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Michael Wilcox
Art Direction - 3D Modeling - Generalist
Please visit my online portfolio at: www.michaelwilcox.wix.com/main
18907 64th Ave W, Lynnwood WA 98036 - (206) 595-1446

As an artist, I created 4 bit environments as a bright eyed rookie to sculpting monsters as a wiley veteran.  As a Manager and director, I've been fortunate to have collaborated with extraordinary talent on dozens of successful projects.  Everyone along this journey has offered me something valuable, helping me grow as a professional and a person and I'm driven to return the effort and inspiration.  No matter the tech or the platform, the best experiences come from incredible people.

⦁ Over 60 titles brought to market
⦁ Over 18 years of art production experience on highly collaborative teams
⦁ 15 years of team leadership and studio management experience
⦁ Developed titles for iOS, Android, XBox, Playstation, Wii, PSP, 3DS, DS, GBA, GBC
⦁ Extensive experience with the full development process, from visual development to supporting live content across disciplines
⦁ Proficient in ZBrush, Maya, Photoshop, Unity, 3dCoat and other industry tools
⦁ Comfortable working with outsourcing and external partners and publishers
⦁ Accustomed to working in an Agile environment

EXPERIENCE:

Artist/Founder, Perfect Day Games, Seattle WA     August 2019 - Present

Startup studio focused on building a great brand with broad merchandising appeal

Accomplishments:

  • Look and feel development on our current mobile and traditional gaming efforts.  

  • Creating all 3D assets and rendered marketing materials.  This includes sculpting, modeling, texturing, animation and vfx.

  • Team has developed a board game and partnered with a major publisher.  Set to release this coming year.

GAMES:

Unannounced Title - Mobile and Traditional

Project Art Director, King, Seattle WA      March 2014 - April 2019

Leading interactive entertainment company in mobile

Accomplishments:
⦁ Early visual development on studio projects, exploring theme, tone, originality and market viability.  Creation of art style guides and supporting team documentation and presentations.
⦁ Leadership of art teams in a highly creative, collaborative work environment.  Focus on setting artists up for growth and success through ownership, mentorship, project planning, healthy communication and respect. 
⦁ Heavy contribution of artwork including characters, environments, props, key art and marketing art.  My most recent contributions were creating characters with a Zbrush to Maya workflow. 

GAMES:
⦁ Paradise Bay, Tropical Island Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, Social Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, MMORPG, Mobile, contributed as Senior Artist

Special Notes:
Paradise Bay has a dedicated player base and has earned ~200m worldwide


 
Art Director, Auric Games, Redmond WA    May 2013 - March 2014
Startup studio focused on social mobile experiences

Accomplishments:
⦁ Creation of artwork for ongoing support of Dragonstorm on mobile.  Includes UI, environment, buildings, characters in 2d/3d.
⦁ Visual development and prototyping of new IP with small team.
⦁ Founded studio with partners after securing rights to two Glu Mobile titles.

GAMES:
⦁ Dragonstorm, MMO strategy resource management, Mobile, Art Director

 

Art Manager, Senior Art Lead, GLU, Kirkland WA   March 2012 - May 2013
Interactive entertainment company for mobile

Accomplishments:
⦁ Led Glu's first MMORPG strategy title.  Collaborated with art leadership to deliver 8 concurrent projects across a wide variety of genres.  Focus on teams learning unity and FTP development while delivering on aggressive deadlines.
⦁ Creation of 2d and 3d game assets, cinematics and marketing art.  Reviewed all project artwork for consistency, quality and adherence to game design.
⦁ Worked with team and studio leadership on team building, roadmap planning and personnel development.

GAMES PUBLISHED:
⦁ Dragonstorm, MMO strategy resource management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Bombshells, Action/simulation, Mobile, Art Support
⦁ Tavern Quest, Restaurant questing simulation, Mobile, Art Support

Studio Art Director, Lead Artist, Griptonite Games/Amaze, Seattle WA Feb 2002 - March 2012
Highly successful studio creating licensed games across all platforms

Accomplishments:
⦁ Shipped 61 titles, many of them across multiple platforms.
⦁ Directed studio of 40+ artists to create memorable handheld and console experiences.  Included employee growth, art direction, staffing, planning, outsourcing, product pitches and working with our many publishing partnerships. 
⦁ Developed titles for high profile licenses with Activision, Disney, Marvel, DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, THQ, EA and many more.  Strong focus on capturing the strength of each IP while tailoring the experience to handheld or console.
⦁ Created the majority of artwork to support new business.

GAMES PUBLISHED:
⦁ 61 games published plus several unpublished.  Complete list upon request
⦁ Includes the following properties for handheld: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Sims, Assassins Creed, Spiderman, Spyro, Spore, The Simpsons, LEGO, X-Men, Shrek, Magic the Gathering, NFL, Shrek, Disney, Deer Hunter and many more

EDUCATION:
AAS, Art Institute of Seattle, Seattle WA       2001

Project Art Director, King, Seattle WA      March 2014 - April 2019

Leading interactive entertainment company in mobile

Accomplishments:
⦁ Early visual development on studio projects, exploring theme, tone, originality and market viability.  Creation of art style guides and supporting team documentation and presentations.
⦁ Leadership of art teams in a highly creative, collaborative work environment.  Focus on setting artists up for growth and success through ownership, mentorship, project planning, healthy communication and respect. 
⦁ Heavy contribution of artwork including characters, environments, props, key art and marketing art.  My most recent contributions were creating characters with a Zbrush to Maya workflow. 

GAMES:
⦁ Paradise Bay, Tropical Island Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, Social Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, MMORPG, Mobile, contributed as Senior Artist

Special Notes:
Paradise Bay has a dedicated player base and has earned ~200m worldwide

 

Project Art Director, King, Seattle WA      March 2014 - April 2019

Leading interactive entertainment company in mobile

Accomplishments:
⦁ Early visual development on studio projects, exploring theme, tone, originality and market viability.  Creation of art style guides and supporting team documentation and presentations.
⦁ Leadership of art teams in a highly creative, collaborative work environment.  Focus on setting artists up for growth and success through ownership, mentorship, project planning, healthy communication and respect. 
⦁ Heavy contribution of artwork including characters, environments, props, key art and marketing art.  My most recent contributions were creating characters with a Zbrush to Maya workflow. 

GAMES:
⦁ Paradise Bay, Tropical Island Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, Social Resource Management, Mobile, Lead Artist
⦁ Unreleased Title, MMORPG, Mobile, contributed as Senior Artist

Special Notes:
Paradise Bay has a dedicated player base and has earned ~200m worldwide

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