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Want inspiration and insights from industry-leading game developers? The Standup newsletter, produced by Ascendant Studios, delivers advice from gaming veterans, news coverage on Immortals of Aveum, and behind-the-scenes development stories straight to your inbox. Level up your skills and find out more about our AAA, original IP just by opening your email!

Below is a preview from last week’s newsletter issue on “The Value of Mentors”. Our newsletter comes out every week but won’t be on LinkedIn until the following week, so if you want to get valuable, veteran-tested insights first, subscribe to our newsletter here.

The Value of Mentors

“Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, and occasionally where you least expect them. Lessons may be direct, or observed.”

- Morgan Dudra, Senior Level Artist at Ascendant Studios.

Mentors play an essential role in any individual's career and path to success. They serve as our teachers, our inspirations, and sometimes our cheerleaders. They provide insights that can greatly affect how we do our jobs and even how we live our lives.?

There was a moment during our recent podcast recording, when Bret mentioned how much he’d learned from the game directors he worked under earlier in his career.?

“Glen Schofield is one the directors I worked with, who was genuine and honest with the people he worked with. Neil Young at EA and I worked on Lord of the Rings together and he was knowledgeable about all aspects of the project and modeled how a senior leader could dig into the detailed, technical problems.”

– Bret Robbins, CEO and Game Director at Ascendant Studios

Advice from mentors can be pivotal to our careers, helping to shape how we approach new challenges or their guidance echoing in our minds as we take on new responsibilities. We asked our team about meaningful advice they’ve received from mentors that stuck with them over the years. Here’s what they had to say:?

"Learn to recognize the space between stimulus and reaction. Breathe. Understand where the stimulus is coming from. Then respond.”

- Tyler Sparks, Lead Level Producer

“I think it's valuable to take extra time to show someone the ropes, explain reasons for doing things a certain way. It's easy to get busy and tell people what they should do, but it's better to teach them. Real-world examples are always great!”

- Kris Morness, Principal Programmer

"Imposter syndrome is normal. It's okay to not know everything 100% of the time, even directors and seniors still feel this way sometimes"

- Alyssa Lutz, Senior Level Designer

"Almost every big team problem in game development can be oversimplified down to one of two things:

1.) A culture of 'not my problem'

2.) Wishful thinking

Figure out which one you're prone to and be self aware of it."

- Patrick Jalbert, Principal Combat Designer.

As you've progressed through your own personal journey, what advice has stuck with you? If you've had the opportunity to share your own wisdom as a mentor, what advice do you give? Comment below to share your thoughts!

In our next issue, we explore what it means to stick to a vision while developing a game. Our CEO and Game Director, Bret Robbins, reflects on his time as creative director for the original Dead Space and how the vision to make the space-horror experience truly immersive drove all kinds of decisions throughout development. If you want The Standup delivered straight to your inbox so you can read it first, subscribe here!

Stay In Touch

If you can’t get enough of Ascendant Studios, check our blog and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with our game, Immortals of Aveum?,? as well as all of our other exciting content. You can also subscribe to our original podcast series, Rise Above, which delves into the world of video game development through candid conversations with some of the industry’s leading devs.?

Thanks for reading and we’ll meet you at The Standup next week!