Learning CSS, and sifting through work for pieces to post!

Hey guys and gals!

Just another quick update, I've started to get reaquainted with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets for those who aren't dev'ing web content). Also, I'm sifting through artwork to post up here and on the redesigned site!

Back to it then!

Hey gang,

It's been a long time (Try a YEAR) since blogging... But I have a great excuse! Transitioning from the now defunct "True Crime: Hong Kong" to the in production Need For Speed "The Run".

My time on this production is starting to wind down, so I'll be getting back up to date with blogging, updating the folio site, and maybe adding a twitter account? Who knows.

So much has changed!!!

True Crime: Hong Kong Pre-Orders from GameStop

Hey everybody,

Get over to Gamestop, and Pre-order yourself a copy of True Crime: Hong Kong!
And then Pre-order one for your friends as well!!! :)

Two posts in one day!!!

Hey gang, another one of my car designs is being showcased, this time as a pre-order bonus (I didn't tart it up as a cop car, but the car design is mine)!!!

True Crime: Hong Kong Official Site

(The second news item is the pre-order bonus.)

Some work comes out from under the NDA! New NFS stuff.

Hey gang,

Well this mornings' E3 has brought about some fresh work for me to share...
Now that "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit" has been announced, I can say, that I've done some work, designing some of the black and white cars, seen in the trailer.

:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ouHWP0KrY

Busy Busy Bees.

Hey gang,

Though things have gone pretty silent on the blogging front, things are hotter than ever on the working front. There are lots of new startups in town, and some of them are in need of contractors, as well there is interest from companies overseas. Busy busy busy. And the boys (my 8 month old twins), are a real handful right now. In a good way. But busy we are, none the less.

So much new work... But all of it is NDA'ed!!! :P

Maybe I'll squeeze in some personal work one of these days!

Cheers,

-mike

New EI program utterly useless

The Canadian government has just passed a new addition to the Employment Insurance act, which was supposed to cover the contract worker... Their self employment program however, turns out that it does not offer regular EI benefits for insurable income, rather it only allows access to their "special programs" such as 15 weeks maternity, a parental leave, sick leave, etc.

There are no regular benefits available for the loss of work/income... So there is little to no reason to opt in, giving them a percentage of your income, when you can invest that percentage yourself for a rainy day.

From one contractor to all others, watch out for yourself, and provide that extra bit of care to your work. Because... You ARE working without a net.

:)

Updates.

Updates on the horizon.

There is a new version of my website coming. I have it designed, and tested offline. I just need to get my FTP access fixed up. (A little wonky at the moment).

I've updated the blog to match the design of the site. Let me know how you like the new color scheme.

Working on some exciting projects at the moment. Stay tuned for further updates!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010. The year of the independent contractor? The year of landing a full time gig? No one knows for sure, but it's going to be great. :)

Here's to you and yours! Make this one great!

-mike

Merry Christmas!

My Christmas gift to any/all of you who drop on by... My bespoke chariot for the fat man!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

It's time for celebration with family and friends. And more importantly, it's time for a bit of rest.

My contract is winding down, and I can now officially comment... I've been the vehicle designer/concept artist for United Front Games/Activision's "True Crime" franchise reboot.

Whether there will be any additional work for me in the new year... It's hard to tell. But if this year brings a close to my time working at UFG, I'll know that I was part of one hell of a great game! (And I can't wait for them to finish it, so that I can play it!)

Now for that R&R, and some additional contract work over the holidays!
May you get all that you need, and enjoy winding down 2009!

Much love to you and yours this holiday season, and a Merry Christmas (And a happy new year!)

-Mike

Website nice and tidy now.

The website has been tidied up a bit (www.hayes3d.com), and I'll be adding links to this blog, and my facebook page, shortly.

I'm looking for work again (though I'm still with UFG, but I don't know how long my contract will run). Kids are in bed... time for something artistic!

Black (Box) Friday 2.0

My heart and wishes go out to those who lost their jobs over the past week, and to those who are slated to lose their jobs on Monday.

On a slightly higher note, I've received some interest in my skills, and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Now I'm tweaking the website, and getting the portfolio section back online. (I REALLY wish I could put some of my latest stuff on there. It's SOOOOO good compared to my old stuff. But every artist hates their old work!)

Cheers gang,

-mike

Busy days ahead!

Well we are truly in the home stretch. Not much left to do for UFG, just some minor design work. It's been a blast. Once I finish there, and the game is announced, I should be able to do a massive art dump.

On a more personal note, my twins are getting huge, and the first little one has rolled over!

Cheers,

-mike

Winding down.

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and my 2 month contract with United Front Games has become a wonderful 10 month relationship.  That said, all of the content that I am to design for them looks to be winding down by Christmas.  So it is with a bit of trepidation that I am again dusting off resumes and cover letters, preparing for the unknown.

I have a large body of work from this gig, but it is currently all under an NDA, so I cannot show any of it publicly.  I can probably show off some of the design stuff that has been shown in the “ModNation Racers” videos (Did some graphic design for the cars shown in the trailers).

If you are in need of an artist, producer, designer, hit me up.  ;)
I’ve heard that there are some openings out there, outside of the games industry as well…  While I will always love games, I’d love to try my hand in advertising or actual transportation design.  (Virtual is fun and all, but after seeing my designs on the Shelby Terlingua Mustang (NFS edition), and a couple of cars used in TV commercials, I’m itching for that opportunity.

Site is live.

Hey gang,

Site is now live. Portfolio/gallery will be coming online shortly, but I just can't manage to sneak enough time at the moment.

www.hayes3d.com !!! Try it, you'll like it!

Cheers,

-mike

Updates.

Hello again gang...

My prolonged absense is aprehensible, I know... However, I am mere days away from becoming the father to my soon to be born twin boys, and am also pulling six days a week at my wonderful place of work (United Front Games).

I've redesigned my site, and am in the finishing stages of debugging it, before it goes live. There's an "under construction" preview of the layout, currently online.
http://www.hayes3d.com/

I have SOOOOO much new artwork, but it's all under NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)...
Arrrrgh!!! But don't fret! I'm working with another artist at UFG to get a bit of an internal painting challenge, up and running!

Cheers for now,

-mike

(Oh, and go and watch the "Oz and James" series of shows on wine and beer. I laughed until I cried. Go on and google it!)

Relaunch coming soon!

Hayes3d.com is finally getting a full overhaul... Because I've gotten my business name approved, and am moving to get registered, and my tax #'s etc.

I've formed a partnership/proprietership as "Mike Hayes Design".

Stay tuned for further updates.

(My current contracts are keeping me completely slammed against the wall!)

Congratulations to my other clients for getting their business up an off the ground!

Cheers,

-mike

Snaggle in the works.

Well I was excited about my new contract with an un-named company, but now I'm waiting for the HR department and legal to determine whether or not working for multiple games companies is a conflict. I wish they'd just let me do some work for them. My other employer seems to be cool with me working for other companies, as long as the titles are not in competition in the market place.

:)

Ciao.

New contract.

Hey gang,

Just thought I'd throw it out there, that I'm just inking another deal. 2 jobs at the same time and what not. :)

With that will come some additional funding, which I'll use to create my own company, and purchase some newer software.

Cheers!

(Oh, and if I can fit it into my schedule, I'd love to compete in the "Dominance War IV" which is an art competition between several different art community forums!)

-mike