Professional Skills for the Digital Age The Ultimate Guide to Success in the Game Industry & Life
Sheri Graner Ray is the CEO and Founder of Zombie Cat Studios in Austin Texas - a small indie studio focused on educational and training games as well as small entertainment titles. Formerly the Studio Design Director for Schell Games, Sheri worked with Jesse Schell on both original and licensed titles. She has been designing computer games since 1989 and has worked for such companies as Electronic Arts, Origin Systems, Sony Online Entertainment, Kings Isle, the US Navy, Kraft Foods, Cartoon Network, and many others. She is author of the book, “Gender Inclusive Game Design-Expanding the Market” which was nominated for Game Developer’s Book of the Year in 2005. As an award-winning designer, her title GeoCommander was named Best Serious Game, Government Division at the 2008 I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase and Challenge. She has been awarded the IGDA’s Game Developer’s Choice award and has been on the Hollywood Reporter and WGEN’s list of top women in games. A sought after speaker, Sheri has spoken at conferences worldwide on the subject of games, gamification, gender and games, and application of games to STEM. When she's not making games, she and her husband Tim are involved in time trials and road course racing in their Corvettes.
1. Why is it important for students interested in the game industry to understand the industry at large?
The game industry is a creative industry, meaning that it thrives on passion and ingenuity. A job in the game industry is more than just a 9-5 job. It's one that requires you to continue to grow you passion and knowledge. To survive and thrive in this industry you have to understand it, understand what it entails and be ready for the commitment it requires from you.
2. What social media is the most important for budding game industry professionals? Where is the industry active?
Social media is where this industry lives. Understanding how to use it to your advantage is one of the biggest steps toward learning how to network, which is what will lead you to be successful. This industry lives on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and, in a limited way, on Linked-In. You must remember that anything you put on any social networking site is public, and that means it will likely land in the hands of anyone considering you for employment.
3. How important is networking to you? How has it affected your career?
Networking is how this industry communicates. It's how we all keep in touch socially and professionally. I have found outstanding employment candidates through social networking as well as forwarding my own career.
4. How important is networking once you are employed in the industry?
It's the single most important thing you can do for your career. You must tend your professional network daily. Think of it like a garden. You have to water it and weed it regularly. You have to feed it daily. Only that way will it reap the benefits you need. Or, in more concrete terms, you have to keep your network alive and vibrant when you are employed so it will be there for you when you are not.
5. How do you stay current with industry news and trends?
Websites, blogs and social media. This industry moves so fast, it's the only way to keep up.
6. I'm sure people are always wanting to network with you. How do you like to be approached? What captures your attention?
I want people to stay in touch with me, even when they are employed. Ping me regularly with short emails telling me what they are up to. Link me to cool articles they see on twitter or facebook. NEVER be pushy or ask for a job outright. And don't be discouraged if I don't answer!!! I'm really busy and often things gets lost in the shuffle, just stay in touch!
7. What are the top 5 qualities, characteristics, or skills you look for in a new hire?
1. Synthesis thinking. That is the ability to look at disparate things and draw innovation from them.
2. The ability to "play ball" - the ability to bounce ideas back and forth quickly and easily without becoming proprietary or territorial over your own idea. I hire people who have LOTS of good ideas, not just one!
3. The maturity and confidence to intelligently discuss ideas - this kinda goes along with #2. Any newcomer I hire has to be mature enough and confident enough in their own ideas to be able to intelligently discuss alternative concepts. Note this doesn't mean DEFENDING a certain idea you came up with or loved from the last game you played.
4. Passionate about making games regardless of audience - I need people who understand the meta game of design... and that is designing a game the keeps the audience in it and engage for as long as intended. I don't care if we are designing an FPS for 15 year old males, a pet game for 8 year old girls or a potty training game for 1 year olds. Anyone I hire will have the same passion and will get just as excited about creating the experience regardless of the project or their own personal tastes/desires in games. (in other words.. I never want to hear "I just make games that *I* want to play)
5. Passionate about the industry - I need people who are passionate about ALL games and that means keeping up with industry news and information and being able to discuss these with the rest of the team.
8. What are the most rewarding aspects of working in the industry?
1. The people that you work with. I have worked with some of the most creatively brilliant people in the world. They make me run as hard as I can every single day and I thrive on that challenge.
2. Creating transformative experiences for my audience. Whether I am building an experience that teaches them a concrete skill or building an experience that takes them away from the real world for a while, that is why I make games.
9. How important are game conferences in regards to networking? What about local events (IGDA, etc.)?
They one of the three pillars to networking:
1. on line presence this is your online activities in social networks as they pertain to the industry. Making sure your name is out there on a daily basis and attached to positive, productive, interesting information.
2. physical presence - this is your presence at physical industry events such as conferences and local industry events (IGDA) Making sure your face is there... attached to your name.. and attached to positive, productive activities. This means DOING things, volunteering, helping out, things that show you would be a positive, productive person to add to a company.
3. private presence - this means what you do in your own private time that is related to the industry. Reading and keeping up with industry news is the passive part, but what do you create in your spare time that relates to the industry? Do you write blogs? Do you make your own games - either physical or computer based? Do you work on your art? Do you program for pleasure? These sorts of things build a portfolio you can show to your intended employers when you are brought in for an interview.
10. Do you have any advice for those still trying to break into the industry? Any specific tips not already covered?
Getting into the industry is not a passive task. No one is going to read your resume online and show up at your door begging you to come work for them. You and you alone are responsible for getting yourself in the industry. It is hard work, but by building your network it will happen.