Sam Santala

👤 Creature/Character Concept Artist
💼 Prev: Rare, Ubisoft, SixMoreVodka, Volta
✉️ [email protected]
🇪🇺 Carbon-based biped

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Whilst not one of the Riot/Blizz folks, I was let go from my role as a concept artist as well this week and am now looking for work. I specialize mostly in stylized or creature work, but I'm very interested in more character-based and historical projects

https://t.co/22MFAQ5dLx

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Hey folks, I have a gap in my calendar so if anyone would like a comm I'm opening them up again for a bit :)

https://t.co/TsF32OMBl1

#Dnd #commission

[elpadaalt @elpadaalt]

they did surgery on a grape

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

And I would still love to connect with people of a bunch of disciplines, especially gameplay programmers, 3D, VFX etc

People make the best games when they're passionate about what they work on. So I'd love to hear what games you love. Let's find the people we align with

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

The games industry is full of such lovely people

I've had more calls with folks the last few weeks following my post about the industry than I've ever had. Everyone is so supportive, with such passion and energy for the games we make & it's really inspiring.

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

I'm *still* reaching out to people from a couple weeks ago, hoping to make the right next steps to not just be vibes, but to actually build something like that.

So I'll try to keep you folks updated as I continue, and I would love to hear from you if you feel the same

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Folks, check this game out!

Vaunted is a turn-based tactics game made by some Gigantic alumni and others, and I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute :D it looks great!

https://t.co/0aVzWI5ZBm

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@Dramorake In the newest Blender, hold R in Sculpt mode and it will bring up the grid, you can then drag to the density you want and use 'voxel remesh' to remesh to that density

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Trying to get over my aversion to Blender and asked some 3D artists for advice, so I'm jumping in it now. I have to say, the default buttons still bother me.

But this feature where you can visually determine your polygon density using a grid is fantastic.

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Can I ask a question for the Art Directors.

What techniques or methodologies do you use to develop your artistic library and taste?

I'm developing a map of sorts but I'd love to hear other ideas.

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@Kitsooki There's a few avenues, but none are amazing really

Grants, Patreon, Kickstarter, Invstors, Publishers. Each with their own costs and benefits. Unless you have a lot of money in the bank, or want to relinquish control to others again, you have to bootstrap and keep it small

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

I had an interview about this and during it I coalesced around why this might have hit a nerve.

A lot of game devs were probably sold the dream of working in a studio, having some stability and working on what you love, but we've learned there is no such thing as stability 1/3

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Posted on LinkedIn last night, woke up to several hundred notifications, friends requests, etc. Seems I struck a nerve in the industry by saying I wanted to create my own projects and not be at the mercy of execs.

It's going to have to be smaller studios and smaller projects.

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

So now the calculation is shifting. No longer is it:

'Do I threaten my stability for creative control and freedom?'

It's now:

'I have no stability OR control. So why don't I just do what I love and reap the rewards?'

The big studios no longer offer us what we need 3/3

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

We have families, mortgages, adult lives to live, but a studio role could be gone next month. We can't save, can't plan, and as creatives we all have ideas we want to realize, but we sell our ideas for some stability

If there's no stability, there's no point being in studio. 2/3

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@mlopezaudio Love your music Mike :D Definitely jotting your work down for later. And feel free to DM me if you like

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Posted on LinkedIn last night, woke up to several hundred notifications, friends requests, etc. Seems I struck a nerve in the industry by saying I wanted to create my own projects and not be at the mercy of execs.

It's going to have to be smaller studios and smaller projects.

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@AftermathZGame I think I'll take you up on that advice :D I'll have to reach out to you later if that's okay

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@Luetin09 Yeah I grew up in the UK playing Rare games and Timesplitters 2, always wanted to work for Rare and Free Radical, it's a shame things went the way they did

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@TomBrienTweets Thanks a lot man :D It's a shame Everwild never came out, I think some of the designs we made folks would have really loved. But I appreciate your support here 💛

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

@ImLocalStranger Yeah that's pretty much what I've been thinking should be the plan, with a constant drive to at least build some kind of financial buffer over time

[Sam Santala @SamSantala]

Britain has a unique strength and I wish we utilised it more

Unlike being English, Britishness is more of a feeling, a culture, and anyone can adopt a culture.

We can take people in from around the world and have them become British citizens and it enhances and empowers us all