Samuel Lopez De Victoria

Samuel López De Victoria, a visitor instructor in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Arts & Letters, teaches courses in the School of Communications and Multimedia Studies, including Fundamentals of Digital Media Practice, 3D Video Game Design, and Advanced Digital Compositing for Animation. A Miami, FL native, López De Victoria has always been passionate about game design, stemming from his teen years as a gamer. Inspired by his sister, who studied art, he realized that video games could serve as a powerful art form, blending his love for gaming and creativity.

López De Victoria believes video games are a medium where the artist can take advantage of pursuing their artistic careers with drawing, programming, and designing. Outside of FAU, he spends his time programming games and managing an artistic ware business, which allows clients to customize unique creations. He credits Japanese game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, as a major influence on his career. Mizuguchi revolutionized the gaming industry with interactive games that introduced synesthesia (the five senses) and enhanced the overall gaming experience by incorporating music, visualizations, audiovisual art, and intermedia storytelling that allows gamers to feel the different aspects of gaming.

"Mizuguchi’s work enhances the gaming experience, making it more inclusive," said López De Victoria.

In the classroom, López De Victoria assigns work with profound lessons that balance structure and creative freedom. Although the assignments are short and simple, he allows space for students to get as creative as possible. He added: "I could ask a student to program a door that opens and closes, and it's up to them to determine the visuality of the door."

He engages with students' individuality to understand their unique interests in developing their career journey. As an artist himself, López De Victoria has received multiple grants to advance his projects. He shares these experiences with students to inspire them, showing that persistence and creativity can lead to success in the competitive gaming industry.

"Even though the technology and gaming industry can be fast-paced, most of it requires patience," he said, adding "It's also okay to not be okay." as students navigate the challenges of their career journeys. López De Victoria is dedicated to expanding the interactive video game development branch, particularly for students drawn to the artistic aspect of video games. He aims to guide students toward a fulfilling career path.

"Seeing students interested in pursuing careers in game design shows me that I am making a positive impact," López De Victoria said. "You can be somebody who does visual art and still makes something interesting and meaningful in the field."

Through his teaching and mentorship, López De Victoria is inspiring the next generation of game developers and artists, proving that the possibilities in game design are as limitless as the imagination.