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Is it been a year already!? I have to admit, im rather astonished. The days seem to be going by much quicker.. :(

Well, let's hope I can get a '11 Track out for christmas. :) For those who are wondering where I may have been - well ive been working and doing some animation on Rival 5: The Final Confrontation. Which can be watched here on the facebook group.

I tend to add progress images/stuff every few days or so.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/2284111 37196394/

Also can I thank everyone who has listened to my new track, and especially those who regularly comment on them! :) Much appreciated.

Will have to put up the Xmas tree soon!

Listening to the Gears of War Score 3. It's amazing! :D A must for anyone whole loves the older scores or transformers scores. :)

Muhahahaha

NOooLLLLANNNN!!!!!

Anywho, I've been trying to work in time to redraft Rival 5, making sure that it's just right before the script runs off in search of voice actors.

Im hoping you will all be interested in the progress of it. Im hoping to show in production movies of captures while working, so you can see such as storyboards, concepts, Maya, lightwave, Flash, sound and compositing all working towards one piece, edited together. As well as tutorials i have in mind and group member only goodies, like wallpapers, HD PS3/360 movies and a few other ideas. So hopefully with the large amount of work involved it will encourage others to start getting right into animation (again), and not only that experiment with integration.

Im not asking you to sign up to a new website, and new forums, I know that would never work. However, how about joining a group on your facebook? We all have one, and you can easily visit when you feel like it, and it's portable. Last night I created Rival - Stick Series as a facebook group page, and I would love it if many of you would take the time to join. It's early days right now as I'm still uploading grabs of the original animations, but I'll be indefinetly making the progress public. As well as take every comment on board - so feel free to post opinions. As well as recieve feedback for your own stuff if you want to post it.

All added members need confirmed so I dont get any things like russian "woman" looking for "fun", but I assure you, you'll be added asap. Thanks for reading, I really appreciate it!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/2284111 37196394/

So anyone who has known me for a good while knows that Im actually an animator at heart. And infact started of an animated series back in 2002. Called Rival. At the time flash animation had started to really take off, and cinematic stick animation had become quite popular. Rival was an over the top B movie action series. Made for many to have a laugh, and enjoy some sticks with somewhat a wild plot and over top nonrealistic action. As time went on though the series pushed for a graphical and scripted improvement. Even though unintentionally keeping the cliches which made rival popular i still get messages today about it, to complete the series

There are those who take it too seriously though, giving wild comments such as, "You can't shoot a chopper down with a gun, this is just f'n ridiculous". Yet completely fine with a Lamborghini jumping a truck in the originals. Like film critcs, people need to learn to relax with an animation or film. Take it the way it is, and take it all with a pinch of salt. It's entertainment, and entertainment doesn't have to be real.

So whats this post all about?
Well for starters, if you have seen Rival 1 - 3. Then go have a watch if you have the time. Back in early 2010 i comp'ed the first three episode together for ease of watching. These were created back in 2002-2003. When I just had begun getting used to flash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMHFhjX myv8

In 2009 I decided to try and continue the series, for part 4. As I really do feel that I should finish one project, before going onto another. But this time, try making it in 3D, using 2D Flash techniques, to keep the consistency in style. You can see part 4 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqdBTTh CaZg

Unfortunately straight after Rival 4: Demise, I admit i became a bit lazier and never continued 5 as I should have. However it doesn't mean that it's dead. Actually quite the opposide now. Rival 5, is actually back on full surge, and actually has had a regutting. I realised purely due to the sheer mass of things to do in Rival 5 it will have to be a collaboration project, and have recently recruited a partner. In my view a proffessional character animator who's skill is well up there. So im really please to have Bassam on board, he has fantastic staging ideas as well as ability and he can only raise the bar.

In addition I can see Rival 5 being the best part yet, and not only that, the concluding part to finish off the series to give everyone who has followed the series a deserved ending. Thanks to all for watching.

Technique wise we've certainly expanded. Previously it was just all flash. Then I added Lightwave to make it 3D, with after effects for compositing, with fllash animated effects. With the upcoming Rival, our visual pipeline is looked to grow even further. Consisting of the following.

> Flash and Photoshop for Textures.
> Lightwave and Maya for Modelling.
> Maya for Rigging and Animation, Effects, with MDD baked animation.
> Lightwave for Rendering, Additional Effects, and Rendering Passes
> Aftereffects for Compositing
> Adobe Premier for Editing

Compression, scripting, music, sound design, storyboard, are all using dedicated packages. But i'd just bore you I'd imagine by the process. So we have a lot to go through and a long road ahead of us, however Im really looking forward to concluding something which is easily going to be over a decade of my life.

For an example of what kind of visuals to expect, The image below shows a comparison of Rival 4, and Rival 5 environment versions. You can also see this animated in 720p here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQxllK4 4-aY

So, plenty more to come guys! Right now we're on rescripting the last episode. Next stage is concepts/actors/storyboards and thumbnails. Yes. That's right we're EVEN thumbnailingevery shotto make it is descriptive as it can be visually.

Stay Tuned!

Hey guys, since some of you are interested in what were up to over here at FBGames. Here's another image from the 3DS NFS: The Run! Mustang GT!

- Check my previous news post to see and find out more on NFS: The Run.

Hey guys, well yeah. It's been a good while since I've posted, the last time I did I promised plenty of things to come NG's way. Unfortunately it's not the case...for now. But it's because...

It's that crunch time. We've been really pushing hard, and working late late nights. However IGN have had a chance to show off first glimpses from our publisher, EA! So I can post links to this without breaking any rules on my end. Very please to be part of this game and get my teeth into the cars.

You can read the first look at 3DS NFS: The Run here:
http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/118/1181 228p1.html

So, it's been a while, and I haven't posted anything for months. Actually if I recall correctly, it could be January. Although nothing much has changed here for me, loads has been happening on my side of things. In my last News Post I mentioned that I had to put my career in full throttle and that's exactly what I have been doing.

As of recent, I have been working on Massive 3D interiors for the Common Wealth Games 2014 Head Offices, I put these on top priority and made them look as good as I could in the week timeframe I had. I'd love to show them, but until they are officially made public my hands are tied and the images are strictly confidential. After that though I finally finished up my contract in University, where I was Lecturing Animation of all kinds. Soooo whats the news?

Well I finally landed that dream. I haven't mentioned it until now, because I wasn't allowed to, but with E3 news about I'm sure its fine now! I've been contracted as a 3D Artist for an upcoming games title at a company called FireBrand Games. It's an excellent gig and I'd love to talk and show you all about it, but as anything all games development are confidential too. However, if you're a good googler, I can't stop you.

In addition, here's a portfolio piece I did over a few days, a lowpoly Pagani Zonda F. :)