Introduction

Four years ago...

I’ve just returned to Canada from my little “European animation adventure” where I spent a few years designing and a directing art for a couple of animated feature films in Berlin. I was in the Toronto area doing some freelance while taking care of tomatoes in my garden when I got a phone call from my friend and colleague Dejan, who was working as a concept artist for a video game company in Vancouver. There was another concept artist job opening, so I packed my 25 years of animation and illustration experience, got an interview and a full-time job. At that time I was starting to get actively involved with playing games and from the point of, dare I say, a talented visual artist, I was very curious to see what that industry was about. I decided that the best way would be as an insider.

The project was “Crash”, a licensed IP that I wouldn’t place into the “hit project” category. The Xbox360 and PS3 were just released. Something new, “next gen games” were buzzing in the air and looked challenging enough to make me turn my back to animation, at least for the time being. I was hyped to have fun as a game creator.
And, here I was, in downtown Vancouver, in a condo on the 25th floor. Beautiful view, snow covered mountains, ocean below – with a joyful perspective of learning about the new industry...