Role: Junior Technical Artist
Start Date: 26th March 2021
Company: Lab42
Location: Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
TLDR: My first week til the end at Lab42. This is a great fresh start to my Tech Art career, now within the games industry. Having my name in a published game; Crusader Kings 3 Console Adaptation and working a few more unreleased titles.
I've been writing this blog for nearly two years now...
Here is my experience starting at Lab42...
Day 1:
I got to meet some of the team, it was mostly just filled with HR and setting up and installing software that was required to do my work. I missed some of the software needed as I was not assigned to a project just yet, I think they just wanted to ease me into the project & joining Lab42. Which I will say is great and I appreciate it, however I was anxious and didn't really know where I fit in and it fueled my Impostor Syndrome; which later down the line got much better and I feel more comfortable of where I am.
I didn't let them know and this was an error on my part as I didn't want to ruin my first impression. As I later found out, that Lab really do care about their team.
Day 2:
Started the day with a little bit of waiting, so I spent the morning learning from the resources that were provided by Lab42. It was at this I was having issues; it was related to how most things are accessed. However, these issues were fixed by just messaging my co-workers, they are very quick to respond . Just after mid-day I was messaged by my Line Manager; this was the first time since the interview talking to him, as he was assigned to a different project, and it is understandably hindering him to talk to me. I was then assigned a project; a game called Crusader Kings 3 - a console port version for PS5 and XBOX One! Man was I in for a ride!
Day 3:
This was more of setting things up, but now related to the project. I was told by the project manager to get used to what I'll be working on by looking at code base and looking at documentation. I was just trying out the code within CK3, thankfully most of my work was working in GUI related code, a paradox script language and I won't really be touching anything related to the backend( I did add some minor C++ code here and there later on). I've been assigned to fix various bugs. Mainly making sure the GUI was setup correctly and some UI optimization for the consoles, and texture optimizations. I will be also implementing cool new features into the game, and once the game gets released, I can show and point on to the things I've worked on! You have no idea how happy this makes me feel, just thinking about it!
Day 4:
This day was more getting used to the code base, but while getting used to the code base, I was assigned a task. At first this task seemed impossible, and I was having just a mental block, but I stopped myself and just went for it. When I got stuck, I asked my amazing co-worker and now I can say my friend Cristian. Who has been one of the greatest help, getting me used to the code base and helping me find my way around stuff within CK3.
Day 5:
Most people took a day off, as it was Bank holiday Monday coming up and they wanted a four day weekend, and who can blame them haha!
I spent this day working on a few more tasks as I finished my last one and just getting used to the code base.
Day 6 & 7:
Not much to add to these two days as it was mostly just working on the task that were given to me.
A Year in Review:
I've now spent 1 Year at Lab42 and proud to say I've passed my probation on the 26th of August 2021 and now officially part of Lab42, I'd like to first thank family, best friends, now my friend and colleague Cristian for on boarding me onto the project and also to the area. The transition from London to Warwick/Leamington has had his ups and downs but I've enjoyed Warwick.
I also to thank the amazing Art Team; which gives me a great honour to be a part of. The Art Team are the first people I talk to in the morning, they help me find out about what is happening on the art side on the projects that happening within Lab42 and what they are personally working on; it is also just nice to sit and listen to these guys. The amount of experience and just pure hard-working talent that is within the team is outstanding and to be part of that of the Art Team is an amazing feeling.
The Lab42 Crusader Kings team are also filled with pure talent, a lot of experienced programmers here! Whenever I come across issues with the project, they are very quick and thoughtful to help me find a solution. Also like to thank the amazing Kirsty Kirby for getting me setup with a desk and chair and making the HR side of Lab a pleasant experience!
And last but not least the amazing Lab42 Team, there are so many people to mention but let me tell you this. There have been companies that say they are a "family" without meaning it, but this company does say that it shows it. What's happening within Lab42 isn't hidden from us, overtime isn't "expected of me" but instead Lab42 calls has thing called "No Crunch Studio" which means after work has finished, I can actually have my own person life. My work-life balance has greatly improved to the point where I don't actually know what to do with this new amazing free time that I have haha!
It was not until very recently we all met up in person! It was a great to interact with people in-person once more in flesh! And can't wait for future meet ups - this time not on a Thursday haha!
A Year and a few months review:
It's now 28th September 2022 and I started writing this blog post now a month into starting at Lab42. The game I've be on has now officially released and I can finally talk about it! Its been a great experience working on this project, I remember when I used to ask constantly for about the project and how to do some things worked but now towards the end, people came to me to ask about how to do things, what a great feeling that was. I've created documentation for future people to help on boarding onto the project smoother and easier, documentation that's easy for artist to read and understand!
I'm in the credits, I'm blown away and astounded every time I look at it. Our game has been doing so good, a lot of great responses and feedback. I'm glad and honoured to have worked on this game.
After that I've moved onto two other projects, which I cannot go into anymore detail other than that, I've really enjoy one of them. One of them I've created a bunch of Editor Tools for them to help speed up the process of creating content. Tools such as Texture Atlas-er, Item Thumbnail Creator and Texture Animation Baker. And the more recent project I've been helping optimize models and now I've moved onto a third where I am optimizing the game and profiling it so it meets the requirements, which I can hopefully announce by next year!
Present day & The Future:
Although I have left Lab42 in December and joined Atomhawk Advance as a Technical Artist R&D and Tools Specialist, Atomhawk is part of the Sumo Group family, which means I'll still get to interact with everyone over at Lab42!
The things that really make me feel proud to have worked at Lab42 is the work ethic and work-life balance, the goals and motto of this company. The shear amount of talent and drive to create amazing games, the effort they go to connect with the people that work for them at a personal level. The fact that I learnt so much just by listening to the Art Team in the morning is one of my favourite parts of my day. I love massively how we aren't just a number and how our input has impact. I love how there is no crunch time.
I want to help and create things for my art team that makes their lives easier, such as tools and amazing content. Artist should be creating content and anything that I can do to facilitate that, I feel like it is my duty as Tech Artist to do that.
P.S I wrote "Jaime is shit" on the whiteboard -
Thank you everyone that added to the board :)
I want to focus on Tools & Procedural Work. I also have really enjoyed doing documentation in the past year. I want to progress to the point where I will be able to showcase my work that I create at gaming conference events like GDC. I'm worked on further games too while at Lab42, I can't wait to share them with you once they are fully released.
If you'd like to join me at Sumo, look for vacancies here: https://www.sumo-digital.com/careers
Crusader Kings 3 Console Edition: Released, 29th March 2022.
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