Cathy Johnson

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee™

Current project:
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee™. I'm responsible for all images used for marketing and PR purposes, from retouching hi resolution characters for packaging, supplying magazine cover art, capturing gamescreens, and working with our publisher on creative content outside of the game.

Academic Info

College: Art Center College of Design
Degree: BA in Illustration

Were there any particular projects or areas of study that you pursued?
Editorial and book illustration, fine arts.

Did you do any internships?
No.

Career Info

Tell us about your first job in the industry. How did you get the job? What was it like? What were your responsibilities?
My first job in the game industry was as a 2D Digital Artist for Oddworld Inhabitants six years ago. Prior to working at Oddworld, I was a freelance illustrator in NYC. I worked with ad agencies testing commercials known as animatics.

Although I had limited computer skills, I was hired for my ability to work hard and make deadlines. I was not a game player but the creative process for games is similar to other fields in the entertainment industry. At Oddworld we create our own games from conceptual drawings and story to finished product. It's a very exciting process and one that interested me.

I work mainly in Photoshop creating texture maps for characters and environments. Oddworld was a start up company and I was excited to be part of something from the very beginning. We all wore many hats, from helping out making copies to making coffee.

What jobs have you held in the games industry thus far? Briefly describe the career path you took to get where you are today.
I started out as a Digital Artist. On our second game, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus I was promoted to Lead Digital Artist. My department consisted of five digital artists who were responsible for all the environments in the game.

I also was involved in marketing and PR images for Oddworld. For example, when our publisher or a magazine requested an image, we would provide a hi resolution image for print. Since game art is NTSC resolution, hi resolution art requires a lot of attention to detail and is very time consuming to produce. I'm a painter and love creating images in Photoshop.

I'm currently Manager of Creative Services for Oddworld. I work with our Marketing Manager to provide Oddworld content worldwide. We make sure that our images are used appropriately and meet our quality bar. Advertising, PR, magazine covers, web, packaging and TV commercials are some of the applications. I also maintain the Oddworld website. It's a great job and Oddworld is a terrific company to work for.

Advice

What fields of study, specific courses, or life experiences would you recommend to students interested in your field?
Learn the basics. Communication is the key to success. Being able to work and get along with people is important. Take writing courses. Being able to communicate your ideas verbally is just as important as visual communication. Read. The more you read, the bigger your imagination will be. An art background is not always a must. If you are not sure about what field to go into, take liberal arts courses in college. Industries change, the basics never do.

Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you got into the games industry? Is there anything you would have done differently?
Games are a delicate balance of art and science. You need programmers to make great games but you need designers and artists too. The need for talented people who understand both sides will grow. It's important to play games of all kinds.

As games increase in complexity, what are the various kinds of jobs that you foresee development companies needing in the next five years?
The video game industry is growing. There's more involved than the actual "games". Game properties will expand to include toys, books, TV and film. Jobs include writers, graphic artists, web designers, sculptors, illustrators along with computer graphics and game designers.

Do you have any other advice or recommendations to share with students who are interested in doing what you do?
Getting into the game industry is not difficult once you make up your mind that you want to be in it. There is always a need for talented, passionate and hardworking artists. Research the company you want to work for. Who is their publisher, how big is their production staff, what's their history, etc. You'll be working long hours so make sure it's somewhere you want to be.

Be willing to start at the bottom to get in. Being a production assistant or even a receptionist just to get your foot in the door. I never thought I'd end up working at a video game company but ultimately I'm doing exactly what always wanted.