HELLO JASON, LET’S START WITH HOW DID YOU GET YOUR JOB IN GAMES?
After university, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I spent a few years in different retail jobs and then decided that my passion was games. I then took a game development course at college and got a job at the Sony Liverpool office as a QA Tester. I worked there for several years before finding the opening at Ballistic Moon, joining as QA Lead, then moving into production.
WHAT DO YOU DO DAY-TO-DAY?
My day-to-day involves a lot of organizing and tracking, making sure the team knows what they need to do. There’s also a fair amount of planning with leads in there, then the ad hoc requests that come from other producers, directors, or publishers.
WHAT MOST EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
What excites me most is the sense of satisfaction from finishing something everyone can be proud of. I’m not trained in any discipline, but it makes me happy to have a part in ensuring that our talented team can produce what they do.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE ASPIRING TO BE A PRODUCER?
Confidence, thirst for knowledge, and honesty are essential traits. Understanding your team’s tasks is crucial; it allows you to pinpoint improvements that only an onlooker can. Honesty is a must; misleading people serves no purpose, as the truth will always come out. The most crucial aspect is having a plan to resolve anything that has come up, and not hiding it.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING AT BALLISTIC MOON?
Getting to answer these questions! Also the openness the directors have, I can go and talk to them about the issues we are having openly. I mentioned it earlier, but having the chance to work with super talented people is also a highlight.
ANY FUN FACTS OR HOBBIES?
I try and keep active, going on walks and to the gym in my spare time.
My very first QA Lead in the industry worked as a tester on the original Until Dawn, so we have come full circle!
THANKS JASON!