Tuan Tran

My Professional Experience

As a Senior Environment Artist,

In the game industry, I worked on many AAA games ranging from fps shooters, mmos, to racing games. I’ve worked on various stages of game development from starting up art demos to closing off levels. From the very successful to complete failures. Each presents challenges and vastly different experiences. I feel I’ve been fortunate enough to admire all of those past experiences. I think as I mature more into this profession, I’ve been understanding how more and more how important it is the relationship and opportunities that you get working with other creative people. A shared goal that challenges our skills and expands our perspective.

My Education

I originally wasn’t looking to get in the game industry. I graduated at The University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in Drawing. I didn't want to be a fine artist though. I was a bit confused in what I wanted to do exactly. I found something when I took Glass Blowing. It required working in a team near other teams surrounded by all sorts of danger. I loved the challenge, I loved being in a group. I wanted to continue that.

After graduating, I than decided to go to Guildhall. Part of my choice was joy I could get in making games, but it was also the possible joy of working with others. Even in my profession, I continue to strive for this experience as our jobs to continue advanced expertise and take more of our time to achieve better projects.

My Time

Much of my time as a kid was spent with my cousins. Than a good portion of it was spent with games. I played very casually until multiplayer and enveloping story-telling were coming together. I’ve played on many of the consoles that were released. My favorite console has been the Nintendo64 for the many multiplayer hours.

My favorite games are action/adventure (Ico, Portal) platformers (Crash Bandicoot Series), and first/third-person shooters (007 GoldenEye, Syphon Filter 1&2, Team Fortress 2). But I do dabble in other genres because of my interests in having experiences (Dirt series, stealth games, and Fallout series, half life 2.) With the advent of video game streaming, I’ve watched and enjoyed many other games: Papers Please, The Devotion, Inside, Baba is You and The Untitled Goose Game.

The other portion of my life has been art. I made action figures and costumes as a kid out of cardboard, paper, and tape because what you could buy didn’t provide me with enough mobility and flexibility. Part of what influenced me was finding that I can open up my toys and tinker with the parts. Another is the obsession with Mcdonald’s happy meal boxes that inspired me to do my own creations. I still have my action figures that I created and made weapons and armor for. I also drew throughout my whole life. I love trying out new mediums but I always return to drawing (traditional and digital). Sculpting, watercolor, and pastel would be other mediums I would like to continue with. Portraits is something I still return to.

Please Email me about seeing work from my current job