There are many 3d artists trying to get into game development. So many in fact it is hard to tell them apart when applying at game companies. Because of this I wanted to put together a small article more about who I am and stand out from the pack a little bit.
Who is Luke Weatherlow?
I am Luke Weatherlow (surprise!) and I am currently a Project Manager at a web studio in Erie, PA called Werkbot. I manage day to day tasks as well as oversee each individual project from the initial meeting to the final launched product. I also spend time coding Websites using HTML,CSS, PHP, and Javascript when needed. Although Web Development is a truly an amazing field and I absolutely love Werkbot it isn’t what I want to do forever.
Since I was 13 I knew exactly what I wanted to do, develop games. I started by taking classes at the Game Institute online using C++ at the ripe age of 14 and realized it was interesting but wasn’t for me, so I downloaded the Maya personal learning edition and started playing around….I was in love! From then on every day after school I would 3d model and learn how to keyframe animate until I could not stay awake. While still in high school (17 years old) I landed my first internship at a 3d animation studio in Buffalo, New York. I learned more in the few months that I interned than I ever thought I would. I left my internship with an even bigger goal of not just developing video games but leading a development team as art director or project manager.
Three days after I graduated from high school I was sitting in a college classroom going for my first degree (Associates) in Multimedia Graphic Design. I have a plethora of game development books which I are sticky noted and full of highlighting. While working on my Associates I had the opportunity to intern at Werkbot Studio which is where I know work. I learned how to make websites as well as using many different languages such as xml, php, action script, etc… I finished my Associates degree on January 4th, 2008 and started the Art Institute the following week.
I have also helped create some amazing “mods” for games such as Half-Life 2, Battlefield 2, and Unreal Tournament 2k4. I loved it! Being on a team of other people just as excited about something is a great thing and one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I am passionate about my future and I know that working in game development is the career I want to do for the rest of my life.
What am I about?
Why choose me? There isn’t necessarily one answer anyone can quite say that will get them instantly hired but what I can say is:
- Communication I know how to effectively communicate between teams of designers/developers and managers.
- Between working in a corporate setting and a Web Studio it is amazing to see the differences in how they both work OR don’t work.
- I’m not the best artist out there
- Knowing this fact allows me to always push myself to get better results as well as asking others to critique my work.
- I’m passionate about games and more important game development.
- I love to learn
- This might not seem like an important thing to some but I think having a passion to learn will help me stay focused and motivate me to excel at anything I put my mind to.
- I have some experience
- I have worked on many modifications for video game such as Half-Life 2, Battlefield 2, and Unreal Tournament 2k4.
- I also use programs such as 3ds Max, Maya and Zbrush to create my 3d models/textures.
- I know that each game engine has its quirks but the overall foundation is similar throughout. The same goes with 3d programs, they all have different ways of going about the same tasks but we still end up with the same results.
- Through working as a Project Manager I have also learned the ins and outs of the business side of things and the importance of meeting deadlines accurately and under budget.
