Louise Wooldridge

As a freelance rigger, I need to make sure my builds have a lot of flexibility. So I've recently reworked my lid modules to add variable joint counts. By utilizing a curve-based output I can changed the amount of joints used based on the needs of the project. Higher joint counts for fidelity and control, lower counts for simplicity and optimization. Or I can test and iterate to find a happy middle ground. So animators using my rigs on film or game projects can enjoy the same features, such as: - Automated lid follow with eye movement - Main controls to position the lids through translation and sculpt the curvature with rotation/scale  - Secondary controls for finer detail (If there are enough joints to support it) - Manual or automated blinking. Animate controls, or activate the automated meet point between your posed lids for a perfect seal I've been using iterations of this system over my last few projects, both commercials and games. The core elements of this system have been floating around in my head since 2018, so it's been great to finally put it to the test. 

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interesting conversations at #Gamescom 2025 so far seem to point towards an industry recovery that is rolling out unevenly - and yet to hit the parts of the industry that arguably need it most. The first and possibly fastest seems to be the recovery of investment interest. As noted in previous posts, there are some very well funded players starting to take renewed interest in games. The interest feels different though - it seems like people have learned the lessons from the "insane 10x VC era" and are looking for more sustainable, longer-term returns. This is due in part to there being more "games native" investors on the scene - people who are bringing more clear-eyed industry experience to the mix. Coming in behind this, some exciting moves in the support ecosystem, where the layoffs seem to have unlocked a lot of knowledge capital that is starting to organise into a really rich and experienced support layer for games companies. As we heard at Opening Night Live, there is a healthy crop of large and not-so-large titles coming through, with people finding new angles on existing IP. Behind that, we know that the industry needs to start green-lighting games to keep the pipeline running smoothly. I still hear "too many games/too many games companies" - it feels like there is still an oversupply issue relative to the existing market for consumer attention, but the ongoing process of democratising games into new demographics seems to be opening up more opportunity (albeit someone still desperately needs to solve the curation + discovery layer for new audiences). But it is still tough for developers and publishers - the good news I think is that recovery is waiting in the wings, but we need to work harder to ensure that it hits the ground where it is needed most.

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In all things, do your research. Applying for a job at a studio? Do your research. Learn what games they've made and what games they're working on now. Build up enough knowledge to have something intelligent to say, instead of "that sucked, I would have done this other thing instead". Research the principals there and the folks you'll be talking to. You'll want to do so to see if there's common ground - if they worked on a game you loved, if you have mutual connections, if there are specific questions you want to pose to show you've been thinking about stuff. And by doing so, show you're willing to put in the work, and to do it well. Doing some actual writing on a game? Do your research. Believe me when I say that it takes far less time and effort to double-check whether a particular phrasing had been coined yet before you stick it in a character's mouth in a historical game setting than it takes to deal with the online nitpicking and rage if you get it wrong. And that's just little things - you really need to do your research on the big stuff and get it right or you're going to blow up your narrative's suspension of disbelief like it's a beached whale carcass stuffed with C4. The second you demonstrate conclusively you do not in fact know what you're talking about on this thing over here, the player base is going to shift to "Can I trust anything here to be right?" And if they're doing that, they're consciously thinking /about/ the game rather than thinking /within/ the game. Responding to a comment on a public forum? Do your research. Make sure you understand what you're actually responding to instead of just using it as a springboard for the tangentially related thing you want to say. If the original poster says a very specific thing, and you respond in such a way as to make it clear you didn't actually read it, it's not the original poster who's going to look bad. By all means, counter and refute, but again, respond to what's actually there and have your facts lined up when you do so. "My feeling is" converts pretty cleanly to "I didn't bother to do any research and as such my point is unsupported by data". Engaged in a debate on something on a project? Do your research. Look for other games where something similar has been done, and see if and why it succeeded or failed. Arguing over a point of information? Do your research and get the actual answer, so your position will be supported, and thus both defensible and a reasonable launch point for a counterattack. And for God's sake, do the actual research. Don't just take the AI summary at face value. There's a very good chance whatever got spit out was scraped from a website that also maintains that the 1919 Chicago White Sox were comprised entirely of Reptoid aliens. Bring that prop knife to a gunfight and you'll be exposed instantly by anyone who knows what they're talking about. So do your research. It's work. But in the end, you'll be glad you did it.

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Step away from the games industry to build your skills and return to games stronger when the timing is right. I get asked a lot about how to get a job in games, and this has become my most frequent piece of advice. It’s tough to break into, and even stay in, the games industry right now so think long-term. Invest in yourself, invest in your skills and remember that taking a detour doesn’t mean giving up. It often means coming back with a fresh perspective and sharper tools. Here are some examples... 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: consumer apps are doubling down on gamification (Duolingo was making the most noise at GDC this year). 𝐔𝐀 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: other industries regard games marketers as best-in-class when it comes to creative and innovative user acquisition campaigns. 𝐂++ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬: robotics, aerospace, financial trading, AI infrastructure, medical devices are all thriving fields and need experienced C++ engineers. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬: making games is one of the hardest project management jobs out there. Tech companies highly value that experience. 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬: a wide, varied portfolio shows versatility that employers love. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞: keep your love for games alive on the side. Game jams, blogs, portfolio work, events or just continuing to research through play. All of it matters. Because when the games industry door opens again (and it will) you’ll be ready not just to walk through but to kick it down. And if you’re still laser-focused on staying in games, remember that the industry is far bigger than just studios and publishers. There’s esports, streaming, platforms, hardware, engines, journalism, marketing, conventions, VR/AR, accessibility, education and more. Joining companies in any of these areas still means you’re part of the industry. And hey… you could always start your own studio. 😉 Oh, and this stunning piece of concept art? That’s by my pal Emily Harris.

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This is a powerful, data-backed validation of the 'More Than Games' philosophy from a global industry leader. asmodee, one of the world's largest tabletop publishers, has launched a new 'Asmodee Kids' brand, backed by compelling new research proving the significant cognitive and social benefits of board games for young people. The scientific studies found: A single game session can boost a teen's focus by 8%. Regular play was linked to a 17% boost in arithmetic skills. Behavioural issues in some children dropped by up to 34%. These findings offer a powerful endorsement of the work we are doing in Scotland with partners like Education Scotland for the #ScottishGamesFest, demonstrating that investing in #play is a direct investment in the core skills young people need to thrive. It's a crucial reminder that the power of games extends far beyond entertainment. I'm currently working with a group of board games experts (who are also friends) to tap into funding to bring this sort of approach to schools across Scotland. https://lnkd.in/eWpAjH6Q

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