Being a passionate artist, Alice Grosseman Mattosinho always knew she would never stop drawing. Since a very young age, comic books, manga, cartoons and video games caught her attention and helped her explore different possibilities and improve her own art style and skills. After 4 years working in the game industry, she founded Rebel Hound in order to develop personal video games and also to make unique art and characters for third party projects.
THIS PROFILE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED DECEMBER 2015
Name: Alice Grosseman Mattosinho
Vocation: Concept artist and illustrator
Years of experience: Almost 6 years
Location: Santa Catarina, Brazil
Twitter: @alicemonstrinho
Shipped game titles:
Capital, Hangman, and GoFish at Games Velvet and Risque e arrisque, Jogo do pontinho, and Sinuca 3D at Mega Jogos
1. What are you currently reading and/or playing?
Just finished playing Life is Strange (what an amazing game) and currently reading The Indie Game Developer Handbook by Richard Hill-Whittall (super useful).
2. First time you knew you wanted to work in games was…?
Although I loved playing games since I was a very young kid, I only realized you could actually work with it when I played Vampire: The Masquerade. I was 12 years old and had a real passion for creating different characters. After a while it occurred to me that someone had to create the clans, the rules, the art and the game itself, and I just knew I had to work with it. So I’m passionate about character and game design ever since.
3. What was your favorite mistake?
When I finished college, my last project was to create any kind of game. With my love for old school vampires and werewolves, I created “Sons of the Night,” a fighting game based on Vampire the Masquerade. My idea was to send a copy to White Wolf and see if it was somehow possible to create a project together. But I actually never had the balls to do it; I thought it wasn’t good enough and just gave up.
At the time, I thought it was a huge mistake and regretted this decision for a long while, but after having the chance to talk with Mark Rein-Hagen (one of the creators of Vampire: The Masquerade), he was very supportive and said we should continue making the game but with our own characters and set up. If I had sent it, this would probably mean I would need to change a lot of what we created to fit the other company’s ideals. Right now I really wanna keep it up with every creative freedom we can work with, so it was a “good” mistake.
4. What was your favorite success?
My first published book was just released in December, and although it’s not necessarily related to video games, I’m really glad I had the chance to show my work. Radioactive! is a book where I created mutated animals and hybrid creatures in a post radiation era, and it’s basically character design work – with monsters. So I’m really glad I had the chance to do it and that people are enjoying it.
5. What’s the best advice you ever got?
I’m very fortunate to have my family’s support and also to have amazing teachers who enlighten me with great advice over the years. They always pointed out the importance of working with something you are passionate about, that success and paying your bills will be a consequence of loving what you do.
As a more specific line, Bobby Chiu once told me that if bad things are happening, it means good things are on their way. This helps me to endure and survive bad times and keep thinking positive.
6. Share one thing few know about you.
I love nature and exercising. Walking in the woods, spending some time at a lake, walking my dog for miles and even boxing. I need a certain time outside the office to keep in touch with my body, to breathe fresh air, so usually I’m totally offline during weekends.
7. What’s one thing or trend you’re most excited about in the industry?
It’s fascinating how anyone can make games nowadays. You only need a small team, a nice idea and dedication. Feels like people can really explore their unique ideas, be creative and think outside the box.
Bonus: 8. Anything else you want to add?
My last advice is: don’t be afraid to talk to people. When I was starting, as I had no experience at all, the only thing I had was passion and a huge will to do something. It was my only tool and it worked perfectly well. So go to events, talk to everyone, ask them things, share contacts and never be afraid to start a conversation. This has led me to so many great things and awesome people. I’m sure everyone will be glad to talk to you as well.
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Feel free to reblog with a link back to this post. If you are a lady dev who’d like to be profiled or would like to nominate one, please contact wigsig [at] igda [dot] org
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