Steve Firchow

Reign of Vampires, Final Fantasy: War For Eos

• Pitched Reign Of Vampires and art-directed all aspects of the project from conception through to launch and live service.
• Created briefs for 70+ characters and 40+ buildings and guided them from concept through to modeling, animation and vfx. Created briefs for all 2D art based on needs from the design group.
• Reviewed art from sketch through to final image and applied the finishing and editing for characters, buildings and illustrations.
• Worked with five international outsource art studios to satisfy the visual needs of a complex 4X game in 6 months.
• Wrote comprehensive style guidelines for both Reign of Vampires and Final Fantasy: War for Eos covering 4000+ game assets.
• Wrote detailed guidelines for a creator-friendly generative-art workflow.
• Developed studio-wide policies for the use of AI image generators.
• Built AI models based on MZ game assets for characters, buildings, illustrations, ui and 2d assets.
• Reviewed all art, (Concept, 2D assets, Models, Environments, Animation, VFX, UI).
• Interfaced directly with stakeholders.
• Hired artists. Reviewed candidate portfolios and created custom tests. Interviewed candidates and made final hiring decisions.
• Managed 5 direct reports. Approved timecards, PTO requests, resolved time-clock issues.
• Maintained 1:1s with artists and created goals for career development and advancement.

World War Rising, Mobile Strike, Final Fantasy:A New Empire, Game Of War

• Created concept art for characters and environments.
• Created 2d game assets: Illustration Banners for Events, Troops, Avatars, Gear Sets, Props, Icons and UI elements.
• Worked with international outsource vendors creating briefs for concept and 2d art.
• Reviewed submissions from vendors, provided art/process feedback, approved art and integrated submissions into live games.

Shadow of War, Shadow of Mordor, War In The North, Guardians of Middle-Earth,

• Created concepts, key art and marketing art.
• Supported character concept artists.
• Created storyboards for Cinematic Department.
• Supported environment artists with background mattes.
• Created loadscreen illustrations.
• Created matte paintings for Cinematic Department.

Hidden Expedition: Uncharted Islands, Hidden Expedition: Devils Triangle.

• Directed the work of six artists in the creation of background paintings, puzzles, character and HUD/Shell art.
• Produced storyboards, concepts and final production art.
• Worked with design and engineering to build smooth workflow pipelines.
• Created standards for asset creation and implementation, naming conventions and art processes.
• Controlled game scope to fit within the project's technical and skill-level constraints.
• Worked with Flash and Maya animators to create animations optimized for framerate specifications.
• Worked with animators and AfterEffects artists to create cinematics and transition cutscenes.