It’s no secret that Iron Galaxy wouldn’t be able to release so many great games without our talented group of developers. On social media, we like to give our amazing fans a chance to learn more about the developers working on some of their favorite games. To do that, we decided to put together a blog series - #MeetIronGalaxy.

Lauren Quinn, an Environment Artist based in our Orlando studio, started working at Iron Galaxy shortly after graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). In fact, Lauren was able to graduate from SCAD early once she had her Iron Galaxy job offer in hand. Read our Q&A interview to learn more about Lauren below!

Where do you consider to be your hometown?
I’m from Des Moines, Iowa. I’ve lived there my whole life so I’m happy to move far away from the Midwest.

What is something that no one at IG knows about you?
I strongly dislike the taste of coffee and tea. It’s a mystery how I get through the day without drinking either.

What moment in your IG career made you most proud?
Since I’m a new hire, getting the job/starting work while finishing up college from home! My last quarter at the Savannah College of Art and Design went online due to the coronavirus. I didn’t get a commencement ceremony, but the college shutdown and WFH situation allowed me to start working at IG sooner.

What about the gaming industry drew you in initially?
In college I was an animation major, but applied for every internship related to 3D art. The summer before my senior year I ended up getting an internship at Xbox. I worked on the environments team at Turn 10 Studios and did a lot of summer events with the 343 Industries interns. I loved the dedication and high-quality work produced in games. I wanted to see where that path took me!

What are some of your tips for WFH during the coronavirus?
Do your best to ignore your nosy family constantly asking what game you’re working on.

What fictional world would you like to visit for a week? Given the chance, which character in that world would you swap places with?
I’d love to visit any world in a Studio Ghibli movie! I want to live in that fantasy setting, experience magic, maybe meet a Totoro, etc.

Favorite movie that bombed?
I love watching B movies! I can’t get enough of cheesy, old films that are hilariously bad. One of my favorites has to be Troll 2 (not to be confused with Dreamworks’ Trolls 2).

What game have you put the most time into?
I’ve been slowly making my way through Breath of the Wild for the first time. But in my entire life I probably put quite a few hours into Guitar Hero as a kid!

Favorite Netflix show / YouTube channel / etc?
On Netflix, “Nailed It!” is one of my favorite shows! The host is so funny and the creations by normal non-professionals are hilarious.

Is there a genre of game that you think doesn’t get the respect it deserves?
I feel like multiplayer online games always get the spotlight, so shoutout to single player adventure games.

What is the best book series you have ever read?
I collect art books for animated movies. I love looking at the concept art and original ideas for my favorite movies.

Hobbies outside of conquering the game development world?
I love going to thrift stores and seeing what weird stuff I can find. I also watch a lot of animated movies and shows. Most of the time I’m working on my own personal 3D projects. Deep down I’m more on the cinematic side of 3D, so I like shading/rendering my projects with Renderman.

What's one thing you've always wanted to do creatively?
Try being a foley artist. Making sound effects for movies is such a cool job.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Steamed dumplings! Nothing better than dumplings from your local Chinese restaurant.

What’s something you want to try and cook while you’re quarantined/WFH?
I learned how to make crab rangoon pizza. One of my local pizza places makes it, but I found an awesome recipe online.

What is your favorite travel spot that you have visited?
Hawaii -- I love to snorkel

What is one place you have never been to and would like to visit?
I haven’t traveled outside of the US too much, so places like Australia or Japan would be awesome to visit.

What underrated superpower do you wish you could have?
Ability to talk to animals.

You get 1 wish, only rule is you can’t wish for more wishes, what do you wish for?
I’d wish to have an unlimited amount of money. I could start my own studio, help out a lot of other people, etc.

What is your favorite candy?
Reese’s Pieces

It’s no secret that Iron Galaxy wouldn’t be able to release so many great games without our talented group of developers. On social media, we like to give our amazing fans a chance to learn more about the developers working on some of their favorite games. To do that, we decided to put together a blog series - #MeetIronGalaxy.

Yohanne Mwale, a Quality Assurance Lead based in our Orlando studio, started working at Iron Galaxy during COVID-19 after going through the entire hiring process remotely via Zoom. Though Yohanne is still fairly new to Iron Galaxy, he's been working in the industry for nearly 15 years. Read our Q&A interview to learn more about Yohanne below!

Introduction

What is something that no one at IG knows about you?
I used to write and perform rap music since I was a teenager in South Africa. One of the highlights of my time in the music scene in the US was getting to open for Afroman, as he was one of my favorite artists when I was younger.

Where do you consider to be your hometown?
I was born in a little town called Ndola in Zambia, which is south-central Africa. I spent my entire teenage time in South Africa before my family moved to the United States. I consider Orlando my hometown because even though I was already 18 when I came here, so much of the person I have become is informed by my experiences here.  

Work-related

What moment in your Iron Galaxy career made you most proud?
So far? Getting the call that I got the gig.

What about the gaming industry drew you in initially?
I’ll never forget the first time I read about Electronic Arts in a PC Format Magazine. I was in the 9th or 10th grade (that detail escapes me at this time ). I read about the founders of EA and how they wanted to answer the question “Can a computer make you cry?”...I found out later obviously it was all marketing but by then it was too late. I was in. When you’re a nerd with hobbies ranging from music to movies to gaming, and you spend most of your free young life outside of time with friends, glued to a screen, eventually you’re going to get curious about how these things get made if you weren’t already curious to begin with. Anyway, reading about EA at the time, it made me want to be part of the industry. Lo and behold, my first foot in the industry was at EA Sports in the fall of 2005.

How has your work situation changed as we’ve transitioned to WFH for the COVID-19 situation?
Working from home has its logistical challenges but I am a very into it. I like to see the positives in things, saving money on gas, not going out and spending money eating or socializing. Those little things that add up. It's nice to get to reevaluate and prioritize the things we need.

What are some of your tips for WFH during the coronavirus?
Don’t get used to not being around people, that can be a tough one to come back from. It’s cliché but some sort of normal routine is always a good thing. Also, go outside… take a walk, sit outside, enjoy the sun and fresh air. It's good for the soul.  


Gaming/Movies/TV/Music

What fictional world would you like to visit for a week? Given the chance, which character in that world would you swap places with?
This is a loaded question… but easy… Batman in Arkham Origins, except I’d take Alfred's advice at the beginning of the game and just enjoy staying home for the week :D

Favorite movie that bombed?
It didn’t bomb commercially, it bombed critically… but I love Batman V Superman with every fiber of my being and will explain in detail exactly why to anyone who wants to know.

What game have you put the most time into?
Division 1… Division 2… The original Call of Duty Modern Warfare…. One of those.

Favorite Netflix show / YouTube channel / etc?
Netiflix show – There’s a few, Stranger Things is up there. Youtube Channel – Digital Foundry, MKBHD, Digital Trends… I’m a tech junkie.

Is there a genre of game that you think doesn’t get the respect it deserves?
Easy, first-person and third-person shooters… People like to speak of them as though they are just derivative trash with no substance but more often than not, that’s far from the truth. The first game to ever get an emotional response out of me was Modern Warfare 2… General Shepherd's Betrayal… I’ll never forget that scene. Uncharted… every single one… has some semblance of humanity most don’t… Gears 5 – The Decision. Halo 4… Masterchief (a career soldier) says no to a direct command from a superior officer for the first time, gave me goosebumps. Point is, the writing and the gameplay is all that matters.. not the genre.


Food/Travel

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Five Guys cheeseburger with lettuce tomato, onions and mushrooms. Cause you don’t always have to eat it as a burger...

What is your favorite travel spot that you have visited?
New York City. I grew up in Johannesburg South Africa, I’m a big city kid at heart. NYC will always hold a special place in my heart.

What is one place you have never been to and would like to visit?
Rome


Miscellaneous

What is the best book series you have ever read?
Every history book I have ever read… I value them more than any other book, educational or fictional. History is one of the greatest teachers we have if not the greatest. I value its lessons.

Hobbies outside of conquering the game development world?
I still love rap music and sometimes I miss making it. But Photography is another passion of mine. I used to love video editing, I might get back into that soon.

What is something that you feel everyone must do at least once in their life?
Take a punch. Proverbially or otherwise. Taking a punch is another one of life's great teachers. You learn a lot about yourself when you take a punch. How much pain you can handle. What it's like to inflict it. What it like to feel something you wouldn’t want to feel. Feel fear, even if you know its coming. There is a slight fear of taking a punch the first time. Even in a controlled environment. But it's good for the soul. Teaches us to respect the things we can't control and think before we act. But most importantly, it teaches us that the pain subsides and you keep on living.

What's one thing you've always wanted to do creatively?
Deliver a game I came up with and designed.

What underrated superpower do you wish you could have?
Reading people's minds isn’t that underrated but it also kinda is… Charles Xavier could have done much more with it.

You get 1 wish, the only rule is you can’t wish for more wishes, what do you wish for?
To have more money than all the world's wealthiest people combined. Money is freedom. You can do a lot with it. For family, yourself, strangers, small businesses, communities. If people with the right mindset had that kinda money, the world would be very different.

What is one of your favorite quotes?
My answer is “It doesn't matter what you thought. It matters what you did. It matters what you didn't do.”

It’s no secret that Iron Galaxy wouldn’t be able to release so many great games without our talented group of developers. On social media and in real life, we like to remind fans that the developers working on some of their favorite games are people too, so we decided to put together a blog series - #MeetIronGalaxy.