Darren Tucker

Tell us a bit about your current role

I’m a senior vehicle artist working on a fantastic new project at DPS Games. DPS Games is a growing company that started up just over two years ago. We are an ambitious and inclusive team, striving to achieve top quality, next generation content and solutions for our new upcoming title.

A typical day working at DPS Games for me ranges quite a bit. Working with the rest of the vehicle art and vehicle design teams, I create conceptual vehicle models and test them out in game. A big part of my role also covers the development of vehicle asset creation processes that best suit the needs of our game. We do this with a primary focus on quality, ensuring design requirements are met, and overall asset creation and production is carried out efficiently.

How do you feel your studies at Solent helped prepare you for your career?

I often think back to my time on the video games course at Solent University, as it played a vital part in where I am in my career today. I’m thankful that I was able to learn and grow as an artist among talented and motivated peers and friends. The course covered many aspects of game art creation and it was the breadth of the subject matter that allowed me to get my first job in the games industry. Having graduated in 2014 with 2D and 3D art creation, modelling and animation skill sets, as well as a core understanding of game development engines, Edge Case Games, an indie games studio saw the potential in me and my work and took me on as one of their game artists. There I had the opportunity to build in-game cinematic sequences, cinematic trailers and work on a variety of hero vehicles, environment and other art assets. I couldn’t have asked for a better studio and team to join to kickstart my career in the games industry.

What do you enjoy most about your role, and what are the biggest challenges?

The most enjoyable aspect of my role at DPS Games has to be the level of creative freedom and input we have as vehicle artists. If we think strongly of an idea that we would like to incorporate, we as a team talk it out and if it is something we can see working out well, the team will produce a working concept. This gives us the opportunity to really push what it is we make and take ownership for various aspects of our vehicles. This in turn provides many learnings, while also enforcing personal development. And although being another aspect I enjoy, this practice does come with its challenges. When creating a game it is essential that we explore and create particular designs with unique and fresh narrative driven visuals. Something that is required in order to engage the interest of any targeted player base. Incorporating this, with the functional design requirements of the vehicles, presents many challenges but challenges that myself and the team take on with confidence.

What advice would you give to students wanting to follow in your footsteps?

For anyone pursuing to join the games industry, I cannot mention this enough, work on the basics. Build up an understanding of best practices for game art creation across multiple platforms. Have patience while working this out, while at the same time enjoying the process. There are many online communities and forums to support this self development. Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow aspiring and professional game artists, as many of us are more than happy to give feedback on work and provide both industry and creative advice.