Dom catches up with Principal Production Ninja Lara Derham to learn about her impressive career in games, and find out what it has been like directing performance capture on our stage in Cambridge. 00:23 Intro 01:34 Lara's start working in games 07:55 What does a Producer do? 12:35 What advice would Lara give herself? 14:50 The key to Lara's success 16:39 Lara's hopes for Saga 18:01 Robocop? 20:00 What are you watching/playing? Wish list Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. Xbox: https://bit.ly/3N4Pm8Q Steam: https://bit.ly/3P5hKdu

In this episode of Behind the Theory we're joined by Paul Fletcher, Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at Cambridge University, and key collaborator on the Hellblade games. Paul talks to Dom about his experience in psychiatry and working with Ninja Theory. Mental health support: http://hellbladehelp.info/ Paul's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2RLLtOgL4

In this episode we talk to Ninja Environment Art Director Dan Attwell, one of the original members of the Hellblade team. Dan talks us through his start in the industry, how it has changed over the years, and why visiting Iceland was so important in the development of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. 0:22 Intro 0:48 The original Hellblade team. 3:54 Dan's start in games. 10:54 How has Environment Art changed over the years? 16:56 Why ground truth reference is so important. 21:00 Visiting Iceland. 30:17 The Famous Bird Poop Cannon. 35:22 The game Dan has always wanted to make. 39:57 Dan's advice on getting a start in Environment Art.

Why do we care so much about achieving realism? And how do we tell a story through a character? Dom is joined by Character Art Director Dan Crossland to find out. 0:24 Intro 0:57 How Dan got into the industry 12:31 What makes characters interesting? 18:18 Why do we care about achieving realism? 21:48 What's exciting about the future of character tech 23:17 Let's talk about deformation 34:55 How to tell a story through a character 50:55 Advice for an aspiring character artist

Dom sits down with Audio Director David García to chat about his start in music, creating the sound of Hellblade, and taking apart his mum's computer. 0:41 Intro 3:35 Creating the sound of Hellblade 22:32 David's musical beginnings 32:22 Transitioning to games 40:17 Advice on getting into games