Enter Africa Lagos Interviews: Moses Balami, VFX Artist and Photographer
The photographer, VFX Artist and final-year student of architecture tells Adefoyeke Ajao about his interests in environmental storytelling and how Nigeria’s gaming industry can benefit from other artistic fields.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am Moses Balami, I am a photographer and visual effects artist (generalist). I am a final-year architecture student at the Federal University of Technology Akure.
How did you become interested in gaming?
I really got interested in gaming from my junior secondary school years, I even tried creating some miniature games on Cartoon Network’s platform. Although I never published any of the games.
You’re studying to become an architect, what’s the intersection between gaming technology and architecture? Do you think that relationship is being explored locally?
I am studying to become an architect, it is the art of science after all and so is gaming. For me, I got into the world of 3D and visual effects because a lot of the software programmes we use in architecture are also used in the computer graphics (CG) world. I used Cinema 4D primarily as my 3D software and since I loved gaming and visual effects, decided to see what else I could do with them other than just rendering buildings and spaces.
How crucial is architecture to gameplay and gamification? How can it help create more immersive gaming experiences?
I believe architecture is extremely important in gaming as it gives a clear understanding of environment and spaces and also human interaction with these spaces. For example, certain colours in certain spaces will affect how the space is perceived; putting certain elements in a space can make the user experience certain feelings. For example, in the Resident Evil games, spaces are generally dark, cramped and scattered, this creates a feeling of uneasiness which compliments the general theme of the game.
You also work with other art forms, do you think the local gaming industry is leveraging gaming’s ability to unite these other disciplines?
I also dabble in some visual effects and I am positive that the local gaming industry would benefit greatly if they brought some VFX artists on board. Things that would otherwise increase the general complexity of the game could be reduced; for example, simulations aren’t always necessary, they can be replaced with properly done visual effects plates.
How would you describe the local gaming industry?
The local gaming industry is still growing and has a lot of potential, there is still a lotta room for development.
What kind of advancements would you like to see in the industry and how do you think it should be empowered?
I would very much like to see more gaming studios come together to work on something rather than individual studios working alone. We need investors, both local and international, but we need to prove that we deserve the investment. I am sure within the next year or two, some games are going to launch out of Nigeria that will garner international attention and thus, investment.
What’s the most rewarding thing about all that you do?
The most rewarding thing for me is the sense of achievement I get after creating something new. It is refreshing to know that you have made something that did not exist before.
What resources would you recommend to those willing to toe your path?
To those wanting to go into the world of 3D and visual arts, I would recommend finding good online classes that take you through the basics, and finding a space to specialize once you’re done with that — except you choose to be a generalist. YouTube is a great recourse, I also recommend lynda.com and pluralsight.com. You will find a lot of courses related to computer graphics. I also advise getting someone who already does what you want to do and get them to teach you, even if you have to pay for it.
What are you currently working on and what should we expect from you in the nearest future?
I am currently working on a two of short films both animated and live action that would be premiered at the next Lagos Comic Con event. I would start posting updates on them by mid-December of 2020.
To know more about Moses Balami’s work, follow him on Twitter or Instagram
This interview series is part of Nigeria’s Gaming Industry: Opportunities, Challenges and Practices, an Enter Africa Lagos project supported by Goethe-Institut Nigeria.
