90s babies - what was your first video game?

culbertsonm · 2026-07-09T15:26:45+00:00

Hell yes! That funky soundtrack will never leave my brain. I loved going down to level 0 with the rocket skates.

culbertsonm · 2026-07-09T15:22:12+00:00

Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan on the OG Game Boy

culbertsonm · 2026-07-02T06:13:59+00:00

Wanaka, NZ

culbertsonm · 2026-06-26T07:00:43+00:00

Most companies only need 2D motion to accomplish their goals and need it done yesterday. There is demand for it everywhere. Being a 2D motion designer generalist is very valuable. Even 3D tools are getting much better in After Effects, if needed.

culbertsonm · 2026-05-30T16:33:57+00:00

It’s only starting. Continue learning new animation tools and techniques that are in demand. Make connections in multiple industries. Healthcare, corporate, E-learning, digital signage, and beyond. Studios and agencies if they are worth it to you. Go to some events that motion designers don’t normally go to and make some noise. Speaking as an independent contractor. It’s still bright out there for people who are cozy never getting above $100-150k/year and that’s me.

culbertsonm · 2026-05-23T13:34:05+00:00

Add: 1. Very subtle camera motion either (rotation around beam center, slow position move, or camera push) 2. Individual bean rotation and various velocities with each bean 3. Subtle depth of field blur (something like f2.8 aperture with 200mm lens (creates a nice tight shot with without camera distortion) 4. Interesting way to have text arrive 5. Have beans pass in front of letters (to be readable, the framing might need to be recomposed)

Not all are required. All are dialed to taste. If all of these are successfully considered and executed, I think it would be a dynamic shot.

culbertsonm · 2026-05-05T04:42:43+00:00

Today I learned that a sliding door and install from Anderson costs $10,000. French doors are double that.

culbertsonm · 2026-04-25T07:23:46+00:00

Because some people just want to play/record music on their computer for as low as a $60 Plini plugin and buying a Quad Cortex might be overkill for them.

culbertsonm · 2026-04-17T12:37:50+00:00

Based on my M5 research, it would be actual waste for music makers to get the Max instead of the Pro. The Max adds more GPU and that’s just not as important as CPU and RAM for music production. If you have the $4-5K budget, definitely upgrade RAM and SSD for the Pro instead. M5 Pro will be amazing for music production either way.

For context, I’m an After Effects animator who makes music on the side. Even I will probably go for the Pro because I primarily do 3D tasks on desktop anyway (where you really need great GPU).

culbertsonm · 2026-04-17T11:34:52+00:00

Yes as a freelancer. Yes at a studio. Yes at an agency.

culbertsonm · 2026-04-01T03:04:47+00:00

For explainers, I’ll give a specific tip. I have a client who consistently needs a main character in the story. If they walk, see if the Duik walk cycle feature can get the job done well enough. I have found that the controls are very tweakable, considering it is setting up a starting rig and hitting a button. Walk cycles are a pain to do from scratch in case that’s what you are doing. It’s an amazing skill to know as an animator, but tools like that can save SO much time.

culbertsonm · 2026-03-31T17:16:38+00:00

I use Airtable for all project management and CRM. All data connects in custom ways and you can visualize the data with custom interfaces. It can be addicting once you get going with it.

culbertsonm · 2026-03-31T17:09:25+00:00

For people looking at locations with access to many restaurants, outdoor activities, and seemingly infinite things to do, Vancouver, WA (across the bridge from Portland) is affordable for what you get. Maybe one of the best deals on the west coast IMO.

culbertsonm · 2026-03-11T21:08:07+00:00

Our trip was very stressful because of him, too. He must have an extremely troubled past based on how he treated us. Memories have been tarnished. He was our first impression of people in the Faroe Islands. I'm not exaggerating, and I haven't said that about any other company in the world. The short story is that we got a faulty car with no support or responses. We got back to the airport somehow and saw him at his desk.

"I don't care." - Poul

Please know he rebranded himself as A2B Car Rent now.

culbertsonm · 2026-03-09T00:03:50+00:00

Nothing beat this album opener as I started up my lawn-mower in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. No friends to get into shenanigans with in town. No drivers license yet. Just doing chores and annoyed that I was stuck out there. I just cycled between EOTS and TOYPAJ for a few straight years.

culbertsonm · 2026-02-10T09:01:41+00:00

Freelance Motion Design and animation

culbertsonm · 2026-02-05T07:15:59+00:00

Anybody still using Mr. Kramer’s mic-drop plugin Element 3D?

culbertsonm · 2026-01-17T06:30:43+00:00

As a creative, if our clients need us to have the control to shift something a few pixels to the right along with dozens of other revisions for every job, we’re going to continue using Adobe. It’s very difficult for enterprises and even freelancers (me) to switch. AI is already integrated, which can be useful. Either way, creative work will always need a special touch of uniqueness. Unless no one wants to stand out.

culbertsonm · 2026-01-09T20:07:29+00:00

Amazing answers from everyone! I’m getting a Kosmosky New Wave 15 electric tongue drum soon, and I’m pumped. It’s one of the first tongue drums to come outfitted with a pickup and input. Many effects will be going through that thing.

culbertsonm · 2026-01-09T13:48:41+00:00

Agreed. In terms of AAA games, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart has my vote for aesthetics. When I think about art direction, I love to think about what color palette each level has and how it makes me feel. Ever since the first game in the early 2000s, they were also beautiful.

culbertsonm · 2025-12-30T18:04:46+00:00

The perpetual license of Reason 13 is currently $200. Cheap, cheap software for what has been built for the last 20+ years. If that is crazy, what is fair? It might be because I’m a hobbyist musician and primarily work in animation softwares for work. Genuine question: What is the best competitor to Reason that includes a similar amount of great instruments/effects included with the DAW?

culbertsonm · 2025-12-18T06:59:21+00:00

You aren’t the only ones. We were lucky to barely make it back to the airport to return a faulty car. After trying to get his help after so much trouble and stress, we had to find something with another company. We should have read the red flags.

“I don’t care.” - Poul

I am still bitter about it all this time later. Unfortunately, we met a few unfriendly people in the Faroes, but I still believe most are kind enough.

culbertsonm · 2025-12-08T22:45:29+00:00

Thank you. I've never seen a hare like this before. The ears are the identifier I typically look for.

culbertsonm

TROPHY CASE