Life as a RIOT GAMES concept artist - Summoners Rift

Life as a RIOT GAMES concept artist.
Trent Kaniuga, Concept Artist here! In this video I react and analyze to the Concept art SECRETS of Summoners Rift from league of legends from a concept artist's perspective! I explain what goes on by diving deeper and exposing some of the video game art secrets to Summoners Rift and how games are made! The goal is help you understand and learn more about the artistic process that goes on behind your favorite video games.

PO BOX - Aquatic Trent 26895 Aliso Creek Rd, B1031 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Intro song #1 = "Salgre" by Jimmy Fontanez
Intro song #2 = "Blue Moon" by JVNA

#conceptart
#leagueoflegends

Games I've worked on -
Fortnite (Environment concept art)
Overwatch (Environment concept art + Sprays artwork)
League of Legends (Character design + Environment concept art, UI + Icons)
Diablo 3 (Character design + Environment concept art)
Hearthstone (Illustration)
Burning Crusade(Character design + Environment concept art)
Wrath of the Lich King (Character design + Environment concept art)
Indivisible (Environment concept art)
Final Fight Streetwise (Voice Acting + Character Design + World Design + Cutscene Direction + Co writer on script)
He Man GBA (Pixel Art)
Terminator 3 GBA (Art Direction + Pixel Art)
CannonBallers (Character + World design)
Ikeda: The Scrap Hunter (Programming + Art + Design)
Goblins and Gnomes (Concept Art)

Books available-
CreeD Re:Imaginary (2021) - 2 part Comic series
Twilight Monk - Return of the Ancients (2021) - Illustrated Novel
Twilight Monk Secrets of Kung Fulio (2020) - Illustrated Novel
Escape from Giants Crown (2019) - Illustrated Novella
World Of Twilight Monk Vol 1 (2019) Art Book
The Man and the Moonken (2019) - Illustrated Novella
The Beast of Tuksa (2018) - Illustrated Novella
Twilight Monk (2012) - 2 Graphic Novels
Nova Colony (2009) - 1 Graphic Novel
CreeD (1993-2007) - Comic Book Series
Ghost Rider (2000) - Comic Book Series
The Fuzz (1997) - Comic Book

[nix]

TRENT IS AMAZING AND PEOPLE SHOULD APPRECIATE HIM!

[utopiafantastory]

Ok, so you're now telling me, the summoners rift which brings me joy for my teenage days was actually firstly created by you, right?
Well, I would say, thank you so much for your hard work and creation, LOL change me a lot and it really means a lot to me.

And I love listening to your stories, they are so cool and inspire me a lot! Developing games is always being a great thing.

[EckosamaGhostTsushima]

dude i keep saying Trent is a legend in the gaming industry and no one knows how he changed the look of games we all fell in love with. I think there is this problem that character designers and artists have so much more fame than artist for environments.

I mean, trent has done art for Diablo 3, League, Overwatch, Fortnite, Wow.. But on youtube its all about the big character designers. Its not a bad thing, but people just dont know who contributes so much to the locations they explore in virtual worlds they enjoy. its crazy!

[wingbutler]

YouTube artist? I've always thought of you as an artist life coach. Helped me through a lot of tough times my dude.

[johnquerits]

I am not sure if you are allowed to talk about that but for me personally I am not really a Concept Artist, I specialized as a 3D Environment / Prop Artist, now the question I am asking myself is, what does a Environment Artist do at Riot Games especially at games like LoL, where new Maps are released quite rarely, the only time a new map gets released is probably when a new Gamemode comes. Other than that I can't really think of what the "typical day" of a environment artist would be.

Since Riot releases a lot of new champions every season, Concept and Character artist do have a lot of work which is nice, but what about the Environment Artist?

I would be very grateful for a answer, that particular question is one of the reasons I've never stepped into Stylized stuff and just sticked to Realism because that's just what most AAA studios are doing :D

[rox_m]

so cool to learn about all the behind the scenes & what is ACTUALLY like to work as a concept artist in these sort of environments. I think it's very fair to be detached at one point bc you work on this project but with all the redesigning and the other names taking over, it's only the people in the industry, or the ones involved in that project that know of you very well. and then you just move on in a way focusing on your own more personal projects.
loved the art, the sketches, here for more because in my opinion, the exploration part where all the lore is discussed is one of the (if not the) most fun steps.

[danteofsouls]

Hi Trent! I'm very sorry you feel detached from the amazing work you did for the Summoner's Rift, I guess it's a common thing when you are a concept artist in a big house, but your job is undoubtedly there, everyone with eyes can see it! The walrus merchant guy is still there and he sells from a balloon! The merchant-beast, on the other side of the map, is still there too! The trees, roots, rocks, little waterfalls, and other stuff really carry on your contribution to the map, to the lore, and to the fun. I remember when the map has been updated, it was one of the best moments I had with league, so thank you. Thanks for your job at riot and thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

Blessed day! Gonna watch this on my tablet before going to work. And then on my big screen when I get back.

[devilzelink]

I love this longer format! Thank you Trent

[ovschinikov]

I rly like how honest you are about how you feel in the art industry. No sugar coating no bs.. this is why i'd be listening to your podcasts/videos while working. Thank you.

[display]

I miss passionate people like you in my life. People who want things, have goals no matter how old they are. Whose eyes shine when they speak about whatever it is they like.

[kenettelaforteza]

That hurt alot, when someone says you're a no body. They don't know the damage they can cause, I don't understand people who can say those to words to his fellow men. don't worry Trent for me you are my ART PARENT.

[calebspiers]

You have so quickly become my biggest idol in life! I get goosebumps hearing you talk about what you love to do! I hope one day you get to design your own Zelda like game to be your magnum opus of sorts! 😂 you’re incredible man!! Amazing content!!

[simonhogg]

Now that you put this out, it's suddenly so clear that you had a hand in the design here. There is so much of your unique charm to the map!

[nickjames]

I still remember years ago when I had found out you worked on summoners rift. I was like bragging to my friends who would play with me about how my favorite artist did that and everyone thought it was so cool lol. As if I had anything to brag about since it was you doing it lmao. Anyways, love listening to you talk bro and so happy for your successes keep up the great work, you always inspire.:)

[baemaxxed]

Just wanted to say how much I love the shop keep/beast that you came up with. I played LOL for 10 years and I absolutely loved him! I even created a clay model of them to have to look at on my desk. Thank you for your work and inspiration!

[leetri]

Even though a lot of this wasn't used in the final game, I can recognize a lot of the shapes and details in the final product. Quite a bit of it was still used though, like the walrus shopkeep with his airship (the objectively best shopkeep btw).

[KarleeHankin]

It really throws into relief how difficult the industry is when you talk about moving on because you're not getting any wins. You need to get some, else why are you doing what you're doing, you know? Someone out there will want your art. It's a massive eye opener that this sort of thing happens to brilliant artists as well as those starting out. Brutal really. But very encouraging since it helps the rest of us not attach to that kinda thing, and know when moving on might be a good idea.

[JagueRoom]

Discovering your implication in the Summoner's Rift in reversal really shines a clear light on the influence you had. Just about those ships flying away in the background of the topside, I know there's now a dragon that flies over there before setting in his boss spot down the south part of the map. Even if designs and concepts were not directly pulled from your work you've clearly influenced everything in there. And that handpainted style has always hit a spot for me and motivated me to improve and not give up on drawing.
Thanks you Trent.

[hanh]

I'm not a League player but I was freakin' blown away by Arcane Netflix show. The story, visuals, animation, its like so fucking beautiful man. So when you mention 29:30 where they have dedicated lore team, and then there are a lot of lore-related art that people have never seen before cause it wasn't necessary for the final game itself, got me really excited.

Seriously, I know nothing of the LoL locations/maps. Bilgewater, Noxus, Piltover, but now I really wanna know.