Time to pull back the curtains of Nine Rocks Games once again, and introduce you to person behind the landscapes of Way of the Hunter. With over a year of his creative work at NRG, Stanislav is one of the environmental artists, or "map guys" as we call them. In this role, he crafts game environments that allow players to step into the shoes of the hunter and immerse themselves in breathtaking landscapes. Before joining NRG, Stanislav worked on various projects and commissions, but his favorite thing was crafting miniatures for Dungeon and Dragons. Today, he calls working at Nine Rocks Games a dream come true.

His mission is to introduce players to panoramas that go beyond mere aesthetics, creating a desire to embark on an epic hunting adventure. "This is a strong driver for me to give my best to the creation. I really enjoy leaving an emotional 'mark on someone, and that's why it's my favorite part of my job," says Stanislav proudly.

As a mapmaker, his responsibilities begin with tracking down and preparing the background for a specific map, searching for interesting features and the landscape's character. Additionally, he plays a vital role in preparing the background for the distribution of elements such as trees, grass, and rocks. In handling expansive environments, procedural generation becomes a valuable tool.

Once the map reaches a solid stage, the team continues fine-tuning it, focusing on ongoing communication with the environment lead - Michal, and colleagues. This collaborative communication, coupled with feedback and insights from colleagues, proves essential for progressing in the design process.

How did you become interested in environment art, and what led you to pursue it as a career?

I've had a passion for video games since I was a kid. I've spent a lot of time with them, and I've always been fascinated and intrigued by how someone brought it all to life and made it into such a great interactive audiovisual experience. At the same time, I've also been involved and interested in the visual arts for a long time, and in my opinion, video games can be conceived of as art in some form. So, I've always wanted to have work that bridges these two worlds.

With the opportunity to become an environmental artist, where these worlds are combined, plus my positive relationship with nature and landscape, I didn't hesitate for a second. I knew this was what I wanted to do. Working at NRG is my dream job come true. Simply put, it's my dream job.

If you could have any life motto, what would that be?

For me it's not so much about the motto, but rather my motto in quotes is the lyrics of the song by the band P.O.D. - It cant rain everyday. I recommend listening to it!

Here are a few facts about Stanislav that may not be essential but are certainly delightful to know:

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I try to use my free time to do activities that either energize me or bring inner calm. Sitting down to play some of my favorite games, whether on PC or Xbox, is my go-to. Mountain biking, especially free riding and downhill, has been a long-standing hobby where I feel most in my element. Exploring the great outdoors on a bike, chasing that adrenaline rush, and pushing my limits is something I thoroughly enjoy.

During the winter, when biking becomes more challenging in my preferred disciplines, I turn to skiing as a great alternative. Skiing allows me to experience adrenaline, speed, and the thrill of pushing my limits. However, my absolute top hobby is listening to music. It's a moment where I switch off the most, and honestly, one of the few things in my life where I rarely experience negative emotions. It's relaxation above all else. As an audiophile, my desire is to listen to music in its purest form, experiencing it exactly as the author intended during recording.

Do you have any unusual rituals or habits that help get your creative juices flowing?

Music - it's where my thoughts flow, and creativity thrives best; it always works for me.

What would be your dream profession in an alternate universe where you're not an environmental artist?

My dream job would probably be a professional mountain biker in an alternate universe. Given my skill set in this reality, reaching the level of a professional downhill racer might be unattainable. Still, the attraction of such a job is somewhere undeniably appealing.

What would you like to achieve at NRG?

My goal is to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the development process and use it to create the best possible results. Knowledge limits creativity, and the more knowledge one acquires, the more room there is for creative expression.

During my time at NRG, I have absorbed a lot of valuable information because I have the opportunity to work alongside experienced colleagues who make it easier for me to grow personally and professionally. I am optimistic and have set a milestone of doubling my knowledge to benefit my contributions at NRG over the next year.

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