What is the best thing that I love about my work?

For me the most rewarding thing about working as a game designer is the opportunity to create meaningful experiences for other people to enjoy. The thought of players being deeply impacted by the art I created is what really makes me happy.

What is my idea of happiness?

My take on it is that happiness is about enjoying life as a process. Surely I’ve got goals, an ideal picture where my career has skyrocketed and I have a loving family of my own. But while I’m not there, just the thought of me moving in the right direction brings happiness and makes it easier to see the beauty of the journey itself.

What is my greatest fear?

Losing control over my life. I’ve always been a freedom fighter who values being fully in charge of its own life. The idea of my decisions being limited or restricted really freaks me out.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

As a 20 year old, I’ve obviously still got a lot of personal stuff to sort out. But what brings me the most trouble is my unhealthy perfectionism that usually leads to anxiety and procrastination. It is the longest lasting insecurity of mine.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

Probably an obvious choice, but for me that would definitely be Jesse Schell, the author of “The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses”. It’s the first and hands down the best game design book I’ve read, for which I will forever be thankful. That guy really knows his stuff, and his passion about sharing all of that knowledge is truly admirable.

What is my greatest extravagance?

That would be beauty and skin care products. I always have money for it, even when I literally don’t.

On what occasion would I lie?

Only to save my life in threatening situations. In all other cases I would absolutely refuse to lie because of how much I hate to do that. It’s also one of the reasons I’m so bad at it.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

All in all, I love everything about it. I guess the downside of being a game designer for me is how exhausting the creative process can be at times. We generate tons of ideas and make design decisions every day and it can be mentally tiring, but I love it nonetheless.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

I was staying in Armenia at the time, it was the 28th of June, this year. I finally finished working on a big in-game location that took a lot out of me. The deadline was important and strict, I felt a lot of pressure in the process, so that day was a huge relief.

I felt genuinely happy about the fact that from this point I would finally be able to take it slow and have some time to stabilize, get back into the rhythm. Ironically though, the next day I got laid off along with my entire department.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I am quite comfortable with my personality and wouldn’t want to drastically change anything about it. Surely there are insecurities and problems that we wish weren’t getting in the way, but I view them as opportunities to improve. I would rather not miss out on them.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

Above I already mentioned an in-game location that I finished literally the day before I got laid off. Sadly, that location never made it into production, but I’m incredibly proud of it.

That meticulous piece of content represented everything I’ve learned while working as a game designer. The story was great, the environment looked awesome, and the puzzles were engaging. I really put my heart into that one and it came out great, definitely my finest work.

Where would I most like to live?

I’ve dreamt about living in Los Angeles ever since I was a teenager. This gorgeous capital of media production is located in my favorite state of the US, California. I would be perfectly happy and secure to build my career and start a family in a place like this.

What is my most treasured possession?

A black ceramic ring with a fianit gemstone. A gift from my mother, I never take it off.

What is my most marked characteristic?

I would say that my black nails would be the most obvious identifier.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

At the moment I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The most inspirational place I’ve found here is Jardín Botánico, a botanical garden. I have a weakness for such places, it’s vibrant and peaceful at the same time.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city?

A bar called Baum Palermo Soho. Mostly because it hosts international events called Mundo Lingo that I attend every week. Great place to make new connections and enjoy some free pizza.

What books influenced my life and how?

“The Wisdom Of Insecurity” by Alan Watts is an insightful book that definitely played a significant role in my psychological and personal development.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day?

I would just listen to all the songs in my playlist I’ve collected over the years. I think it’s a great way to look back on the most significant moments of your life because we often associate those with music we listened to at the time.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

The first character that comes to mind is Severus Snape from Harry Potter. His tragic story heavily impacted me as a child.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My real life hero is Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most famous oppositioner. I believe him to be one of the most noble and selfless people of our time.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Perhaps it’s just nostalgia, but I think this movie is truly magical. The whole trilogy is worth attention, in fact.

What role play stories in my life and work?

Stories play a crucial role in both my life and work. I love enjoying meaningful and emotional stories and I love creating them even more as a designer. I would actually prefer tying my career even closer to story creation and maybe acquire a position of a narrative designer one day.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me?

I like looking at those words of wisdom from a game designer’s perspective. Our life is an experience, and we are all game designers of that experience. We have all the tools at our disposal and make all the decisions, which makes life a game that we create and play at the same time.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

That would probably be my nonexistent boyfriend I wish I had.

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2022?

My Top-5 would be:

Naughty Dog

CD Projekt RED

ZeniMax

Wildflower

Techland

What project, in 2022, am I looking forward to working on?

For me it would be the greatest joy of all to work on the new Witcher saga.

Where can you see me or my work in 2022?

My LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dy01

My Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gnomik_dimbucho

My portfolio website: https://gnomikdimbucho.myportfolio.com/work

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

True passion is impossible to extinguish, it will always keep us going towards our dreams. Sometimes life’s obstacles and frustrations will weaken our motivation or even force us to give up, but only for a little while. We never stop looking for ways to do something we are passionate about, no matter the odds. That’s what it means to me.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

I’d really love to hear Pawel Sasko’s story. He’s a talented Quest Designer at CDPR and quite an inspiring person in my opinion.

How can you contact me?

Gmail: gnomikdimbucho@gmail.com 

Telegram: @gnomik_dimbucho

WhatsApp: +54 11 24848422