A little about me.
Todd Pickens
Artist • DesignerI'm a veteran artist and designer with years of experience on small and large scale projects. I have a bent for problem solving, and I'm comfortable in a variety of styles and mediums. I love knowing, working, and growing with genuine, talented, and skillful people.
Industry Experience:
Art Director – Poker Games Interactive
September 2016 – October 2017
Responsible for the concept, creation, and layout of all content for multiple mobile slot games built in Unity, and live dealer stadium games. Management of contract resources and all marketing material.
Art Lead – Pipeworks Studio
March 2016 – September 2016
Responsible for the concept and visual development of an Oculus Rift Unity based medical therapy game (unreleased). Management of art team, pipeline development, and content road map.
Contract and Consultation
2005 – Present
Environment and material development for an unannounced Nintendo Switch title. (Current)
Rockyou.com – Mobile Game Concept Development – Characters and game environment
Spotkin.com – Mobile/Web Game Concept Development – Characters and game environment concept and creation. Development of all game assets.
Overtstudios.com – Product Visualization – Development and rendering of small and large scale design elements and scenes.
Kizzang.com – UI redesign
Bad habit Software’s Wasteland Rally – Environment, avatars, effects, and GUI.
Frozenbyte, Inc. – Environment props for TRINE.
Mad Otter games – Environment concept and development for Villagers & Heroes
PushButton Labs – Character and prop design and development for GRUNTS :Skirmish.
Art Director – Disney Interactive
October 2010 – October 2014
Rain Castle Studio founder. Responsible for the visual style, content creation, and production pipeline for Social City (2010 Social Game of the Year). Disney City Girl (E3 best of show 2011). And supporting art team on MARVEL Avengers Alliance Tactics. Recruited, managed, and trained a team of Disney caliber artists, to include extensive collaboration with contractors on multiple projects across web and mobile platforms. Had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the best people I have ever known.
Playdom, Inc. – Lead Artist
2009 – 2010
Responsible for developing and maintaining the visual direction for Social City. Development of content, concept illustration and art guides, art direction, scheduling and management of junior artist, and review and approval of related content.
Garage Games Inc. – Lead Artist
2007 – 2008
Lead Artist on Fallen Empire: Legions
Art Direction, scheduling and management of junior artist, review and approval of related content. Level design and development, props, effects, character design, concept illustration and model texturing, HUD design and development, In-game menu design and development.
Environment Lead on Think Tanks Reloaded
Level design and development, textures , props, and effects. Direction, scheduling, and management of junior artist.
3rd Party Consulting Art Direction for multiple external game teams.
Instruction on game art theory, design, and development for external development teams. To include color theory, level by level palette development, prop creation and use of shaders.
Zono Inc. – Lead Environment Artist
1998 – 2005
Lead Environment Artist (Concept Artist, Character Modeler, & Contributing Designer)
Responsible for all aspects of environment design and development. Concept creation, asset development, task scheduling and management of junior artist, review and approval of related content. Additionally, I worked directly with the the code team to develop in-house art tools and created related tutorials for junior artist and remote contractors.
Responsible for character and environment concept art, the creation of style guides for the development team and storyboards for in-house cinematics.
Collaboration with lead designer on various shipped titles, including..
- Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction – PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Battle for Troy – PC
- History Channel’s The Alamo – PC
- Metal Fatigue – PC
- Pearl Harbor: Zero Hour – PC
- Riot Police – PC
Image Comics, Extreme Studios and Maximum Press – Colorist
1996 – 1998
As a Colorist I worked on numerous titles, to include Avengelyne, Priest, Kid Supreme, PassOver, Blind Side and others. Collaborated with artist, inkers, and writers to achieve a consistent vision under a demanding monthly schedule.
Independent Contract Artist
1994 – 1996
Contract Artist/Illustrator for comic books and product design.
Space Gamer Magazine – Art Director
1992 – 1994
As Art Director I worked closely with the editor, publisher and contributors to deliver a 98 page bi-monthly magazine. Responsible for magazine layout, paste up and illustration, management of art budget and contract artist.
Better Games – Artist
1990 – 1992
Cover art and interior illustrations for multiple games and game manuals.
Industry Credits:
Ureka – Poker Games Interactive
Aquatica – Poker Games Interactive
Dragon Tail Poker – Poker Games Interactive
Fa Poker – Poker Games Interactive
Panda Poker – Poker Games Interactive
Dragon Tail Poker (Live dealer stadium game) – Poker Games Interactive
Panda Poker (Live dealer stadium game) – Poker Games Interactive
Marvel Avengers Alliance Tactics web/social – Disney Interactive
Disney City Girl web/social – Disney Interactive
The Incredible Machine iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch – Disney Interactive
Social City – Playdom Inc.
TRINE web/social – Frozenbyte, Inc.
Villagers & Heroes – Mad Otter Games
GRUNTS: Skirmish – PushButtonLabs
Fallen Empire: Legions – Garage Games Inc.
Think Tanks Reloaded – Garage Games Inc.
Aliens Versus Predator Extinction – Fox Interactive/EA
The Alamo – Activision Value
Battle for Troy – Valusoft
Crusades: Quest for Power – Activision Value
Everest
Riot Police
Rooks Revenge – ASAP Games
Pearl Harbor Zero Hour – Simon and Schuster
Metal Fatigue – Psygnosis
Extreme Rock Climbing – Creative Carnage (Sub Contract)
Extreme Mountain Biking – Creative Carnage (Sub Contract)
Barony – Better Games
Era Ten – Better Games
Stuff O’ Legends – Better Games
Avengers of Justice – Better Games
Arabian Sea Tales – Better Games
Where Fools Fear to Tread – Better Games