Games, VFX and technical art

Van Aarde
Krynauw

I love making games! Even more so when I get to use Unreal and Houdini in the same breath.

C:\VANAARDE\FIRE.EXE
320×200
Mode 13h · 256 coloursThe very first effect I ever programmed
C:\VANAARDE\NOW.TXT
Currently working on
Undying West

I'm currently neck-deep in developing my game, Undying West, a co-op horror shooter set in the Old West where you and your friends hunt down zombie robots, armed with a lantern, a pocket full of bullets, and a good dose of grim determination.

Wishlist Undying West

Featured

▶ video
2026-02-04 · Undying West

Undying West - Its Alive!!

Improved robot zombie AI behaviour
▶ video
2023-03-13 · Glimpse

Glimpse - Epic MegaGrant Recipient!

Glimpse received an Epic Megagrant!
▶ video
2022-11-14 · Untethered

Untethered - Epic Megajam 2022 Winner

We won the Procedural Magicians category for our use of Houdini.

Latest from the log

All 28 posts →
C:\VANAARDE\LOG\*.*
ITSALIVE.MP4 · Undying West - Its Alive!! 8 file(s)Full log →

Reel

Watch it here →
Watch the reel

Film

Posters and roles →

Here are some films that I’ve worked on throughout my film career, using Houdini since 2008. My work ranged from RnD, destruction, developing custom render tech, custom Houdini Tools, shaders, VFX, procedural content creation down the pipeline development.

C:\VANAARDE\FILM\CREDITS.TXT
12 titles
  • Mad Max: Fury RoadDev, VFX
  • AftershockDestruction tools
  • Deepwater HorizonVFX
  • SEAL TeamDev
  • Seven PsychopathsVFX
  • Gods of EgyptVFX
  • GhostbustersVFX
  • Happy Feet TwoDev, VFX
  • LifeProcedural buildings
  • Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's CoveVFX
  • StrangerlandVFX
  • Saints & StrangersVFX

About

“No more game over for me. Now I make the rules!”Age 12, after changing the QBasic Nibbles source
Read the full story →
  1. Age 12Hacks the QBasic Nibbles source so hitting a wall gains a life instead of losing one.
  2. Age 16Turbo Pascal and Assembly: fire effects, font editors and BMP loaders in Mode 13h.
  3. Age 17C/C++ and DirectX. Final school project loads textured Quake 3 MD3 models with click-to-move.
  4. UniversityBScHons in Computer Science at Stellenbosch University.
  5. 2008Joins the VFX industry in South Africa with Houdini 9. Integrates Bullet physics into Houdini SOPs and builds geo2emp for Naiad fluids.
  6. SydneySeven years in Australia on films like Happy Feet Two and Mad Max: Fury Road.
  7. 2016Moves home and co-founds Leaping Rhino (client services) and Monocyte Games.
  8. 3 yearsDevelops the Houdini Engine plugin for Unreal with SideFX.
  9. 2022Untethered wins the Procedural Magicians category at the Epic MegaJam.
  10. 2023Glimpse receives an Epic MegaGrant.
  11. NowBuilding Undying West as From Earth Games.