Meet The Heroes: Development Director, John Walsh

What inspired you to join the video game industry and remain in it?

It was back before the industry was an industry… A wild west of bedroom coders, creativity, and cartridges. Being on the cusp of something that would influence the world in ways we couldn’t imagine, and still can’t.

What have been the most rewarding moments of your career?

The next one.

How do you approach creating a development culture that supports innovation and creativity while still delivering a high-quality game on time and within budget?

Trust. You trust your team to deliver on the concepts and targets you set as a company, and you trust your team when they push back on targets and expectations they think are unrealistic.

Can you discuss your experience leading a development team and your management style?

I’ve worked in multiple studios in multiple countries at multiple levels of seniority, and my management style has always been one of total transparency and accountability.

‘Fail Fast’ is a phrase I hate, I prefer not to fail at all, but if we do make mistakes we make them as a team and celebrate the knowledge gained that pushes us to a correct answer.

Can you recall a moment when a creative decision you made was not well received by your team and how did you handle the situation?

I don’t do creative… I work with much more talented people than myself who take care of that kind of thing for me

What technology do you think has had the most significant impact on games and game development?

Showing my age here but… The internet

How do you approach work-life balance in an industry that can often require long hours and intense pressure?

Life first in all things. If you find yourself in a job that demands you sacrifice your happiness for its gain, then either demand equity or leave!

What do you think are some of the most important skills for success working in the video games industry?

Communication is key. Making sure that what you said is what other people heard and what they’ve asked is what you understood are the most crucial skills in games development.

What is one video game that you love that not many people may not be familiar with, and why?

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante — The replay value alone kept me going for a while.