I started in QA back in 2002.
I worked on functionality and localisation testing.
She even stood in front of a suit of armor to dropthe game’s first tease.
It took a while for Tiger to transition into production.
For those looking to enter the world of game production themselves, Linda has a couple of pointers.
Look to connect to people in the role and area youre interested in.
This will let you understand what the role actually is," she says.
Sometimes, people make up flourishing ideas of what roles entail.
Its very easy to see all the nice stuff.
Forming connections, thats step one.
Thats what opens doors.
Connecting Producers between different studios and teams to learn and exchange experiences can be quite a challenge.
Topic rumbles, feedback sessions, and tool walkthroughs are her top format recommendations.
Triaging constantly was a phrase that stuck with me long after the interview ended.
Linda had to tackle multiple challenges, often at once so priority setting was crucial.
Keeping the focus on the goals is super important when you’re working on a new game.
Trying to manage the scope isn’t simple, especially when its a sequel, she says.
You want to make it a new and better experience, which is quite tricky.
Tackling expectations from both players and from within the team shaped Crusader Kings 3s development in interesting ways.
Tiger says managing this scope, and how that tallies up with expectations, isn’t easy.
The team should also ensure that player perception lands where it needs to, she adds.
We want our game to represent a different quality of games, one that were expected to deliver.
A lot of work went into refining that final product.
We ensured that the quality bar was met.
And thats where prioritizing comes in.
Its about triaging constantly to ensure that time is spent on the right things.
For us, the time before launch was relatively easy.
It did involve a lot of hard work.
Juggling these tasks amidst a pandemic was a challenge clad in chain mail.
We were super clear with our priorities, Tiger says.
Getting people to talk and connect virtually isnt easy, Tiger adds.
Luckily, we at Paradox were well-prepared to work digitally.
Some logistics were involved in getting equipment around and ensuring that people had proper workspaces at home.
But in terms of the tools, we already had everything we needed.
Theyd also follow up on the commitments that the team makes.
Its easy to commit when youre not entirely sure.
A production team ensures that the studio reflects on their progress towards hitting the goal posts they agree to.
For me, its more about lifting roadblocks.
It could be anything, like a license expiring.
Its a lot of practical things, making sure the team has all they need.
Its just practical stuff that needs doing.
You may have a senior team where these things are self-distributed.
But if you dont, probably someones going to pick it up and ensure it happens, she explains.
This person probably won’t have producer in their job title.
They just work on this alongside their regular roles because someone has to get this done, says Tiger.
But whether you realise you have a producer or not, someone has to take the work on.
And if someone’s out there “triaging constantly”, maybe just make them your producer.
