Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

Visual Effects (VFX) cover a wide variety of graphical assets which might appear in a video game. These can include fire, smoke, fog, sparks, explosions, and other effects which make for a more lively environment.

These are usually created using specialised digital tools.

In a fantasy game, a VFX Artist might create the visuals for magical spells, while in a horror game they might produce a menacing swarm of bats or a ghostly glow. Some VFX are very subtle such as smoke leaving a chimney, while others can involve complex simulations and physics.

Games make use of real-time rendering, which means that everything on-screen must be computed and rendered within a few milliseconds.

For complex visual assets like fire and smoke, this can be a tricky challenge — VFX artists must craft their assets carefully to ensure the game will always run smoothly.

Work tasks...

• Use industry-standard tools and libraries to create particles and VFX assets, which look good while staying within a frame-rate “budget”.
• Communicate with environment artists and content designers to ensure that assets are appropriate to the setting, and are neither too subtle nor too noisy.
• Create custom 2D textures and 3D models to improve the quality and variety of VFX assets.
• Use ‘shader’ programming to achieve finer control over the visuals.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
• Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
• Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
• Devise missions, challenges, or pussles to be encountered in game play.
• Guide design discussions between development teams.
• Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
• Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
• Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.
• Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
• Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Getting started with VFX is straightforward; there are plenty of free tools out there and many games do not require complex visuals. With a portfolio in place, this may be sufficient to engage in contracting work.

To transition to a full-time role, it may be expected to understand and have practice with more complex techniques in the major game engines, and a well-rounded portfolio that covers VFX across the entire game’s needs (environment, characters, UI, etc.).

Further info...

• IntoGames — VFX Artist

Last Updated: January, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €71k

Salries vary based on employer, location, role, duties, and experience. Salary can be sessional based on project work.

Data Source(s):
Blake & Filip/ Indeed/ Payscale/ Prosperity.ie

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• Ardan

  • Cluain Mhuire Wellpark Road, Galway City, Ireland, H91 WP9K
  • 091 770 748
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Imirt Irish Game Makers

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Animation Ireland

  • The Association of Animation Producers in Ireland Ltd, 14 – 16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, D02 YC63
  • Click Here

• Animation Skillnet

  • Animation Skillnet Office Furthr, Suite 34 GEC, Taylor’s Lane Dublin 8
  • 087 2487391
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here