iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

No problem, and thank you for staying curious. 🌻🧟‍♂️

Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ha ha ha. No, I did not voice Dr. Zomboss. I honestly don’t remember the voice actor who did, as it was very long ago, but it was usually garble with no actual words. We did the big Boss Mode trailer where he did speak, but that was rare.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I feel like we need this right now. "At a time where entire worlds can be built the click of a mouse, and videos generated by a prompt, choosing to make a stop-motion film feels like a quiet act of rebellion" youtu.be/ndb87LMtdwU?...

youtu.be

Wildwood: Where Rebels Gather (Official Featurette)

YouTube video by LAIKA Studios

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I'm not sure there is any other industry that shows us just how bad its leadership is more regularly than the games industry. Big-money companies run beloved studios full of talented people working on IPs an audience is clamoring for... and almost always grind them into dust.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

With the current state of things, maybe the big monster can come and save us?

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Re-sharing a stack of old stuff. Going through the doodles on my phone feels like a Time Machine for me, remembering life during each sketch. I hope everyone is doing ok. Hang in there.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Sketched up some “bad guy henchmen” ideas in a really simple style. Sometimes, as a game designer, you just need enemies you can throw at a player in large numbers… and then not feel bad when the player smacks them around a bit. Everybody here is very punchable. 🤣

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I’ve been working for a while now on my next project (I’m super excited, hope to tell you more soon) and thought I’d start sharing some of the earliest exploratory art that doesn’t exactly apply anymore. From the “loose and crazy” phase, which is always super fun. Shockingly, monsters and robots. 🤖👹

Concept art done in Procreate that shows two groups of characters rushing at each other. On the left is a group of monsters and robots and general near dwells rushing towards a group on the right which is made up of hero types, including action figures and giant robots and superheroes and men in suits. The art is done in digital sepia tones.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Potentially unpopular game art director opinion: You could reduce the blood by 50% in the Wolverine game, and it would actually be more effective and sell the world better. (Also the game looks incredible.)

static.klipy.com

Jim Halpert's Awkward Stare

ALT: Jim Halpert's Awkward Stare

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

As a player, and then as part of the Bungie team, Destiny2 has been a part of my life for many years. A special game, and an incredible group of people who built and worked on it. The stories that were created with friends and family while playing this game will never be forgotten. 🙏

static.klipy.com

Destiny 2: Drifter's Plunder Season Toast

ALT: Destiny 2: Drifter's Plunder Season Toast

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Spoken like a gentleman who knows.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The world needs more charming, character filled, tower defense games.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Not only does this look incredible, but I think we could all use something like this right now. youtu.be/POneS8h1jyU?...

youtu.be

Wildwood – Official Teaser Trailer

YouTube video by LAIKA Studios

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

One of the best. Our industry needs you! I can't wait to see what you dig into in the new role!

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Your marker work is impeccable, sir.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

If you are my kid, you might get a weird birthday drawing.

This drawing done in Procreate shows a comical cartoon take on a monster hunter character that is chronically online. The drawing itself is black chinky pencil and gray shading on gray paper. The text says happy birthday from chronically online monster Hunter, bro. A speech bubble says “It’s giving birthday! You are giving main character energy, so touch grass and skibidi bro, not even glazing.”

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

“Kill them with freaking kindness.”

Cartoon illustration featuring a small green character offering an ice cream cone to a larger character that has been bullying them.

Cartoon illustration featuring a small green character offering an ice cream cone to a larger character that has been bullying them. Close up of the smaller character’s face (which features a black eye) as he hands the ice cream to the bully.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Now might be a good time for us humans to reassess how we decide which other humans on this planet are worth listening to.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Tell me you don't understand what art direction is. Having your argument revolve around "Gamers just aren't used to having games look so good" is a wild approach. Ugh. www.fastcompany.com/91510549/nvi...

fastcompany.com

Nvidia is reskinning games with AI. Gamers are angry about it, and wrong

The company’s new DLSS 5 technology enhances game visuals to make them look more real, but some hardcore gamers are having none of it.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

It was a terrible experience just trying to FIND the right version.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

One more note about the GW team. They were spectacular. A group of people who bought into a crazy vision and busted their butts to make it beautiful and legitimate. Sitting in Vancouver, in a building FIFA built, they were working on what seemed at the time a fever dream. I will forever tip my cap.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I didn't escape with much behind the scenes work for GW, but I will post some beautiful ink drawings done by Taylor Krahenbuhl. Happy Birthday, GW.

An ink drawing of a Foot Soldier zombie from the Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare games. He is shambling towards the camera, wearing his typical gear and holding his weapon. His expression could be considered "vacant."

An ink drawing of a Foot Soldier zombie from the Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare games. He is shambling to the left of the scene, wearing his uniform and carrying a rocket launcher on his back. He looks beaten up and frankly, really dumb.

An ink drawing of an Engineer Zombie and a Chomper Plant from the Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare games. The Chomper is biting the Engineer's pants from behind and pulling them back to expose the Engineer's bottom. The Engineer is desperately trying to get away, reaching for a couple of outstretched zombie hands.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

During the E3 2013 EA Conference, we dropped a surprise teaser that was spoofing the powerful Battlefield imagery and sound. We needed to set the tone that this was legit, but we didn't take ourselves too seriously. Nobody knew what to think. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUnc...

youtube.com

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Teaser Trailer - E3 2013 EA Conference

YouTube video by IGN

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

February 25, 29014, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare launched. It was an insane idea: Take one of the most beloved game IP's ever and make a third person shooter. Should have been a disaster. Should have been a cash-grab. But a talented, scrappy team ended up making it a passion project.

An image from the game Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, showing a Chomper plant bursting from the ground and getting ready to "chomp" a basic "Browncoat" zombie. The setting is a typical backyard, complete with picket fences, a pink flamingo, and a yard gnome.

An image from the game Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, showing a Bonk Choy plant sitting in a pot and punching a basic Browncoat zombie in the head. The zombie is recoiling from the impact. The setting is a suburban sidewalk, and you can see more zombies stumbling along in the background.

An image from the game Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, showing a zombie Foot Soldier and an All-Star (two classes in the game) running toward the camera with their weapons blazing. The setting is a typical suburban neighborhood, and there are additional basic zombies stumbling around in the background.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

People who can draw horses are magic.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Here to add another vote for Kingdom Rush. Very solid, charming game with a bunch of sequels. Has he played the PvZ Garden Warfare games? Not completely TD but still very PvZ. GW2 is very likable.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

It's all so overwhelming, but I assume that is the point. Gotta keep going and doing what we can. I am determined that this story has a different ending.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Absolutely beautiful! Love the subtlety and texture. Well done!

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

One of the many things that have materialized thanks to the oppression and murder in Minnesota: A rock solid list of people who I would never hire, and frankly never agree to work with. People are really feeling comfortable being terrible humans online. We can see you, and will not forget.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Cleaning out an old drive, and I found these quick sketches I did forever ago to show off a little pirate game idea.

A rough sketch showing a rowdy group of pirates looking out across an expanse at a giant treasure chest. The text "Go get the gold! Plunder and pillage" sits at the top of the image, and there is a green "GO" button in the lower right corner.

A rough sketch showing a concerned group of pirates looking out over their fort wall and across an expanse at an incoming horde of enemy pirates. The text "Pirates Ahoy!" sits at the top of the image, and there is more text on the right that says "Shiver me timbers! Pirates Attacking! We sent our crew after gold, but we are under siege! Now you must defend your treasure." There is a "DEFEND!" button in the lower right corner.

This rough mock-up shows an idea for a simple game mode selection screen, from a never-made pirate game. On the left is an image representing single player mode, and on the right one representing multiplayer mode.

A rough sketch mock-up of a title card for a mobile game idea. This sketch shows a large pirate flag in the center, housing the title "Pirate Rush." There is a skull and crossbones on the flag as well. At the bottom of the flag, there are silhouettes of two teams of pirates running at each other from each side of the image. There is a play button at the bottom center of the screen.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Right. It was not Dan. I wish it had been though! Dan is awesome. I really liked the work that Russel had done on Minions, and I do think he did a good job on Zomboss… just not a fan of him anymore.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Ha. I figured you would ask me that. It’s a long story, but we never really shared who did the voice because we didn’t have enough money in our budget to afford using his name. Weird, I know. It later came out online that it was Russel Brand.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I do. I was there. I directed his performance. 📢🤓🪄

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I appreciate you asking me this question. I WISH that was me, playing Dr. Zomboss… but no it isn’t me. I directed the actor doing the VO, and it was a wild session as you might imagine. Good memories.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

OMG this brings back so many memories. I grew up terrified of Wookalars!

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Dude, you've never ripped a pit? Or pitted a rip? Phllrrrbt!

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I think the inconvenient truth is that they will actually never stop. Art is a cloudy mystery to most people, which is easy to forget since we live and breath it!

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

"Have courage and be kind. Everything else is out of your control." I'm going to try to make this my 2026.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Throughout my career, I’ve communicated creative and artistic direction through some of the worst drawings imaginable. That’s how it’s supposed to go! Your job is to set up the people on your team for success by letting THEM interpret the rough ideas into beautiful things with their unique brains.

Simple rough sketch on the back of note paper showing the shape of a human standing in front of a set of screens.

Simple rough sketches on a white board showing the flow of a game utilizing simple shapes and boxes.

Simple rough sketch showing sticker figure characters climbing out of the pages of an open book.

Simple rough sketch showing a robot standing at the bedside of a character lying in a hospital bed.

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Lots of great examples of raw "idea art" in the comments. I think people would be shocked to know how many of their favorite scenes in both movies and games started on a napkin or Post-It. :)

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Jeremy Vanhoozer @vanhoozerbot.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

If you use Generative AI to create concept art for your game, I would argue that your game is absolutely shipping with AI in it. Concept art is perhaps the most creatively influential step in developing a new idea, and it affects almost every step of the development process that follows.

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