Champions Online: Cryptic Introduces Michael Cavallaro
By Shawn on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 2:55 PM PST In Computer, Game Companies, Game Platforms, Games, Games Industry
Cryptic has put a new Meet the Team profiling Champions Online’s lead VFX artist Michael Cavallaro. He claims he has the most awesome job in the world working with Christopher Chamberlain on the look and style of the FX for the game.
Cavallero has 14 years of experience and has been with Cryptic for a year and a half. Before that he worked on compositing, animating and FX for film VFX. He’s currently working on visualizations for player powers. Cavallaro really enjoys his job and involves his team members in his enthusiasm.
Sometimes I’ll set one of the animators on fire to see what flames should look like when someone is running around … on fire! It kills two birds with one stone because then that same animator can use the video to make the “guy running around on fire” animation.
The best part of these Meet the Team articles is the advice on breaking into the games industry given from each of these experienced members of the Cryptic team. Cavallaro has a recommendation for all would be professional artists:
Experience every art medium possible. If you want to be a modeler, don’t be afraid to learn how to animate or do FX. Like GI Joe says, “knowing is half the battle.” I’ve never seen a successful artist that doesn’t appreciate other forms of art. Many of the artists here paint, sculpt and freehand draw to keep their skills up. I just started taking a figure drawing class to improve my drawing skills, which will inevitably make me a better FX artist.
