Peter Gomes

PETER GOMES

Jared Melanson | Senior Staff Writer jmelanson13@bristolcc.edu Q: What’s your major?

A: My major is computer information systems with a concentration in game development, game programming.

Q: What do you plan on doing with that career?

A: My plan right now after graduating is just to go to a 4-year school and just work in the industry. To create video games.

Q: What motivated you to go into your field of study?

A: I’ve been creating video games pretty much since middle school, so I’m set on it. It just kind of came naturally to me, so I decided to pursue it. I did programming vocationally in high school, and since then, I’ve just been learning a lot. And, it just came naturally that I’ve been studying it in college as well.

Q: I see that you’ve got a lot of merchandise. So what’s the vibe in your room like?

A: Basically just stuff I buy just all around my room. All that. So, I just have a whole bunch of posters, whole bunch of figurines, plushies.

Q: What anime is that in the background?

A: There are plenty in the background. Haha! The biggest one you see is from an anime called “Re:Zero.” I go to something called an artist ally at conventions and some of the art is just characters artists have drawn. I just buy those and think they look cool, slap them on my wall. I still have more, and I’m trying to fit some in spaces.

Q: Yeah, I take it you’re a big anime fan.

A: I also have a shirt from one of my conventions on.

Q: Do you read manga as well?

A: Oh boy, do I! Hold on. (Gome gets up to show collection.) I have a little library over here, of all that stuff. I have around 120 volumes right now of manga.

Q: Sweet! I do have more questions, though. What has your experience at Bristol been like?

A: Well before the whole going online thing, it was pretty good. I just went to school, just had a ride and all that. Sometimes I would take the bus there. Transportation’s been a lot easier for me. All I need is to take a few steps from my bed to the computer, which is a pretty daunting experience. The workload has been a little bit more with online classes because you have to kind of manage your own time. So I’ll sprinkle it in throughout the day.

Q: Have there been any challenges you’ve seen during your school experience?

A: Definitely group work, because a lot of people don’t meet [online]. Mainly towards the beginning of the switch, I would be asking them have you done your work and they’d be like “Oh my God, I forgot I was in the class. I’m sorry.” I’ve had that happen a couple times, but more now the motivation has been a little low, I’m guessing for some people.

Q: How has the pandemic affected your time as a student?

A: Before then, I worked a little bit more while taking classes, ‘cause I would specifically set my time in school for studying specifically, and then I have my home time to myself. But since they’re kind of mixed together, I reduced my hours at work to compensate for that so I can focus a little bit more on school.

Peter Gomes in New Bedford | Photo by Camilla Carlozzi

Q: What got you through the stresses of being a student?

A: I have a to do list on one of my monitors. So once I see it going down, I could finally take a chill day, so I can just spend a little bit more time to myself, rather than getting stuck having to worry about this laundry list of stuff to do.

Q: I heard you do graphic design too. Is that true?

A: I do art specifically, like over here is a drawing tablet. It comes with a pen and everything. I really do like 2D art more so. I have specifically for my game production class, but focusing more on interfaces, which is a little bit new for me, but mainly I focus on 2D character art.

Peter Gomes | Photo by Camilla Carlozzi Q: Has that gotten you through the pandemic? Drawing in general?

A: I mean, it’s my little side hustle. I do it for money, so.

Q: Dude, that’s awesome. How much are you getting paid for that, if you don’t mind me asking?

A: Not much because I’ve been trying to focus more on drawing for myself rather than clients, so my cues have been really low. When I go to my 4- year school I might increase production, because I don’t want to go back to retail. On a good month, I would say I can make $100 a month, which isn’t astounding numbers, but it’s better than nothing. I know a lot of full-time artists get a lot more than minimum wage. It comes with a lot of added stress. I know some artists that do stuff full-time, and I could never deal with that stress of just having like ten people ask you everyday, “Hey, where’s my commission?” while you’re taking a breather day. It’s a little bit stressful to do it all the time.

Q: Is that stress part of the pandemic itself, or is it just the drawing thing?

A: I would say working at home stress mainly. Not specifically related to the pandemic.

Q: What kind of drawings do you like to illustrate?

A: I mainly focus on just drawing people’s characters. Just kind of like pin-up designs. Like characters that are mainly in the shot with very little background, that kind of the style. You’ll see this in the industry more, that a lot more women are drawn because it’s a lot easier to draw, like the shapes. So I focus more on that, and also it’s where the most money gets from. A lot of people like that drawn.

Q: So how has drawing affected your pandemic life? Is it good, bad?

A: I would say it would be bad if I didn’t like it, but I do. I’ve been drawing for classes as well, which in the game industry, it’s a little bit rare to see a programmer with an artistic background, so that makes me a little bit more of a jack of all trades. It’s less focused on my major, just more of a hobby I have that can work with my major pretty well. They’ll also be studying a little bit in my 4-year college because they do require a little bit of art classes to get my bachelor’s, so I already have some experience. Having a little bit more I mean wouldn’t hurt at all. Just a little bit more creativity that I can add to the table.

Q: We’re doing a little piece about what’s next for the Bristol community, so we want to know what’s next for you.

A: Regarding the pandemic, I actually got vaccinated recently. Like fully vaccinated. So I’m doing fine doing my part. So, I would recommend that everyone, at least you know, do that to help the future a little bit.

Q: Do you have anything else that you want to talk about? Any questions for me?

A: The pandemic sucked, but just make sure you do your part. I highly do recommend vaccinations. I mean I tried it out, and I haven’t exploded or anything yet, so we’re doing good on that part.