New level loading Tanya Combrinck speaks with four industry veterans about the rewards and challenges of pursuing an art career in the world of video games
Working in games can be a thrilling career, but it’s also something that requires tough compromises. On the one hand, being part of a world-class team that creates beautiful universes for AAA games might sound like a dream job. On the other, the industry is notorious for its crunch culture, and there’s plenty of controversy around poor treatment of women and minorities at big companies.
So what’s it really like? And is it right for you? To help you decide, we asked four artists about what it does for your journey as an artist, the culture, the working life, and what traits and skills make someone suited to the job. And, if you do decide it’s for you, we’ve got advice on breaking into the industry.
LIVING THE DREAM
A lead 3D artist and principal artist at Blizzard Entertainment, Fanny Vergne works on World of Warcraft. She tells us that “being an artist in the game industry is a dream come true”, and that she gets immense satisfaction creating something so loved by its audience.
“One of my real cherished moments is standing among the crowd at the BlizzCon opening ceremonies, and witnessing the joy and excitement when new content is announced,” she says. “It’s easy to forget the widereaching impact of your work when immersed in day-to-day project tasks, but witnessing it in real life reinforces the meaningfulness of your efforts.”
On top of this, Fanny believes that exposure to the exceptional talent she’s encountered has helped her to flourish as an artist, and made for a “truly incredible” experience.
A career in games has brought great fulfilment, but Fanny notes that getting there is a long road that takes a lot of dedication. You’ll need to hold yourself to a very high standard when developing your skills. “I see many students that evaluate their skills by comparing themselves to classmates rather than considering the global talent pool,” says Fanny.
Big companies are willing to hire from anywhere, so you’re competing with junior artists f
