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Today sees another addition to our "Inside Crytek" series. This is a series of Q&A's with different members of the Crytek team, where they answer questions on all sorts of topics. These are not just ordinary interviews though. Once their intro has been posted you get the opportunity to ask them your questions!
This time we are speaking with Alexander Marschal.
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What do you do at Crytek?
My current job is being Game Designer which pretty much means that I design games… Well, to be more precise I define things like the game content, gameplay, how the game will be like, feels and shaping it so it is a great experience for the gamers out there.
Why did you want to work in the games industry and how did you get started? Do you have any tips for people wanting to get started in the industry?
When I got my first PC (thanks mum and dad!), I got literally soaked into the gaming world. I wanted to find out more about how games are being developed and started to mod for Unreal Tournament and later on Half-Life. From this point and by looking at the fact that gaming really became a huge passion I wanted to work in the games industry someday.
Fortunately for me in 2001 during a LAN party at a friend’s home I saw the X-Isle tech demo from Crytek who where located in my home town, Coburg in Germany. Back then I told them that one day I am going to work for this company. After doing an apprenticeship as a computer scientist a friend who was working at Crytek already gave me a call and told me that Crytek is looking for QA testers for their upcoming AAA title FarCry.
I sent an application, got invited to an interview and after a one month trial period I was offered a position as QA tester and doing another apprenticeship as IT specialist in programming.
While doing my apprenticeship in the QA department I partially switched over to the role as a Community Manager and helped building up Crymod.com, our official modding portal for the CryENGINE 1 and 2 and held regular contact to all world-wide fan sites.
When Crysis was started to be developed I got promoted to the role of the Global Lead Community Manager and with Sven “c4Te” Metzger next to me we managed the entire Crysis community together with the countless awesome fan-sites spread over the entire world.
After doing this for quite a while and gaining tons of experience and friends in the community I thought it would be time to gain experience in another department, so I decided to try out Game Design. Since I dreamed about getting into the games industry I always wanted to be part of designing a game, and well, here I am now!
From my experience I can say that probably one of the most interesting and valuable ways to get into the industry is really start modding. Nowadays the tools the developers share with the community are outstanding and offer so much freedom. Learn these tools (there is nothing better than hiring people who already know how to work with the tools!), create outstanding content that is unique and special and don’t stop even if you have a small let down. If you continue working hard enough in your spare time and constantly improve yourself and your skills you will have much better chances either by applying at a company or maybe even getting asked by them to come onsite for an interview!
Why Crytek?
Since I lived in the same town where Crytek had its first headquarters it was quite obvious to me that I had to join them! Throughout the years I really began to love the entire Crytek philosophy. We are one big family, having a great time, doing great games with great people!
What are the best and worst parts of your job?
The best part is still to meet fans, friends and community people at events and talking to them directly. Informing them about cool things we are working on, getting their feedback on what they’ve seen or played and just having a great time with them is just an awesome feeling.
Worst part is kind of hard to figure out – maybe that you don’t spend as much time in the sun as I would like to and you are always looking pretty light-skinned when you’re going on vacation?
What are you working on at the minute?
Right now I’m working on an unannounced project together with Sven Metzger. So unfortunately we cannot talk about it, except for the fact that it is being developed in Kiev.
What types of games do you like, and what's your favorite game of all time?
My favourite genres are definitely first person shooters, strategy, role playing games and lately MMO’s (thanks to WoW and WAR!).
Favourite game of all the time is clearly Secret of Mana for the SNES back in the 90’s. Awesome RPG with characters you have to love and a gaming experience I’ll never forget!
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
When I’m not at work I spend my time with my girlfriend, going out with friends, working out in the gym, skating, swimming and of course playing games (right now its Anno 1404 and Warhammer: Online). In the winter I love to go snowboarding or building snowmen.
It's up to you!
Now we've asked the questions, it's time for you to ask yours. Just go to this thread and post the questions you'd like to ask. Take advantage of the role the person does, and make sure to ask the right questions. Funny ones are always good, but nothing obscene. We'll pick out the best questions from the bunch and have the communities Q&A up once they're answered.
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Ask YOUR questions here!
- MyCrysis Team
