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

No two days are the same. Game development can be a wild ride with lots of twists and turns. For some, that can be a scary thought to start each day; however, to me, it’s really exciting because it means we have the chance to solve new problems and build on new ideas. Hand-in-hand with solving new problems, Schell Games takes on such a variety of projects that there is a very good chance that you or a colleague could be working on the next big thing at any time.

What motivated you to begin working in the game industry?

I grew up wanting to work in the themed entertainment industry. I followed that path to the ETC at Carnegie Mellon for graduate school and realized that video games and theme parks are more alike than they are different. For both fields, one part of the motivation stems from creating unique and cutting-edge experiences and the other from using unique and cutting-edge technology to make those experiences. After completing a few projects, now what motivates me is watching people interact with or play the experiences I have been a part of - there is no feeling like watching someone have fun doing something you invested so much of yourself into.

What’s the best piece of advice you received?

It’s never the wrong time to say the right thing.

What was your favorite game as a child?

Basketball… or Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.

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

Professionally? Tech hardware - being more literate here would help me make better decisions without burdening other people on our team. Also, I’d feel more equipped when I have to play “family IT guy”. Non-professionally? Cooking and baking. I’d like to think I have a solid knowledge of the basic techniques, but I’d love to expand on those skills and deepen my knowledge of food science to get to the next level.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh?

Sticking with the last question’s theme: exploring the food scene. Pittsburgh is a hidden gem of a food city and that’s why I spend most of my free time either eating or planning my next meal. Top recommendations for folks in town are Täkō, Millie’s, Independent Brewing Company, DeLuca’s Diner, and Noodlehead.

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

I’m most proud of my work when either a) plans come together seamlessly OR b) plans fall apart, but the team can roll with the punches and still be successful. Game development can be a bit of a roller coaster and very rarely do things happen according to plan. We are at our best when we can plan for the best or worst and then pivot accordingly as situations unfold. Situations like this make me proud of my producer-ability to prioritize and put people in positions to succeed and my team’s ability to iterate on designs or features and still make them fun and feasible even if it wasn’t what we wanted originally.

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

Replication. My to-do list is always too long, so having a few of me around would definitely help my productivity day-to-day. Also, I’d be able to “find” 9 other guys to play pick-up basketball with whenever I wanted, so that’s a plus.

What was the weirdest job you ever had?

Most of my friends would probably say this one haha. Being a Resident Assistant (RA) in college wasn’t necessarily a weird job, but it did give me a lot of weird stories so I’ll go with that if “video game producer” is too normal.

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

At least my HydroFlask of water, but that and a Coke would probably be more accurate.