Meet our alumni
Roderick McDougall - Game Art & Design
Original program: Game Art & Design
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver
Grad Year: 2009
Program of Study: Game Art & Design
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Electronic Arts
Location: Burnaby
Job Title: Assistant Producer
Primary Responsibilities: I work on the FIFA Soccer Web team. I’m responsible for coordinating and implementing the FIFA Marketing assets and message for the current product across our twelve websites.
Describe a Typical Work Day:
A typical work day for me begins with a call to the United Kingdom to sync up with my partners there so that I can help them address any critical issues or campaigns. Next I have a conference call with our web developers in Argentina to coordinate the current software development tasks.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I was responsible for driving the re-design of the FIFA website for FIFA Soccer 13. This involved coordinating design discussions over a three month period between our Web Designer, FIFA’s Art Director, an outside digital marketing agency, and the EA Sports FIFA marketing team. We completed the re-design of the website on time and set a new standard for quality across the company. The digital marketing manager for France was shocked and surprised with the quality of the re-design of the website: it was beyond his expectations. The digital marketing manager for the UK commented that this was the smoothest EA Sports FIFA web launch ever.
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
Dan Sochan. He was an instructor of mine at LaSalle College Vancouver, and later I had the opportunity to work with him at United Front Games on Sleeping Dogs. Dan is a shining example of a super producer. He’s energetic and passionate when talking about the project. He’s always striving for the best experience and quality possible. While he leads his team he always remains respectful, genuine, and honest.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
Nothing stays the same; everything is changing. Week to week I never do the same thing twice. There are always new requests and requirements coming in. The variety and breadth of responsibilities that I do day to day keeps me engaged in my career. I look forward to the unknown opportunities that will pop up in the company but also in the industry.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
My education at LaSalle College Vancouver provided me with group work experience and English writing skills, which form the keystone of my understanding of game development processes and how to work effectively with others. For most of us, building a game is going to require a group of people with specialized skills. The experience I gained from Game Production Workshop (GPW) and other group projects taught me how to effectively communicate clearly, how to define expectations, and to be responsible to deliver on the expectations that others might have of me.
I send and receive more than one hundred emails a day (around the office – that’s not a lot). Without Scott Swanson’s writing classes at LaSalle College Vancouver, I would not be able to communicate effectively through email. For me, that means that someone could be designing or building a feature overnight in the UK or Argentina which will be incorrect and result in delaying the team (and possibly missing a deadline while the errors are fixed). Thankfully, my written communication skills are top notch.
What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?
As a future graduate from LaSalle College Vancouver, my advice to you is this: work together. Your industry contacts start with your instructors, but they will also be your fellow students. Work with and help each other to succeed, this happens all the time on game development teams, you work together and help others. Some of your friends and fellow students will be hired at a studio before you, but they’ll likely recommend you for the next available position if they know that you’re ready to work as a team and help anyone out who might need it.
A career in game design requires many skills, don’t be afraid to try new opportunities outside of game development. Any experience that you gain will make you a better candidate the next time a design position opens up.
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
Mobile computing has changed how we use technology. The internet is now ubiquitous, it is penetrating every aspect of our lives. We browse the web on the bus, we post and share on Facebook while we’re visiting with friends at the pub, and we no longer have to remember facts – we Google them instead. Gone are the days where the internet was accessed from a computer in one location. Now, we bring the internet with us, wherever we go. It’s not good enough anymore to have an excellent product, you have to offer an excellent service which integrates seamlessly with the internet and your customers mobile devices. Games which can leverage the accessibility of the internet and offer cross-platform services and mobile experiences will capture the attention of their audiences.
Social gaming has the most to gain from this new technology behavior. Social gaming where users spam their friends with requests to join or get more items was never very social. When was the last time that two people met in person to play a Facebook game together? Social games will evolve to be cross platform co-op or multiplayer experiences that you play with your friends in person on a Friday night at the pub. All you’ll need is a phone and the internet.
