Trey D

Animation Producer

Bio

I started my foray into the entertainment industry when a friend and I created a national award winning college sitcom in 2002. After a brief and aggressive attempt to be a show runner, I decided to go to Carnegie Mellon University for graduate studies. I obtained my Masters in Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center in May of 2007. The Masters program was helmed by the late and great, Dr. Randy Pausch and Dr. Don Marinelli. During my graduate studies, I had the pleasure of working with Northrop Grumman Corporation and Electronic Arts during two internships. Not to mention meeting countless colleagues who are now leaders across the interactive entertainment industry. After a small stint to raise seed money for my own company, I was swayed to take a job with Walt Disney Company. After about a year at Disney, and a great experience, I could not turn down the opportunity of joining Gearbox Software's Aliens: Colonial Marines team. And here I am; from Pittsburgh, to Orlando, to Pittsburgh, to Burbank and to Dallas. Currently, I am managing the company-wide animation department and primarily working on Borderlands.

Game companies I have worked for

Electronic Arts
Walt Disney Internet Group
Northrop Grumman Corporation (Academic - Contract)

Titles I have worked on

Madden NFL 07, NFL Street 3, Disney's Casual Games, Unannounced Disney Project, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Borderlands

Advice

Resources I would recommend for those interested in getting into game development (books, tutorials, sites, etc)

Learn the popular game engines used to power your favorite games. This includes- Unreal Engine 3, Source and CryEngine.

Be a specialist not a generalist.

Join the mod communities or work on your own projects.

Keep an online portfolio of your latest work.

Pursue higher education:
1) Undergrad: Find an art or computer science program at any solid university for your foundation. Take that foundation and apply it by working on your own projects or getting a Masters Degree to specialize. I have met a lot of new hires in my time in the industry from the following universities: The Art Institute, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Ringling School of Art, SMU Guildhall, USC, Digipen, Virginia Tech and more.

2) Graduate School -- Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center
http://etc.cmu.edu

For storytelling read: Aristotle's Poetics.

For screenwriting read: Other great screenplays and combine that with Aristotle's Poetics.

For management read: Shackleton's Way

Favorites

First game I remember playing

Zaxxon on one of those gigantic floppy disks. I also remember my dad playing Links.

All-time favorite game

Diablo II - No game has stood the test of time for me like Diablo II. Though I wish I could make hardcore mode characters without having to finish the game on normal.

PC: (Other than Diablo II) The original Quake Team Fortress Mod
Xbox: Indigo Prophecy
Xbox 360: Dead Space // CoD 4 (that's a tie, two very different games)
Playstation: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Playstation 2: God of War
Wii: Wii Sports
Gamecube: Resident Evil 4
PSP: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Sega CD: Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Darkside
Genesis: Altered Beast
NES: Mega Man

Non-video gaming hobbies

Steelers FOOTBALL!!!!! writing, reading, lifting, drinking, listening to and playing music.

Favorite bands/music

I love all music, but here's what is usually in my playlist:
Fountains of Wayne, Nightwish, Alabama 3, The Eagles, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springstein, Project 86, H2O and Nemesea

Favorite TV shows

#1: Seinfeld
#2: The Office
#3: The Universe
#4: Monster Quest
#5: The Sopranos

Favorite movies

Comedy: Dumb and Dumber, Anchorman
Horror: Night of the Living Dead (entire series), 30 Days of Night
Sci Fi/Action: Predator, Alien
Mainstream Blockbuster: The Dark Knight, Transformers
Indy or Less Known: Sunshine, Doomsday
Chick Flick (if I have to): When Harry Met Sally
Drama: American History X, Rudy
Best Epic: Braveheart, Apocalypto
Best Surprise Ending: Planet of the Apes (think about it at the time... pretty surprising)
Best Surprise Ending #2: The Sixth Sense

Favorite quote

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt. - Abraham Lincoln