6/09: Our Last Visit, iO Interactive

This was our last day of our study abroad trip. Before we finish our journey in Denmark, we visit our last studio tour which was iO Interactive. I was very looking forward to meet them because they have similar technology like my animation program. iO Interactive was working on video games for Hitman series and their upcoming video game, Project 007. The hiring specialist gave us a tour around their studio. I saw some artists doing some 3D environment modeling, character design, model, and rigging, lighting and rendering, and motion capture. All of these duties are exactly what I experienced from my school program. I was very thrilled to see how the production team work together as a video gaming studio. Again, it reminded me of how I worked with my colleagues at the DAC (Digital Animation Center) program at CU Denver. My instructors taught me how it would be like to work in a real-world studio. We are learning how to manage our time with projects and our personal schedules. This will help us gain responsibility and preparation for our future career. Now that I will become a senior, we are working a short animated film as our senior short thesis. The storyboard artists made multiple stories for our senior short. We voted our own top 5 story picks to see where we would be placed at. My instructors assigned me who I am working with and what story I am placed at. My team and I are working on Huli Jing for our senior short thesis. My priority is supporting my team on 3D modeling assets for the environment, 3D model the main character of the story, and plan out the animation for our finalized short film. As I got to know iO Interactive, I really admire their overall production because they set up so well on who is responsible on one priority and the other. I also participated on one of their best technology for motion capture. Motion capture is one of my favorite things to work on. I was taught a little bit on their software from my school. When I got to wear one of their gloves and used their props, it was intense. It records and animate a model rig and object. I asked the specialist if they do internships. They absolutely do hire interns and other open positions only in Europe. I heard that their biggest studio was Barcelona, Spain, and they have another studio at Malmö, Sweden. Since I am almost done with my academic journey, I hope that this studio could be my biggest opportunity for me to work with them. After we finish our tour, I never felt so happy that I got a chance to see something that relates towards my goals and my future.

Thank you, iO Interactive. ~

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As we completed our tours and visits, we are ready to pack. I really am gonna miss Denmark very much. I will miss their food, their culture, and their lifestyle. Not only that, I will also miss the studios. On this day, we return our bikes. Since I got used to riding bikes everyday in Denmark, I like it better than driving cars.