A peek into some new, upcoming Slender: The Arrival content!
-Blue Isle Studios
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Developer Interview: Garett Marks
We wanted our fans to have a chance to get to know the team at Blue Isle Studios a little better so we’ve done a series of interviews with the developers to talk about their roles at our studio.
Below is an interview with Garett Marks who is the Writer at Blue Isle Studios.
What do you do at Blue Isle Studios? Because we’re such a small team, we tend to have our fingers dipped all over the place. I take care of the writing, composing a narrative and giving life to the world. I also handle quality assurance, which involves testing the game and analyzing the game’s quality both subjectively and objectively. I also tend to dabble in some art and design, as well as project management.
What is the best part about working for Blue Isle Studios? The best part is having so much involvement in the game’s production. In a larger studio, you’re a small cog playing a minute role in the larger machine. Having a greater voice is incredibly gratifying.
How did you break into the video game industry? Do you have any advice for people looking for a career in the video game industry? I started off doing narrative work for mod projects. One year, I lived in Japan for a bit whereupon I took the time to study game design more deeply and philosophically than at any other point in my life. I came home to Edmonton, AB and was determined to infiltrate the industry professionally. As luck may have it, a friend of mine working at BioWare was able to put in a good word for me and I landed a job. I learned a lot, and my desire to help shape the industry was fuelled even further.
For anyone interested in working in the video game industry, I think there are a few important keys. Networking is definitely one of them. You also have to be determined and be able to offer something over the thousands of other applicants vying for the same job. Focus on multiple skills: having good ideas or neat stories are not good enough. The industry needs people who can bring all those ideas to life, which often require a strong technical understanding of game development. And lastly, you have to be forward thinking. This is such a fast moving and rapidly evolving industry that you can’t get caught up in the status-quo or else you’ll be left in the dust. A lot of success comes from spearheading innovation. By figuring out what dissatisfies you about the status-quo, you will gain a leg up over your competition.
What video game are you currently playing? Hearthstone- can’t get enough of it. It’s an incredibly well designed game from every angle. I’m also really into any game offering Oculus Rift support. It’s still such a young paradigm so it’s fascinating to see what others are doing with it.
What horror movie has kept you up at night? The Strangers. I think back to it whenever I’m at a house in a somewhat rural or forested area at night time. Makes large windows incredibly scary.
What is your favorite dinosaur? Silly question. There is only one correct answer and that is the majestic Utahraptor, which is essentially the species of raptor portrayed in Jurassic Park. Velociraptors are quite small in reality, and creative liberties were taken with their size. Unfortunately, this species was named too late to make it into the film. I highly recommend the book ‘Raptor Red’ for anyone interested in some awesome dino story time.
To learn more about Garett Marks, and the other members of our team, check out the Team Bios section on our website. You can also follow him on Twitter.
Stay tuned for more interviews with the rest of the team!
Thanks,
Blue Isle Studios
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