Raquel Saggin’s Post

After an incredible 2.5 year journey at Supercell, I’ve decided to apply my newfound knowledge to co-find a New Gaming Startup. I have played games since I got a Commadore 64 and became deeply curious about how exceptional games are made, so 11 years ago, I decided to leave the Accounting profession and pursue game making as a career and haven’t looked back (except for Taxes…). No one would hire me, so I naively went to a web development bootcamp on the advice of "make some games if you want to get into the industry". Convincing another web developer, we would make a games startup and for the next year, develop and launch a F2P live service web game. While the hours were long and the game didn't find an audience, the journey was amazing. Through this, the SQL skills learned mixed with my background led to a career in Data Analytics thanks to the folks at East Side Games. This was how I got my start in the industry. The curiosity for how exceptional multiplayer games like Hearthstone, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars are made led to a career at Blizzard Entertainment, where I worked across their mobile incubation portfolio as well as on Hearthstone as a Senior Game Designer. I then I was fortunate to join Supercell and work alongside some exceptional game devs lead by Frank Keienburg to help with Brawl Stars’ recovery mentioned in this GDC talk: https://lnkd.in/dEuBBh7M Over the last 10 year, I was fortunate to have worked with exceptional game makers and learned how to build socially compelling games. About the importance of Gameplay First Design even when there isn't clear data. About what makes games spread. Slowly but surely, a calling to the games startup world emerged again. Today, am excited to announce that I am embarking on the new journey, joining my ex-colleague from Supercell, Brice Laville Saint-Martin, along with Andre Parodi to co-find Antihero Studios as their Chief Product Officer. Find out more about Antihero here: https://lnkd.in/dVjb6S4Q At Antihero, our mission is clear: to create “Games Worth Sharing” by building multiplayer games that not only to connect people, but allowing them to become lifelong friends. I hope to bring the insights from ESG, Blizzard and Supercell to push multiplayer gaming to the next level.

As I reflect on my journey through over a decade in game development—a path that led me from iconic projects at Disney and innovative ventures at Glu Mobile to pioneering NFT gaming at Kono Studio—I'm compelled to share not just the milestones but the profound challenges faced along the way. These experiences have been both a testament to my passion for gaming and a stark reminder of the systemic barriers that people of color, including Asians like myself and other underrepresented communities, encounter within the industry. Despite contributing to projects that reached millions and leading teams towards groundbreaking achievements, I've navigated an industry landscape where opportunities and recognition were often clouded by racial biases. Tasks were sometimes assigned, and career progression was influenced, not by skill or passion, but by racial stereotypes—undermining not only my personal growth but also the broader potential for innovation and creativity in our projects. This reality is not unique to me; it is shared by countless people of color in game development, each facing challenges nuanced by their own experiences and identities. These experiences, though disheartening, have not dampened my spirit. Instead, they've fueled my determination to advocate for a gaming industry that recognizes and values the diverse talents of all its members. I'm proud of the resilience I've shown and the successes achieved, from spearheading development on NFT games to mentoring the next generation of game developers. These accomplishments speak to the strength and potential that thrive in the face of adversity. Looking forward, I am committed to being a voice for change. My vision is for a game development industry where diversity is celebrated, and where people of color can thrive without facing the biases that have long hindered our full participation and recognition. It's time for our industry to not only welcome but champion the rich, diverse perspectives we bring to our work. To my peers of color facing similar hurdles: your experiences are deeply valid, and your contributions are invaluable. Together, we stand at the forefront of advocating for the systemic changes needed to ensure our industry is as inclusive, equitable, and vibrant as the worlds we create in our games. In solidarity, Michael Hong #DiversityInGaming #InclusiveGaming #GameDevDiversity #POCinGaming #EquityInGaming #ChangeInGaming #GamingForAll #RepresentationMatters #InclusionInTech #GamingCommunity https://lnkd.in/gxBsCZMG

🚀 The Power of Teamwork: Behind Every Great Game 🎮 In the world of game development, it takes more than just brilliant ideas and cutting-edge technology to create something truly special—it takes a dedicated team working together towards a shared vision. At Dream Play, we believe that teamwork is the key to every great game. Our journey from concept to creation involves a symphony of talents—designers, developers, artists, and marketers—collaborating to bring our games to life. Each individual contributes their unique skills and passion, turning imagination into reality. ✨ From brainstorming sessions filled with creative sparks to those late-night coding marathons, our team's synergy makes every spin, bonus round, and feature in our games truly magical. 🎰✨ So here's to the Dream Play team—the dreamers, the innovators, the doers. Every game we create is a testament to the power of collaboration and the relentless pursuit of excellence. 💪 Together, we’re not just making games; we're crafting experiences that resonate with players worldwide. 🌍 #DreamPlay #Teamwork #GameDevelopment #Innovation #Collaboration #BehindTheScenes #iGaming #GamingIndustry

At the end of the rainbow, a dream job in the games industry awaits... at least if it's up to these partners of ours! 🌟 Thanks for a great evening for the rainbow youth, Better Games Together Next Games, A Netflix Game Studio, Metacore, Rovio Entertainment Corporation and Supercell. Licia Prehn gave an inspiring keynote speech, after which we heard from game developers about their careers in video games. 🏳️🌈 What we learned: There can be many paths to the video games industry. The path looks a bit different for everyone. Still, it's necessary, that the companies pave the way by concrete actions, check for biases, build diverse teams, create inclusive workplaces, and offer job opportunities to rainbow youth. #pride #workingwithpride #bettergamestogether

🥳 🍀ELK Studios keeps growing!🥳 🍀 🥳🚀Today we welcome Kevin!🥳🚀 What do you most look forward to in your role as Team Manager at ELK Studios? I am most excited about working alongside teams that are enthusiastic about crafting innovative games. Of course Elk is renowned for its diverse array of designs but what truly sparks my interest is the shared commitment to push the boundaries of what's possible to do in this space. It's thrilling to be part of that journey to keep pushing for new experiences! What is your favourite ELK game? Rogue Rats is undoubtedly my favourite Elk game to date! Not only does it truly stand out from any other slot game that I have ever seen before. Growing up with classic 90s PC games, I've always had a soft spot for titles that capture that era's essence. Rogue Rats just oozes the same spirit of those games, with its GTA-like top down perspective, also reminiscent of the desertlike battlegrounds found in Command & Conquer, while the inclusion of a face cam totally resembles the doomguy face health bar from the original Doom game. It brilliantly captures the rat's reactions as it wreaks total havoc around the world. The whole darn game cleverly invokes a sense of nostalgia for me while introducing something totally new to slot games. Tell us something unexpected about yourself! Beside my background as an indie developer, which has fueled my appreciation for the work process of multidisciplinary teams and the intricacies of game design, and beside my deep relentless passion for collaborating on creative projects with wonderful like minded individuals, even outside my indulgence in performing and producing music across various genres. My curious mind has not only led me to Elk Studios, but also to the practice of meditation. To glimpse into reality with rigor is the ancestral way of paying tribute to life, allowing some wisdom to emerge that considers the big picture. #newtalent #wearegrowing #gameartist #gameprovider

Check this out -Several developers reported that they were laid off, while others shared that the studio was a toxic place.🔴 Imagine creating 3D assets for your game with just a few clicks. That’s Kaedim. The AI-powered platform that transforms 2D images into 3D models in minutes. 🟢 Get Started Today: Kaedim3d.com or Check out our Showcase: app.kaedim3d.com/showcase #GDC #GDC2024 #a16z #Games #GameDevelopment #Gamers #gamedev #GameIndustryUpdates

This year marks 20 years in the gaming industry, making games, and I recently spent time reflecting on my first few years making games. In 2004, I took some advice from the Lead Developer of a popular mod, that went on to be an incredible CEO of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, to apply for #testing roles or jobs in #QA. That year, I put aside running Shoutcast Radio stations, competitive leagues and gaming clans, and leaped into the closed betas for Defcon by Introversion Software and Ground Control II by Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio. The following year, I threw myself toward the #mod community, ultimately testing Insurgency Mod and Dystopia Mod, just to name a few. I dabbled in level design, texture art, and audio design, and built a strong network of mentors and friends. In 2007, I was hired to #work alongside some amazing visionaries at Epic Games on Gears of War, and the wonderful people of Red Storm Entertainment on multiple titles, including Far Cry 2 and GRAW2. I gained an immense amount of respect for the array of talent at both those studios. These formative years taught me four lessons in #gamedev that I can recall with ease. The collective work that your #team performs is better served by: 1️⃣ Being thorough and scrupulous in everything that you produce. 2️⃣ Being critical of the work that others produce, balancing it with kindness. 3️⃣ Being cognizant of your own ego and those around you. 4️⃣ TRUST the experience of those around you first, as a guiding light, and lean on data, metrics, and feedback to challenge or support that experience. Throughout the following years, I learned modeling, programming, game #design and #production. My career making #games took off, with the support of incredible people. However, these lessons always stuck with me throughout that time. I was 16 when I started my journey into game development, and I will always cherish those that gave me the grace and patience to learn these lessons at such a young age. You know who you are, thank you. #gamedev #indiedev #gaming #videogames #art #modeling #engineering #programming #producer #leader #executive

Time flies when you're having fun and creating incredible gaming experiences... This month, we are celebrating our studio's 8th anniversary! 🎂🎈 From the first line of code to the cheers of our players, the journey was intense: we've faced challenges (numerous challenges!), embarked on creative quests, and leveled up together as a team. Some of us are newbies, some are pioneers who saw the company started from scratch… but each member brings their unique skills and passion to the table. From the early brainstorming sessions to the late-night coding marathons, each of you dedicated a lot of your precious time and effort to our team. Thank you for being a part of it 🙌 Thank you for 8 incredible years: to our players, partners, and every member of the gaming community. You were a part of our journey in this or that way. As we celebrate our past, we also look ahead to the future. Exciting adventures, new challenges, and innovative creations await. Buckle up, because the best is yet to come! 🤩💫 #celebrating #anniversary #8years #memories #gamingstudio #gamedev #thankyougamers #gamingcommunity #leveluptogether #team #teamwork #teammembers #mobilegames #mobileapps #VR #AR #mixedreality #EternaSoftware

Howdy friends! Are you going to DICE? Considering new opportunities? If so, please check out this humble announcement: Connect with PUBG Madison at DICE in Las Vegas! We are PUBG, the global battle royale phenomenon with over 75 million copies sold - and that's only the beginning. We're brewing up something big and we want you on board! PUBG Madison is crafting a groundbreaking new game to redefine the shooter genre. Are you ready to make history? Chat with our studio leaders about opportunities to join the team... If you're passionate about gaming and pushing shooters forward, let's have a conversation over coffee at DICE. Message me directly to schedule an introduction. We're looking for experienced game devs to join us early on exciting new projects. Let's see if we can create something extraordinary together. Don't miss your chance to be part of the next big thing! #gamedevjobs #newbeginnings #dice #nowhiring #lasvegas #meettheteam #leveldesign #gameprogramming #whatsnext