Present and Future of Game Studios - 80 Level Podcast

Ian Smith, CG Supervisor at SideFX walks us through Project Pegasus (learning tech demo showcasing Houdini workflows with Unreal Engine 5). Explore non-destructive, procedural content generation in gamedev and how different tools can be used to create detailed open-world environments. Ian talks about software strengths and emphasizes how indie developers can leverage Houdini for fast and dynamic world-building that doesn't require lots of manpower.

Check out Project Pegasus and improve your Houdini skills: https://www.sidefx.com/pegasus/ 

Read the article on 80.lv: https://80.lv/articles/ian-smith-on-becoming-an-artist-houdini-s-new-project-pegasus/ 

Ian’s socials:
https://www.artstation.com/iansmithartist
https://www.youtube.com/@iansmithartist/videos
https://twitter.com/iansmithartist 

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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent 
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Designated digital chef Patrick Foley (PATRICK_4D) takes us to his kitchen. He shares interesting facts about a unique niche in digital art - photorealistic food renders, and delves into the importance of lighting, texture, and why choosing a specialty can supercharge your career. Patrick also discusses how he builds his brand with social media and its impact on attracting big clients. You better not watch it hungry cause this guy cooks! 

More from Patrick:
https://www.instagram.com/patrick_4d/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@patrick_4d?lang=en
https://www.patrick4d.com/ 

Get industry-ready 3D assets designed by Patrick 4D:
https://p4d.store/

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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent 
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Trent Claus, VFX supervisor from Lola Visual Effects joined our podcast. Learn about the complex process of creating realistic aging effects for characters in major films: from the challenges of preserving actors' unique features to the intricacies of the facial anatomy. Trent shares fascinating insights into the evolution of VFX and how AI is shaping its future, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from top-tier movie projects, including Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Check out Lola Visual Effects projects: https://lolavfx.com/ 

The episode was recorded at VIEW Conference 2023: https://www.viewconference.it/ 

Episode cover image copyright: © 2019 Marvel

Other images used in the episode:
 © The Walt Disney Company
 © Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
 © Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Scott Eaton, multi-disciplinary artist & creative technologist, joins 80 Level Podcast. We discuss machine learning, its impact on human creativity, and the limitations & potentials of AI-generated content in gamedev. Scott shares his thoughts on future changes and possibilities for artists in the gaming world and tries to find a balance between art and technology.

The episode was recorded at the VIEW Conference 2023: https://www.viewconference.it/ 

Scott’s website:https://www.scott-eaton.com/
Scott’s Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/_ScottEaton_ 
Check out Scott's online courses (Winter session starts in January): https://www.scott-eaton.com/courses 

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Join 80 Level Podcast for a deep dive into game design with Jamie Smith, Principal Game Designer at People Can Fly. We discuss the core principles that make open world games stand out. Jamie shares how to design captivating gameplay mechanics, maintain player engagement, and balance form and function. If you're a game developer or simply fascinated by the world of video games, this episode uncovers the creative and technical aspects that drive the industry forward.

More about Jamie: https://linktr.ee/smithstock 

Some examples in the video used by Jamie
Yakuza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKiFfCE949s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k71rZSh0ipM 

Fallout: New Vegas Map
http://www.gamemapscout.com/falloutnewvegas_interactive.html
The player starts at Goodsprings (to the left of the map), meaning they can only go up, right, or down

Elden Ring
https://mapgenie.io/elden-ring/maps/the-lands-between 

Super Mario
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLl7lbbpjig 

Destiny 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLpD4KH6kwI 

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for digital artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

William Faucher, 3D Generalist & Unreal Engine Mentor joined 80 Level Podcast. We discuss all-things Unreal Engine and the best ways to master it. William talks about his career journey & YouTube experience, and gives valuable advice for aspiring 3D artists on honing skills, choosing the right software, and understanding the evolving gamedev landscape.

Watch William’s tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/c/williamfaucher 

Check out the EasyFog tool for UE: https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/easyfog 

William’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamfaucher.vfx/  

William’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillFaucherVFX  

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent 
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Nick Seavert, Founder & CEO of JangaFX Software joined 80 Level Podcast. Explore the art and science of visual effects in game development and learn how Nick turned his love for games into building software aimed at empowering game artists and making VFX easier. Stay tuned for an inside look at JangaFX's future plans, where they're venturing into real-time terrain and environment generation, promising to revolutionize game development.

Janga VFX website: https://jangafx.com/

Janga VFX tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jangafx/videos  

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Join us for another episode of 80 Level Podcast. Anna Kozlova, CEO at Room 8 Group, shares her expertise on why outsourcing can be a game-changer, how to retain top talent, and the potential impact of AI on game development. Find out how studios handle workloads and strike a balance between creativity and efficiency.

Room 8 website: https://room8studio.com/ 

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent 
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Dive into the world of 3D modeling and video game development as we chat with Josh Gambrell from Blender Bros. Discover how he went from a beginner to an expert in Blender and how you can too. Learn how AI is shaking things up in the industry and how to embrace these changes for success.

Check out Josh’s tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshGambrell/featured
More online courses by Blender Bros: https://www.blenderbros.com/
Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/blenderbros
Instagram: http://instagram.com/blenderbros3d 

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023

Join us for an exciting peek behind the scenes of Japan's gamedev world with Ben Roach, ex-Level Designer at FromSoftware and now Founder of Upsurge Studios. Ben talks about his experience working on the Elden Ring. We also delve into the magic of Japanese game design, discuss the role of cultural influences, and reveal the secrets that make Japanese game development unique.

Official Upsurge Website: https://www.upsurgestudios.com/ 
Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/upsurge_studios 
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StudiosUpsurge 

Revisit Ben’s Dark Souls tutorial on 80 Level: https://80.lv/articles/dark-souls-3-in-ue4-production-interview/ 

Follow 80 LEVEL on social media:
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We are looking for more artists!
Join 80 LEVEL Talent for free: https://80lv.pro/join-80lvTalent
Get your work noticed by some of the biggest and best developers, publishers, and studios in video games today.

This video is sponsored by Xsolla, a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry: http://xsolla.pro/8023