The games industry plays host to a colourful cast of diverse individuals, from artists and coders to narrative designers and studio heads.
The skills to pull off these roles, however, are complex and differing, with each position requiring mastery in its field especially in these complex times we are all living through at the minute.
To highlight some of the brilliant work that goes on behind the scenes as well as how employees around the world are adapting to the life of remote work, PocketGamer.biz is reaching out to the individuals who make up the games industry in our Jobs in Games: Remote Working series.
This week we spoke with Hatch Entertainment lead product designer Jessica Sundell.
PocketGamer.biz: Can you tell us about your current role and what it entails?
Jessica Sundell: I am the lead product designer at Hatch Entertainment in Helsinki. I oversee the design and creative side of Hatch Kids. Here, I have the unique opportunity to design and develop an app for children that will revolutionise the way kids play and learn.
With the ambition to create the best Kids 'Edutainment' platform on the market, I combine user research, knowledge and game development to design a fun, intuitive, and safe app for children aged three to eight.
How did you first get into games and how did you progress into this role?
I have been in mobile games development for over a decade now. Before then, I was the art director at Creative Agencies where I was playing casual games heavily. I always thought it would be exciting to develop these sorts of games and delight users globally. This is when I decided to apply for a game artist position at Rovio and got to work on Angry Birds titles for three fun years.
From there I moved to a post-apocalyptic world and worked on The Walking Dead official mobile games from AMC. During those years at Next Games, I learned a lot about live operations, monetisation and growth.
I joined Hatch Entertainment in September 2019 and was immediately impressed by the streaming technology the company had developed. I was very excited about using it to develop a Kids friendly app. Cloud gaming allows us to serve the best active content instantly. Simply by downloading one app, you can stream 90-plus top educational games in a heartbeat. I see great potential for Hatch Kids because as a parent I feel the need for a reliable, safe, and smart app for children.
What did you study (if anything) to get your role? What courses would you advise for aspiring professionals in the area?
I grew up in southern France and back then there were not many studies related to games, unfortunately. I studied fine arts and applied art before moving to the games industry later in my career. Although my studies are mostly about art, I learned along the way what makes a great UX, what is visually appealing to masses, how to identify pain points and, most importantly, I learned how to design solutions.
Hatch Kids launched in the UK and Ireland in April 2020
Anyone wanting to work in the art/design side of games can do it by studying it specifically, with so many great design and art schools available today. But in general, no matter which of the two you do study, there is an opportunity to join the ranks of game development as a concept artist, game artist, character designer, animator, UX designers, etcetera.
Do you think there are any misconceptions, public or professional, surrounding your area of expertise?
My mum doesn't understand how I can make a living by graduating in Arts and working in games. Apart from that, I don't think there are many misconceptions nowadays. Mobile gaming is a $68.5 billion global business, so people are taking it seriously.
What advice do you have for someone looking for a job in this profession?
No matter what your background is: stay curious, keep learning, and follow your dreams. The rest will fall in place in due time.
How has the shift from office to remote working impacted your role, if at all?
Hatch Entertainment has always supported remote working, with most of us already familiar with working from home occasionally. Of course, the lockdown took everyone by surprise and while adjusting to a longer duration of remote working, the team decided to change the 2020 release goals.
We launched Hatch Kids in the UK and Ireland earlier than anticipated as we wanted to support families. We partnered with Samsung and granted a 60-day free trial to all of the company's users. It was important for us to show solidarity to all parents working from home with children, so they could have access to educational games for free. Although this decision created pressure and extra workload on the team, we felt it was the right thing to do.
The lockdown and its limitations have challenged us to be extra creative in addressing issues. Another example was that no photoshoots were possible for our marketing campaigns so I transformed my home into a photo studio for a day and took pictures of my own family during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Considering the challenges, I must say that it has been stressful at times, but the team has managed to keep up good spirits, good communication, and production velocity. Everyone in the team has been willing to go the extra mile and we somehow achieved more with less.
What does your typical day look like when working remotely?
I aim to do some physical activity before starting my workday. Usually, I'm online about 09:00 to 09:30am. At 10:00am we have a daily catch up with the team where we discuss what has been completed the previous day. This way we make sure everyone is focusing on the sprint goals and that there are no hindrances.
Then depending on the sprint tasks and priorities, I work on product design, feature development, UX, app optimisation, live ops or UA. Days are a bit longer than usual as I have to include my kids routine into my work schedule, but luckily my husband is working remotely too, so we take turns.
What do you think are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of remote working?
One of the advantages of remote working is less time spent commuting and being able to work outside whenever the weather is nice. It also allows for great flexibility throughout the day - especially when the kids are at home too.
Decreasing work-life balance and isolation/lack of social life are probably what most people have to deal with and have been the toughest. To address this issue, we have Hatchfast, our online Friday breakfast where once a week the whole company catches up with one another.
Is there anything you wish you had known before moving to remote working?
I have learned to focus and be more productive within a short period of time. Due to working at home, my kids interrupted my work a lot which took me a while to be able to cope with. Now though, I'm great at multi-tasking.
Do you have any advice for others who are struggling to adjust to remote work?
Make sure to set up a proper home office. Working from the couch sounds all well and good for months but realistically is not a good solution. Set up clear routines and take a break to do physical activities on a daily basis. Most importantly, do not forget to take care of yourself.
After the pandemic ends and if you were given the choice, would you prefer to continue working remotely or go back to working in an office?
I would probably want to continue working remotely while visiting the office once a week if given the opportunity. Remote working is quite efficient and, in my case, I save one hour's worth of commuting each day.
Go here to read the rest:
Remote Working: Jessica Sundell on her journey from Angry Birds to The Walking Dead to Hatch Kids - Pocket Gamer.Biz
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Not Eligible for Emmys Limited Series Category, Will Submit as Drama (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Dead City to film in Worcester - heres when and where - MassLive.com - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Walking Dead Characters Who Need Their Own Spin-Off - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "She was not in that first movie": Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Nearly Didn ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Fear The Walking Dead Main Villains Ranked - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Seasons of 'The Walking Dead', Ranked From Worst to Best - Collider - May 1st, 2024
- She was not in that first movie: Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Nearly Didn ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- Where are Rick and Michonne at the End of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Here's What We Know - Flickering Myth - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincoln's Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincolns Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Best Episodes of The Walking Dead Season 8, Ranked - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "I hadn't thought about it that way": The Walking Dead Actress Never Knew Her Character's Death Would Cause Such a ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray (Netherlands) - Blu-ray.com - May 1st, 2024
- Surprising 14-Year Walking Dead Actor Record Shows Who The Franchise's True Main Character Is - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- The Ones Who Live All But Confirms 1 Walking Dead Mystery Will Never Be Answered - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- "I must have been on their radar": Why The Walking Dead Star Andrew Lincoln Nearly Refused $650000 Per Episode ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Wallpaper You Know You Need - Bleeding Cool News - May 1st, 2024
- This Underrated Netflix Zombie Show Did One Thing Better Than The Walking Dead - MovieWeb - May 1st, 2024
- DEI is the walking dead | Commentary | bgdailynews.com - Bowling Green Daily News - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Season 11 | Rotten Tomatoes - April 22nd, 2024
- About The Walking Dead | News, Bios and Photos | AMC - April 22nd, 2024
- How to Recreate the Most Iconic Location From The Walking Dead in 3D - 80.lv - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol Sets Tribeca Debut - Bleeding Cool News - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead star joins Superman movie in major role - Digital Spy - April 22nd, 2024
- Rick Grimes' Ending Finally Honored The Big Promise Walking Dead Made In Season 5 - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- When Will 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 Premiere? - UPROXX - April 21st, 2024
- The Surprising Reason HBO Turned Down 'The Walking Dead' - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- "You Really Have to Consider What He's Been Through": Walking Dead Creator Admits It's Hard to Root for Rick, But ... - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman: The Walking Dead Animated Series Can't Happen "Until I Get the Rights Back From AMC" - ComicBook.com - April 21st, 2024
- Morgan Jones' Got The Sendoff He Deserved On Fear The Walking Dead - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Animated Series Happening Depends On One Important Thing - GameRant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman Says The Walking Dead Animated Series Can Only Happen Under One Condition - MovieWeb - April 21st, 2024
- Daryl Dixon season 2 could make the Walking Dead universe even better here's why - Tom's Guide - April 21st, 2024
- 7 New Walking Dead Villains That Could Replace The CRM - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Fails Rick Grimes and Here Are All the Reasons Why He Deserves A Better Fate - Hollywood.com - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is a Reckoning of Hope - Reactor - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman Shares What's Holding Back the Planned Animated Series - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Behind the scenes as 'Dead City' films in Taunton We talked to zombie, caterer and more - Taunton Daily Gazette - April 21st, 2024
- Die creators Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' new original graphic novel is a cross between The Walking Dead and ... - Gamesradar - April 21st, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 and 'Presumed Innocent' Headline the 2024 Tribeca Festival TV Lineup - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman wants an animated show, but there's one issue - Winter is Coming - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - imdb - April 21st, 2024
- Tom Payne and Wife Jennifer kerman Welcome Twins (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer - ComicBook.com - March 24th, 2024
- What The Song Means In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 (Does It Reveal The Ending?) - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Is Avoiding A Problem That Nearly Killed The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Has A Walking Dead Easter Egg You Might Have Missed - Looper - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Review What We - Den of Geek - March 24th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 4 Recap: It's Rick, Michonne, and Carl? - Collider - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Includes a Rare Sex Scene on The Ones Who Live: 'It Is About Pain,' Says Andrew Lincoln - PEOPLE - March 24th, 2024
- Daryl Dixon Season 2 Release, Cast & Everything We Know - The Direct - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Episodes 5 & 6 Get Ominous Tease From Walking Dead EP - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- TWD The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer: Rick & Michonne Find Trouble Escaping - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Does Rick Leave the CRM on The Ones Who Live? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Into The Kirkmanverse? Invincible Teases A Major Connection To The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Pulled a Bait-and-Switch on Walking Dead Fans, But It Works - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Well, That Was The Walking Dead's Raunchiest Episode Since The Show Began In 2010 - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible x The Walking Dead Crossover is Now Likelier Than Ever Due to This Season 2 Character - imdb - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 - Release date & time, where to watch, and more - Sportskeeda - March 24th, 2024
- Rick Grimes Just Massively Insulted Lori, 12 Years After Her Walking Dead Exit - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Ep. 4 Review: "What We" Needed - Bleeding Cool News - March 24th, 2024
- I Asked AI What TV Characters Who Died Too Soon Would Look Like If They Still Alive Today - BuzzFeed - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Rick has a tough decision to make in "What We" - Winter is Coming - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - A Testament to Survival and Humanity - Age Of The Nerd - March 16th, 2024
- Which Side Thorne Is On In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Why She Tries To Shoot Michonne Explained - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Where The CRM's New US Mountain Base Is Located In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Season 2 Gets Cryptic Tease From Walking Dead Showrunner - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Theory: The CRM's Echelon Briefing May Have Sinister Plans - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 16th, 2024
- What Would Happen To The Walking Dead's Main Group If The CRM Found Alexandria - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Predicting The CRM's 500-Year Plan In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead's Creator Admits 1 Criticism of the Franchise Is 100% True - IMDb - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 3 Clip Shows Rick Trying To Make A Deal With Jadis - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live leaves us on the edge of our seats in Episode 3 - Winter is Coming - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live's Villain Just Nailed Rick Grimes' Entire Walking Dead Story With One Line - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Best Horror Games Where Your Choices Matter - TheGamer - March 16th, 2024
- 'The Ones Who Live' Showrunner Wants to Keep Future Plans Open - Collider - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Star Addresses Shocking Return (Exclusive) - ComicBook.com - March 16th, 2024
- Five Thoughts On The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live's Bye - Multiversity Comics - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead: Ones Who Live Star Explains Why Jadis Is Loyal To The CRM - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero