The Generalists with Jack Gutmann

In this episode, I’m joined by Grayson Cotrell, technical artist and destruction specialist, to break down how real-time destruction actually works in modern games.

Grayson shares how he builds AAA-quality destruction systems, how to make game effects feel alive, and why blueprinting might be the most important skill for technical artists today.

If you’re a game dev, technical artist, VFX artist, or someone curious about real-time procedural systems this one is packed with insight.

We dive deep into:

• Houdini to Unreal Engine workflows

• Importing simulations (FBX, VDB, VAT)

In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Candell, creator of BunderKin talk about what it really takes to build an original IP across TV and Games.

We dig into Stephen’s creative process, the realities of turning a personal vision into a scalable project, and the hard decisions that come with building something outside the traditional studio system. This conversation is for game developers, game artists, and anyone curious about how worlds are built from the ground up.

If you’re interested in game development, #gameart , #indiegames , worldbuilding, or creative ownership, this one’s for yo...

What happens when a AAA character artist realizes their creativity no longer belongs to them? #gamedev

In this episode, I sit down with Jonah Lobe @JonahLobeDraws artist #gameart, writer, former Bethesda creature designer (Skyrim, Fallout), and creator of the record-breaking graphic novel QUIET: Level One. We dive deep into:

We dive deep into: Going from a specialist at a AAA studio to a generalist building your own worlds. Why creative ownership matters more than corporate credit. How AI is reshaping the game industry & why generalists will thrive. The philosophy behind iconic, simple character design. Balancing...

How does a life-altering sports injury lead to a 10-year career in game development? In this episode, I talk with senior game developer Justin Scott (Justinbieshaar) about his incredible journey from a hospital bed to working on titles like Monopoly for console.

We dive deep into the mindset and philosophy needed to build a lasting career in tech:

• The "Private Server" Start: How modding RuneScape with Notepad sparked everything.

• Fundamentals Over Flash: Why Justin argues learning C++ and "reinventing the wheel" is better than relying solely on Unity/Unreal as a beginner.

•...

Harry shares his unique journey from self-taught 3D modeling and programming to mastering shader coding (HLSL) and creating stunning visual effects.

Learn practical advice on overcoming shader intimidation, boosting your coding skills, and the mindset needed to thrive in the technical art field.

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Key Resources Mentioned:

- The Book of Shaders (shader fundamentals & interactive tutorials...

Struggling with scope creep, unclear feedback, or workload management? Learn how to collaborate effectively with a game producer. Veteran freelance lead producer Eline Muijres breaks down the producer’s true role; as a blocker-remover and advocate for your team. We cover practical strategies for artists and developers to build a smoother, more productive partnership with production.

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Guest Info:

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How do you go from playing League of Legends to creating the proton beam for Ghostbusters VR? In this episode, I sit down with Jack, a VFX artist at nDreams, to trace his journey from a university switch to a cross-country move for his dream job in the game industry.

We dive deep into the unique challenges and creative solutions of making visual effects for virtual reality, where every particle and shader has to perform perfectly. Jack breaks down his work on games like Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord and Wrecking Raccoon, sharing the secrets behind...

Links:

- Steam Deadly Delivery: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743090/Deadly_Delivery/

- Meta Deadly Delivery: https://www.meta.com/experiences/deadly-delivery/8778947438836641/

- Melle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-bartl-7a170/

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Description:

Hey everyone, Jack here. I'm sitting down with Melanie (Melle) Bartl, the co-founder...

Subscribe for more deep-dives into the careers, skills, and unseen forces that shape the games we love.

Constantine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantine-t-3931261aa/

What does a Project Manager in the game industry actually do? If you think it's just scheduling and emails, this conversation with Constantine from Wargaming will change your perspective.

We pull back the curtain on one of game dev's most vital yet misunderstood roles. Constantine breaks down how his job is really about unblocking talented people and holding the chaos at bay, managing communication, scope, and...

In this episode, we’re hanging out with Sylvia, a Game VFX Artist who’s working on No Straight Roads 2 and has been in the game scene for over 6 years!

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Links and Resources Mentioned:

Sylvia's Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/sylviaysy

Sylvia's Linkedin: / sylviaysy

No Straight Roads 2 trailer: • NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 - Announcement Traile...

Hey everyone, Jack here. I sat down with the incredibly talented technical artist Finley Southwick for a deep dive that went everywhere from the nitty-gritty of building game vistas and using Houdini, to why math is secretly the coolest tool in game development, and how unconventional education paths can shape a creative career. We also get real about breaking into the industry, the magic of solo dev, and why preserving old games matters. If you're curious about the blend of art, tech, and problem-solving that makes games tick, you’ll love this chat.

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In this episode, we’re hanging out with Sylvia, a Game VFX Artist who’s working on No Straight Roads 2 and has been in the game scene for over 6 years!

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Sylvia's Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/sylviaysy

Sylvia's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviaysy/

No Straight Roads 2 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb4JAGF8Rz8

I dont think I can find anything I said its impactful enough for shorts but I did the timestamp stuffs 🤣

Timestamp

00:00:00 - How Sylvia...

Hey everyone, Jack here. I sat down with the unstoppable Joseph Azzam a Tech Artist who's worked at Epic Games and Romero Games, and is now the driving force behind the Arabic Games Conference.

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Links and Resources Mentioned:

- Arabic Games Conference: https://arabic.games/

- Joseph's Portfolio: https://worldvoid.notion.site

Timestamps:<...

Hey everyone, Jack here. In this episode of The Generalists, I'm joined by Steven Cheung, a Senior VFX Artist with years of experience on AAA titles.We talk about why your mindset is your most powerful tool. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the reality of a career in game VFX beyond the flashy reels.

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Johanna Pirker, computer science professor and researcher, joins The Generalists Podcast to discuss her work in games, VR education, and AI ethics. We explore her early days with DOS and Prince of Persia, the evolution of computer science education, and her groundbreaking VR projects.

She also breaks down the real dangers and potentials of AI beyond the hypecovering bias, transparency, and how artists and devs can navigate this new landscape. If you're into game dev, VR, AI, or just the future of tech this one’s for you.

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Tim (schippj), Lead Artist. He shares his journey from freelance 2D artist to multi-disciplinary game dev pro. We dive into practical advice for artists looking to expand into engine work (Unity), how to communicate across teams, portfolio tips, and balancing creativity with mental health. Whether you're a concept artist, VFX designer, or just trying to stay relevant in a fast-moving industry, this one’s for you.

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A new episode of The Generalists your honest and unedited game-art podcast. Important Links:

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This was fun! I hope you enjoy it! If you did, leave a like and subscribe.

What's up, Generalists! Jack here, I bring you another one! This time, I sat down with the incredible Valerie Belan a Lead VFX artist who's working in mobile gaming for years!

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Links and Resources Mentioned:

Valerie Belan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-belan-309915245/

Valerie Belan's ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/lerorero

Timestamps:<...

Yo! Just dropped a fire chat with Nadine Gutiérrez Barcelona-born VFX Artist & Game Dev. breaks down her path into game dev, balancing technical art with creative vision. Learn why diversity fuels better games, how to leverage multiple skills without burnout, and practical tips for juniors. We also geek out on resources like Freya Holmer’s shader tutorials, GDC talks, and game jam strategies.

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Yo! Just dropped a raw convo with Mandy Karlowski a Houdini FX artist who’s been melting CPUs and GPUs since 2011. We go deep on why Maya almost killed her passion, how Houdini saved her soul, and why perfectionism is the silent dream-killer. Plus: real talk on AI panic, freelance red flags, and why VFX is still a damn art-form. If you’ve ever felt stuck between passion and paychecks, hit play.

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Yo! Just dropped one of the realest convos I've ever recorded. Freya Holmér (the Swedish powerhouse behind Shader Forge, Shapes, and Budget Cuts VR) gets brutally honest about her way into game dev, burnout, and why she's building Half Edge to flip off Autodesk. We also go DEEP on ADHD, why sleep isn't negotiable, and how capitalism feeds on crunch culture.

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I sat down with Julian Bragagna a technical artist at Cloud Imperium Games (yep, Star Citizen). Julian spills the beans, shares war stories from projects like Skylark, and drops truth bombs about ego, communication, and why conferences are career rocket fuel. Trust me, you wanna hear this.

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Project Skylark Credits:

Simon Verstraete - Project Lead, Bottle Tool...

Hey friends, this one turned out amazing! I sat down with the amazing Maïa Desfour, Lead Environment Artist.

We talk about the real side of game art learning the craft, finding your own style, dealing with burnout, and surviving this industry as a kind and creative human. This one’s packed with wisdom, laughs, and real talk. You’ll feel it. :D

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I sat down with Diana and Ben to talk all things real-time VFX, from getting started with different backgrounds, Ben with a civil engineer, and Diana with a more traditional art approach. I really hope you enjoy this one too!

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Links

- Diana

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dianasimonyan.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https...

Hey fellow Generalists! I am super excited to share this one. I brought back Nicholas Silveria for a second round, and honestly, this chat turned into a masterpiece! I hope you all will enjoy it!

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Links:

- Nicholas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholassilveira/

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro & catching up

1:20 The...

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, I sit down with Viacheslav Makhynko, Senior Technical Artist and creator of courses on Tech-Art. If you’re curious about the real work of a technical artist and how to start your own path, this episode is for you.

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Links & Resources:

- Road to Tech Art Course: https://www.reddit.co...

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, I sit down with Regina Reisinger, 3D Artist, Art Director, and Co-Founder of Microbird Games.

Regina shares her path from studying graphic design to leading the indie hit Dungeons of Hinterberg. We cover:

- Building an indie studio during the pandemic

- Lessons learned about scope, burnout, and growing a team

- Why indie development is both thrilling and unstable

- The pros and cons of hiring juniors

- The future of freelance, small teams, and the indie scene

Today I’m joined by Joppe, a VFX and technical artist. He shares how ADHD shaped his journey into VFX and why blending art and programming is the future of game development.

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Links:

- Joppe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joppemin/

- Mad VFX: https://www.mad-vfx.com/

- Mad VFX 20% OF...

Welcome to The Generalists Podcast! Today I’m joined by Zoë Klein, Lead Technical & VFX Artist. Co‑founder of SpookiCG, who shares her journey through VR, technical art, and creating healthier workplaces in gaming.

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Zoë on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeklein-spookicg/

SpookiCG Studio: https://spookicg.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & VR beginnings

03:1...

Today I’m joined by Aleksandra Rutkowska, Senior Technical Artist at Twin Harbor. Alexandra bridges art, code, and performance, specializing in shaders, VFX, and UI.

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Links:

- Ben Cloward’s Shader Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BenCloward @BenCloward

- Real-Time Rendering (Book): https://www.realtimerendering.com/

- Applied Mathematics for 3D Graphics: https://www...

What if lighting could tell stories, guide players, and even reflect your deepest experiences?

In this episode, we talk with Maria Yue a Principal Lighting Artist, BAFTA member, and creative force behind the lighting in games like Far Cry 4, Gears 5, and many more.

Maria’s journey started in photography and stage design, far from the world of games. But when she saw "lighting artist" in the credits of Mirror's Edge, everything clicked. Since then, she’s been shaping emotional, immersive environments in AAA games across China, the UK, the US, and Germany.

SU...

Today’s guest is Coralline Charrier, a real-time VFX artist who transitioned from 3D animation to VFX in games. We cover the REAL journey of breaking into VFX as someone mid-career, the mental load, teaching yourself efficiently, and learning how to learn.

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Links & Resources mentioned

- Coralline on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/coralline_charrier

...

In this episode of The Generalists, I sit down with Michał Potakowski (aka Manus) a senior real-time VFX artist who's worked on The Witcher: Monster Slayer, Immortal: Gates of Pyre, and more. He is part of FX Chamber and also works with Mad VFX.

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Links:

Michał on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micha%C5%82-potakowski-49bb35166/

In this episode, I sit down with Razvan Ciobanu, aka Rez, founder of @voxyde , a leading platform teaching stylized VFX using Houdini and Nuke.

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Links:

- VOXYDE: https://voxyde.teachable.com/a/aff_fj9p6mg4/external?affcode=2090249_b6u56ogs

🚨Use VX20JACK for 20% off!🚨

- Razvan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in...

In this episode, I sit down with Mustafa Al-Aobaidi, VFX Artist founder of Mad VFX @mad-vfx the learning platform focused on realistic VFX for games. Mustafa shares his full journey: from Iraq to Syria and then to the US, all the way to real-time VFX, and building a platform to teach production-ready VFX to the next generation of artists.

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...

Quynh shares her journey from coding to VFX artistry, working on titles like Hamster Hustle.

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Links:

- VFX Apprentice: https://www.vfxapprentice.com/a/39323/54Tqp7Ae

- Quynh Ton on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/quynhton

- Quynh Ton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quynh-n-ton/

- Hamster Hustle on...

In this episode, I sit down with Robin Wouters, also known as VFX-Labs, a freelance real-time VFX artist with over 13 years of industry experience, including time at Guerrilla Games (Killzone, Horizon). We go deep into his journey: From starting in concept art and illustration to finding his true creative calling in real-time VFX.

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Links:

- Robin on...

What happens when a 3D generalist discovers the magic of VFX and decides to go freelance?

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Marijn Tollenaar, a freelance visual effects artist known for his work on games like Fablecraft, From Space, and Devil Jam. Starting as a Generalist Artist, Marijn transitioned into VFX, seeking creative freedom and new challenges.

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In this episode, I talk with Crisley a Brazilian real-time VFX artist whose story starts far from the tech hubs, deep in the north of Brazil, where internet was a luxury and game development felt out of reach. What followed was a self-made path: from studying design and learning Unity alone, to landing VFX jobs, moving across cities, facing instability, and finding her place in a growing, global VFX community.

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I sat down with Anna Mauro, a Brazilian real-time VFX artist who made a fearless jump from publishing into the world of real-time VFX at the age of 30, with no formal art background. Just drive, curiosity, and a love for building stories through movement and light.

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Links:

- Anna Mauro's Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/anacjmauro/albums/8506780<...