Name: Andrew Augustin
Profession: Founder / Creative Director of Notion Games LLC
Age: 27
One Word That Describes You: Self-Motivated
Growing up, Andrew Augustin always knew he wanted to be an artist. While watching Disney movies he would get lost in the visual world, becoming fixated on the art. In high school Augustin’s creativity led to the creation of comic books and small animations, which eventually caught the eye of local music artists in need of cover-art for their albums. Continuing to develop his craft, Augustin took his creativity to the gaming world after being hired by Edge of Reality as character-designer, and as world-builder for Sims 3 Pets for Xbox 360 and Play Station 3. Augustin eventually decided it was time to step out of his comfort zone. He now serves as the owner, founder, and lead designer of Notion Games. The Austin, TX-based company’s debut mobile release is Up Up Ubi, which is available now in the iTunes app store.
Taking the leap from illustrator to game designer was a tough decision, but for Augustin it was a choice he believed would showcase his abilities. “I felt gaming would be the best move for me, since it could show my artwork and bring my creations to life with sound, world-design, and player interaction,” says Augustin.
However, without funding and a dedicated team, Augustin has to rely on his experience and creativity to overcome major hurdles. Besides doing gigs for other companies to make ends meet, and the support of his hard working wife, there isn’t much help. “It has been a struggle for sure, but it’s definitely paying off as of late,” he tells BE Modern Man.
Augustin’s work ethic and willingness to learn new things to progress the company, and himself, doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s the first Black male to make it on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the games category. Still, his greatest personal achievement was receiving a full scholarship to Denius-Sams Gaming Academy at the University of Texas. “I never had a college degree,” says Augustin. “I essentially skipped the need to have a bachelor’s degree, made it into a post-grad program, and received a post-baccalaureate certificate. It was far from the traditional way, but it worked out in the end.”
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In the video games and arts arena your portfolio is your resume. Having a good portfolio, along with knowing the right people and establishing great relationships, is key. “My path has been filled with people who have looked out for me and lifted me up to the next level,” Augustin tells BE Modern Man. “My first job came through word of mouth from a guy I met before I dropped out of Austin Community College. Relationships are critical.”
Augustin believes that by creating generational characters that people of all ages can relate to, and fall in love with, will push him to ultimately reaching his major goals in the industry. “I plan to do this by creating games, comics, animated shows, and more, while at the same time educating the youth and helping out with community events and programs.”
Making an impact beyond the gaming industry, Augustin is heavily involved with schools and nonprofit organizations that educate and inspire youth in creative and technical fields. “Giving back, whenever possible, greatly impacts my community and gives people someone to look up to.”
With the stiff competition in the tech world, Augustin encourages the younger generation to utilize their time properly. “It is really easy to fall into the idea that you’re young and have plenty of time to get your career on track,” says Augustin. “The reality is that time flies and is extremely precious. It’s ok to party and have a good time in your youth, but you must do so in moderation.”
Putting in long hours and staying focused to create projects, while taking care of his family, can be draining for Augustin. But giving gamers a glimpse into what goes on behind-the-console or gaming device, has allowed him to stay charged. “My strategy was to be as transparent as possible, and to share the creative process behind my games. The internet gives you ample opportunities to be heard, and the ability to build an audience. Without funding for my projects, I felt the best way to build up
any ‘hype’ was to constantly show the behind-the-scenes action.” Through transparency, and by responding to as many people as possible through social outlets, Augustin has developed a loyal following.With a strong following, Augustin hopes to be something that he rarely saw in the gaming industry: a familiar face. For an industry that has been around for decades, the African American presence is still scarce. “With me being one of the latest designers, creating and getting the projects out, it allows people to see that we can create outside of music and film,” Augustin tells BE Modern Man. “If we don’t share our success stories, who will?” “Exposure is crucial to uplifting and inspiring other members of the community to achieve great things in their lives.”
The BE Modern Man team congratulates Andrew Augustin for being a leader in the gaming industry. A positive role model, Augustin is giving back to the community to ensure that young gaming industry hopefuls find success.
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