Name: Lara Alcroft
Course: BA (Hons) Computer Arts
Year: 3rd Year
What made you choose to join the Games Development Society?
I have a deep passion for learning the pipeline of behind the scenes of media like games and movies. It’s very exciting being in a team of like-minded passionists who piece together what started as silly concepts turning from doodles into interactive, immersive stories. Joining AGDS not only strives on that, but I enjoy being a part of a community where we can show and express our interests and stories through games that we are proud of. I want to help showcase that as brand manager!
What initially sparked your interest in game development, and what are some of the most rewarding aspects of creating your own video games?
I grew up watching things like Animation Sins and documentaries of big companies like Disney, and how they make their films and games. Realising the amount of problem-solving, effort and reasoning required to make a strong story was beyond fascinating to me. Especially the 3D pipeline of animation, something about seeing the magic of an object brought to life, and seeing the illusions outwith what we’re supposed to see gives me a spark of excitement. My first interest in pursuing game design was because of reading The Art of Epic Mickey – a game that freaked me out at 5 years old became a big inspiration for me after learning how much design and Disney history were used to create a unique story. I want to create these captivating worlds that, for me, offer an escape from reality when life is stressful: In hopes that everyone can also find these inspiring and a way to take a break, as I do.
Can you share a particular games development project that you’re proud of?
My DES207 group project, “Incompetent Aliens” is so far my proudest work! I had the opportunity to develop a four-player, couch co-op game. You play as a B-team of not-so-bright aliens that your boss has sent down to Earth to collect a museum artefact to study humans with, however they accidentally bring enemy artefacts to life when beamed down! I got to focus on designing the concepts of the enemies and animating Cleocatra for the Egyptian-themed level – She's very sassy! – as well as some UI elements. It’s a goofy game that I very much recommend checking it out on Itch!
What are some of your favourite genres or video game, and what makes it so enjoyable for you?
My top three game genres of all time are adventure, strategy and monster-collecting games! I adore exploring worlds like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where its story makes me eager to know what is around every corner of the map. As for strategy, turn-based games and team building with statistics, analysing and planning really gets my brain gears grinding! It’s the same reason I love monster-collecting games! My guilty pleasure for sure is my childhood franchise Yo-kai Watch! A goofy, paranormal-themed game based on Japanese mythology ticks all boxes for me, there’s always an itch at the back of my head to collect them all!
If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future, and why?
The past! I wanna be in the times when not every gaming platform, streaming service, software – you name it – on the planet doesn’t require a costly subscription, as well as paying for the extortionate console and game. I don’t want expensive hobbies anymore!
If you could have any animal as a pet, regardless of practicality or legality, what would you choose and why?
As a cat lover and worshipper, my dream is a Norwegian forest cat for their massive floof and size, but I’ve always wanted a brown cat purely just so I can name him Kit – Because he’d be a KitKat! An honourable mention however, if cat’s were never a species, I’d love to be able to have a pied wagtail as a pet. Would love a boogie partner around the house!
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would you choose and how would you use it?
Invisibility! I could go anywhere I want, without anyone staring or stopping me. I wouldn’t have to wait in lines for places, I could do urban exploration, and I’d absolutely pull the Nileseyy Niles Disappears meme on any awkward situation! It’s not a crime if there’s no criminal seen stealing the floating chocolate bar from the store though, right?
