Global Agenda’s Art Vanguard Charles Vinson takes some time to talk with us about injecting “awesome” into everything and the Science of Bad-Ass

Meet: Charles Vinson, Art Director

June 22nd, 2009 |

Author: hirezchaz

Global Agenda’s Art Vanguard Charles Vinson takes some time to talk with us about injecting “awesome” into everything and the Science of Bad-Ass

Chuk, tell us a little about what you do at Hi-Rez Studios.

Depends on where I’m currently needed.

My title is Art Director, but I function more in an “art trailblazing” capacity. I focus on prototyping and initial establishment of new art assets, developing initial art pieces for new game play elements and then directing their evolution into art that fulfills the game play needs and artistic aesthetic of Global Agenda. Once the process of developing that type of art asset is a known quantity, I generally move to another area. I’ve worked on special effects, player suit designs, device/weapon designs, PvE enemy design, level concept design, marketing materials, UI shaders… currently I’m working on city development.

How did you get into the gaming industry? How did you get to Hi-Rez Studios?

I’ve worked in games since I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000. I sent my demo reel and a book of concept art to a lot of companies until I got an interview at a small [Atlanta-based] studio called Heuristic Park. I went in overdressed in my best suit and pleaded with them to hire me, which they did. Eventually, I was the lead (and for a while the only) artist on a prototype project that we eventually pitched to a publisher called Dungeon Lords. I made all the art for the 1-level demo myself, which was an awesome experience. The development of the game itself was ill-fated, but I worked on every type of game art possible on that project and learned a massive amount about making art for games. After that project completed, I heard Hi-Rez was opening up and was more than happy to come on board.

Describe your video game experience; when did you start playing/making games?

I’ve been playing and making video games since you could play and make them. In my youth I drew dream Nintendo platformer levels on taped together stretches of office paper and imagined playing through them. I coded on MUDs, I ran D&D games, I made a Playstation game in my college game development class… any way you could make games, I was there doing that. Game development has always been in my blood.

What is your favorite class/character to play in Global Agenda?

I play everthing but Recon (don’t get me started on Recons), but TheKrushalator is generally rackin’ up kills as an assault. I looove tanking and mowing people down with the Minigun while a medic keeps me alive. Rrrrrrraaaah!

What are you most excited for in Global Agenda?

I love trying new builds RPG style and fighting tactical FPS style. Global Agenda is a shooter but it’s more about strategy and placement of your character and your shots rather than twitch accuracy — a change of pace which is very satisfying! I’m also very excited about the persistent campaigns.

What experiences do you draw from when creating content for the game?

I am most influenced by my history of prototyping gameplay through art, which I have almost always been tasked with. So foremost I develop concepts and designs that fulfill the needs of the game design itself. What is this piece of art for? Once you’ve got that, you infuse it with awesome till it can’t stand it any more. Do we fight with a knife? No, its a giant, high-tech claw. It is the science of bad-ass.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to break into gaming?

Don’t just play games, make games; learn to program, learn to mod. If you’re not trying to make some kind of games now, you have not even one foot on the path…