I have over 10 years experience as a video game artist and designer in the top companies of :
MAXIS, Electronic Arts and Namco.
Shipped Titles:
SimCity 3000, Nascar Rumble, Pacman World 2.
First Playable Titles:
SimMARS, SimCASTLE, Ridge Racer America , LooseCannon (KillSwitch).
Being fascinated by design from an early age, I pursued a career in Industrial Design by completing my Bachelor's of Science degree at San Jose State University in 1989. This multicultural, hi-tech experience of working in the heart of Silicon Valley , exposed me to the entrepreneurial spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area. I was able to solidify my foundational design skills of sketching, visualization, rendering, model making, and most importantly 3-D Studio MAX in 1995.
Ten years ago, as an Art Director for AutoDesk's Multimedia Division (renamed Kinetix, later purchased by Discreet), I met the
3-D Studio MAX development team, who in turn introduced me to the engineers at MAXIS, of SimCity fame. With 7 years of product design, corporate collateral and illustration experience, 3-D Studio MAX was the right tool, at the right time for introducing me to the fascinating world of video game development.
Two years later in 1998, SimCity3000 was shipped. With over 800 buildings to my credit, I was promoted to team lead. I would also be fortunate enough to create art for SimCASTLE and SimMARS first playable projects. (These would both be cancelled in favor of the blockbuster SIMS.)
Fortune continued as Electronic Arts purchased MAXIS in 1997. At this time I interviewed with the Future Cop team and was hired for Nascar Rumble , an arcade console game for PSX1. This would be shipped on time and on budget one year later -- I tip my hat to the Future Cop team, the best and most professional team I have ever worked with!
With two shipped titles to my credit and 4+ years in the industry, I jumped at the chance to be with NAMCO, the grandfather of video gaming. Originally hired for my car design and conceptual skills to work on Ridge Racer America , this project was cancelled in favor of shipping PacMan World 2 . What a score! Just to have Pacman on my resume was worth the opportunity and experience! My final project with Namco was first playable for LooseCannon ( KillSwitch ) in which I designed and built the Vietnam era "B-52 bone yard" using a crashed Boeing Superfortress bomber as a centerpiece for game play.
I am currently freelancing as an independent video game artist and game designer.
For more information and quotes, contact:
Ward Moore
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