Ever since Samuel López De Victoria was a teenager, he viewed a video game controller and a keyboard the way a painter views and grips a brush. To him, video games are not distractions or noisy time-wasters, but interactive canvases where storylines unfold like epic novels and pixelated characters carry the weight of Shakespearean tragedy. He can talk about the brushstrokes in a game’s hand-drawn scenery as easily as others might describe Van Gogh’s swirls. He insists these worlds hold artistry just as profound as galleries or theaters. But only here, the player becomes part of the masterpiece.
“My two sisters did artwork in Miami, and that got me more into the arts and seeing the arts behind game developing,” says López De Victoria. “I considered games to be more of an art form, and I learned programming myself and looked at games like REZ and Killer7 that inspired me because of their visuals.
“Getting my master’s helped me a lot with my creativity and background in the arts, but also my family history,” says López De Victoria. “Even though I’m originally from Kensington, Maryland, I came to Miami, and witnessing all the colors of the ‘90s and South Florida very much influenced me.”
Miami in the ’90s pulsed like a living mural, like neon lights reflecting off pastel Art Deco walls, lowriders thumping with bass along Ocean Drive, and corner bodegas stacked with glossy magazines and plastic-wrapped VHS tapes. Arcades buzzed with the glow of Street Fighter battles, while living rooms lit up with Nintendo and Sega consoles that turned pixelated heroes into cultural icons. Inspiring a generation to see art not only in galleries, but in joysticks, music videos, and the rhythm of the city itself.
“My dad was a pastor and my mom was a stay-at-home mom,” says López De Victoria. “I played games on my dad’s computer, and I remember having a Sesame Street game I was obsessed with. But I fell in love with games, ‘90s culture and Microsoft Paint.” He learned to animate and how to program.
López De Victoria blends bold, vibrant vector illustrations with cutting-edge game technology to craft virtual and augmented reality worlds that do more than entertain; they nurture empathy and spark kindness. Inspired by the gentle wisdom of PBS shows and the timeless lessons of Mister Rogers, his creations invite players to step into immersive experiences where compassion and thoughtfulness are at the heart of the adventure.
“About three or four years ago, I had an idea for Platz,” says López De Victoria of his latest project. “I really wanted to focus on making a game that’s not just about humans. But create a game where animals are facilitating the world with human technology to make it a better place.”
In this immersive video game art project, players step into a tranquil yet futuristic world where nature and technology have become one. Here, living plants pulse with streams of digital code, their roots intertwined with circuits, generating a new form of sustainable energy.
Within this serene landscape, players take on the role of caretakers and cultivators, nurturing these hybrid lifeforms to unlock their potential. Every leaf, blossom, and tendril becomes both a source of power and a key to restoring balance. By tending to this living network, players “hack” into the very fabric of a fractured future, guiding it back toward harmony and renewal.
On Saturday, September 20 at Mad Arts, he’ll invite the community into an afternoon of play, reflection, and discovery through Platz. The event begins with an interactive workshop followed by a public lecture.
“Getting the 2023 Creator Award helped a lot with Platz and the funding to actually build this thing,” said López De Victoria. “I submitted an application, got accepted, and it’s been awesome ever since.”
He also runs a nonprofit he founded to spark imagination and opportunity. Through this platform, he mentors visual artists and uplifts underserved communities, guiding them in the art of designing video games and interactive media.
The nonprofit, says López De Victoria, “actually came out as frustration because I was frustrated that I was seeing these game developing tools in other places like Toronto, California, and other places using games as a medium for art, but nobody doing it in South Florida.”
The organization becomes a bridge between creativity and technology, where participants don’t just learn how to build digital worlds, but also how to tell their own stories through them. By weaving mentorship with innovation, Lopez De Victoria empowers new voices to transform pixels and code into living, breathing art.
“I want more artists to do this,” says López De Victoria. “I set this up so we can have more resources and make it more accessible, have mentorship, and I want to see more art games come out of South Florida. We also set up events and special workshops, and all are welcome.”
As a visiting instructor at Florida Atlantic University,, he brings artistry and innovation to the classroom, guiding students through such courses as Fundamentals of Digital Media Practice, 3D Video Game Design, and Advanced Digital Compositing for Animation. Each lesson blends technical precision with artistic exploration, offering students a space where structure and imagination walk hand in hand.
López De Victoria’s assignments may appear straightforward, but they open vast landscapes of creative possibility. He encourages students to take risks, to push beyond the expected, and to infuse their individuality into every project. By engaging deeply with their personal interests, he helps them carve out paths toward their own career visions in the evolving world of digital media.
López De Victoria brings his own real-world experiences into the classroom, showing students that persistence, originality, and resilience can light the way to success in the competitive gaming industry. Through his mentorship, he is empowering the next generation of game developers and digital artists to imagine worlds without limits.
WHAT: Platz
WHERE: Mad Arts, 481 S. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
DATE AND TIME: Saturday, September 20, 4 to 7 p.m.
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: 754-239-0707 or yeswearemadarts.com
