Devoted SpeakEasy #14: How to Create Weapons for AAAs with Ryan Lastimosa

The profession of Weapon Artist with Ryan Lastimosa:  Devoted SpeakEasy E14

The gaming industry is one of the most exciting and competitive fields to work in. Designing and developing games that capture the attention of millions of players around the world takes a team of creative and dedicated individuals. To succeed in this ever-evolving industry, you must have an edge, and who better to give us some insight into this than Ryan Lastimosa?

Ryan Lastimosa is an exceptional figure in the gaming industry, whose expertise and creativity have led to the creation of some of the most iconic weapons in the world of gaming. With an illustrious career spanning several years, Ryan has collaborated with industry giants such as Respawn Entertainment and Infinity Ward to produce outstanding games. For instance, he played a pivotal role in the development of Titanfall 2, where he provided team leadership and contributed to 3D modeling and concept art. He also streamlined the 3D art pipeline for weapons, characters, and vehicles, resulting in the game's impressive visuals. Furthermore, Ryan directed a team of lead artists specializing in Hard Surface and Character Art for Apex Legends and provided hard surface artwork for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Throughout his 17-year tenure in the gaming industry, Ryan has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of weapon design to create the best models possible. His attention to detail and wealth of experience has earned him a reputation as a true inspiration to fellow gaming enthusiasts.

If you're a gaming enthusiast looking to build a successful career in the industry, you won't want to miss this exclusive interview with Ryan Lastimosa. In this discussion, Ryan shares invaluable advice on what it takes to build a dream career in the gaming industry. From building weapon art teams in shooter games to creating functional and visually appealing weapon designs, Ryan offers insights on how to master the skills necessary to succeed as a weapon artist. He also discusses the importance of tactile referencing and his experience creating a new archetype of a weapon for Titanfall. Additionally, Ryan shares tips on how to get hired to his team and potential ways of collaboration between films and video games. Tune in to learn how to become a better artist or game developer and create your own success story in the gaming industry!

Watch the episode at the link:

Timecodes for your quick navigation:

0:00 — Intro

0:34 — Meet Ryan Lastimosa — guest’s introduction

1:07 — Building Weapon Art Teams in shooter games

5:38 — Functional design vs Cool-looking design: what works best for weapons creation

9:04 — How to become a weapon artist and how to master the skills

11:23 — What tactile referencing is

13:47 — Creating a new archetype of a weapon for Titanfall

15:45 — How to get hired to Ryan’s team

19:38 — Potential ways of collaboration between films and video games

25:55 — Ways to become a better artist or game developer