d3t welcomes Gerben Pasjes, Associate Art Director
6th Oct 2023
Tell us a bit of information about your experience/career background?
Before getting into the industry I was always tinkering around with map editors and mod tools, as well as drawing. My professional journey in games started over 8 years ago, and since then I have also worked for theme parks and virtual productions. I’m a Concept Artist at heart but throughout my career I’ve done everything from lighting to VFX to modelling. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have worked with many talented artists on many diverse projects.
Why d3t?
Besides the super good vibes I got during the interview process, I was drawn to the opportunity to work with an experienced team on some of the world’s biggest games. In an industry where co-development is becoming more crucial than ever, it’s very exciting to be working at one of the best places to do it in.
What do you love about games?
What I love most about games is the process of their creation. Many different disciplines coming together at a single point, with so many fun and colourful personalities. Being at the fulcrum of that creative energy is one of the best things in life. As a player I really enjoy being immersed in the environment of the virtual world. The grass swaying in the wind, the clouds racing across the sky, the music in the background. It’s in the little things that I can see the hand of a developer, spending just a bit more effort.
What games are you currently playing, and what is your favourite game?
I’m currently playing through some older games on my PS4 like The Order: 1886, Mad Max, and Shadow of Mordor. I really enjoyed The Last of Us Remastered, it’s just great to revisit a modern classic again after seeing the show. Artistically, not many games can beat Destiny 1. I have a real soft spot for that game’s art direction. I could never choose a single favourite, but some of my best gaming memories are with friends playing World of Warcraft, Command and Conquer, and Battlefield. I can’t pull all-nighters like I used to but with those games I frequently saw the sun come up. I also really enjoy the older Need for Speed games as it was my childhood dream was to become a drift racer in Japan.
Do you have any fun facts or hobbies?
When I was a teenager I would mod everything I could get my hands on. Replacing tanks with teapots in Command and Conquer, building stunt parks for my San Andreas multiplayer server, or designing custom weapons for the World of Warcraft server I ran for my classmates on my parents’ computer. I didn’t know it at the time but this would set me on the path to becoming a game developer.
I’m also a big sucker for video game soundtracks: in 2020 I was in the top 0.1% Spotify listeners for Gareth Coker with 5250 minutes of listening time!