What Type Of Person Thrives In The Gaming Industry, According To A Head Of Business Development At Xsolla
Maurice, Head of Business Development at Xsolla, highlights the diverse skill sets needed in the gaming industry, noting that while "a fun-loving" attitude and creativity are beneficial, a strong work ethic is crucial, especially given the potential for "crunch" periods near game launches. The industry demands adaptability and a willingness to handle last-minute changes, reflecting the complexities of bringing a consumer-facing product to market.
Creativity, Hard work ethic, Adaptability, Communication skills, Understanding of the gaming industry
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maurice Scarborough
Head of Business Development
Xsolla Holding Company
University of Missouri - 2010
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Gaming
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. A diverse skill set is needed to thrive in the gaming industry, encompassing roles beyond game development, such as finance, marketing, and operations.
2. While a passion for gaming isn't strictly required, an understanding of the product and the ability to enjoy the creative process are beneficial.
3. A strong work ethic and willingness to put in extra hours, especially during crunch time closer to product launch, are highly valued in the fast-paced gaming environment, as are creativity and adaptability to last-minute changes and feedback
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in the gaming industry?
That's a good question. My answer is a bit of a cop out, because I think the gaming industry is just like any other industry. It's diverse.
When people think of the gaming industry, they immediately think of game developers, artists, and designers – the people who create and produce the games. But like any other business, there are financial departments, marketing and advertising departments, and operations teams.
So, there's a whole gamut of people who work within gaming. This is because, like any other industry, there are many different functions, roles, and responsibilities. If gaming isn't your area of interest, or you're not someone who naturally enjoys fun, it might not be the first industry you consider.
This isn't to say you have to like games or be a fun person to work in the industry. At the end of the day, the product is video games. So, you should be able to enjoy yourself and have some fun.
I would advise having some understanding of the product you're working on. Being a bit more fun-loving probably never hurt. As with any industry that revolves around entertainment, creativity is key.
Within gaming, there's the creative side of those who build and create the games. But then there's marketing. Marketing a creative product like a game allows for more fun and creativity.
In my first role in market research and consulting, we often helped gaming companies, publishers, and developers figure out how to market and tailor messages to impact different player types and resonate with them. This allowed them to reach the widest audience possible.
This required creative thinking and ensuring we communicated to the different tastes and needs of consumers. As with any industry, a hard work ethic and the desire to put in the time are crucial.
You hear a lot about "crunch" in the gaming industry, particularly on the production and development side. Games are multi-million dollar products, with development and marketing costs potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars by launch.
As launch time approaches, longer hours might be necessary, and the pace may pick up. People who can work hard and put in extra hours are always appreciated.
Similar to software development, and likely film production, last-minute changes and tweaks are common. This is especially true for consumer-facing products where research might lead to messaging adjustments. Within gaming, features might change three to six months before launch.
As I said, it's a bit of a cop out, but there are all sorts of skills people need to thrive within gaming. For me, it's creativity, being fun-loving, and having a good work ethic. These are things that will serve you in pretty much any industry, but especially in gaming, from my perspective.