Former student helps re-design the classic Sonic The Hedgehog game for 2019!

A former Cambridge Regional College student has spoken of the moment his hands shook with fear as he showcased his remake designs of the classic game, Sonic The Hedgehog, to the original creator!

Tauras Koreiva, studied Games Development from 2011 to 2012 and is now an Environment Artist with leading UK games company, Sumo Digital.

The company was tasked with re-designing the classic platform game for 2019 Team Sonic Racing, which has been flying off the shelves since its release in May. 

Tauras, 24, who has worked at Sumo Digital since 2016, said: “The Sonic game was one of my biggest inspirations. I would play for hours when I was a kid. I was so addicted, I even snapped my joystick, that’s how long I played for. I never dreamt that one day I could be involved in the redesign.

“Takashi Iizuka the game designer who helped create Sonic and SEGA leads stood behind my desk as I showed them one of the new levels I was working on. My hands were shaking! It is the greatest moment of my career. Such an honour to be a part of this.”

Tauras knew he wanted to get into the gaming industry, to turn his passion into a career, so on leaving school, researched the best college to give him the skills needed to begin his journey.

“CRC stood out by a long shot because at that time it was the only place where you didn’t have to fit in gaming with another subject which felt unrelated,” he said.

“Tutors taught us many key skills on top of commercial awareness. They allowed us to grow in confidence and understand the industry,” he added.

Studying at CRC meant travelling from his home in Harlow to Cambridge every day, but Tauras said he didn’t mind as the things he learnt and the inspirational tutors were worth it.

After Cambridge he went to Hertfordshire University where he specialised in Games Art in areas such as how to develop characters and fine-tuning design skills.

From hobby to amazing career

On leaving university he was taken on as an intern environment artist with Sumo Digital at their Nottingham studios and has worked his way up to become a junior artist, then promoted to artist in charge of a small team.

“I am in charge of assets which means creating aesthetically looking props and objects within the environment, and enhancing the look and feel of the game from the user’s point of view,” Tauras said. “It is about making it the best games experience it can be.

“I’ve taken my hobby and turned it into a job. It is a real sense of job satisfaction. I would say to new learners don’t be scared of trying out new stuff, don’t limit your creativity, try different things and stand out from the crowd. Or in gaming speak, don’t be a barrel or a sci-fi door.

“Massive thanks to my tutors because they were amazing at setting me on this path,” he added.

Find out more about Sumo Digital here: https://www.sumo-digital.com/