#MeetIronGalaxy – Anthony Carpenter

To make video games, we need machines – lots and lots of machines! Our IT team keeps us outfitted with the hardware and software we need to get the job done. Like all machines, even ours get confused or lose their way. When turning them off and turning them back on again doesn’t get them back on track, we call on a team of experts. Anthony Carpenter is one of those teammates we can count on.

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Iron Galaxy: Hey. Tell us your first name and what the studio relies on you for?

Anthony Carpenter: I’m Anthony. I’ve been with Iron Galaxy for about 3 years. I’m currently the Desktop Team Lead for the IT department. My job is to manage the desktop team across our studios and ensure they provide the best possible support to our users. Also, I’m here to help my team members grow and become the best version of themselves.

IG: How is your specific job unique at our company?
AC: I really enjoy working with other departments and collaborating to find solutions to any issues they may be facing. It’s awesome to step back and see how the gears turn for each department and observe the way they handle challenges. It’s a privilege to work with so many thoughtful problem solvers.

IG: Sometimes it takes more than one brain to turn something on and off, right? What’s the best thing about working at a video game development company?

AC: Wearing hoodies in the office! But seriously, Iron Galaxy gives everyone the opportunity to be themselves. This really makes the vibe less tense when you’re in the office day to day.

IG: What is your hometown?

AC: I moved around a lot as a kid because my family was military. But Tampa, Florida! Shoutouts to my Tampa Bay Rays.

IG: Dedicated fandom, no matter what the cost. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

AC: Chicken Wings, easy. I basically eat them every other day. There’s just so many ways to cook them. Fried, baked, grilled, you can probably even Sous Vide them if you had that technology at your disposal.

IG: Be careful, someone might file an IT ticket for kitchen equipment advice. What’s one place that you hope to see one day?

AC: I always wanted to go to Bordeaux. I can imagine myself in a fancy merino wool sweater, taking different wine-tasting tours, and feeling sophisticated and cultured. Even though most wine just tastes like wine to me. “Mmm, this one really has a lot of grape notes in it.”
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IG: France indeed would be a sight to see, and a taste to… taste. Which NBA podcasts do you recommend listening to and why?

AC: Gotta go with the OG Bill Simmons podcasts. I appreciate former basketball players starting their own podcasts, but it’s nice to just listen to a random guy yap about millionaire athletes. Who’s better to listen to yap than the godfather himself?
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IG: Which NBA podcast has the best shirt design?

AC: Lupe, our head of IT, is more of an NBA podcast merch expert than I am, admittedly. But the “All The Smoke” podcast has some decent designs that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear outside my apartment.

IG: What are your thoughts on soccer’s competitive structure in comparison to other sports you follow?

AC: Are we talking European-style relegation system?

IG: Good clarification. Yup.

AC: In comparison to sports like basketball and baseball, I think it works very well. There are just so many meaningless baseball/basketball games that feel meaningless, and it makes it much harder for the average fan to be invested in their team throughout the whole season. The point system that leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga make every game matter a bit more. Every team wants to avoid relegation, most want to earn enough points to qualify for European competition, and, obviously, there's a trophy that the best want to compete for. So, you get to see more of an effort from the teams night in and night out. This structure isn’t possible for basketball or baseball, but I’d love to see it be picked up by MLS one day.

IG: What’s your go-to Taco Bell order on Tuesdays?

AC: Amazing question, Keenan! As we all know, the Taco Bell Menu is constantly changing, but my go-to is a steak-and-potatoes burrito with nacho cheese. It’s cheap, and it gets the job done. I mean, come on, you’re paying like 3 dollars for a steak and potatoes burrito. You can’t beat that!

IG: What’s one genre of games that you think is underrated?

AC: Turn-based tactics. Probably because my hand-eye coordination is getting worse by the second, and games are so fast-paced nowadays. I can play tactic games at my pace and really plan out my moves. I’m terrible at them, but they really get my brain going. I started replaying Front Mission 1 Remake last week, loving it.

IG: What was the last concert you saw?

AC: Post Malone. I was worried the show would get cancelled because there were thunderstorms until Jelly Roll was set to perform. But he came out and performed a great set. He slipped on a wet spot and busted his butt hard, but besides that, it was a good show. The man has bangers!

IG: Memories for a lifetime! Glad it was still safe to enjoy. What game have you spent the most time playing?

AC: Football Manager. I put so many hours into the FM series, it’s sort of embarrassing. I stopped playing the last few years because I was in way too deep. I kept confusing real-life team rosters with my saved in-game rosters while watching soccer games. I started to take finals losses way too hard. Did I tear up when my Hamburger SV team got relegated in the relegation playoffs? I won’t say. But I will say the boys gave it their all. Way too much stress.
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IG: You’re tactical in your career and in your choice of games. What’s the one superpower that you would like to have?

AC: Having a serious superpower sounds like a burden, to be honest. I’d want to have a superpower like the ability to read a cat’s mind. Not really to help cats or anything, just so I can have a reality show when I go to people’s houses and straighten up their misbehaving cats.

IG: There’s lots of cats in the world, so that’s a lot of responsibility. What fictional universe would you choose over our own? What if there was no coming back?

AC: Given the reality right now, something extremely low-stakes. Somewhere, that’s soft, relaxed and comfy. What’s the Care Bear universe called? Yeah, just sitting back and sleeping on a cloud with a night cap on…I can do that for eternity.
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IG: Taking a nap whenever you like sounds nice. If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would you invite?

AC: Paul Rudd. End of interview. Thanks, Keenan.

Well, look at us, Anthony. We’ve made it to the end of the interview and we’ve gotten to learn about yet another valuable member of the IT team within our #meetirongalaxy series. Thanks for all you and your team do for the studios. Your timeliness and knowledge keep us all on track for our deliverables. Your problem-solving skills work hand in hand with everyone here at Iron Galaxy. Cheers!