About You
Tell us a little about yourself! What’s your role at Series, and what does a typical day look like?
I am the Senior Operations Manager at Series! Typically, a day for me is full of studio operations requests and responsibilities ranging from finance duties, human resources, IT account and project management, and, of course, making games! What does that mean? Lots of spreadsheets, emails, and Slack messages.
You wear a lot of different hats, from accounting and HR to IT and game development. How do you see all those responsibilities fitting together?
While it is important to have people who specialize in specific roles, it is also important to understand how each of those different departments interact with each other and connect the dots between them. I am the threads that help provide context between different departments.
What brought you to Series, and what drew you to the gaming industry?
I was referred to Series via some colleagues at other studios I had worked in. They thought that I would enjoy the fast pace and creative ideas that were coming out of Series.
As far as what interested me in working in the gaming industry? I have played video games my entire life. I love them! I love the creativity and unlimited possibilities of telling a story through games.
What’s something your coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
I originally was going to be in the medical field. I had aspirations to be a nurse, and I got a bachelor’s degree in Public Health Administration.
Behind the Scenes at Series
With so many different responsibilities, how do you prioritize your day?
Generally I take care of small, quick tasks first, then I slowly work through the larger tasks or research the harder to solve problems. I find that I can pop over to take care of a few small things while working out how to solve a larger problem.
What’s something people might not realize goes into running a game company?
People see the main product: a cool game. They don’t see how marketing works, they don’t see the fact that its like any other business and you have to also take care of the less fun parts of business that come with that!
Of all the different hats you wear, which one is your favorite?
I think I might actually enjoy the Operations hat the most! It is really cool to learn about how each part of the business and each person works so hard to create the finished product!
What’s been one of your biggest learning experiences at Series?
I have learned a lot of new things in a really short amount of time. In particular, I have been able to see and experiment with a really large amount of tools, programs, and new software that I didn’t even know existed before.
Operations often happens behind the scenes. What’s something you’ve accomplished that people might not know about?
One of the biggest invisible things that I accomplished was the change of 401k companies! We have a much more robust plan now, but it was one of those things that feels “not exciting” and “not important” in the moment.
From Spreadsheets to Game Development
On top of everything else, you’ve started making games! What inspired you to give game development a try?
I love video games! With the introduction of the RUN platform, I wanted to give developing my own game a shot. I have previously worked on development teams, so I had a really broad idea of how a game comes together and what sort of parts you need to make it work.
What’s surprised you most about creating your own games?
I think that it was shocking to see that I knew more than I thought I did about games! It also makes you really think about how games are developed as you play them. I was able to see certain functionality in games that I play now and I am able to acknowledge why the developers decided to add a feature.
Has working across so many different departments changed the way you approach game development?
I think they influence each other directly. I feel like I have a big foundation of basic skills to pull from, since I have had a unique experience of being able to see so many different departments. It makes me stop and think “what would a creative add here?” or “what would marketing think of this?”
Tell us about a game you’ve created that you’re particularly proud of!
I think that is probably Romance Ranch! I have a horse ranch/dating sim game that I spent a lot of time on, developing each aspect and adding a lot of features. I think that it was the thing that taught me the most about how to develop a game, and just what it means to have to make art and music and how to create a play system that actually feels fun.
What would you say to someone who loves games but doesn’t have a traditional game development background?
I think that if you are interested in games, and have played a couple, it is absolutely worth giving it a try! If you don’t make a successful game, you still learn so much about the process, about storytelling, and about all the minute details that really make you appreciate playing games more, too.
Life at Series
What’s your favorite part of working at Series?
I love the people and the opportunities to learn.
How has AI changed what’s possible for people interested in making games?
I feel like AI has absolutely made the basics of game development more accessible to people who might be interested in learning more about it. You still have to be very detailed and know what you are doing, but it is a tool that can help fill in the blanks for someone who doesn’t have as much experience.
Your role connects you with people across the entire company. What’s your approach to working with so many different teams?
I always keep an open mind when I talk to a colleague. They are very likely reaching out to me to have me help them with something, but it is so cool when I am also able to learn about what they are working on!
What’s one skill you never expected to pick up working at Series?
Haha, game development!
What’s next on your list of things you’d love to create or learn?
I want to make a new game! Something big, something demanding, and something really cool.
Inspiration + Growth
You always seem to have a lot going on. What keeps you motivated?
I love having a lot going on! It keeps my brain fresh and ticking away with new ideas.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Take the chance. You’ve gotta try.
If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
I would explain that you can go into games and you can do it. I wouldn’t trade my experience in different industries, but I would have loved to have gotten into games sooner.
What advice would you give someone considering a career in operations, particularly in gaming?
I think that it is important to have a strong understanding of operations and, especially in gaming, understanding how each person actually contributes to the final product. Operations has a rare opportunity to provide clarity on what each person does, what each person uses each piece of software for, and you also have a unique perspective on how every piece fits into place. It is an amazing role and a wonderful, rewarding experience.
Lightning Round ⚡
Spreadsheets or creative projects? Creative projects
Early bird or night owl? Night owl
Coffee, tea, or something else? Coffee, or Pepsi!
Organized chaos or everything in its place? Everything in its place!
Favorite game right now? Final Fantasy 14 and Graveyard Keeper 2
Mac or PC? PC
Slack message or quick call? Slack message
What’s one tool or app you couldn’t live without? Excel
Favorite way to unwind after a busy day? Video games
If you could automate one part of your life, what would it be? Sorting emails!
If you weren’t working in operations, what would you be doing?
I would probably be interested in game design or opening my own business – maybe an LGS or a flower shop.
(Images above are from Amanda’s amazingly awesome cosplay!!! Including a cosplaying puppy! )