Media Artist

Joining us from the eyebolts retaining the brass clappers of the ninety bronze bells of Joyous Hooplah comes Jeremy 'Pinflux' Hay. Derived from the Klein-Gordon-Fock and Rarita-Schwinger equations, Jeremy, that is to say the J-Man, or rather the J-ster, or also Doctor Jayski, The Jayinator but never Jay, is also known as J. In this incarnation, J has experimented with adding a serif, but was concerned he would be mistaken for T. I, also. I mean, I tried that, and it all happened exactly like the wombat said. I'll never doubt that wombat again. Wombat-doubting, I don't recommend. Trust the wombat. Trust it.

In his spare time, Jeremy makes music using a personal laptop PC computer device. Sometimes he scrapes its keyboard like a washboard, sometimes he strikes it like a gong, sometimes he agitates its loosened innards as a maraca, sometimes he uses it as a colossal plectrum on an even vaster balalaika. He's a fully licensed Cordwainer, can imitate the call of the Basenji, and is occasionally prone to Borborygmus, or rather several Borborygmi at once. He trained as a real, proper, actual-factual pencil and paper animator (although he can animate other objects, we think). He's 1.13 Smoots tall, and can travel unaided for between 4 and 9 Stobarts.

Things You Were Too Afraid To Ask...

Every once in a while, we interrogate one of our own and put their answers up for all the world to see. Read on to find out more about what Jeremy does, how he ended up at Splash Damage, and more.

What do you do at Splash Damage?

I'm the Media Artist, and a part of Splash Damage's marketing department. It's my job to assist in encouraging you to drop your hard earned dollars/pounds/euros on our games once they're released, all through creating shiny images and videos to dazzle and distract. My work ranges from taking screenshots of Brink to realising ridiculous holiday-specific concepts.

Why did you want to work in the games industry and how did you get started?

Growing up, the idea of working in games seemed too far-fetched to take seriously. After a flirtation with business computing at the end of high school, I took a three year course in classical animation. My technical skill improved a lot in those years, and more importantly my passion for art and animation grew exponentially. I then worked for a couple of years as a classical animator for New Zealand TV shows before moving to the UK.

How did you end up at Splash Damage?

I arrived on English shores in early 2009 with no solid plan whatsoever. In my search for work in London, the only job that I could find that held any appeal was for a video game company who had just announced a game called Brink; I couldn't quite figure out what it was, but it looked exceedingly pretty. I applied for the job, was sent an art test, completed said test, bit my nails for a couple of weeks, sent them a new Brink-related drawing with a needy email asking if they had forgotten about me, and was promptly met with offer of an interview. From that point on I was ok – my goggles won them over.

Do you have any tips for people wanting to break in?

Into the video game industry? Not really - I practically fell into it. Although experience in the industry is an undeniable asset, the lines between video games/films/fiction are blurring to the extent that skills from one field can be transferred to another – at least where art is concerned. A general passion to improve and willingness to learn can't do you wrong, though.

What games have you worked on? Which one did you enjoy the most?

Brink is the only game I have had anything to do with so far - I can say without a doubt that it's the one I've enjoyed the most.

Do people reference Lord of the Rings and/or Flight of the Conchords when discovering you're from New Zealand?

Yes.

What is it like to work at Splash Damage?

Inspiring! It's amazing to be surrounded by people who not only possess incredible talent and passion for their work, but also a generous helping of humility. Considering the degree of awesome that people here possess, I'm glad they're such a well grounded bunch.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

I'm lucky enough to have an extremely varied role in the company - my favourite tasks are ones that either involve painting or animation in some degree. I love having a hand in coming up with some of our crazy ideas – the two projects I've enjoyed doing the most have been the Dress Em Up! Tapirs Christmas Card and the video for our Tapir Wars 3 stunt.

What was your first gaming experience?

I was brought up in a PC-friendly environment, so was surrounded by games from an early age. The first game that I truly remember was the old PC side scroller Captain Comic - I played it at a trade show and it totally blew my juvenile mind.

What types of games do you like, and what's your favorite game of all time?

I can't pretend to be a hardcore gamer these days – I tend to prefer short, unique single player titles that won't devour my time, or multiplayer games that I can enjoy with others. I think my nostalgia-steeped head would direct me to the Commander Keen series when it comes to choosing a favourite – Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle sitting squarely at the top of the list. Tom Hall's art style and universe were hugely influential in my formative years.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

I'm constantly being blown away by the gigs/events/screenings on offer in the city, and spend a lot of time attending things or going out with friends. When I'm at home I try to indulge (or revive) my creative spirit by spending time on my music or art. A few years back I started a small animation studio with a good friend in NZ, and hope that time will permit further small-time collaborations through the wonder of the Interwebs.

What's the meaning behind your nickname?

Literally nothing! I had decided to jettison the awkward moniker of my youth – 'Ninja raVen', and rose from the ashes Pinflux; A more enigmatic, serious and decidedly superior handle. Also, I needed a name for my musical output and Aphex Twin may have had an influence...