I am the Course Director for Games Technology and the Teaching and Learning Lead in the Games and Visual Effects Department. I am an experienced 3D Vehicle Artist with multiple published game titles to my name as an artist, designer, and animator. My main area of interest is in Games Development with Unreal Engine and, as the Teaching and Learning Lead for Games and Visual Effects I have a keen interest in pedagogic practise and learning technologies for teaching the technical disciplines delivered within the Games and Visual Effects department.
I am also a games developer, with a background in Games Art working on motorcycle racing games. I have worked on titles on PS2, iOS, Android and PC having spent time working for TT Superbikes developer Jester Interactive and founding my own games company Thunder Steed back in 2015.
I started working on games at 11, working on freeware mods for Microprose’s motorcycle racing simulator GP500. Working with the talented modders associated with the GP500 Store, I lead the British Superbikes 2005 Full Mod which marked the first time that all tracks, bikes, riders, and user interface features were replaced with new, bespoke assets. The success of this mod allowed me to develop a relationship with Jester Interactive with whom I joined as a placement student during my studies on the Computer Games Design course here at Staffordshire University.
I worked as a designer and vehicle artist on Jester Interactive’s TT Superbikes Real Road Racing Championships and TT Superbikes Legends. I was responsible for gameplay design, bike models and textures, the rider model and textures as well as various UI elements and tweaks to the reflection assets improving the overall visuals of the bikes and rider from the company’s original TT Superbikes title.
After graduating, I joined Staffordshire University as a member of the Games Technology department in 2009 and have taught a variety of subjects across all levels of study including foundation year and masters degree modules. I have led Distance Learning and Part Time Games Design courses and the BA (Hons) Computer Games Animation before moving into my current role as Course Director.
Professional memberships and activities
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Unreal Authorized Instructor Partner for Epic Games
Academic qualifications
- PGC Higher and Professional Education, Staffordshire University
- BEng (Hons) Computer Games Design, Staffordshire University
Expertise
- 3D Vehicle Art
- Unreal Engine
- Games Design
- User Experience Design
- Animation
- Motion Capture
Research interests
- Games design
- 3D game art
- 3D Vehicle modelling processes
- Racing games
- Education
- Learning technologies
Teaching
GAME50356 3D Hard Surface Modelling for Games
GAME60517 3D Hard Surface Modelling for Games 2: Harder Surfaces
GAME50655 Advanced Realtime Technologies
GAME60514 Advanced Games Technical Design
GAME50170 Junior Collaborative Games Development & Testing
GAME60247 Senior Collaborative Games Development & Testing
Publications
Kelly, S., Klézl, V., Israilidis, J. et al. (2020) Digital Supply Chain Management in the Videogames Industry: A Systematic Literature Review. Comput Game J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40869-020-00118-0
Kelly, S., Klézl, V., Israilidis, J., Malone, N., & Butler, S. (2019). Supply Chain Management in the Videogames Industry : a systematic literature review evaluating the maturity of the field and establishing a new research agenda. Presented at the 28th International IPSERA Conference: Art and Science of Procurement, Milan, Italy, April 14-17, 2019. Retrieved from http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-84816
Penninck G.S., Butler N.S., Beardwood M., Nash D., Whaley T., Woods M. (2017) VROARRR, Audio Based VR Weapon Design. In: Alcañiz M., Göbel S., Ma M., Fradinho Oliveira M., Baalsrud Hauge J., Marsh T. (eds) Serious Games. JCSG 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 10622. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70111-0_3