Getting to Knowmade: Bruno Lourenço
Bruno Lourenço
Engine Programmer
Bruno’s the magic twist in our engine oil, makin’ the Glowmade Gallavanter 6000 vroom faster than you can say “Liz, your analogies are slipping!”
But what he does really is magic, and largely unsung in a lot of gaming spaces. Without an engine, where’s the rest of the game plugging into? Bruno keeps everything ticking, figuring out ways to make all our wacky ideas actually possible and (better yet) playable. So thank you for supplying us your sweet sorceries, friend, and keep those coding cantrips coming!
Welcome, Bruno! What do you do at Glowmade?
I’m an Engine Programmer - I work on the tech that makes the game tick and also on the tools used by the rest of the team. I press keys on a keyboard to write magic incantations, teaching computers how to paint pretty pixels on a screen.
How did you get to this point in your career?
One day I decided to go study computer science because you need to understand computers to make games, right? Through that I discovered that the technology behind games is nothing short of fascinating. Worked on boring (and also some interesting) software for some years, but never really stopped learning and doing game related side projects. That and some persistence eventually got me here!
What made you want to pursue games?
The first sparks of curiosity came when playing my NES as a kid. What kind of magical machine was that!? Another defining moment happened as a teenager playing Half-Life 2 and being mesmerised with the graphics and physics simulation. At that point I knew I had to learn how those things were made, and worked towards it since then.
Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.
I love playing the piano and creating sequences of sound that may be called music. Also I like riding my bicycle in nature.
Who or what inspires you?
Most arts inspire me, but I've got a special taste for music and all kinds of visual arts.
What game do you wish you could’ve developed?
Either Age of Empires or Theme Hospital, I can't decide.
(Age of Hospital absolutely NOT coming to a Steam page near you… unless…?)
Share something you appreciate about yourself. Give yaself a pat on the back, why don’t ya?
My ability to learn and get stuff done by myself, with minimal guidance or external motivation. If I enjoy doing it, it gets done somehow.
“What I cannot create, I do not understand.”
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
The best thing for me is working closely with talented and knowledgeable people making not only an awesome game, but also our own tools from the ground up.
Anyone on the team who stands out as a role model, or source of inspiration, perhaps?
The whole engine and tools team doing an awesome job to make the foundations of a game that looks and runs great.
What do you want from your career? What goals are you looking forward to vaulting past?
My everlasting goal is to work daily on something that challenges and excites me.
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Find out what you really want to do within a games team, this is important, as you'll be doing it a lot. Then create a habit to learn and do it until you get really good at it. You'll end up with a portfolio and (likely) a new hobby that can prove to other people your passion and skills. Repeat until happy with the results, and your newfound hobby is now your job. Worked for me!
In your opinion, who is the cutest Glowmade pet?
My pet ant colonies, of course. Cuteness comes in numbers.
(Hmm… infallible logic, really…)
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Rimworld, every new game evolves into a different story.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Sleeping late on weekends. Breakfast is overrated.
(Correct.)
There's one biscuit left in the tin and it's your favourite... what is it?
If it has sugar on it, I'd never leave a single one alone on the tin - that's just unethical.
(Also correct. Good man.)
