In Warframe, one can earn a lot of money with homemade skins, as an artist from the Philippines is currently proving. Through his impressive designs, he can provide a carefree life for himself and his family.
Who is it about? Lendel “LED2012” Fajardo is a young 3D artist from the Philippines. He creates skins and accessories for the successful SciFi loot shooter Warframe using the graphic software Blender, and regularly submits his works to the developers.
Since his creations are regularly taken and sold by the devs, he earns enough money to provide for himself and his family.
Skins bring in more money than his mother earns
How does it work with the skins? In Warframe, skins are not only created by the design team at Digital Extremes. There has also been a program called TennoGen since 2015 (Tenno are the player characters in Warframe, a kind of superpowered space ninjas).
Through TennoGen, talented 3D artists can submit skins and accessories for the game to the developers. If a work is accepted, it eventually gets into the game and can be purchased in the shop.
In this case, the artist receives 30 percent of the proceeds from his work.
Source: Steam
What was he able to buy with the money? For LED2012, it seems to have paid off because after achieving initial success with his skins, enough money came in for him to exchange his old rusty PC for a stylish gaming laptop.
But his success continued, and time and again skins from him were brought into the game, and the money continued to flow generously. At that time, his family was in financial trouble, and thanks to the money Fajardo earned, he could generously support his family. He paid for, among other things:
- His sister’s medical technology studies
- The school of his two younger brothers
- Expenses for electricity, water, internet, and food
- A complete new floor with three bedrooms and a bathroom for the family home. Previously, all family members had shared two bedrooms.
Additionally, he had enough money left over to buy food for hungry neighbors during the Corona pandemic, who were still waiting for the government’s aid that had not arrived.
According to his own statements, the income from Warframe and a few smaller design jobs allowed the family to live in the lower middle class. He would, Fajardo says, earn ten times or more the salary of his mother, a nurse.
Next, he plans to get his own apartment and has already purchased some land.
How did he come to this activity? Curiously, Fajardo had no formal training as a 3D designer. He only has an unfinished degree in web design. He acquired his design skills through much practice and various tutorial videos on the free software Blender.
His first designs were also not accepted, which is why he decided to improve and still make it.
After my first attempt, I wanted to do more, so I kept trying. I have no training in 3D art, nothing, I just started reading and watching some tutorials about the processes of creating 3D assets. I kept trying, but I couldn’t figure out how to properly design helmets and complete skins, so I focused more on Syandanas [the capes that the Warframes wear]. That was my second object, the “Maharliqa”, which is somehow inspired by the Philippine flag.
Lendel “LED2012” Fajardo via PCGamer
What happened next? Fajardo continued to work on the cool Syandanas and eventually also created helmets, such as the famous cylinder helmet for the frame Limbo. The latter he created along with another artist named Hydroxate.
Through such collaborations with other artists, Fajardo improved even more, and together with the well-known fan artist Daemonstar, he was able to submit three new Syandanas at once, all of which were accepted and brought in good money.
His latest success is his first complete skin (the “Protea Collapsar Sentient” skin), and he has now brought one of his brothers into the business as an employee. In total, he has submitted 50 projects in the game (via Steam), which regularly bring him money.
Why are skins so important? The reason Lendel Fajardo is so successful with his skins is due to the great engagement of the Warframe community. For many players in Warframe, the real endgame is a fashion show of cool and outrageous skins. And the quirky look of Warframe seems ideal for igniting the imagination and creativity of artists and inspiring ever new, cool creations.
That’s why Fajardo is also excited every time he discovers one of his works in the game:
Every time I see someone wearing my Syandanas, whether they are hanging out in the relay or I’m playing a mission with them in a squad, there’s just this crazy, happy feeling that reminds me of the first time I saw my first work in the game. And I am extremely grateful to the community for supporting me.
More about the quirky style and designs in Warframe can be found here. Because the latest frame is inspired by a anime girl fanart.
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