the song as a farewell to his musical partner, using his name to stand for Garfunkel. (Garfunkel is a big fan of architecture)

In 2000 his cultural landmark Fallingwater was named "The Building of the 20th century".

Indeed. We're talking about Mr. Andrew Lloyd Wright. The American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 projects. His colorful personal life often made headlines, most notably for the 1914 fire and murders at his Taliesin studio. Oops! Did I just spoil the plot?

In 2010 the artwork of Private Care is inspired on this man's work. So we've come full circle. The man can rest now...

AND THERE'S MORE!

I had to hide between the bushes to cap this one! Enjoy it while you can! Before the man is on to us! It is still in development phase but it looks very promising!

FINALLY!

The very first ingame artwork taken from Private Care! I can't wait for the game to come out!

During recession...

even our plants have to settle for less water. Something's gotta give...

A picture says more...

than a thousand words...

We all have these little haiku-ish quotes that reminds us how-to or how-not-to think or do. Meant to be inspiring or mind-broadening. This one is one of the more comforting quotes...

Master Assignment

Before we begin with our Master Assignments we take a hot bath, drink mint tea and watch these dvd's from Don Bluth. It really helps us to bring out the best in us. After we wake up, we start working again;)

Company Make Over!

For all you people that are dying to know what our company looks like...This is how we used to look...back in the day...which was a tuesday by the way...
And the picture below is part of our canteen which, as you can see has a lovely view. It's in the forest and the cottages are being used to meet, discuss or make business calls. Some people hide in them so they can shoot an innocent deer or brew illegal whiskey. Some even disappeared in these woods without ever coming back...and that's a true story...

More: It's too good to throw away

that's why it has been preserved for eternity by ZAPC-the Zylom Artwork Preservation Committee.

It's too good to throw away...

that's why it has been preserved for eternity by ZAPC-the Zylom Artwork Preservation Committee.

6 rules of game art

How to Draw Monkeys the Lucas Arts Way: An Analysis of... you'll find some interesting stuff by Bill Tiller (background artist on Monkey Island 3). Wether you're a kick-ass artist trying to get hired by a kick-ass game studio or a kick-ass artist working for one, this is something to read every now and then. You can download it at openpdf.

EXPRESSIONS!

Emotion and facial expressions are a big part of our current game-in-production with the working title Private Care. Because we like to keep our minds fresh and not only limited to the gaming community we found this entertaining video on facial expressions.

If you want to know more on animation and expressions you have to check the splinedocters.

Job openings!

For our core team we are looking for a senior game programmer to help create great AAA casual games, preferably with experience in casual games.

Requirements:
• You have excellent C++ programming skills and broad programming and scripting knowledge
• You are a structured, analytical programmer with a practical approach
• You speak and write English fluently, you have strong communication skills and you are able to inform and convince your team and leads about your ideas
• You are passionate about creating games and eager to create a deeper game experience
• You are a pragmatic and pro-active team-player

Plusses:
• Experience in developing Casual games
• Experience in multi-platform development
• Experience in 3D programming
• Experience in coaching and or reviewing other programmers
• A positive solutions-oriented approach
• Dutch language skills

To apply please send your resume to jobs@zylom.com

concept art!

More artwork from that secret game developed by the creators of the 'Delicious' hit series. These are snippets taken from the color lay out I talked about March 17.

Robert McKee

Next week our GameDesigner Sebastiaan van Waardenberg is going to London to see Robert McKee. For 4 days to be exact. If you want him to send you a postcard (you know, a real one, a paper one) just let him know. He'd be glad to...

Anyways...this is an email from the organization. They wanted Sebastiaan not to miss out on some important "Additional Important Details". Get this.

Dear London Story Seminar Attendee,

Just a quick note to say we look forward to seeing everyone at Robert McKee's upcoming London Story Seminar the weekend of 15-18 April!

For the consideration of your fellow attendees so they may enjoy the seminar as much as you, we ask that you please observe the following:

1. Be punctual. The Story Seminar starts PROMPTLY at 9: 00am each morning. Late comers will be seated in the back of the theatre until the first break at 11am. On Thursday, plan to be at the Cavendish Conference Centre by 8:00am to receive your badges, workbook, etc.

2. Mr. McKee has a strict "No Cell Phone" policy. Please make sure your cell phone is turned OFF when you enter the theatre. If your phone goes off during the seminar, you will be fined.

3. Texting during the class is also not allowed as it is very distracting to your fellow attendees (the screen lighting up, the buttons, etc.). Texting will also result in a fine.

4. Computer Users - The back rows of the theatre will be reserved for laptop users so as not to distract others. If you plan on bringing a laptop, please note there are no electrical outlets in the theatre so make sure your battery packs are fully charged.

5. If you need to get up from your seat often (for health reasons, comfort reasons, etc.), please sit in an aisle seat and towards the back of the theatre.

6. Breaks are a half-hour each (11:00am-11:30am and 4:30pm-5:00pm) and lunch is 1-hour (1:30-2:30pm). Please be punctual. Again if you think you will be late, avoid sitting in the center or near the front of the theatre.

7. Bottled water is allowed in the theatre, but not coffee or food.

8. Please wear your badge at all times as you will need to show it as you enter the theater each time.

9. Please be aware that Mr. McKee has strong views on every subject and uses strong language.

Thank you! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail us (click here).


With Regards,

Seminar Partners, Ltd.
& McKee Seminars

The best is yet to come!

Unfortunately some of our friends in Seatlle office have left the company. Some of our company's most successful titles were created by them. We want to say thanks and wish them all the best for the near future!

Thank God it's Thursday!

This is the Master Assignment from Ruud Havenith. Yes. The Man himself is working in our studio! If you want to know more about his thoughts, check his blog.

Remember the HouseHold Fair?

This is what our artists did during that 10 day merry-go-round. Painting the customers. Now I can hear you think...why are they all in bathrobes? Were they all ill? Well...some of them might be considered...no...that would be too easy...

They're painted for one of our games and maybe even become a part of it.

New Concept Art!

Well...it's rather old...but it's time we reveal a little tiny bit of the revolution that is bound to take place in casual space! It's from one of our titles in production. This is one of the first concept sketches of our ingame characters.
stay tuned!

What happened?

I was sick. Not anymore. I'm back.
What happened in the meanwhile?
Awaiting "Waking Sleeping Beauty" I received "Dream on silly dreamer". A must-have and a must-see for everyone interested in Disney and how to (mis)lead a creative company. This is the golden era of the Lion King but also of the straight-to-video philosophy.