Istvan Pely

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Istvan Pely
Born1974 (age 49–50)
NationalityAmerican
EducationComputer science, Visual arts
Alma materLoyola University Maryland
OccupationVideo game artist
EmployerBethesda Game Studios
Known forFallout series
SpouseHiu-Lai Chong

Istvan Pely (born in 1974), is an American computer artist and game developer. He works at Bethesda Game Studios, specializing in art direction and 3D graphics.

His interest in video games began when his father brought home an Apple IIe; Pely enjoyed playing adventure games such as Dragon World and Wrath of Denethenor. He recalls that he "was really drawn to games as a storytelling medium, as well as an interesting challenge in the visual arts."[1]

Pely began studying a computer science major at Loyola University Maryland. Having always been artistically inclined, he found computer science alone to be a bit too technical, while creating games was a "nice way to mesh technology and art." He instead completed a dual major at both computer and art departments. While still a student, he worked part-time as a multimedia consultant where he learned to work with many off-the-shelf packages such as 3D Studio, Photoshop, Premiere, and Director. Sacrificing his grades, with these tools he developed a Mac/PC adventure game called Majestic Part I: Alien Encounter, and managed to get it published before graduating. Since then he has developed two more science fiction games independently: Symbiocom and Zero Critical.[2]

Pely eventually decided to focus solely on 3D art. His project Movkup is an avenue for exploring fantastical mechanical/industrial design.[3][4] Pely has been with Bethesda Softworks since 1998. As the lead artist of Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, Pely was responsible for the overall visual style of the games, interface graphics, environments, and featured characters.[1] Pely is a self-described “car nut” and having an interest in automotive design, he was also responsible for the design of the game's pre-war vehicles having the aerospace styling cues.[5]

He married Hiu-Lai Chong, who worked as a character artist for Fallout 3.[1]

Works[edit]

Year Work Role
1995 Majestic Part I: Alien Encounter Producer, director, graphics, programming
1998 Symbiocom Design, graphics, programming
1999 Zero Critical Design, graphics, programming
2001-2004 Movkup 3D-CG-Mechanical-Conceptual[clarification needed]
2003 Pirates of the Caribbean Special thanks
2006 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Lead dungeon artist
2008 Fallout 3 Lead artist[6]
2009 The Art of Fallout 3 Co-author
2011 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Additional graphic design
2015 Fallout Shelter Art director
2015 Fallout 4 Lead artist
2015 The Art of Fallout 4 Co-author
2018 Fallout 76 Art director
2023 Starfield Lead artist

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Master of the Game". loyola.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  2. ^ "Home". justadventure.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  3. ^ "Movkup". Archived from the original on 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  4. ^ "3D Artists - Art Gallery - Jury". raph.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  5. ^ "Heavy Metal Affliction". John Schommer. Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  6. ^ "Fallout 3 Interview: Bethesda Addresses DLC, World Design, and 'Oblivion with Guns' Comments".