Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Lastimosa
Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As an Art/Creative Director with nearly 25 years of experience in AAA game development and feature film visual effects, I have led talented and creative teams to bring amazing gameplay experiences to players worldwide.
I’ve worked on dozens of films all over the world. I’ve contributed to some of the biggest blockbuster games in the industry. I’ve taught and learned a lot.
My mission is to push boundaries that lead to growth and ultimately achieve greatness. I am a lifelong creative artist, athlete, and martial artist. I have competed in multiple endurance sports, including 13 Ironman triathlons, in the US and Europe. My experiences in training and racing have helped me become a better leader and mentor. Endurance racing and competition taught me how to strive for goals that may seem impossible through dedication, consistency, and teamwork.
My skills include team building, director-level management, effective communication, pipeline development, outsourcing, and visual storytelling. My strengths are creative leadership, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, mentoring, and coaching. I thrive in environments where innovation, collaboration, and creativity are key.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never a smooth road, which is all part of the journey. I got my start in feature film VFX. I’d work long hours and travel to film sets and locations all over the world. It was fun in my early years, but as I grew older it became unsustainable.
I switched gears and started work at a studio named Infinity Ward. I was able to start work there as a 3D artist in 2006 on a title that many of you know as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The game was a massive success. It was critically acclaimed and had a major impact on multiplayer FPS gaming. It was the top selling game of 2007 and as of 2013 it was close to 16 million units sold.
In 2010, we founded Respawn Entertainment. It was a new studio, comprised of the leadership and senior developers of the Call of Duty franchise. With a highly experienced team and accolades aside, this was a new start-up. We had to build everything from the ground up. We had no game and we had to figure out what the next title would be. As many of you here know, starting up a new studio is extremely difficult. In seeking adventure I decided to leave comfort and security and join my friends and colleagues to start up a new video game development studio. We had high aspirations and it was a very exciting time. Little did most of us know what the road ahead would look like.
We started Respawn while in a massive legal dispute with our former publisher, Activision. It was hard work with long hours at the studio. Now, Respawn is one of Electronic Art’s top tier studios. I left the company in 2023 to start a new studio, Sentinel Games. After a year of building, I’ve stepped away from my start up and in search of what is next in my career.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve specialized in 3D art for most of my career. You can see some of my art here:
https://www.artstation.com/brockhaurd
I am known for hardsurface 3d modeling, more specifically, first person point of view weapons in first person shooters. I moved into leadership roles and have been working as an Art/Creative Director for the last few years. I am most proud of the cultures I have built within teams and the relationships I have with my teammates. We have been able to achieve some monumental tasks with small teams. I aim to continue that track.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I am a strong believer in values. They should be concise and undeniable. At Respawn, our values were: Find the fun, stay curious, empower creators, be inclusive, and keep it real and respectful. Our values tell a story. They line up our history and our future with our present. My values are my keys to success. Everyone’s definition of success is different. My definition of success is achieved when I apply my three most important values. Those values are: Create, Give Back, Seek Adventure.
I define success with the ability to work utilizing these 3 values effectively.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/brockhaurd
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brockhaurd/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlastimosa/
- Twitter: https://x.com/brockhaurd/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1952074/
