After more than a decade in the corporate world, I felt it was time for a change. During my time in the IT and telecommunications industries, I gained invaluable experience and skills, but I always felt like something was missing. My creativity was pushed down and my passion for gaming remained suppressed. I realized that I didn’t want to spend the next 10 years of my professional life in an environment that didn’t inspire me. That’s exactly what led me to find a way to transfer my acquired experience and skills into working on game development, something I’ve belonged with all my life.
When they say that every experience can be significant, in the case of a Producer’s role – it really is. From hospitality during my teenage years, through sales and entering the IT industry, where I built my expertise in product delivery, all those skills and knowledge deepened with each new project. I’ve worked in positions such as Sales Manager, Hospitality Manager, Business Analyst and Product Owner.
All of these roles have helped me develop skills that are valuable for a Producer to do the job well: sales – pitching ideas to relevant stakeholders better; hospitality – working with people of various profiles and a bit of amateur psychology; business analysis – analyzing business requirements of stakeholders from many departments; and, finally, Product Owner – responsibility for the product in every sense of the word, including delivery quality, deadlines, resources and budget.
On the other hand, my gaming experience started in the arcade hall where I played Punisher, all the way to a semi-professional career in CS 1.6 and entrepreneurship, where I owned a PC gaming lounge. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a game in my pocket, whether it was a digital pet, Tetris, Gameboy, Nokia 6600, or an iPhone with a games folder. The greatest benefit of this folder is that those quick gaming sessions on the phone finally gained a much deeper meaning. In fact, while I play, I’m doing my job and testing the result of my team’s work. Is there anything nicer for someone who has “learned how to walk” playing games?
After 6 months of working at Two Desperados, I can say that my expectations have been fulfilled. I finally feel fulfilled, I finally do what I love (it may sound cliché, but it’s true). The main difference compared to the industry I came from is that today I spend time in a much more creative environment, and the similarity is that professionalism and dedication in work are never lacking.
Collaboration between the Producer and other teams, such as the Marketing, Monetization, User Acquisition, Player Support team and other relevant stakeholders, is crucial for the successful outcomes of the Production team. Each of these teams directly impacts the quality of the game and the players themselves.
My main responsibility is to deliver new game elements with quality control, within agreed deadlines and in line with available resources. Therefore, project planning and management are crucial, along with teamwork and communication with other teams. In conclusion, a Producer can have a significant impact on the final product. In addition to collaborating with the mentioned teams, the Producer is there to remove any blockers that may arise, answer any questions posed and if there is no answer available, find a way to provide one.
For the role of a Producer, it is desirable to have certain soft and hard skills. I will list a few examples:
Soft skills:
Hard skills:
A day in the life of a Producer can be dynamic and diverse:
9:00 – 10:00
The day begins with reading emails and Slack messages, and planning priorities for the day. You respond to urgent messages and notes received the previous day and confirm that you are up-to-date with the latest information.
10:00 – 10:15
Meeting with your team, also known as a daily stand-up meeting. You review project progress, analyze any issues and discuss possible solutions. You provide guidance and support to team members to ensure that the project is proceeding according to plan.
11:30 – 12:00
Meeting with all stakeholders who have an impact on the game. You discuss all aspects of the project, review plans for marketing and promotion, as well as the results of game monetization initiatives. You exchange ideas and agree on further steps and deadlines.
12:00 – 12:30
Meeting with the marketing team. You discuss the game strategy and review marketing materials and campaigns. You analyze market trends and competition to ensure that the game is targeted at the right audience.
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch break. You use this time to relax and take a break from intense meetings. You socialize in the kitchen with colleagues over a quick Sekiro boss fight or go on a speedy motorcycle ride to give your brain an F5 and refresh.
13:30 – 15:00
Meeting with the Quality Assurance (QA) team. You check how the game testing is going and receive feedback and questions from players. You identify and resolve issues related to the functionality, performance and user experience of the game.
15:00 – 16:30
Individual work on administrative tasks. You use this time for record-keeping, updating project plans, preparing reports and communicating with other internal teams. Also, you take the opportunity to review the latest research and news from the gaming industry.
16:30 – 17:00
Meeting with the design team. You review new ideas and concepts for the game, and provide feedback and suggestions. You discuss ways to improve the game and additional features that will enhance the player experience.
17:00 – 17:30
Beer, tequila and darts with colleagues.
No matter which industry you come from, there is a place for you in gaming – you just need to find the right position and send your application. It’s never too late for a change, or for a good start, trust me.
