Rasmus is making his mark in Skellefteå's gaming industry

As a child, Rasmus Karlsson drew his own comics. Today, he designs new levels for a mobile game played by people all over the world.

After three years at LTU and a summer fellowship from the Samme Foundation, he has begun making plans to start his own game company.

Rasmus Karlsson is 21 years old and recently completed his degree in computer graphics for games and film at LTU in Skellefteå. This summer, he’s working at SpinOff Games, a game studio based in Skellefteå.

This is something I’m really passionate about, so it feels worth putting my time and effort into. I went straight from high school to university, and now I’m continuing for a fourth year. I’ve always set new goals for myself,” he says.

His interest in creating began early. As a child, he drew his own comics, inspired by the comics and books he read at home. In middle school, he became interested in fantasy and role-playing games through Drakar och Demoner. Later, he discovered the 3D software Blender.

At NTI High School in Luleå, he had the opportunity to develop that interest further.

- We had a teacher who was very passionate about modeling. That’s where my own interest really started to grow, and since then I’ve just kept going with design and modeling.

Wanted to Study in Skellefteå

As early as his second year of high school, Rasmus began looking into LTU’s program in computer graphics for games and film in Skellefteå.

It was kind of a dream to get in. I’d read a lot of positive things about the program and its connections to the industry. It was really exciting when I got accepted, and the program has been fantastic.

Over the past three years, he has worked on projects involving level design, concept development, and 3D graphics. He has also been involved in the program’s advisory board.

He came into contact with Skellefteå’s game industry early on. Arctic Game has organized activities and game jams, including in Jörn, and through the program, Rasmus has met both local game companies and people working in the industry.

One of these connections led to an internship at SpinOff Games. When the company later looked for a student to take part in a project through the Samme Foundation’s summer fellowship program, Rasmus was already familiar with both the workplace and the way the team works.

- It was nice to come back and already know how they work and how the projects are structured. SpinOff Games is incredibly welcoming. They’re a really great group of people.

Designing New Courses for Disc Golf Valley

This summer, Rasmus is designing new courses for SpinOff Games’ mobile game Disc Golf Valley. His role is level design – building the courses and the environments around them.

He uses the company’s existing models and combines terrain, vegetation, and other elements to create environments that work both visually and as part of the gameplay.

It’s a mix of design and modeling, but above all, a lot of set dressing. You use the models to create a cohesive environment and composition.

The work has also sparked an interest in disc golf, which has a strong presence in Skellefteå. SpinOff Games is part of House of Disc, which also includes disc golf manufacturer Latitude 64°.

- I’ve actually gone out and bought a bunch of discs now, says Rasmus.

He’s aware that the game industry has been through a few tough years, which makes this summer’s opportunity particularly valuable.

- It’s been absolutely wonderful. I get to work on a project that really matches my own interests, while also earning a living over the summer. I get to expand my network and gain experience in a professional environment. You learn a lot from it.

He also believes that the connections between students and game companies in Skellefteå need to continue to grow.

It feels rewarding to be able to help strengthen the game industry here in Skellefteå. It’s important for students in the programs here to know that there’s an industry waiting for them when they graduate.

Planning to Start His Own Company

In September, Rasmus will begin his fourth year of study at LTU. He has applied for independent courses that will give him more room to focus on his own projects and marketing.

At the same time, he’s thinking about starting a small game company after finishing his studies. He’d like to continue working with areas such as concept development and level design while exploring his own game ideas.

- I think I’d like to keep the company fairly small. Maybe make a different kind of game – a puzzle game or something more story-driven. Those are the kinds of game projects I’d like to continue working on in the future, Rasmus says.

Campus Skellefteå

Campus Skellefteå brings together universities, vocational colleges, research, and the business community. It offers programs in fields such as gaming and IT, energy, industry, healthcare, and social sciences, with the option to study both on campus and remotely.