Hey everyone, Jack here. I sat down with the incredibly talented technical artist Finley Southwick for a deep dive that went everywhere from the nitty-gritty of building game vistas and using Houdini, to why math is secretly the coolest tool in game development, and how unconventional education paths can shape a creative career. We also get real about breaking into the industry, the magic of solo dev, and why preserving old games matters. If you're curious about the blend of art, tech, and problem-solving that makes games tick, you’ll love this chat.

Connect with Finley:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finley-southwick-0058521b1/

- Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/finleysouthwick

- Play "Mold" on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3785750/MOLD/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Welcome

00:03:06 - Homeschooling

00:10:22 - Industry Role

00:13:57 - Vistas

00:19:53 - Elden Ring

00:27:22 - Rendering

00:31:52 - Shaders

00:37:28 - Houdini

00:46:32 - Why Tech Art

00:49:28 - Solo Projects

00:57:18 - Racing Games

01:06:53 - Accessible Math

01:20:36 - Tutorial Problem

01:48:08 - Community

01:58:06 - Wrap Up