Veridian Forge was co-founded by two industry veterans and gaming enthusiasts, Brad Shuber and Bradley “Baker” Searles. Both started in the game industry over 25 years ago at the same game studio based in Ann Arbor Michigan. For almost two decades they followed different career paths gaining experience at some of the largest game Studios in the World, on some of largest titles and brands. The two Brads have now come back together and have combined that collective experience to create an independent game studio focused on making engaging games that excite and challenge players.

I founded Big Sky Digital LLC to start my journey towards establishing a thriving game studio based in Helena Montana. Utilizing my 26+ years of game industry experience as well as gaining new skills I am working on creating a stable studio to grow... that growth, I hope, will begin in 2021

MInecraft

Project Spark

After Dark Void I was promoted to Art Director at Airtight Games. As an Art Director I was charged with the visual conceptualization of various project ideas in the search for new opportunities for the studio. I have directed a wide diversity of projects that required everything from simple tone videos to Vertical Slice type demos and prototypes. Since being a Lead Environment Artist I have gained experience directing different groups such as character, animation, concept, and FX.· I managed a range of 2 to 12 artists comprised of individuals of all levels of experience and disciplines.- Being a part of a small nimble team allowed me to get back into production work. I was responsible for level design / layout, propping, lighting, Post FX, modeling, materials, texturing, and even some HUD / UI work.· With the help of the concept artists I directed the visual stylization of a wide range of projects with an equally wide range of goals and target audiences.· I worked closely with other departments to maintain visual quality while supporting the needs and goals of their disciplines.· I continued to be a part of creating, implementing, following, and maintaining the pipelines of responsibility and work flow between departments both established and new· I was responsible for the schedule creation, enforcement, and management including MS Excel and MS Project· I was responsible for hiring and employee performance reviews

I was the Lead Environment artist on Dark Void using the Unreal 3 graphics engine.I came into Dark Void mid way through the project. I had to integrate into a well established team during a difficult time of production. I was asked to come in and identify tasks, create schedules, and drive the production of the environments including lighting and Post FX from rough block-outs to shipped levels.· I was responsible for the management of 8 artists comprised of individuals of all levels of experience.- I did production level layout, propping, lighting, and Post FX· I directed my team to accomplish the established projects visual goals and quality within our performance and time budgets.· I worked closely with other departments to reach our goals· I was part of creating, implementing, following, and maintaining the pipelines of responsibility and work flow between departments both established and new· I created and documented visual guidelines and construction methodologies for modular sets of various size and complexities as well as props.· I was responsible for the schedule creation, enforcement, and management including MS Excel and MS Project· I was responsible for hiring and employee performance reviews

I was the Lead Environment artist on Midways open world game "This is Vegas" using the Unreal 3 graphics engine.· I was responsible for the management of 18 artists comprised of individuals of all levels of experience.· I directed my team to accomplish the established projects visual goals and quality within our performance and time budgets.· I worked with closely with other departments to reach our goals· I was part of creating and maintaining the pipelines of responsibility and work flow between departments· I created and documented performance and visual guidelines and construction methodologies for modular sets of various size and complexities as well as props.· I was responsible for the schedule creation, enforcement, and management· I have managed outsourcing efforts· I was responsible for hiring and employee performance reviews· I have given presentations and have participated in think tanks and pipeline discussions that have impacted all Midway Studios.