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#MeetIronGalaxy – Sean Coan
Game developers strive to create the best possible experience for the player. Some call this “test” and others call it “quality assurance.” Like any creative project, testing how a game plays is the best way to improve it before it makes its way into your controller-wielding hands. Games should be fun and functional, with a seamless path from the user interface to the gameplay. To help clear games for certification, whether it’s a day-one release or a final update patch, we rely on our QA Team to help deliver games you won’t want to put down. Introducing one of those essential QA teammates, Sean.
Iron Galaxy: Hey, Sean. Welcome to the blog. Tell us your full name and please share your title here at Iron Galaxy?
Sean Coan: Sean Coan. I am the QA Manager here.
IG: Quality Assurance, a vital element of any game dev team. It’s been a bit since we’ve had the chance to highlight someone from your department. Thanks for stepping out front for this interview. What’s one skill you learned growing up that you use the most today?
SC: All that time playing video games as a kid really came in handy for starting out as a QA tester.
IG: A story to which any gamer can relate, we’re sure. If you could give someone who wanted to follow in your professional footsteps one piece of advice, what would it be?
SC: Set goals for yourself. When I started my career as a contract QA tester, I had a goal to get a full-time position, then become a lead, and then become a QA Manager. My piece of advice is to always do your best at your job, and let people know about your career aspirations, so they can help along the way.
IG: Knowing what you want and communicating those goals to those around you is essential to growing. What would you call your hometown?
SC: Glenview, Illinois. I went to Glenbrook South Highschool.
IG: What is your favorite hobby? Outside of playing games of course.
SC: My favorite hobby/passion is probably watching movies. I love going to the theatre and watching whatever I can at home. My favorite movies are The Goonies and Terminator 2.
IG: Late 80’s/early 90’s movies do capture a special slice of nostalgia, don’t they? What’s your favorite travel destination?
SC: Santorini, Greece is the coolest place I have been. I went for my honeymoon, and it was awesome. Really good food, wine, boat rides, and architecture.
IG: We’re surprised photography didn’t make the cut for your favorite hobbies. You are a veteran of both the industry and IG. How have both changed over the past 17 years?
SC: Back when I started, QA wasn’t thought very highly of. There was also a culture of crunch and zero work-life balance (this was at a different studio). I think Iron Galaxy does a great job of treating everyone with respect and the work-life balance has been great. Other than that, a funny thing to look back on was when we got new builds of the game, they came on actual discs. Nowadays, we can just download everything.
IG: Signs of growth. We’re glad things have improved and hope they continue. How do you balance work and family time? Any pro tips or strategies?
SC: When I finish work for the day, I completely unplug from that part of my life and focus on my family. My tip would be to focus on what is most important to you.
IG: Simple and clear direction. What sets up a great D&D session?
SC: I have been playing D&D for almost 10 years now and I think what sets up a great session is a great cliffhanger. Many times, we have had sessions with lots of exploration and role playing. Then, you open a random door, and you see a bunch of bad guys, then the DM says, “And that is where we will pick it up next time.” Then you are pumped all week thinking about what you wanna do in combat, etc.
IG: Terrific tip. Where are Chicago’s best spicy food spots?
SC: Some of my favorites are just getting things like spicy chicken fried rice or spicy/hot buffalo wings. There are plenty of places to choose from in Chicago.
IG: Fine. Keep your favorite places a secret! You have a strong people focus and help manage others. What makes for a great manager and why?
SC: What hopefully makes me a good manager is that I care about each of the people who work in the QA department. A manager has to care about the people they work with to help them succeed. A lot of my job is to help people do the best work they can do.
IG: That humility is a great trait for a manager. You’ve recently celebrated 13 years at Iron Galaxy with a sabbatical! How’d you spend it?
SC: I took the first half of my sabbatical and did a small vacation to Wisconsin for a family reunion. The other part of it was spent at home just relaxing and doing self-care. I went golfing, bowling, hung out with friends/family, ate good food, played a lot of video games, and watched movies. I also didn’t use a computer for 3 weeks, which was a nice break.
IG: Time well spent. Hopefully you’re refreshed for the rest of whatever plans you have for 2025. What was the last concert you saw?
SC: The last concert(s) I saw was last year at Riot Fest. Some standouts were Rob Zombie, Slayer and LS Dunes. Before that, the last stand-alone concert I saw was Kiss (which was the greatest show I have ever seen).
IG: An answer timed for this past weekend’s Riot Fest. That’s a fun variety of artists you got to hear. What game have you spent the most time playing?
SC: Smite. I spent waaaayyyy too much time playing that game. I was mainly a Guardian/Support player. Ares was my main character. My kids and my wife changed my priorities and amount that I play now though. I used to play an insane amount of Call of Duty back in the MW2/Black Ops era.
IG: Sounds like you get to reconnect with them when you can still which is nice. You’ll have some new party members you’ll be able to queue up with soon. What has been your favorite series to binge?
SC: I have rewatched the Game of Thrones Series several times. It’s been a while since I have watched it. So maybe I should fire it back up again 😊 --Honorable mention: Cobra Kai.
IG: A series that’s likely difficult to watch with kids around 😆. What’s the one superpower that you would like to have?
SC: Teleportation seems like it would be pretty cool. Not have to drive or fly anywhere again.
IG: Indeed. You get one wish. You can’t wish for more wishes. What do you wish for?
SC: I would wish to know about all of human history from its beginning. That’d be a useful thing.
IG: Now we’re curious what you would do with that information. We guess we’ll never know! Given a time machine, which historical period would you like to experience first-hand?
SC: I want to go back in time and see when and how the pyramids were actually built. Either that or November 5th, 1955, to go watch Marty McFly try to get back to the Future.
Sounds like you can knock out two birds with one stone, if you travel to 1955 first. Be careful how you change history, though! You’re a great example of work/life balance and growth in the games industry. You’re also a representation of the growth the industry has experienced over the years. Who knows what games will look like a decade from now. One thing we can confidently project is that QA will continue to be an important aspect of game development. Thanks for helping games make it across the finish line.
