Dragons,
and Dryads and Elves – oh my!
We're
taking a step in a slightly different direction. Anyone who plays
video games knows that there is an incredible story behind each one.
Even if the history isn't active in the game, it's there. World
building for a fantasy game can be especially challenging.
This
week, we will chat with Rick Simmons, programmer and trouble shooter
for Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted. He is joined by Kelsie
Belanger, an artist and animator for the game.
I'm
looking forward to getting to know these two talented people a lot
better. I know we're going to have a great time, regardless of where
the conversation takes us.
Meet
Artist Kelsie Belanger
How
are you involved with Istaria?
I'm
an artist, specializing in 3D animation and user interface (so
icons), as well as some minor work in texturing and modeling. I also
own and manage the Discord and have managed various events in the
past.
Favorite
pastime
I
love to draw, but mostly I like playing video games with my friends.
Favorite
book series or author
My
favorite book series is the Age of Fire series, by E. E. Knight,
though really only the first three books.
Family,
furry friends or other life stuff
I
have an elder sister and a young niece, and a whole boatload of
cousins. I've a cat and a lizard as pets, though I really want a
snake in the future, too.
Major
things happening in life right now
I'm
working my way through college to get a bachelor's degree in Biology,
however I do hope to get into the gaming industry as a 3D animator in
the future.
Meet
Programmer Rick Simmons
How
are you involved with Istaria?
I'm
a programmer and do client and server side programmer. In general, I
try to keep some distance from the design side of Istaria. It's my
experience that programmers make games that programmers like, while
Istaria is intended for a wider crowd.
Favorite
pastime
I
like cooking and reading. For fiction, I usually read hard scifi and
non-fiction is currently the psychology and biology of consciousness.
Favorite book series or author
While
a bit older of a series, I still think the Hyperion Cantos by Dan
Simmons is a fantastic. I think a Canticle for Leibowitz deserves to
be read more widely. For non-fiction, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An
Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter is a favorite.
Family,
furry friends or other life stuff
Wife
and two kids, but kids are mostly grown up now.
Major
things happening in life right now
Getting
on the crazy train... I think we're on the cusp of significant
changes to our lifestyle, based on climate change, and trying to
figure out a better place to live that is more insulated from those
effects. Maybe not so crazy.
No comments:
Post a Comment