COURSES Award Courses

Graduate Diploma: Virtual Worlds

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Qualification: Graduate Diploma: Virtual Worlds
Level: Postgraduate
Delivery Mode: Full time
Duration: 32 weeks / 2 semesters
Applications Close: 7-Nov-2008

Offered in:
Sydney

Applications Closed

This multi-disciplinary course develops the skills and understandings necessary for constructing computer generated story worlds for use in a broad range of media industries. Project work will include pre-visualisation sequences for film or TV, virtual spaces for use in massively multiplayer online games and social virtual worlds and rich environments for CG animation or machinima.

By the end of this course students will have experience in:

  • Creating a range of pre-visualisations of both real and fantasy spaces
  • Exploring the strong links between real set design and virtual world design from a production and cinematographic perspective
  • Using a wide range of environmental design tools, off-the shelf virtual worlds and the various advanced techniques required for high-end production
  • Exploring spaces and tools designed particularly for multiplayer quest-based game play
  • Creative worlds designed for low end browser-based social interaction through to 3D immersive social virtual worlds
  • Finding stories and locations in game engines and creating a wide range of Machinima

Throughout this 32 week course students will work on several practical projects including a real industry brief.

Through lectures, demonstrations, masterclasses, and industry guest speakers students will investigate areas such as Cinematography, 3D set and landscape creation, Voice Over Scripting and Production, Lighting, Team Production, Character Animation, Game Play and Sound and Music Design.

This course provides opportunities to develop creative ideas and projects in a multi-disciplinary environment

Pre-requisites:

Demonstrated proficiency in one or more of the following areas:

  • Filmmaking
    Such as: Production, writing, animation, cinematography, sound or music design, digital visual effects
  • Interactive Programming and/or Design
    Such as: Online Coding, Interactive Design, Installation Art, Social Web 2.0 Development, Offline Scripting, Interactive Production

Selection Criteria:
 

  • Demonstrated creative potential as evident in portfolio
  • Evidence of ability to complete complex tasks
  • Evidence of original creative thinking
     

Tasks to be completed as part of the application process

  • Set Task 1
    Create an original response to the theme of 'loneliness'. Please limit written responses to 500 words or other responses to 5 minutes duration.
  • Set Task 2
    Choose any 5 photographs from the images included in the application form (in no more than 500 words)
  • Include four copies of your creative portfolio which demonstrates your talent and potential. Your portfolio can include documentation of artwork, written work, film, video and interactive work. (Your portfolio must fit in an A4 envelope). Clearly outline your official role on any work submitted in your portfolio.
    OR
    If you come from a technical background and do not have a creative portfolio, please provide four copies of a Professional Statement which, in no more than 500 words, establishes your eligibility for the course. The statement should outline your reasons for applying, your relevant experience and how you propose to use the knowledge and skills gained from this course.
  • Include four copies of your Curriculum Vitae
  • Include four copies of a professional reference from someone in the industry who can attest to your skills

Download a pdf of the AFTRS Virtual Worlds 09 Syllabus >

How to apply info >


  • Course Modules

      Course Modules Include:

      Story and Machinima

      This module explores new opportunities for storytelling using machinima (a hybrid of ‘machine’ and ‘cinema’), a technique to create movies by using video games as virtual film set.

      Audio Worlds

      Sound and music are important aspects of developing sophisticated story worlds and help to and immerse the participant in any virtual environment. This course explores the potential of interactive sound.

      The Live Virtual Camera (Pre-Visualisation)

      Pre-visualization serves two primary purposes -- to sell a concept and save time and money. Also pre-visualisation is becoming an end in itself and the cross-over with high production value machinima is investigated.

      World as Character

      Understanding virtual space as being heavily linked to story and also integrated with the film story or game and social characters within it followed by machinima workshop.

      Social Worlds

      Designing Social Spaces require cross-over skills between town planner, web designer and psychoanalyst. These particular worlds range from cartoon cut out grids on web sites through to fully immersive photo-realistic spaces.

      Production Project

      The Production Project is the means for students to apply the skills, understandings and ways of working they have acquired in undertaking other Graduate Diploma units in their area of specialisation. The Production Project Module may take the form of a group or individual project or industry attachment and is intended to enable students to utilise their creativity, imagination, skills and knowledge in their area of specialisation.

      Content Incubator

      This unit is designed to develop the skills of brainstorming and rapid creative project development. Flexibility and adaptability in creative teamwork are a focus of this unit. Students learn to work to a brief under time pressure and develop skills in the visual, written and oral presentation of ideas.

Offered in
Sydney

Applications Closed

Places in this course are competitive and are based on merit selection.

Applications open to Australian and New Zealand Citizens, Australian permanent residents and holders of an Australian permanent resident humanitarian visa

Course Fee: $11,500

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