“The Last of Us Part II,” a video game that has earned critical acclaim from players and critics around the world, was created in part by a native of Marlboro who graduated from Colts Neck High School.
Martin Pietras, a graphic designer who specializes in 3D environments and texture, worked on in-game cutscenes involving two main characters in the game, Joel and Ellie, as well as a playable environment in the game.
Explaining his work, Pietras said, “My role as a 3D material artist was painting the digital sets and backgrounds in the cinematics and the game environments, and creating materials that would be applied to them as well.
“I would then define the interaction between all these materials. For example, we would take a look at a building in a post-apocalyptic world and address different needs for that object.
“How would the windows look? What areas would have cracks? Are there streaks from constant rain on these buildings? Is there moss and nature overtaking this building now? These are all questions we ask ourselves when deciding how to approach creating the materials for these surfaces,” he explained.
Following high school, Pietras graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology 3D Digital Design program in 2017. He also attended a part-time commercial art program that is offered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District.
In regard to his education, Pietras said, “The program was very wide in scope, introducing students to topics such as graphic design, fine art and even silk screening techniques. It was great at the time because I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts, but I didn’t quite know what avenue to pursue. The exposure to different topics at the Monmouth County Vocational School District helped guide me toward more technical aspects of computer graphics.