USC COMPUTER SCIENCE GAMES PROGRAM STUDENT SPIKE FU SMILING
Spike Fu, a senior in the Computer Science Games Program at USC Viterbi, is on the brink of a significant turning point. Graduating this May with her bachelor’s degree, she’s planning to take her goal of helping to reshape the future of gaming, to the next level. From a young age, Fu was captivated by the storytelling power of games and animations, sparking a desire to blend her artistic passions with her technical skills at USC.
“It was during middle school that I discovered games are also a form of art,” said Fu.“I wanted to study something to wield my technical strengths and emphasize my pursuit of art. USC provided the perfect avenue for me – games.”
Championing Female Empowerment Through Digital Worlds
As an international student originally from China and a first-generation college student, Fu quickly immersed herself in campus life at USC, but with a focus on community impact. She joined USC Girls in Games, a student group that started during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a vision of supporting women in engineering. Witnessing the club’s progression since she was a freshman, Fu was elected as co-president in her junior year to help expand the club into professional networks.
USC GIRLS IN GAMES GATHERING
Under her leadership, the club transformed from a casual gathering into a burgeoning professional network. Recognizing a gap in support for women in her field, Fu took proactive steps to bridge it by revitalizing the USC Girl in Games club. USC Girls in Games now boasts more than 100 members and hosts regular events that bridge the gap between academic studies and industry realities.
“I proposed to transform the club into a professional and cultural club. The members and I used our connections outside school to host guest speaker sessions to help every girl who is interested in working in the industry,” said Fu. “I’m very grateful for the opportunities to participate in these groups, and I want to let fellow international students know that you will see a completely different view the moment you step out of your comfort zone.”
Crafting Dreams: Fu’s Artistic Vision in ‘Egregore’
In what can be seen as the capstone project of her undergraduate career, Fu spearheads the development of “Egregore,” a first-person mystery-adventure set in a surreal café in Cairo. As art lead, Fu coordinates a diverse team, blending her technical acumen with her creative flair to craft immersive environments and compelling narratives.
A PREVIEW OF THE GAME EGREGORE WHERE FU WAS THE ART LEAD
“As an art lead, some of my time goes to designing creative texture and models, but another big part of my time goes to managing and communicating with 10 artists, UI team, narrative team, engineering team,” said Fu. “My role is to ensure our pipeline and integration gives everyone an easy time creating their piece of work and putting them into the game.”
The project will debut at the USC Games Expo in May and launch on the online gaming platform, Steam.
THE ANIMATION FU CREATED FOR THE GAME OOPZ OOFS
In addition to her leadership in “Egregore,” Fu has honed her skills as a technical artist through her work on “Oopz Oofs,” a quirky adventure game that explores a body-swap scenario between a human and a dog. Working with creative director Ivan Pu, a master’s student at The USC School of Cinematic Arts, Fu has crafted the game’s protagonist, the dog, and focused on crafting the dog’s actions and movements, like sitting, barking, and begging.
Beyond the Classroom: A Foray into the Professional Realm
FU SITS IN A CLASSROOM AND WAVES HER GRADUATION CAP
Fu’s knowledge of the gaming industry also extends beyond academic projects. Her internship at PlayStation as a technical artist intern in the summer of 2023, marked a significant step in her professional journey, where she redesigned a crucial toolset for game developers, enhancing productivity and user experience.
“The team at PlayStation was very welcoming and gave me a lot of freedom to work on the projects that were of interest to me,” said Fu. “One of my biggest accomplishments during the internship was redesigning the global toolbar for artists under the Sony umbrella.”
Realizing the existing toolbar was difficult to navigate, she implemented a “search tool” and a “save” function, allowing artists to quickly access and store their most used tools. This enhancement significantly boosted the productivity and efficiency of the team, showcasing Fu’s knack for practical innovation and problem-solving when it comes to real-world challenges.
A Future Forged in Game Development
As she prepares to don her graduation cap, Fu is not slowing down. With plans to pursue a master’s degree in computer science in games at USC this fall, her educational journey is set to continue alongside a promising internship at Genies, a company at the forefront of digital avatar technology. With each step, Fu is not just navigating her future but also paving the way for others in the expansive universe of gaming. Her story is more than a tale of personal achievement; it’s a testament to how passion fueled by purpose can lead to profound impacts in the tech and art worlds. As she continues to blend creativity with technology, her journey remains a source of inspiration and a glimpse into the future of gaming.
For a deeper dive into Fu’s projects and career journey, explore her personal website here.
Published on May 8th, 2024
Last updated on May 16th, 2024
