Brian C McRae
@bcmcrae.bsky.social
Studio Founder • AAA Art Lead • Best-Selling Designer • Making cinematic, story-first experiences.
Dev Logs & Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BrianMcRaeStudio
Dev Logs & Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BrianMcRaeStudio
I’m working on a new AI rendering tool that gives full camera control using your 3D assets as a guide.
It’s designed to help creative professionals get the exact cinematic angle and mood they want.
#AI #3D #Filmmaking #GameDev #AIArt
It’s designed to help creative professionals get the exact cinematic angle and mood they want.
#AI #3D #Filmmaking #GameDev #AIArt
November 11, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I’m working on a new AI rendering tool that gives full camera control using your 3D assets as a guide.
It’s designed to help creative professionals get the exact cinematic angle and mood they want.
#AI #3D #Filmmaking #GameDev #AIArt
It’s designed to help creative professionals get the exact cinematic angle and mood they want.
#AI #3D #Filmmaking #GameDev #AIArt
Been working on a project to help with...my project!
It's a story bible software that drives all the sequences in the experience, allowing for true, dynamic and meaningful interactions with other characters.
#StoryWorld #Screenwriting #GameDevTools
It's a story bible software that drives all the sequences in the experience, allowing for true, dynamic and meaningful interactions with other characters.
#StoryWorld #Screenwriting #GameDevTools
October 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Been working on a project to help with...my project!
It's a story bible software that drives all the sequences in the experience, allowing for true, dynamic and meaningful interactions with other characters.
#StoryWorld #Screenwriting #GameDevTools
It's a story bible software that drives all the sequences in the experience, allowing for true, dynamic and meaningful interactions with other characters.
#StoryWorld #Screenwriting #GameDevTools
Asked by a AAA Technical Art Director about how I'm doing the wind system in #WhipsersInTheCorn
My response shows that games are a little more complex than you might think. :)
My response shows that games are a little more complex than you might think. :)
September 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Asked by a AAA Technical Art Director about how I'm doing the wind system in #WhipsersInTheCorn
My response shows that games are a little more complex than you might think. :)
My response shows that games are a little more complex than you might think. :)
Vertex shader run through a simple perlin noise texture for movement. To keep them grounded I used vertex colors as a gradient painted in Max to influence sway, bend and jiggle, so R,G, and B were all used on the meshes.
September 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Vertex shader run through a simple perlin noise texture for movement. To keep them grounded I used vertex colors as a gradient painted in Max to influence sway, bend and jiggle, so R,G, and B were all used on the meshes.
Interaction is achieved using a volume field to influence the shader based on the position and radius of any object with a volume helper script. Pretty performant up to about 10 influence objects - which is plenty for my case.
September 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Interaction is achieved using a volume field to influence the shader based on the position and radius of any object with a volume helper script. Pretty performant up to about 10 influence objects - which is plenty for my case.
All instanced geo that renders 30m - 90m verts in drawview at 60fps. Distance trees use a more simple vert shader and wind system. I can change the amount of wind on a slider (for story/gameplay reasons). Took about a week or two to get it right.
September 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
All instanced geo that renders 30m - 90m verts in drawview at 60fps. Distance trees use a more simple vert shader and wind system. I can change the amount of wind on a slider (for story/gameplay reasons). Took about a week or two to get it right.
Made a build of #WhispersInTheCorn and textures came in at 2.2GB. Too big. After going through one by one, got it down to 1.1GB with no loss to visual quality.
But it's tricky to find. Go to Editor.log>Build Report after a build to view your texture list.
But it's tricky to find. Go to Editor.log>Build Report after a build to view your texture list.
September 23, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Made a build of #WhispersInTheCorn and textures came in at 2.2GB. Too big. After going through one by one, got it down to 1.1GB with no loss to visual quality.
But it's tricky to find. Go to Editor.log>Build Report after a build to view your texture list.
But it's tricky to find. Go to Editor.log>Build Report after a build to view your texture list.
Results from my Youtube channel poll last week. I actually love hearing there's plenty of interest in design theory and my process, two topics I enjoy sharing the most!
September 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Results from my Youtube channel poll last week. I actually love hearing there's plenty of interest in design theory and my process, two topics I enjoy sharing the most!
People have been asking for more #WhispersInTheCorn devlogs, but I've been holding back - don't want to give away the surprises!
Here's what I can say:
The story is very close to the original inception, but the design has evolved. More soon!
#indiedev #UnityHDRP #gameDesign #HorrorGames
Here's what I can say:
The story is very close to the original inception, but the design has evolved. More soon!
#indiedev #UnityHDRP #gameDesign #HorrorGames
September 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
People have been asking for more #WhispersInTheCorn devlogs, but I've been holding back - don't want to give away the surprises!
Here's what I can say:
The story is very close to the original inception, but the design has evolved. More soon!
#indiedev #UnityHDRP #gameDesign #HorrorGames
Here's what I can say:
The story is very close to the original inception, but the design has evolved. More soon!
#indiedev #UnityHDRP #gameDesign #HorrorGames
The Eyeball Creature from #AlienEarth is probably the most sinister monster of all time. When it jumped at the #xenomorph in ep 5, I actually felt bad for the xenomorph.
#AlienEarth #creaturedesign #Alien #horror
#AlienEarth #creaturedesign #Alien #horror
September 17, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The Eyeball Creature from #AlienEarth is probably the most sinister monster of all time. When it jumped at the #xenomorph in ep 5, I actually felt bad for the xenomorph.
#AlienEarth #creaturedesign #Alien #horror
#AlienEarth #creaturedesign #Alien #horror
In-editor footage from "Whispers in the Corn" - my new horror project, made with Unity HDRP.
My goal - to create the scariest scarecrow experience ever.
Launching this Halloween through my own site and launcher.
#unity3d #UnityHDRP #indiegames #HorrorGames #horror
My goal - to create the scariest scarecrow experience ever.
Launching this Halloween through my own site and launcher.
#unity3d #UnityHDRP #indiegames #HorrorGames #horror
September 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
In-editor footage from "Whispers in the Corn" - my new horror project, made with Unity HDRP.
My goal - to create the scariest scarecrow experience ever.
Launching this Halloween through my own site and launcher.
#unity3d #UnityHDRP #indiegames #HorrorGames #horror
My goal - to create the scariest scarecrow experience ever.
Launching this Halloween through my own site and launcher.
#unity3d #UnityHDRP #indiegames #HorrorGames #horror
Advice I wish I had in my twenties:
One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted.
Do it now.
One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted.
Do it now.
September 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Advice I wish I had in my twenties:
One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted.
Do it now.
One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted.
Do it now.
Does an artist create for themself or for product/market fit?
After 25 years, I found it’s this:
An artist creates for the PROJECT.
• Create only what the project requires
• Not the artist's needs
• Not what marketing thinks the audience wants
The artist's job is to listen to the project.
#art
After 25 years, I found it’s this:
An artist creates for the PROJECT.
• Create only what the project requires
• Not the artist's needs
• Not what marketing thinks the audience wants
The artist's job is to listen to the project.
#art
September 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Does an artist create for themself or for product/market fit?
After 25 years, I found it’s this:
An artist creates for the PROJECT.
• Create only what the project requires
• Not the artist's needs
• Not what marketing thinks the audience wants
The artist's job is to listen to the project.
#art
After 25 years, I found it’s this:
An artist creates for the PROJECT.
• Create only what the project requires
• Not the artist's needs
• Not what marketing thinks the audience wants
The artist's job is to listen to the project.
#art
ChatGPT is designed to agree with you. Don’t let it.
Prompt this instead:
“You are a professional ____, Give me your honest, unbiased assessment of this idea, including pros, cons, and possible outcomes.”
Then, make your own decision.
#ChatGPT #aiworkflow #aiprompt
Prompt this instead:
“You are a professional ____, Give me your honest, unbiased assessment of this idea, including pros, cons, and possible outcomes.”
Then, make your own decision.
#ChatGPT #aiworkflow #aiprompt
September 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
ChatGPT is designed to agree with you. Don’t let it.
Prompt this instead:
“You are a professional ____, Give me your honest, unbiased assessment of this idea, including pros, cons, and possible outcomes.”
Then, make your own decision.
#ChatGPT #aiworkflow #aiprompt
Prompt this instead:
“You are a professional ____, Give me your honest, unbiased assessment of this idea, including pros, cons, and possible outcomes.”
Then, make your own decision.
#ChatGPT #aiworkflow #aiprompt
New video just went live.
This one's about the simple game design method that helped me ship a 1M+ units.
How to:
- Master your core loop
- Refine Your level loop
youtu.be/dreMi2rrPHU
#GameDev #LevelDesign #Gameloop #IndieDev #SoloDev
This one's about the simple game design method that helped me ship a 1M+ units.
How to:
- Master your core loop
- Refine Your level loop
youtu.be/dreMi2rrPHU
#GameDev #LevelDesign #Gameloop #IndieDev #SoloDev
August 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
New video just went live.
This one's about the simple game design method that helped me ship a 1M+ units.
How to:
- Master your core loop
- Refine Your level loop
youtu.be/dreMi2rrPHU
#GameDev #LevelDesign #Gameloop #IndieDev #SoloDev
This one's about the simple game design method that helped me ship a 1M+ units.
How to:
- Master your core loop
- Refine Your level loop
youtu.be/dreMi2rrPHU
#GameDev #LevelDesign #Gameloop #IndieDev #SoloDev
Took a walk down nostalgia lane on this one - back to my PS2 days at Midway as Senior Artist on Psi Ops. Enjoy!
#gaminghistory #midway #psiops #classicgames #gamedesign
youtu.be/xYI3YF9j-kk
#gaminghistory #midway #psiops #classicgames #gamedesign
youtu.be/xYI3YF9j-kk
How We Made Psi-Ops: One of Gaming’s Most Innovative Shooters
YouTube video by Brian McRae
youtu.be
August 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Took a walk down nostalgia lane on this one - back to my PS2 days at Midway as Senior Artist on Psi Ops. Enjoy!
#gaminghistory #midway #psiops #classicgames #gamedesign
youtu.be/xYI3YF9j-kk
#gaminghistory #midway #psiops #classicgames #gamedesign
youtu.be/xYI3YF9j-kk
It's not "What" you do, it's "Why" you do it.
open.substack.com/pub/brianmcr...
#indiedev #entrepreneur #creativebusiness
open.substack.com/pub/brianmcr...
#indiedev #entrepreneur #creativebusiness
August 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
It's not "What" you do, it's "Why" you do it.
open.substack.com/pub/brianmcr...
#indiedev #entrepreneur #creativebusiness
open.substack.com/pub/brianmcr...
#indiedev #entrepreneur #creativebusiness
At a certain point your project starts to speak to you, telling you what it needs next.
My job is simply to listen.
#creativity #indiedev #Philosophy
My job is simply to listen.
#creativity #indiedev #Philosophy
August 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
At a certain point your project starts to speak to you, telling you what it needs next.
My job is simply to listen.
#creativity #indiedev #Philosophy
My job is simply to listen.
#creativity #indiedev #Philosophy
He's watching you...
Facial rig test of the boy scarecrow for Whispers in the Corn, a horror experience I'm designing in Unity HDRP.
Coming soon.
#IndieDev, #HorrorGames, #AnalogHorror, #Unity, #GameArt
Facial rig test of the boy scarecrow for Whispers in the Corn, a horror experience I'm designing in Unity HDRP.
Coming soon.
#IndieDev, #HorrorGames, #AnalogHorror, #Unity, #GameArt
August 7, 2025 at 5:39 AM
He's watching you...
Facial rig test of the boy scarecrow for Whispers in the Corn, a horror experience I'm designing in Unity HDRP.
Coming soon.
#IndieDev, #HorrorGames, #AnalogHorror, #Unity, #GameArt
Facial rig test of the boy scarecrow for Whispers in the Corn, a horror experience I'm designing in Unity HDRP.
Coming soon.
#IndieDev, #HorrorGames, #AnalogHorror, #Unity, #GameArt
Brand new Devlog! Watch my character creation process bring this boy scarecrow to life.
#CharacterCreator #ZBrush #Horror #Scarecrow #IndieDev #DevLog #orrorGame #UnityHDRP #Unity
youtu.be/1XdUHi8Ox_c?...
#CharacterCreator #ZBrush #Horror #Scarecrow #IndieDev #DevLog #orrorGame #UnityHDRP #Unity
youtu.be/1XdUHi8Ox_c?...
Crafting the Boy Scarecrow | Whispers in the Corn
YouTube video by Brian McRae
youtu.be
August 1, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Brand new Devlog! Watch my character creation process bring this boy scarecrow to life.
#CharacterCreator #ZBrush #Horror #Scarecrow #IndieDev #DevLog #orrorGame #UnityHDRP #Unity
youtu.be/1XdUHi8Ox_c?...
#CharacterCreator #ZBrush #Horror #Scarecrow #IndieDev #DevLog #orrorGame #UnityHDRP #Unity
youtu.be/1XdUHi8Ox_c?...
🌽 You’ve seen cornfields in horror movies.
But have you ever been inside one…
…where something ancient is watching?
Screenshot from Whispers in the Corn — my upcoming interactive horror story.
🎮 Solo-dev. Built in Unity HDRP.
#gamedev #horrorgame #indiegamedev #screenshotsaturday
But have you ever been inside one…
…where something ancient is watching?
Screenshot from Whispers in the Corn — my upcoming interactive horror story.
🎮 Solo-dev. Built in Unity HDRP.
#gamedev #horrorgame #indiegamedev #screenshotsaturday
July 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
🌽 You’ve seen cornfields in horror movies.
But have you ever been inside one…
…where something ancient is watching?
Screenshot from Whispers in the Corn — my upcoming interactive horror story.
🎮 Solo-dev. Built in Unity HDRP.
#gamedev #horrorgame #indiegamedev #screenshotsaturday
But have you ever been inside one…
…where something ancient is watching?
Screenshot from Whispers in the Corn — my upcoming interactive horror story.
🎮 Solo-dev. Built in Unity HDRP.
#gamedev #horrorgame #indiegamedev #screenshotsaturday
Marionette Facial Rig for #WhispersInTheCorn
Follow the dev Journey, being made in #UnityHDRP
#IndieDev #GameDev #Horror #Marionette
Follow the dev Journey, being made in #UnityHDRP
#IndieDev #GameDev #Horror #Marionette
July 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Marionette Facial Rig for #WhispersInTheCorn
Follow the dev Journey, being made in #UnityHDRP
#IndieDev #GameDev #Horror #Marionette
Follow the dev Journey, being made in #UnityHDRP
#IndieDev #GameDev #Horror #Marionette
The hard thing about business is that you don’t know what’s behind the doors.
When working for a paycheck or a contract, it’s far more simple.
This is why founders are so brave. Working from a hunch, they abandon all other opportunities for something completely hypothetical.
#founder #business
When working for a paycheck or a contract, it’s far more simple.
This is why founders are so brave. Working from a hunch, they abandon all other opportunities for something completely hypothetical.
#founder #business
July 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
What's that lurking in the darkness?
Screenshot of #NightmareArcade
Made with #3DSMax, #Photoshop, #Unreal5
#unrealengine #indiegame #horror #arcade #horrorgame
Screenshot of #NightmareArcade
Made with #3DSMax, #Photoshop, #Unreal5
#unrealengine #indiegame #horror #arcade #horrorgame
July 22, 2025 at 11:47 PM
What's that lurking in the darkness?
Screenshot of #NightmareArcade
Made with #3DSMax, #Photoshop, #Unreal5
#unrealengine #indiegame #horror #arcade #horrorgame
Screenshot of #NightmareArcade
Made with #3DSMax, #Photoshop, #Unreal5
#unrealengine #indiegame #horror #arcade #horrorgame
At Ozzfest '97, after a Zakk Wylde guitar intro, Ozzy sang the opening lines "I was looking back on my life..." and the crowd erupted and wept.
July 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
At Ozzfest '97, after a Zakk Wylde guitar intro, Ozzy sang the opening lines "I was looking back on my life..." and the crowd erupted and wept.