4 Years Jamming

Last month marked the end of my 4-year journey at Jam City. What a length of time to reflect on and be grateful for!  When I started on the Panda Pop team in August of 2020, I didn't know what to expect -- given lockdowns, I had to take interviews calls in the backyard, under the shade of our fig tree, and take preparatory walks along the neighborhood creek.  There was a hint of fresh uncertainty to the world.  It was a time of constant transition, really. 

Work was different, with the fully remote setup, the cross-continent collaboration, and the new responsibility of a popular game.  Each in-person team conference was an exciting event with a trek to San Francisco or a drive to HQ in Culver City.  Life was also different: I gradually lost some personal labels and found new ones. No longer was I wearing the title of a student, no longer was I based out of California, no longer was I in my 20s. 

And so it goes!  With the recent industry layoffs, I'm onto the next game. 

In my 4 years jamming, I got to PM, operate Live-Ops, run tests, create features with everyone past and present on the talented Panda team and JC teams and much much more!  It was fantastic and unimaginably so. 

The next 4 years are certainly going to look very different from the last.  Yet there is an air of familiarity to it, too.  Of uncertainty, transition, and opportunity.  I'm not sure what the next big project for me will be (open to suggestions!).  But I've a few, tiny, personal ones in progress or in consideration that will be quite fun.