Being a woman in the games industry

MSc Video Game Enterprise, Production & Design graduate Ines was nominated for Rising Star of the Year in the Women in Games Awards 2020. We catch up with her to find out what she’s been up to after graduating, and what it feels like to be a woman in the gaming industry.

Did you always know you wanted to go into the gaming industry?

I had several areas of interest and never knew exactly what I wanted to do when I would "grow up" but have always been a big gamer and a very curious person. Fortunately, I have found my way into Game Development! The fast-paced environment along with the constant change of projects and perspective gives me a sense of never getting stuck and constantly evolving, which is something that fits me really well. I love it!

What experience did you have prior to BCU?

Prior to the MSc in Videogames Enterprise, Production and Design course, I took a 3-year Multimedia course which gave me some good insight into all of the disciplines that I would later find to be part of Game Development, such as Art and 3D modelling, Programming, Narrative for Media and Audio-visuals. In addition to that, I have studied Performative Arts, focusing on Acting and emotion in Games. Then I moved on to a BSc in Video Games Design. After that, I worked as a Junior Creative Director, Designer and Producer on an Indie team in Portugal. Unfortunately, that was a short fixed-term contract so I had to start looking for something else. The industry in Portugal is still in its infancy in comparison with the UK.

Why did you choose to study the MSc at BCU?

In the time period since the last year of the BSc and throughout the development of the Indie Project, 2 years had passed and all the feedback I had were rejections and a lot of unanswered emails from companies within the industry. I thought something had to change in my approach and I realised that I would probably need to move to another country for that to happen. After thorough research, I found BCU and the MSc in Videogames Enterprise, Production and Design. At that time, BCU seemed to offer everything that I was hoping for: a better curriculum, industry contacts and international students support.

What was the highlight of your time at BCU?

To be able to work in a studio environment with development kits and to be in constant contact with industry invitees brought me valuable knowledge. More than that, the support the teaching committee gave me and the guidance they provided were key to my development as a professional.

What have you been doing since graduating?

Working as a Producer at Lab42 Games, Sumo Group company. I have done multiple port work for already released franchises and worked on some new releases as well. Also, I have recently joined Women in Games as an ambassador, aiming to help and promote our industry to women that want to thrive in it. I have never stopped creating my own small prototypes in my free time. I think it is quite a good skill to keep updated with the tools and with processes so that you can better understand the work that's being developed by every team member and support them in the best way that you can.

Which games have you worked on and what does your work involve?

I worked in Multiple Projects across most of the Platforms available on Market today. I worked on Alien: Isolation for PC Gamepass, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer for PS4, Xbox One and Switch, World of Fishing Tour for all platforms, Spite and Malice for iOS and Android and Human Fall Flat for PS4, Switch, Xbox One and Stadia. My work is mostly making sure that we make the best adaptation of a released game to another platform and add any extra content and features to make sure the game is the best version it can be within the timeframe the Publishers suggest.

What inspires you in your job?

The fantastic developers that I work with everyday! They inspire me to keep going and go to work everyday with a smile on my face. I learn a lot from everyone that I work with no matter their backgrounds or experience. I think that is one of the wonders of being a Producer, adjusting yourself to a team and trying to bring out the best in the person you have in front of you. It's always good to keep learning through meeting new people.

What have you wanted to achieve in your career?

Throughout the last year my goal was to grow as a professional and learn as much as I could with the amazing team that embraced me at Lab42. Of course, releasing games to grow a good portfolio is also important but more than that I wanted to become a bit closer to the ultimate version of myself as a Producer and Game Developer.

How has your MSc at BCU supported you in your projects?

I had lot of support in understanding how the pipelines work in the industry, awareness of the lingo to use not only in Production but in every aspect of the development as well. This was largely due to the mixed classes with other disciplines such as coding and art. By doing so I became much more self-assured in the way I approach the work, ultimately guaranteeing me a job within the games industry.

What advice would you give to future students wanting to join the games industry?

I think the best advice I can give is to keep trying. The hardest thing is getting into the industry. Once you are there, things just start to happen if you keep up with the hard work. BCU offered me the possibility to build not only a portfolio but to connect with industry members and opportunities. Use those as best as you can!