Part 1 of 2, by Jay Watamaniuk
A few things have changed in the last week that have altered my life at BioWare pretty dramatically. I accepted a position as a writer on Mass Effect 2, which meant that after 8 years I no longer helm the stormy seas of community. I leave that to Mr. Priestly, who has far more aptitude and skill in this; proving his value since his days back in QA when he was basically doing his job now but not getting paid for it. I have no fear for community under his direction. He knows his business and he is passionate about doing right by the fans.
For me… I need to learn a completely new job at a company with which I have grown very comfortable. I need to see up close how games are made. In marketing, we work with the development teams to help tell fans about their work; to spread the message and to show off proudly the work the dev teams do. Marketing BioWare games – though complicated, as the games are complicated – is easy from the perspective that the product is of a world class quality; something that sets a standard. As a marketing guy, you need to ask little more than to feel good about the work you do.
But I never got to peek behind the curtain despite a few family connections. All I knew was that the teams worked incredibly hard, under tremendous pressure, to create these games. Pride in their work keeps them at their desks late into the night and pride in the BioWare legacy of games gets them here early in the morning.
I recall my first few days of being a Community Manager- a job that was very vague and ill-defined at the time- and being somewhat lost among sea of paper and books given to me to help clarify what I should be doing. I feel the same way now. I’m here because somebody in this department gave me a stamp of approval and opened the door despite potentially damaging samples of my writing.
I moved up from the second floor where marketing, the hand held group, administration and HR all make their nests to the mysterious third floor where Mass Effect 2 is being created. Apart from work being done in Montreal, everything Mass Effecty happens on this floor here in Edmonton, Alberta.
Last Friday, I arrived to find my desk, computer and box of office bits had already been moved and, in its place down on the second floor, a dark void. I said my good mornings to my old roommates and walked up the stairs still wearing my coat to see how the new office looked.
I think standing there at the threshold of my new office, with new roommates, it finally hit me: I had made a big career change and there was no turning back to the familiar. No turning back to a job that I had grown into, and helped to shape over nearly a decade.
Nope, I was the new guy and had no idea what I was doing.
Tags: Mass Effect 2, watamaniuk
September 23, 2009 at 11:37 am |
Congratulations Jay!
Aren’t you happy you don’t have to wear the Shepard armor anymore?
September 24, 2009 at 7:09 am |
While not the most comfortable thing to throw on, I have to admit to feeling awesome clanking around in that. Plus, I thought it an excellent way to now go work on the game. I suspect an armor chaffing bit will work it’s way into a game at some point.
September 24, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Shepard: “Thanks for making those alterations. It seems to fit a lot better now.”
Armor Vendor: “Anything for you, Commander.”
Shepard: “Anything? How ’bout getting Miranda some boulder-holders?”
Miranda: !
September 23, 2009 at 12:35 pm |
QUOTE: “…and had no idea what I was doing.”
That is called a perfect starting position.
I wish you the very best and I’m sure you’ll grow into your new job very soon.
Hopefully you’ll still find a few minutes every now and then to have a look into the community and drop us a few lines.
September 24, 2009 at 7:07 am |
It’s too ingrained at this point to leave alone. No worries.
September 23, 2009 at 6:54 pm |
The very best of luck to you, dear Sir Jay. One day, you and I shall be working together and we shall be glorious in our writing.
Enjoy it, Sir, it is a great gift to be given that which we most desire.
Nothing but the very best,
Michelle Franklin
Game Designer and Published Fantasy Author
Jedi Grandmaster
September 23, 2009 at 8:51 pm |
Jay,
To tell the truth, I don’t think anyone ever knows exactly what they should be doing on their first days at a new job.
You have more guts than I do to admit it on the co. blog though!
September 24, 2009 at 7:07 am |
Yup, very different in many, many ways. I’ll talk a bit about stuff I have run into when I write up part 2 today. Game dev side is obviously way more about the tech stuff/string editors/wrangling the odds and ends at this stage of development then sitting on a throne of bones swirling a glass of brandy…which is, of course, what I assumed the devs did.
September 24, 2009 at 12:46 am |
Jay,
Actually, a couple of my friends and I still quote the Azer: “I’m not going to discover penicillin today because, yet again, my head is on fire.” We were literally rolling with laughter when we first read that. It was one of the best Neverwinter Wednesdays ever.
I think they chose the right man
A sense of humor is an important thing to have.
Chokra Broodslayer
September 24, 2009 at 7:02 am |
Much appreciated. I have to say, the monster descriptions were a favorite over the years for sure.
September 24, 2009 at 9:03 am |
Jay,
Congratulations on moving up and working more directly with ME2. Despite the fact that you are in a slightly unfamiliar world I look forward to seeing your work in action in ME2. I’m sure once you settle in to your new job you will do just fine and do great work. And as stated by others, having a sense of humor is a very good thing for the job, and hey, now you don’t necessarily get to see the fans, but you get to do right by them with your writings for the game.
Best of luck in your new position
–Mike
September 24, 2009 at 4:47 pm |
Thanks for the vote of confidence Mike!
October 17, 2009 at 3:40 am |
Congratulations Jay. It’s nice to see a person get the job he had always wanted (Atleast if Priestly wasn’t telling more of his evil lies
)
I wish you the best of luck and hopefully I can enjoy your writing skills soon