TEAMMATE #1: discover the career path of Gaël, our game and software development engineer
Gaël joined the PlayTiX adventure a few months ago. His role: to supervise all the ongoing game development and to make sure that the servers are running smoothly so our gamers’ community can enjoy an optimal gaming experience. Frequently consulted, he is a key member of our startup. Let’s chat about his career and his multiple responsibilities within the team.
Hello Gaël, can you tell us about your work as a game & software engineer? What are your main missions?
Gaël: As a game & software development engineer at PlayTiX, I am consulted at many stages of the development of video games. This can be about choosing the technologies we will use in the platform, supervising the functioning of the architecture, the addition of a multiplayer module, or the servers management, etc. For example, some of the games are online, so we have to bring the team together to study the different options available to us and their advantages and disadvantages to give the best experience to our future players and independent creators.
I also have a consulting role. As a former game studio CEO, I have already managed projects from start to finish, which allows me to share my experience with the other team members. I particularly like working in a start-up because the tasks are diversified and we choose the technologies we will work on. At PlayTiX, we have a wide range of activities, which allows us to be versatile and to wear the role of project manager. I am happy to give feedback and share my thoughts.
Before joining and evolving in the videogame industry, what did you do? Can you share your background with us?
Gaël: Like a lot of people after graduating from high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I was heading towards teaching and I started studying modern languages until I realized it wasn’t for me. Afterward, I had some professional experiences, especially as a socio-cultural animator for 2 years. My missions were to manage the computer service and to give lessons to elderly people, children, and people with disabilities.
The human contact being essential for me, it was really a great professional experience. I had a lot of responsibilities in the organization. Those were the opportunities to be in contact with the public all day long during the events and it was a lot of fun. Then, I decided to stop in order to resume my studies in computer science, determined to launch myself in an entrepreneurial adventure in the future.
You said that you had already created your own studio. Can you tell us more about it?
Gaël: Yes, sure. Being able to start my own business was a goal I had set for myself. I took advantage of the end of my Master’s degree to focus on the project. Initially, I wanted to develop a SAS (Software-as-a-service) because video games seemed inaccessible and were an activity I did during my free time. This idea changed as I met passionate people who made me want to study the possibility of creating my own studio. My future associates heard about my project and joined me. The Gembasher studio was born and the adventure lasted 4 years (https://gembasher.com/studio).
When we decided to set up the studio, it was for the fun of saying that we had created a game from scratch. Then, other projects came along. We created Wardens of the Amber Cage in two and a half years, a multiplayer first-person shooter that works both with and without virtual reality headsets. We wanted to mix everyone in the same game. I truly enjoyed all the projects we created and the process of creation.
Unfortunately, the pandemic came into our lives and didn’t help to release our new experience that mixed the virtual with the physical. After that, I met the PlayTiX team who presented me their project of an ethical video game platform. I was very interested in this ambitious project, especially the start-up aspect. Indeed, being able to work in a small team and witness the implementation of the whole project is very interesting. It is a phase of the life of a company that I particularly like.
Video games are one of your hobbies. Can you tell us which one you enjoyed playing the most?
Gaël: The game I spent the most time on as a player was World of Warcraft. It’s also the video game that I studied the most because the mechanism and visual design are very interesting. I’ve always been more attracted to multiplayer games, video games have always been a social activity for me. It’s true that before, social platforms were much more fragmented. So, this MMORPG allowed me to play and have fun with my friends. As soon as a Blizzard video game came out, there were about ten of us trying it. They were all very enjoyable.
Do you have another leisure activity that you like to do during your spare time?
Gaël: To disconnect, I like to go for a walk and enjoy the nice weather. Otherwise, these days I play a lot of war games such as Warhammer which is very famous. It’s a miniature war game where players enact battles using miniature models of warriors and fighting vehicles. This kind of game interests me because they require a certain involvement and creativity. You have to paint the miniatures as well as assemble them or create the different settings to play. It is a game that allows you to get together with friends or family.
Among the interesting board games this year, I really like Frostgrave. It is a game that can be played with miniatures and has the advantage of being played with small teams. The rules are also relatively simple.
I also play a lot of role-playing games. Dungeons and Dragons is one of my favorite. I improvise best on this one. There is also the game Call of Cthulhu which consists of small horror stories. Generally, there is little hope of survival. It’s a social activity that I enjoy because it requires everyone to use their imagination.
Last but not least, do you prefer playing or developing video games?
Gaël: Now I really enjoy developing games! In the game development part, there is a real pleasure in creation. Developing games is relatively close to role-playing. You have to set up a world and have people play in it. For these reasons, I would say that developing video games gives me more satisfaction than playing them.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook for more insights and updates or contact us at play@jwalab.com, we’d love to hear your views.
Writter : Tatiana TIAO VANNITHA, community manager
