Kamil Rochl

Tell us about your current role

I am currently working as a 3D artist/modeller externally at Enigmatic Machines Studio, Prague. I have a home office. My typical day is basically about checking the references I am sent, which is the stuff that will be in the game Expedition Zero. The game is on Steam and is playable right now.

When I check the references I usually go after more references, so I get a pretty clear vision of what I have to model. Then I search for the measurements, so that it will be proportionally correct. After that, I start modelling, unwrapping and finally texturing. I export models and textures and send them to my colleague because he works directly with Unreal Engine and is implementing my models. My goal is to fulfil 40 hours a week and do as many models as I can.

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

I enjoy texturing the most – for me, it is the fun part, because I can go crazy there and do lots of interesting stuff. The biggest challenges are the new things that go beyond my knowledge. The first time I encountered stuff like that it was, for example, making fishing net material, different types of cloth simulations such as carpets, pillows and mattresses, and so on. But it came out pretty good and I found my own way how to make these things quickly.

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

I had enough time to experiment and do different types of things and, most importantly, I had people around me who were able to help me or give me advice and guidance.

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

If you want to work in the games industry, it is important to stick with whatever you are doing. If you are drawing, modelling or programming, that does not matter. Just stick with it, no matter how hard it is or how hopeless you feel – even if you want to give up, stick with it. Baby steps are important. You don’t have to necessarily create a big piece of artwork from the start.

Just do small tasks first and when you feel you can do bigger tasks, do them. If you are sick of the work you are currently working on, just do something else – it is important not to overdo stuff. Then you will feel like coming back to the previous work. Make sure you are surrounded by people from the games industry, and talk to them – if not in person, at least via the internet. Make contacts and connections. Watch videos about the things you are interested in, not because I told you so, but because you like it.