What's the best thing about working at Schell Games?

The people! Schell Games is full of some of the most friendly, encouraging, and intelligent people I have ever met. We definitely have a “better together” mentality, which always inspires me to do my best.

What motivated you to begin working in the game industry?

A life-long love for video games (as cheesy as it sounds)! I didn’t always know that I’d work in games, but I have always loved playing video games. As a child, a video game led me to play the flute, which eventually led me to go to a music college. There, I learned that making games was actually a thing that people did for a living, and the rest is history!

What’s the best piece of advice you received?

“It never hurts to try.” Whether it’s going for a dream job, picking up a new hobby, auditioning for something, taking a class… You never know what the outcome will be, so you may as well go for it.

What was your favorite game as a child?

I practically lived on my Gamecube as a child, so it’s probably a toss-up between The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Animal Crossing.

If you could instantly become an expert in anything, what would it be?

My mind instantly goes to being able to pick up or improve crafting/art skills quickly, like sewing, painting, sculpting, knitting… Is it cheating to say I’d be an expert in picking up crafting skills so I can do all of those things?

What’s your favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh?

When I go into Pittsburgh, I usually have some kind of plan or event in mind that I’m heading to. I definitely can’t narrow it down to one thing, so a list of things I like to do include: visiting the Phipps Conservatory, going to various museums, spending the afternoon in a park, and then getting dinner somewhere (Pittsburgh is great for its restaurants!), making a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, going to concerts, and attending Penguins and Pirates games.

What are you most proud of working on while at Schell Games?

My proudest moments are when I get to watch people play the games that I’ve worked on. Whether it’s one of our first playtests (which are usually rocky), or seeing people play the final product, it’s always really exciting and gratifying getting to see someone play what my team and I have worked so hard on.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Probably either superspeed or flying. If I could eliminate the need to drive a car and travel to places quickly, that would be amazing!

What was the weirdest job you ever had?

I worked as a visual merchandiser at the corporate office of a clothing company. I specifically worked in the mock stores that were neatly tucked within the office building, which were used to create references for real stores to base their floorplans and displays on. It was always so weird to work in a store that wasn’t actually a store, that had front doors that lead out to cubicles. The fake stores even had fake cash registers!

What beverage do you always have on hand at work? Coffee, tea, or other?

Probably either tea (I love chai lattes), hot chocolate, or flavored water. I’ve never liked the taste of coffee no matter how sweet I try to make it!