Bratislav Cvijetic (BaTo) is a Lead Project Scientist at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center of Old Dominion University. He received his BFA in Illustration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and his MFA in Animation from Savannah College of Art & Design. (SCAD). BaTo proceeded to work as a Research Associate for the Creative Gaming & Simulation (CGS) lab at Norfolk State University (NSU), where his research interests revolved around creating graphics and animations for educational games and simulations.
During his tenure at NSU, he worked on the VNurse Project, a $4.2 million project funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) at CGS. VNurse was a 3D training simulation that provided a unique opportunity for nursing schools and medical establishments to increase the training and efficiency of the nursing students and professionals. BaTo also taught Advanced Graphic Design courses for the Art Division at Norfolk State University, as well as teaching workshops that contributed to both the Engineering and Art Departments at NSU. He developed and published multiple educational games for different platforms: mobile, desktop, and ar/vr using different Game Engines, among them Unity 3D and Unreal.
When at VMASC, BaTo developed graphics/animations with researchers at the Institute for the Bio-Cultural Study of Religion (IBCSR) and at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) collaborated to make a 3D virtual reality (VR) simulation of an ancient Neolithic town. But it was more than a simulation. It was a game, which could be used to learn things about the real people who built that civilization – 7000 years ago. Consecutively, BaTo developed graphics/animations for a ZAP (Zika Awareness and Prevention). ZAP was an interactive game, which was designed to educate and strengthen families’ ability to stop Zika. Having a full understanding and the importance of Storyboarding, Visual Aesthetic, 3D Modeling, 2D/3D Animation, AR/VR, Photogrammetry, 3D Scanning Web Development, Game Development, Graphic Design, Game Design, Photograph, and Art/Graphics in general, he can realize any project of any scope. Video for a Non-Lethal Weapons Project, Video for an ODU M & S Project, Video for a SoSOA Project, GRID Project, Sph3-ro and the desk HUB, The Barry Art Museum, M&S 3D, Robert’s Ridge Video, NATO VR Environment, Future Living Project, Steam on Spectrum, Night on Spectrum, Obstacle Course Game are just some of the completed projects, that BaTo has delivered in a timely manner. Passionate about art and the visual impact in simulation, his research agenda lies with the impact of the importance of symbolism and visual narrative in these virtual environments. In his free time, BaTo works on his comic book that contains a substantial amount of symbolism and iconography. He also holds weekly Stress-Free Art session on his YouTube channel.
BaTo’s vast experience in graphics, both in traditional and digital realm makes him a great addition to the team. He has been creating art for more than two decades and after graduating from SCAD in MFA in Animation, he had offers to join Lukas Arts Animation, EA Games, RockStar Studios, ILM, Sony Imageworks… and many more. Instead, he chose the path to create content for educational games and simulations for training. Working for CGS-NSU, where he tackled impossible deadlines and delivery dates for the DoD project, VNurse. Having a full understanding of capability that graphic software and game engines offer, the project was pushed to the limit to reach the AAA fidelity. Working with different tools and different game engines is no challenge since his adaptive work ethic allows him to be in that environment and surpass any conflicts or hiccups. The same work ethic and methodology he applied at VMASC when he joined in 2016.
ZIKA AWARENESS AND PREVENTION (ZAP) GAME
ZAP (Zika Awareness and Prevention) was an interactive game, which was designed to educate and strengthen families’ ability to stop Zika.
CATALHOYUK-COLLABORATION WITH BIO-CULTURAL STUDY OF RELIGION (IBCSR)
Catalhoyuk-collaboration with researchers at the Institute for the Bio-Cultural Study of Religion (IBCSR) and at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) collaborated to make a 3D virtual reality (VR) simulation of an ancient Neolithic town. But it was more than a simulation. It was a game, which could be used to learn things about the real people who built that civilization – 7000 years ago.
BARRY ART MUSEUM VIDEO
The Barry Art Museum – the video as created and rendered in Unity to promote the grand opening of the ODU’s Barry Art Museum.
NON-LETHAL WEAPONS (NLW) PROGRAM
Short-animated video rendered in Unity for the Non-Lethal Weapons Program which a customer was developing & teaching for all the War Colleges.
STEAM—NIGHT ON SPECTRUM
An event at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center that takes place every October. The event promotes children and their parents interacting and having fun with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM).
Krzysztof J. Rechowicz, Saikou Y. Diallo, Hector M. Garcia, John B. Shull, Bratislav Cvijetic “Making digital sense[s]: fundamentals”, SpringSim ’18: 2018 Spring Simulation Multiconference Baltimore Maryland April 2018.
