Hi, I'm Neil Gallagher, the creator of Moving Dungeons.
I've always loved playing board games and I greatly enjoy the challenge of making content in 3D so I thought I would combine those passions and make Moving Dungeons. Whether it’s an ancient dungeon, detailed landscape, crumbling building, rigging, animation or particle simulation, I find the endless journey of 3D graphics a pleasure to involved with.
As a kid I used to spend many evenings dreaming of how one day the maps we use could be viewed like a game of Dejarik aboard the Millennium Falcon. While that day is not quite here yet at least I'm loving getting the maps to move and come alive, whether its flowing lava or a stream in a forest, trees and foliage blowing in a gale or gently moving to a light breeze the endless opportunities really excite me.
Here are some photos of me painting Dungeons and Dragon models from the 1980's, eat your heart out Stranger Things, I'm the real deal or should I say I'm that old. We often used to play huge weekend sessions right into late Sunday evening before cramming in all my home work for Monday, those were the best days as it sparked my interest into the world of storytelling, magic, world-building, simulated mili combat, having fun with friends and escapism.
Professional Career
My professional career was based in the game and film industries at Rare and Kuju before going into VFX at The Hive/Primefocus which became Double Negative where I worked on TV commercials, music videos and films.
In 2005 my wife and I put everything into storage, sold our house and went traveling around the world for year. We spent time in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, America, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand and Cambodia. We loved the way it exposed us to the different cultures, ancient traditions and seeing the similarities and our differences to our own culture. It's was a scarry thing to do but well worth doing in life, especially before you have kids.
In 2007 I became a lecturer on the award winning University of Hertfordshire Animation programme with a focus on the BA and MA Games Art courses. During this time various qualifications have been undertaken including a Masters by Research, PgCert, ESB, CPAD, as well as achieving the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
My Masters by Research was focused on exploration of the public understanding of physio-pharmacological phenomena through visualisation using 3D web browser technology which I hope to one day return to with a PhD. I focused on explaining the condition of asthma to suffers and used the positive feedback in my research for my Masters by Research.
Recent freelance projects include working for Rewind VR (Magnopus) on a Virtual Reality project for Red Bull flying experience, Researching into a game to help people with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia and a Toyota Lexus visualisation project. A commission by Ballantine’s Whisky to produce a one of the kind 3D sculpture. And various collaboration projects including working with multi award winning choreographer Darren Johnston on Zero Point and a Hatsune Miku project which headlined in London to a sell-out audience.
Epic Games recently invited me out to GDC in San Francisco to give a presentation at the Unreal Educational summit. I also enjoy talking at events like the Round Table Unreal Educator Livestream, I often attend the Unreal meet up in London and sometimes show case an artifact, I've even been on Kerrang radio, to talk about how to make games, rock on!
And finally its my students that have made the course I started into a multi award winning programme, I have listed those awards on my ArtStation should you like to know more but nothing makes me happier then to see those graduates move up the carrier ladder at various studios around the world - www.artstation.com/gallagher
My Love for Games
I have never been able to sit still and I have always loved playing games, whether it's board games, LARP, digital gaming, it's the main reason I've had a professional career in the enterinment industry and then went on to become a Games Lecturer.
After a days lecturering I run a games club and it’s a chance to test various board games. I also have a laptop games club for those wanting a more digital experience. By playing lots of different games it’s a great chance to learn the rules, law and ideas behind there creation. I have brought in guest speakers in the past to talk about how board games are created. It was a huge inspiration not only for my students but it really gives me a deeper understanding of there creation process.
While I've joined many Patreon's but I've never actually ran one. This is a totally new experience for me and I look forward to growing this platform and all that it becomes. I particularly look forward to engaging with my Patreon's and adjusting to what they would like to see in virtual tabletop creations.
An ESports club I run
A board game club I run
