Introduction

My name is Joakim Mellergård. Since early years I had access to a computer with Monster Truck, Microsoft Paint and Age of Empires. The first time I wanted to make video games was after playing Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and Mafia 1 but that was soon forgotten. In high school, I studied music and also played in a band for a few years. It was fun, but it doesn’t require a genius to realize that one would have to be very lucky to be able to make a living out of it.

After high school, I did some small jobs like mail delivery and a store clerk. At the same time, I tried finding something creative work. One evening when browsing the web for higher vocational educations (practical educations) I stumbled onto The Game Assembly ad in Malmö, Sweden, which claimed that they’d teach you how to make video games. It sounded funny and, in the beginning, not so realistic but I decided to apply. For two years in between small jobs, I worked on building up a portfolio, learning Maya from YouTube videos and also did some modding. My application at TGA went through and I joined their new Technical Art program. 1/3 of the education is dedicated to an internship which I did at IO Interactive. It later became my job.

VFX in Hitman