Identical twins now visualizing online battles

Identical twins Oscar and Edgardo Monteon '09 are designing video-game characters for Riot Games, designers of the award-winning online video game, League of Legends.
Identical twins Oscar and Edgardo Monteon '09 are designing video-game characters for Riot Games, designers of the award-winning online video game, League of Legends.

Identical twins Oscar and Edgardo Monteon ’09 not only chose to attend the same college and study the same subject (fine arts), they now work only a few desks away from each other.

Having earned certificates from Connecticut College’s Ammerman Center for Arts & Technology, the Monteons have turned their interest in art and design into a career many people would die for: creating video game characters.

The Monteons work in the seaside Los Angeles suburb of Santa Monica at Riot Games, one of the country’s top video-game companies. Both are character artists, which means they use 3D modeling software to bring fantastical creatures and champions to life in Riot’s award-winning online video game, League of Legends.

Oscar created the in-game visuals for a character called Fizz, a small aquatic creature who wields a magic trident. Edgar has worked on characters such as Ahri, a seductive half-fox, half-human enchantress; and Cho’Gath, a nightmare beast.

Originally from central Mexico, Oscar and Edgardo moved to the United States when they were in second grade and grew up 30 miles east of L.A. in Pomona, Calif.

They attended Connecticut College with support from the Bright Prospect Scholar Support Program, which assists potential first-generation college-goers from seven Pomona-area high schools. Oscar says the program was “a big brother” to him during his college experience. Bright Prospect has sent 14 students to the College over the last 10 years.

The 26-year-olds say the courses and equipment they experienced at Connecticut College -- especially “Introduction to 3D Modeling Software” and various art principles they learned -- helped them get to where they are today. Oscar was the first to go to work for Riot Games, about two years ago. Edgardo was hired not long after on his brother’s recommendation.

The tag-team character artists also live together in L.A.

“My brother and I have long been each other’s competitor,” Oscar says, “as well as the best supporter.”

--Whit Richardson



October 4, 2013