|
| The Two Degrees of Will Rosas |
|
 Welcome Will. Could you please start off by telling the group just what is is that you do at Activision?
Well, I'd like to start off by saying what an honor it is to be interviewed by the mighty Loomer! I've read so many of your wonderful interviews on the Dark Reign site, and I was wondering when you'd get around to inverviewing the Battlezone team! Officially I am the 2d artist for Battlezone. As the 2d artist, I was responsible for creating textures for vehicles and for the terrain. I also did work on the shell artwork and the end game scenario images.
A 2d artist… hmmm…. What exactly does a 2d artist do? |
|
| A 2d artist basically paints textures that go on the 3d models. What happens is that the Art Director comes up with a sketch for a new unit. Then the director gives the image to a 3D artist who creates a model based on the sketch. Then the 3D artist brings the model down to the 2D artist. It's the 2D artist that really brings the model alive. We paint the various sides of the model, like the top, front… etc with details like the bulldog on the Blackdog, the lights, colors, ensignias… We basically bring the model its personality and help it look more realistic in the game. |
|
| Before working at Activision what other projects did you work on? |
|
| Before Activision I was actually working with Disney Interactive on a real-time game based on Aladdin. I've been working with Activision since the beginning of August. |
|
| Ed note! Whoop! Real-time Aladdin! I'm holding out for the Quake2 TC of The Little Mermaid though…. |
|
| What sort of training did you have for a career in the computer graphics industry? |
|
| Well, I went to two different art schools. The first was the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The second was the Pratt Institute. After graduating from college I moved from New York to California. |
|
| What sorts of art do you like or admire? |
|
| I come from the world of illustration. For instance paperback illustration, books and other print materials. It is a great field and gives an artist an excellent chance to show off their creativity. I really enjoy Boris Valejo and other science fiction illustration. Like Fran Frazetta, Brahm, and Rick Berry… |
|
| Did you have any ideas about how you wanted the units to look in Battlezone? |
|
| Well, some influence came from science fiction. However, I have a strong military background, so I knew what a lot of the equipment that the military uses looked like. So I wanted things to look realistic and I used a lot of the 'military' experience to help bring that quality to the units that you see in the game. |
|
| You know, I really dig Japanese Anime… Do you like any like 3x3 Eyes or Vampire Princess Miyu? |
|
| Well, just recently I have started getting into Japanese Anime. I really like Ninja Scroll, Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Oh, and 3x3 Eyes is really cool as well! |
|
| What unit textures did you work on for Battlezone? Also, which are you most proud of? |
|
| I did all the Americans units, buildings and half of the Soviets. I also worked on some of the terrain texures for the various planets. |
|
| I really like the units that look the most realistic in the game. For instance the Heavy Razors and the Blackdog. I really like the way the Defensive Turret came out. And also the Light Tank.
|
|
| You said you also did the end scenario shots. How long did those take? |
|
| The end scenario GIF's were definitely my favorite things to work on. Each of them took me about a day and a half to do. |
|
| I was given a little more creative freedom on creating these, and I'm really happy with the way they turned out. They're a nice reward for a mission well done!
|
|
| Is it frustrating when artwork isn't used in the final product? I mean, if I created something really awesome artistic wise (first off It would be a miracle cause I can only do stick figures) I would be pretty upset if It wasn't used. |
|
| Actually for this project, almost all of the shots made into the final game! I can think of only one GIF shot that didn't get used. But I think those crazy web guys have put it up on the Battlezone site so… other than that all the artwork that I did for the game made it in! |
|
| Well, that about wraps it up. Any parting comments? |
|
| I would just like to say that working on Battlezone has been an excellent experience. We have some very talented people on our team and each of them has brought something unique and varied to the table. You can definitely tell in the final product that there was a lot of hard work involved on everyone's part. I'm just really glad that I had the opportunity to contribute something to this truly awesome game! |
|
| Back To The Team Interviews |
