My Game Industry Avatar

There are, at a minimum, three requisite qualities a game industry careerist must possess, which I intend to briefly discuss here. These qualities are:

1) Stubborn Optimism

2) Empathy

3) Flexibility

Stubborn optimism sounds better than "insanity" or "delusion", but in an industry that is relatively young, constantly in flux, and guaranteed bouts of stress, one must be a bit crazy in order to survive. Keeping one's passion for the work in the face of stressful working conditions and deadlines is difficult, and if one is able to remain optimistic about the work despite this, the chances of sticking around for the next gig are greatly improved.

Empathy is a necessary quality in general, but it is a boon within an industry whose primary goal is to communicate and connect with people, many of whom you will probably never meet. Collaborating with team members is easiest when we can understand them. Audiences are best served when we can support characters and stories that move them. By exercising empathy, we can create those strong connections.

Flexibility becomes a requirement as deadlines shift, bugs are discovered, changes are passed down, budgets are altered, and technology cycles. Despite the fantastic growth of the industry in recent years, it seems to still be discovering its role and capability, and as it does so, game industrialists must be able to adjust and compromise along the way.

And so, with these qualities in mind, I suggest the person who best represents them is:

Kermit the Frog.

This guy is a stellar example of optimism, continually helping his ragtag gang of friends to stay positive to keep the show going. He cares deeply about his comrades and his audience, and works very hard to keep both engaged. Kermit is also able to roll with the punches, and when the Muppet show hits a snag, he's there helping to find solutions and compromises.

I hope very much that if/when I grow up, and get a solid foothold in my career, that I can do so with even a fraction of the grace and charm of Kermit the Frog.