Mario Vazquez (Strangefate)
04/10/02 @439 |

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Here's the interview with Strangefate, a well known game skinner who now works on the Unreal Tournament 2 project. This interview is from a while back, but not less interesting.

GFXartist(R2): Hi StrangeFate, introduce yourself.
Strangefate: Oh, well.. My real name is Mario Vazquez, I live in switzerland and work for Digital Extremes.

Samjai skin by Strangefate,
model by SkullboX

GFXartist(R2): What pulled you into your skinning career?
Strangefate: It started as a hobby, i hadn't in mind to really work in the games industry.
I always had my fun drawing, the only thing i was missing was a 3D view of the drawings. I already started to replace stuff in DOOM2 and with Q/Q2 it was a lot easier to work on characters.
So mainly, i just wanted to see my stuff in the game and stare at it.

GFXartist(R2): You work in the CG industry, but how long ago was it that you started to get into skinning and painting?
Strangefate: 'Seriously' i started on the 31.12.1997, that night i upped my very first webpage with my first 2 Q2 skins, i see that as the 'official' start.
Since then, everyone on the globe celebrates the 31.12 year by year.

GFXartist(R2): You said you currently work for Digital Extreme? How did you get the job?
Strangefate: I knew 2 guys already working there, James Edwards and Steve Sinclair. We had been working on the same projects here and there in the past 2 years.
They pointed DE's boss James S. to my homepage and he liked the stuff there.

GFXartist(R2): Hehe, cool! What are you currently working on, Dark Sector?
Strangefate: Yup, doing textures.

note: Mario is now working on DE's Unreal Tournament 2. You can find more information about UT2 here.

GFXartist(R2): You like your job in the Game industry?
Strangefate: Yep. I got a lot of freedom on my work and quality goes over quantity, that's perfect.

GFXartist(R2): What programs do you use to create graphics and such spiffy textures?
Strangefate: It's all Photoshop.

GFXartist(R2): Where you find your inspiration for your art?
Strangefate: For my private art mostly from W40k magazines and some Fantasy comics. For work rather movies like Aliens or anything else with rusty heavy SF

GFXartist(R2): Have you ever took any classes or visit an artschool?
Strangefate: Yes, i was 4 years at the artschool in Zurich, but learning 'normal' graphics, nothing with painting or drawing

Strangefates splash screen, tarot style.

GFXartist(R2): "normal graphics" ?
Strangefate: Print or decoration related, advertisement ...that RealLife[tm] stuff.

GFXartist(R2): Whats you favorite artist?
Strangefate: Owh, pffhh ...i don't really have a favorite one. One artist is great doing this and another doing that. My fav artist changes depending on what i'm looking for.

GFXartist(R2): What is the best tip you can give other artist?
Strangefate: Those with a job, without one or depressed ones?

GFXartist(R2): Puh.. without a job..
Strangefate: In the game field, the best would be if they work their ass off and put up a website with their stuff. Join mods, get to know people there. Be very critical with the own work, be selfmotivated and realistic about your talent.

GFXartist(R2): Is there anything you like to add to this interview?
Strangefate: Be well and reproduce !!

GFXartist(R2): Thank you for this interview Mario
Strangefate: My pleasure

- interview by R2|Artbeast for GFXartist