Jessica Harris

Listen, I'm no prude or pearl clutcher but this is such an important topic. 1) You have team members that don't drink for a number of reasons and making booze your only form of team bonding or celebration leaves them out or forces them into uncomfortable positions. The opposite of the assumed goal. 2) Gaming as an industry in particular has rampant sexual harassment and abuse. Involvement of alcohol does not help. This isn't fear mongering - I know of, have seen, or experienced several incidents. 3) You don't have to go totally dry 100% of the time to be safe and inclusive, but you do need to factor in safety measures. It wouldn't hurt to stop making booze the primary activity as well. If you need a selfish reason, the liability alone isn't worth it.

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At Consensus in Austin this past week I was both excited and disappointed. Let me explain my experience 👇 In this space to build something truly special you have to believe in something. Something that you can explain to someone like they are 5 yrs old. I didn't see a ton of this but there were a few. I heard a lot of pitches that were uninspiring full of buzzwords but there were some that I knew were the real deal within the first 2 minutes. Many will throw out big numbers or talk a big game but when you go through due diligence they fall flat. Many are pushing the space forward but there's a lot of noise, the space is fragmented with seemingly a million chains, protocols, and dApps that nobody asked for. There is a massive explosion right now, the space is on the upswing and people are excited as they should be. Don't get it twisted though, there's only going to be so many winners in the end and there will be a big contraction. It happens with every tech cycle. So how do you do win? The tech has to be really good At least 2x to 3x better ideally Your story has to be better. Do something different! You need someone that can explain the narrative to get the attention you need consistently and that really understands your audience. Leveraging trusted KOL's in the space also helps. The team needs to be able to execute You can only sustain on hype for so long, If you don't ship others will and you'll lose your window. Remove friction so both mainstream users and crypto natives alike can participate ideally. There's only so many crypto natives to go around, we are still very early but removing friction is key to surviving in a bear and thriving in a bull. You need money and incentives to do it all. Having the right network of investors and having the right monetization strategies makes a big difference. Do what you love with people that you like We've been fortunate at Ex Populus and being a core contributor at Xai Games to work with people that we actually enjoy being around. Here's some rockstar people that I met recently that are worth checking out, some of which we're building with and others that are just doing great things in the space: Max Kaufman ⚡️Nick Greenawalt Franco De Cesare Matt L. Nick Frontera Michael Israel Atif Khan Sam Barberie Chase Allred Vincent Ferretti David S. Maxim S. Rimas Jonušauskas Rodri Fernández Touza Nicole Maffeo Danny Soifer dan burke + a few others If I missed you in Austin or are working on something I should know about feel free to drop me a line! Keep your eyes peeled for exciting partnerships announcements in the near future 😉

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TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM join us for an improvised version of PVP Circuit and help us rebuild our local community brick by brick. I still can't believe I get to work in the video game industry. My 6-year-old would laugh, and then cry once she realized what it means to work in the creative technology sector. That's why IMO everyone could use some levity during these unprecedented times. Join us for a fun evening to raise funds for the Trevor Project. Event link >>> https://lnkd.in/g7tBuP6d Frequently Asked Questions: What if I can't attend the event? - If you can't make it, please consider purchasing a ticket to help us raise money for charity or get one on behalf of someone impacted by layoffs. What if I want to join but can't justify the cost? - If you want to join but find the cost prohibitive, DM me and we'll make it happen (see point above). Do I have to pitch at the event? - No, you don't have to pitch if you prefer to observe. It’s a great way to see how it's done. Will there be another event like this? - We plan to host our community again, but I can't specify if this event will be the focus. #gamesindustry #event #comedy <3

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What does game production actually mean??? If you've asked this question or if you're a Game Producer and have ✨ OPINIONS ✨ , highly recommend this read.

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How to make a decision on, and get hired by, the #RIGHT company or studio. This might not be what you're expecting. If you're a seasoned pro at interviewing, and you're entirely relaxed, likely non of this will surprise you. But for those still finding your feet... The Obvious stuff. - We all want to work somewhere we feel at home. - We all crank out better quality work, at a higher rate, whilst in a happier place, when we feel like we've landed somewhere where we can just be ourselves. - We all want to be able to switch off to the external stresses or worries that are sometimes upon us, so we can produce the best work of our lives. It's in the detail... - During your interviews, be who you are, every day. Engage in a way that gives insights on who you are to the people you're meeting. This is bigger than you think. As simple as it sounds, being who you 'really are' will subtly influence the way you are engaged, to a more effortless conversation. Just think about that for a moment... It will subtly influence the person or people you are meeting, to be more like you... Reasons you need to do this: - If the people you meet with reciprocate your energy, and make you feel like the meeting isn't strained, that's a solid positive indicator of their team vibe. Meet more people, and it turns into an indicator of company vibe. - If you feel like you're constantly having to change your style into something that doesn't feel 100% you, see more people, build the picture and seek more touchpoints before you make hasty decisions about it. Sure, we all adapt our styles here and there but you'll get a sense of the culture through how people communicate with you and that's important. - Being 'you' from the start will not spook them out on day 1, if you've maintained another personality throughout the interview process. It's not a bad idea to meet your future boss again once the deal has been done, in a more casual 'non interview' setting. You can both talk candidly, and it helps set tone before starting. It's especially a great idea if there are a couple of months waiting before starting. Hopefully the lucky company for having landed you, will make sure there are touch points throughout the pre-boarding phase to keep you engaged. If any of you are struggling 'in interviews', feel free to message me with what's going on and I'll pass over some ideas that will help you find your feet. #interviewsdontneedtobehard #beyourself #gamejobs #interviewtips

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I like sharing the good news about the video game industry (because I know many people have been burned by working through it). Although, as a whole, the industry is expected to continue growing year after year. What do you think this means? The concept of diversity becomes the inevitable truth. Growth encompasses variety and innovation, bringing a richer palette of stories and experiences. This transformation is driven by a new wave of creators who are not just making games but also crafting cultural bridges. A fantastic example is the upcoming game 'Rooster', which celebrates Asian heritage in a deeply authentic way. The team behind Rooster has a shared vision of representing this culture through fun and accessible gameplay experiences, which aligns beautifully with broader industry trends toward inclusivity and representation. It seems like they love what they do to boot! If there was a clear path to surviving the video game market while also enriching the social impact of gaming, IMO, it would be to get behind and champion these vital initiatives. #diversity #equity #inclusivity #asianheritage #rooster

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At the heart of EVERYWHERE is ARCADIA! ARCADIA is our building tools, self-publishing system, and library of assets and community-made content. Check the basics of building in ARCADIA out in the video below! #gamedev #UGC #gamedevjobs

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While the gaming industry continues to grow with new studios opening every day, we also see news of studios closing every day. In January, Microsoft laid off 1900 employees from Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Now we see a process that continues with the closure of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Studios, and Roundhouse Games studios within Xbox. 😞 It is likely that large corporations see their subsidiaries, which do not generate revenue in the same fiscal year, as a burden while cutting budgets. However, game studios should be seen as companies that have great long-term revenue potential and produce artistic and historical works rather than daily income. 💰 Last week I shared a post about big companies buying smaller studios. ( https://lnkd.in/eCyXhxbM ) While these acquisitions are changing the dynamics of the industry, unfortunately they seem to be killing creativity. While big companies look at the game world as "financial income", they are actually playing with the lives of tens of thousands of people with layoffs. What do you think is causing layoffs and studio closures in the gaming world? What else can happen in the short term? What do you think? #videogames #gamingindustry #layoffs #xbox

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Corporate America can make you think you aren't great. It will then reinforce it annually. Get tools to combat the limiting beliefs that can result from ongoing exposure to corporate chaos. https://lnkd.in/gKqFSYBz

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Friends, In an effort to adapt and grow with our ever-changing community, I have realized that we can do better in supporting those struggling to find their place in games. Together with Hailey Rojas and Desirée Rincón, we have refined what is to become our brand new, 16th resource on AmirSatvat.com: Hailey Rojas' #opentonetwork, her amazing passion project. This is different from our community coaching. It is meant to be our lightest touch and easiest access peer-to-peer connection point within the community. There is no expectation of a coaching conversation, but simply that you want to connect with someone and get to know them better on whatever terms you want. As a student herself, Hailey has experienced firsthand how intimidating building connections can be when starting out. This has been a passion project for Hailey, and she has already enrolled hundreds of people. Therefore, if you are currently #OpenToNetwork, I encourage you to join the nearly 400 individuals who are actively looking to strengthen their networks. This will go on AmirSatvat.com under Category 6: Community Voice. https://lnkd.in/dynRXCV9 This is not community coaching. For those formalized programs, please enjoy the four resources under category 2 at amirsatvat.com: https://lnkd.in/dQVT4U4y These resources are not mutually exclusive and I encourage you to explore both #opentonetwork and our community coaching. If you want to sign up, you can do that here: https://lnkd.in/e4X92puw To view the list of people #opentonetwork, please go here: https://lnkd.in/e9AvBNJx In a world where the power of connections is more potent than ever, it is never too late to introduce yourself and share who you are, without fear of being judged. Once again, I would like to thank our community for their constant support as we continue to improve the quality of resources offered. Finally, I would like to offer a huge thanks again, and again, and again, and again to Desirée Rincón, Amir Satvat's Games Community's Head of Design and my dear friend, for another masterpiece - god I love this one and isn't she just crazy talented? Hire this amazing human being please - you can ping her directly on LinkedIn! All the best, Amir

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The future of #gaming will be defined by studios that can deliver on the powerful trifecta of seamless performance, persistent progression and deep personalization. https://lnkd.in/gkgEvkSJ

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VFX Recruiters... How often is ATS software leaned on in your experience? Creatively, I'd like to to go with a resume/CV that has more visual impact. However, with the current volume of applicants cold posting I imagine ATS is acting as a primary sweep. There's only so much recruiters can get through. Your input is greatly appreciated.

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💡 ERROR LOG #4: If you don't care emotionally it means you don’t have it. What I mean by that is emotional investment. When someone says they don't care emotionally, it generally means they lack an emotional connection or investment in a certain situation, person, or object. Not caring emotionally does not necessarily indicate a lack of empathy or emotions entirely, but rather a lack of interest or engagement in a specific context. When we don't care about something, it's often because we haven't invested our feelings in it. In terms of applying it to your film, game, animation piece, think about the emotional journey you want your characters and viewers to embark on. Use dialogue, actions and cinematic techniques to express those emotions. By doing so, you're not only telling a story but also evoking feelings and responses from your audience, making them emotionally invested in your art. I remember days when I was rushing shots not even asking myself about “what makes the viewer identify with the emotions of this character in this animation?”. As I wrote above, almost everything you have in a scene is a building block for the emotions you want to evoke. I don't know how many hours and bad animations it took me to realise that what I was animating made no sense at all without consciously using real emotions, they are what make us care. At some point the “A-HA” moment happened and I simply started digging a lot into acting, writing and psychology. It helped me a lot which was directly visible in my animations and all creative discussions. There are plenty of great resources, but let me share with you just two for now, a book and a TED talk. 📕 "Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development" by K.M. Weiland: amazing guide to creating compelling characters and conveying their emotions and development effectively. 🔊 “The clues to a great story” a TED talk by the one and only Andrew Stanton (generally, go study films from Pixar, every single one is a gold mine) https://lnkd.in/d39dRGwx Don't hesitate to comment and share your thoughts please. Stay tuned for more ⚔ 🐻

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Develop isn't over for most people. But sadly it is for me. Gabriele Sanfilippo and I attended on Tuesday and Wednesday morning to chat shop with people interested in hearing about life at Spliced Inc. and Anchor Point Studios. Develop never disappoints. And as always>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Familiar Faces ✅ Worthwhile conversations ✅ Effervescent energy at the hotel bar ✅ More beards than the year before, and the year before that ✅ People sporting a different hat every day of the event? ✅ Several meaningful introductions made that we'll keep in touch with? ✅ But more than all this - whilst a lot of studios and publishers will measure ROI by looking at the cost of attending the event and seeing the data off the back of it (as important as this is) - let's not undervalue>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The energy we take from it, and bring back with us 🔋 The connections we make that remind us of the industry we love so much 🤝 The subsequent uplift in focus, happiness and positive attitude it brings to all of us 🌞 What a great reminder of the best industry on the planet! 🌍

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Match3 is not the best game economy. I know some who would say it’s not even economy! Also, digital board games are just video games with terrible UX. Listen to the episode for more on these hot takes from me and the fellas.

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Question for game dev hiring managers: How does “shipping” a AAA game correlate with a candidate’s likely success in an open role? Specifically, how is this different than experience working on a AAA game? These are always separate requirements, it’s never and/or. So why are you filtering out more experienced candidates that didn’t get to work on games that finished over less experienced candidates who were lucky enough to be in the right place(s) at the right time? Is there an implicit conclusion that game devs whose games don’t ship are actually less qualified than those whose games launch? What’s the reasoning? Full disclosure: I’ve never shipped a AAA game.

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