“I would say reach out to someone in the industry. “Whether it’s a graduate of your school or someone you saw on a panel, just start a conversation and start building your network,” says Duan. “We all started somewhere. There are so many people willing to share their story and support you on your journey in this industry.”
“Being part of studios that are getting the game into players’ hands very quickly means you can feel the impact of what resonates and what doesn’t,” says Chenn. If I had had Minecraft on my Game Boy when I was 5 years old, I know I would be a creator today.”
Walters, who joined Mojang after 13 years at Lucasfilm, encourages young female professionals to “persevere” in the competitive and demanding gaming and entertainment industry.
“You will definitely encounter obstacles and setbacks. If it’s something you’re passionate about, you never give up, right? Find ways to overcome. Switch when necessary and find ways to achieve your goals. This could mean learning new skills, seeking new opportunities or connecting with others,” she says. “Be confident that we can do it, but also be collaborative, supportive, curious and adventurous. Be resilient and persistent.”
Building a better world
“One of the main reasons I joined the company is our purpose build a better world through the power of play,” says Duan, who brought experience from his work at LucasArts and Leapfrog in game-based learning Minecraft training.
Their team is responsible for bringing Minecraft games to players across a range of platforms across console, PC and mobile devices.
“When I joined Mojang three years ago, it felt like a homecoming to be able to work on an IP [intellectual property] that is as universal as Minecraft and to understand the impact we could have on the world.”
For Walters, who is committed to providing new experiences and expanding beyond the core Minecraft game, that means expanding the game’s ethos to include entertainment. She is currently busy working on an ongoing Minecraft movie.
Minecraft’s consumer goods business alone has doubled its sales in the last two years.
