Full Sail Launch Box 2018 Game Design

launchbox-macbook

Launch Box Content Prices

Welcome to Full Sail University !!!

If virtual classes weekly sometimes more weren't enough to sell you on this amazing university well then maybe their Project Launch Box is.

What is this Project Launch Box you say?

iPad

So, upon starting with FSU you have 4 core classes. (Learn more about them HERE) Creative Presentation, Psychology of Play, Technology in the Entertainment and Media Industries (or TEM), and English (Unless like me you transferred in and transferred English) These first core 4 classes are mandatory unless like I said you transferred in English. After your first class, Creative Presentation, (more near the end of it) you will receive a package from school containing your iPad.

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5^th Generation iPad, Space Grey, 32gb and Wi-Fi only (Which was a bit of a bummer for me personally.)

All in all, not a bad little tablet. The idea at least as it was explained to me by a Full Sail Advisor was, they are sending tablets, which is something new they've recently started, to give students the opportunity to be more mobile. By this if you take the iPad with you there is no reason you can't attend classes. While in theory this is an amazing idea and would be flawless IF, we could get data for them and not need to rely on Wi-Fi alone to be online. Just a thought.

I have found that some things needed for classes aren't available on it so it's not going to replace a computer, but it might be good for discussion posts or typing a paper or two. Currently mine is used for Minecraft & Streaming episodes of Bob's Burgers because……. Yea! I rarely ever use it for school and it doesn't leave the house.

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You can find this tablet at Apple.com priced at $329.00

Moving On!!!

For most students it isn't until you are in your last week of the 4^th class (English) that the rest of your Project Launch Box is shipped. I again didn't have to take English, so I got mine in the last week of my 3^rd class. Depending on the degree program you are enrolled in will determine the contents of your Launch Box. For my degree program, computer animation, and the game art degree program the Launch Boxes are the same. What might differ is the software that it included.

*NOTE* At the time of this posting I hadn't set any of these items up so this is just first impression… Full individual reviews will come later.

Computer Animation Project Launch Box Contents:

Wacom Intuos Pro Tablet size Medium

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I was most excited about this. I can't wait to use this thing. I've always liked them and wanted one and hehe look at that now I have one. This is the medium one which is still quite large. I don't see there being any issue using this at all in my future classes. I am eager to learn how to use this to better design characters for tv and movies. Let's be honest here, and doodle amirite?

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Inside we have the pen, extra nibs, docking station and cord however, it can also connect through Bluetooth I have read so that's cool if it's true. I haven't tried it so I can't say either way. I do want to do a live twitch stream of me using it though.

You can get this tablet at Wacom.com Priced at $349.95

Canon CanoScan LiDE 120

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This is a useful addition even if not used for school. Having a scanner is always a good idea. I am guessing I will need to scan drawings and such into the computer? I don't know but, interesting none the less.

I again haven't used this so I can't tell you how well it worked etc. But I do plan on setting it up. Again this like everything in this box will be fully reviewed at a later date. Right now I am just showing what this box has in it.

You can get the Canon CanoScan LiDE 120 from Canon.com priced at $69.99

And now the piece everyone has been waiting for!!!!

Apple MacBook Pro

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I want to say I am excited for this when in reality I am not. I am not a huge fan of Apple products… (I'll wait while you all gasp and whisper among yourselves) Truth be told I kind of wish we'd had a choice but alas not the case.

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I spose I could get used to it, maybe. Anywho the specs on the MacBook they send are as follows… 15 Inch Screen, 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD Storage. It's pretty powerful for a lap top I must say. Again haven't really used it yet but will give my full thoughts on it at a later date. Until then I am gonna just play around with it see how everything works.

Get the Apple MacBook Pro from Apple.com priced at $2,799.00

Along with the launch box they sent these adapters

1 is I am guessing to allow you to plug USB items like a mouse or keyboard or ohhhhh that Wacom Tablet into the MacBook and the other looks to be Ethernet for the MacBook.

USB-C to USB Adapter Purchase from Apple.com priced at $19.00

USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter from Apple.com priced at $34.95

There is also software included…

LoJack Theft Protection $79.99 – Protects your device against theft. Recover the device, locate can see your device location on map, lock allows you to prevent use of device and delete protects privacy remotely.

ZBrush $475.00 – This is a digital sculpting and painting program used in creating characters and items to use within games, tv and movies.

Adobe Creative Cloud Enterprise Account – $419.88/yr – This is an amazing thing. Having all these apps in one place is so nice and convenient. It's going to certainly be beneficial. I recently had my own personal subscription to Adobe Creative cloud however I think this Enterprise edition offers way more.

So now that we've listed everything let's see just what this box costs.

Apple iPad – $329.00

Apple MacBook Pro – $2,799.00

Wacom Intuos Pro Tablet – $349.95

Canon CanoScan LiDE 120 – $69.99

USB-C to USB Adapter – $19.00

USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter – $34.95

LoJack Theft Protection – $79.99

ZBrush Software – $475.00

Adobe Creative Cloud – $419.88/yr ( $839.76 for the 2 years I'm in school)

And our grand total is: $4,996.64

Give or take plus shipping and tax which wasn't added in.