INTERVIEW
Conducted by A.B. Jackson
What is your involvement in video game development?
I am primarily a background artist. I balance gameplay with artwork, translating game designs into vivid real world environments.
Do you play video games yourself?
Yes, in my spare time I try to keep up with the latest titles. A few of the games that have been inspirational to me are Tetris, Shemu, Ico, Resident Evil, Super Mario Bros, Soul Calibur, Sims and Prince of Persia.
In what ways has being raised in Hawaii influenced your work?
One of the greatest influences from Hawaii has been my perception and use of color, texture and light.
What artists have influenced you?
Fernando Amorsolo
Michelangelo Caravaggio
René Magritte
Remedios Varo
Paul Gauguin
Eugéne Atget
Hayao Miyazaki
Katsuhiro Ôtomo
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to stay in the video game industry, helping to bridge the gap between games and film. I'm also very interested in producing my own original titles.
Why did you decide to study Digital Media and how did you get steered into 3D background production?
Originally I was going to go into graphic design but the new Digital Media program caught my eye. I had always wanted to work in games so this winded up being the perfect stepping stone into the video game industry.
How do you feel about the role of female characters in video games?
I think female characters are a little over exaggerated in video games, but feel that we are portrayed more and more as strong heroines with characters like Lara Croft. I look forward to new female heroines in the future and strive to be a part of their creation.
Do you feel that video games should be censored for violent and sexual content?
No, I'm strongly against censorship in any form. Mature rated games are for adults and I feel this falls on the parents to be responsible for what their children are exposed to rather than having a committee dictate what is or isn't proper for us to see or hear.
What is your favorite color?
This year it's Champagne.
How would you describe your artwork?
It is self-expressive, natural, painterly and constantly evolving.
