The document provides details on the skills audit and assignment structure for a project to create a sidekick character for the virtual world Second Life. It summarizes the student's strengths in areas like project management, research, drawing, and experience using software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D Modeler. The student outlines their plan to research robot and character ideas, sketch designs, and develop the sidekick in Modeler. They demonstrate an understanding of the assignment goals and timeframe. The only identified constraint is a lack of software access at home, which the student plans to address by spending extra time in college as needed.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
Games Design
Unit 66 – 3D Modelling
HA5 – Sidekick Task 1 – Project Charter
Use these prompts to create a written charter for your project.
Skills Audit – Review your strengths and weaknesses and confidence in the following areas:
Project Management
My management on this sidekick should be good as I plan on starting next week with this task. This means I
should have extra time to work on the sidekick and come up with jobs, textures and its purpose in the
Second life world. I am planning on using a time schedule on what I want to have done within a week; I
believe this will help. Overall my project management this year has been very well as I have completed
tasks on time and even came in early, and stayed later to finish/proceed on my work. In addition, I have
worked to the best of my abilities in class and kept time management in mind.
Research and Ideas Generation
The first thing I plan on doing is to research different robots and characters from films in which could
possibly help me in my future sidekick. Next I hope to then research up on the second life world as this
should give me a clear understanding with what I’m dealing with. Yet again this should help me create a
robot perfect for second life. After this I hope to continue with various tasks on blogger and create the robot
using modeller and Photoshop. Hopefully from these ideas, I should get this completed on time.
Drawing Techniques
I have now the idea of an EyeBot from fallout 3/Sputnik sidekick for the world of Second life; I now plan on
drawing designs. Then I will get on sketching them up first lightly, and then make the sketch bolder by
going over it. This way if I don’t like something I have done, I could easily rub it out and try and improve.
Also if I like what I’ve done; I could just make it bolder to portray that I like it and that part is going to stay. I
plan on sketching up over 4 copies e.g. A front view ,back view and even a side view and I could then maybe
sketch up one front view of a different style sidekick to see what that looks like and if it’s better than the
others.
Adobe Photoshop
In the past we have used Photoshop in various tasks e.g. to help create our character for a game we were
developing. We were able to take a picture of ourselves in the stance of the character for the front cover.
We then put the image on Photoshop. Then we could use the wand tool to remove the background meaning
we could then create the background of our choice. Later we then gathered an image of a background from
the internet and then edited it on Photoshop and then we placed the character and the background on
illustrator for later development. Also we even used Photoshop to develop images we were given once
before e.g. As a class we were given the same images to later improve on Photoshop by either changing the
contrast, texture, colours.E.c.t.
I plan on using Photoshop for my sidekick, as I was told that I would later scan my sketches and then put
them on Photoshop and change the colour of the images (sketches). I was told to change the colour when I
was ready because when the images (sketches) are on modeller, they are hard to see in detail; and so by
changing the colour, this should make them easy to see. Hopefully my sketches will help me a lot when
modelling my sidekick on modeller.
Adobe Illustrator
Also in the past we have used Illustrator. I used this to develop my character for a game I created in a task
before this. Basically a student in my class took some pictures of me, posing as the character for the game I
created. These pictures were then placed on Photoshop and Through this I took away the background so
overall It was just me posing without a background. Then I put the picture I chose out of 4 on to illustrator
and developed it. E.g. I changed my pants and shirt style, and gave myself a gun and a rucksack. When this
was completed, I then got an image from the internet and put it on Photoshop. This image was of a New
York alleyway In which was going to be my background. On Photoshop I changed the colour of the sky on

2. the image. Furthermore I then put the image on illustrator and developed it. When it was done we blogged
everything with links as usual. I don’t think I’ll need to use illustrator for my sidekick, but if I do, hopefully I
will have an understanding on what I can do for my sidekick.
NewTek LightWave - Modeler
As a class we now have an understanding with modeller as we have participated in various tasks to
complete different things. On modeller I have put together a gun. The parts were there for us to put in
place. This gave me and understanding on how to size objects down and move about and rotate. Also I
learnt how to move an object. I have also made a camera on modeller. This was harder than the gun task as
we had to use different tools for this task. E.g. I learnt how to bevel, stretch and use multishift. Up to now I
had a good understanding of some tools. We also built a briefcase which was challenging. However yet
again I learnt new tools such as how to change colours, how to choose a new layer, how to make the lid of
the briefcase move up and down in a motion. This was very helpful. Then the last thing we did in which I just
finished 2 weeks ago, was to then create a bat with the template there for us so we had guidance. The bat
was far more complicated and took the most time for me to complete. But from this I learnt many more
tools such as how to pick points, how to create another polygon, how to multishift in a more advanced way,
how to click tab and see what it looks like in a different way. There were many more things we learnt
overall from these tasks and I think the tutorials and tutor helped me whenever I needed help.
Assignment Structure – Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you clear about the timescale available?
I am clear and will be starting next week, I know what I have to do in order to complete this in a reasonable
time.
Do you understand what elements of the unit are being assessed?
Yes I do understand. I know elements such as time and amount of work will be looked in to.
Do you understand the scenario and the reasons for carrying out the assignment?
Yes I do, The reasons for carrying this assignment out, is to hopefully get us a grade we will be happy with
and learn how to use different tools and maybe a different program.
Have you visited the Second Life community and the SL Market Place? What are your impressions?
I visited Second Life yesterday, and found out what it is about, and what things you can do on it such as
being a DJ, partying, building a house, and communicating. My impressions are good for second Life as I
think it has potential to get better, However when I visited the SL Market place, there systems were down.
However I went back later and was able to connect. The SL market place seems very active and very
reasonable. My impression for the SL market place is therefore good.
What is your goal for this assignment?
I want to be happy when I have developed my sidekick in its final stages. I want to not fall behind and rush
things as this may affect my sidekick. In addition, I want to get this done on time as I have done in other
tasks.
Constraints – What is going to cause you problems in this project (technical, time, legal and ethical issues etc.) and what will you
do to solve these problems?
At home I don’t have illustrator, Photoshop and modeller meaning my technical development can only be
done whilst I am in college. This could affect my development. However to stop this from happening, If
needed I will come in earlier/or stay later, and work hard in class as usual.