I love my job. The love the fact that I work for myself and only myself. I love the fact that my morning commute starts in my bedroom, stops in my kitchen for breakfast, and then goes down the hallway across from my bedroom to my office; my only traffic consists of a speed bump that I loving call “Jack” (Jack is my dog, not an actual speed bump). I love the fact that I get paid to create computer generated images.
However, my real passion lies in wanting to create 3D environments for video games. I was never what you would call a “gamer” – my first system was a Colecovision.
Then, a decade later, we finally got Nintendo.
Then, another two decade later, I finally got into the big leagues with an awesome Xbox 360 Live.
I love this thing – seriously, I’m on it just about every day (My gamertag is LW DiVincenzo for anyone that’s interested). Sometimes my morning commute takes me to the living room instead of my office. Anyway, the first game I started playing on the 360 was “Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2”. Wow. I mean really, wow. While most people were playing online and trying to figure out how to level up, I was running the game in private mode just so I could look around and stare at the complexity and beauty of the gaming environment. I found myself doing the same thing while playing Bioshock, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Split Second, and my favorite from an environment point of view, Grand Theft Auto, Liberty City – just amazing.
I have so many ideas in my head for a digital gaming environment; I could spend the rest of my life creating them. However, I soon realized that I do not have the background knowledge necessary to work for a gaming design company. While I have the imagination and static modeling talent necessary to create cool images and backgrounds, I do not have the slightest clue as to how to make it work in a video game. Therefore, I have not had any luck working for a gaming house. So, when a friend of mine told me that he had a friend looking for environmental designers, I jumped at the chance to show off to the best of my ability.
I have never had so much fun.
The company, Always Beyond was looking for people to help them develop a new video game concept. Due to the fact that the game is still under development, I wont give away any of game’s details. The images that I created were for concept only – a way to start kicking around some ideas, and they all have a copyright. Anyway, I was tasked with coming up with some environment ideas based on the following requests: a fort/ marketplace, a hanger, a sort of religious/ worship center, a central tower and an encampment. Here is what I came up with:
The Fort/ Marketplace:
The Pavilion (the worship area):
The Cathedral Hanger:
The Tower:
Other aspects of the gaming environment, such as the encampment, are currently under development, and I will be posting them as I complete them. Check back for updates!
