Flight Log #3: Maintenance & Customisation

Challenging but Exciting Times

Most of you will, I’m sure, have been hit in one way or another by the current pandemic that is sweeping the globe. I am pleased to report that the Deadstick team is all safe and well! However, it has certainly presented its fair share of logistical challenges!

As a studio, we have always embraced working from home and so, in many respects, the day to day running of has remained much the same as it was. It has always been our goal however, to ramp up production on the sim and bring in more experienced hands at the right time, to add the finishing touches to Deadstick.

Finding the right talent in this new world, which doesn’t include face to face meetings, has certainly forced us to adapt. Whilst we may all work from home, we have tried to keep the team reasonably nearby as there’s nothing quite like a face to face get together to solve a particular problem, brainstorm a new idea or, in the case of a new start, just showing them the ropes. We have had to however abandon that idea and search further afield this time around, which I’m pleased to say has allowed us to find our two latest additions to the team, Conrad and Lee.

Introducing Conrad

Conrad is a self-confessed destruction expert (fitting after observing his early attempts at flying in Deadstick!) and joins us as a Senior VFX Artist, to help bridge the gap between the aircraft and its environment.

Whether it’s exhaust smoke from a cold engine firing up for the first time of the day, dirt being kicked up from a muddy off airport landing and ruining an otherwise sparkly clean aircraft, or sparks and smoke being emitted as the landing gear unceremoniously removes itself from the aircraft in a harder than anticipated landing, Conrad is the man to make it happen!

Having worked in the games industry for about 5 years, most recently at nDreams focusing on VR, Conrad specializes in destruction, Houdini and shader work, and came to the video game industry after a spell living, sailing, and working as a motion graphics artist in South East Asia.

Introducing Lee

Lee joins the ranks of 3D Environment Artist on the Deadstick team - no small feat! Working in the industry for over 5 years now, with his last role as Senior Art Generalist at Hammerhead VR, and with numerous clients under his belt, including the likes of Jaguar, Whirlpool, Sky and the BBC, Lee is tasked with all things airport and settlement related. Bridging the gap between the natural and man made elements within the game and adding the next level of detail to our airports to make them pop and shine.

Given the first person nature of Deadstick and the ability to explore all locations on foot, this is no easy task, but we’re already seeing impressive levels of detail being added to our airport buildings to really add to the immersion of the sim.

Lee can currently be found finessing dirt and grime on our airfield hangars to make them truly feel like they are part of the harsh and unforgiving environment that is our Deadstick world.

The Search Goes On

It’s great to see fresh blood and new momentum on the Deadstick team. However, the search still goes on and, over the coming weeks, we are looking to hire two additional Environment Artists and a Senior Programmer - so if you think you might have the