Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Minhua Fang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Minhua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

The idea of becoming a creator first emerged in primary school when Japanese animation of the 2000s gained popularity in China. I was exposed to many outstanding anime works at that time, such as “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Yu Yu Hakusho,” “Dragon Ball,” “Akira,” and “Evangelion.” Growing up surrounded by excellent animated works, it felt natural for me to aspire to become a manga artist when I grew up.

During that period, I wrote some story creations and had them published in the children’s section of “Xiaoshan Daily.” It was the first money I earned, giving me great accomplishment. (At that time, the newspaper paid royalties by sending bank checks to the school, and I had to go to the bank to cash them. It’s a nostalgic and vintage memory.)

Simultaneously, my earliest exposure to video games was during primary school when I got my own Game Boy, and my first game was Pokemon Yellow. I’ve been playing the Pokemon series ever since. In junior high, I got my computer to explore various types of video games. During this time, a pixel RPG called ‘Hero’s Altar’ was popular on WordMaster (a Chinese electronic dictionary). We were addicted to it for a long time. A classmate told me he was studying code and asked if I wanted to make a game together. It was my first concept of “game development.”

Although the collaboration did not materialize in junior high, the idea had planted a seed in my mind. This led me to choose game development as my major in college, and I confidently and naturally transitioned into the game industry as a concept artist after graduation.

Minhua, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m pursuing a master’s degree in art in San Francisco, specializing in digital painting. I enjoy exploring various creative content and methods that pique my interest.

As my main job, I’ve been a concept artist in the gaming industry for ten years. I’ve worked with companies like NetEase, Ubisoft, and Tencent, where my last position was as a senior concept artist. I’ve worked on projects like ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Assassin’s Creed.’ Throughout my career, I’ve primarily focused on character concept design, occasionally delving into scene concept design and illustration work during the mid-stages of projects.

Despite my involvement in developing large-scale game projects, I have a particular affinity for independent games. I’m passionate about creating indie games and have participated in events like the Global Game Jam multiple times. Just last month, I joined Unity’s ‘Booom暴造’ game jam, where I completed a game similar to WarioWare and received a special award. I also participated in a small-scale game jam at school this week, creating a Christmas-themed puzzle game. I hope to one day complete and release an independent game of my own design.

In 2018, I took a six-month break and worked as an independent toy designer, creating and showcasing my toys at events like the Taipei International Toy Creative Expo. That experience gave me a new perspective and expanded my creative space.

Currently, I’m working on personal illustration projects and often document my life in comic form. I want to explore different artistic styles, push my boundaries, and discover new possibilities.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Over a decade ago, I attended a lecture by Chen Xinghan at the Game Developers Conference. He is the producer of ‘Journey,’ and he elaborated on his game development philosophy during that talk. He expressed that games, like movies and novels, are a form of creative expression. He pointed out that the abundance of violent games in the market might create a stereotypical impression that games are all about killing. However, he emphasized that games can also be a means of conveying emotions and empowering individuals. Experiencing the healing power in the games he created gave me tremendous inspiration and aspirations. My dream and mission are to create works in the form of games that can transmit positive energy to others.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I come from the era of online gaming and have also experienced the current trend of free mobile games with in-app purchases. I am familiar with ‘paying for virtual data’ and understand its logic. While playing Diablo III, there were many instances of virtual item trading within the in-game auction house. The criteria for assessing value within a single game are easily determined, but it involves too many factors in the real world. I can comprehend NFTs but maintain a cautious and observant stance towards them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artstation.com/fangminhua
• Instagram: miha_work42
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minhua-fang/