Colorful Pixels

Learning New Languages: Agnesa Belegu's Journey | Colorful Pixels S1E10

Colorful Pixels, host Carmen Askerneese speaks with Agnesa Belegu about her journey from a curious child playing video games in Kosovo to becoming a professional game designer. Agnesa shares her early memories of gaming, the challenges she faced as a woman in the industry, and how games helped her learn English. More about Agnesa: Agnesa Belegu is a Senior Game Designer at EA Maxis, working on The Sims 4. She's previously worked on titles like SEED, Dying Light, EA Sports’ NBA Live 2018, and has a proud background of grassroots game development in her home country Kosovo. Agnesa's lead multidisciplinary teams, taught game design and continues to actively mentor emerging game developers globally. She continues to build bridges between global and local ecosystems in Kosovo, believing that games are powerful tools for character development Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Gaming Memories 04:43 The Journey from Player to Developer 11:23 Learning English Through Games 15:05 Discovering Game Development 19:39 The Path to Becoming a Game Designer 25:11 Reflecting on Achievements and Challenges 30:01 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers 34:04 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations Follow Carmen online for more Colorful Pixels episodes and news: * Instagram, TikTok, Blue Sky, YouTube: @CarmenAskerneese * Substack: The Save Point -------------- #gaming, #gamedevelopment, #childhoodmemories, #womeningaming, #gamedesign, #mentorship, #storytelling

Empowering Voices in Gaming with guest Jay-Ann Lopez | Colorful Pixels S1E9

Carmen Askerneese speaks with Jay-Ann Lopez about her journey in gaming, the importance of representation, and the impact of Black Girl Gamers in the industry. Jay-Ann shares her early gaming memories, the evolution of game development, and the need for inclusivity and nuance in storytelling. More about Jay-Ann Lopez: Jay-Ann Lopez is the Founder and CEO of Black Girl Gamers, a leading organization championing diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry. A BAFTA member and Honorary Professor at Norwich University of the Arts, and is internationally recognized for her advocacy for Black women in gaming. Black Girl Gamers collaborates with major brands, promoting equity through talent brokering, consultancy, education, media and events. Jay-Ann's influence extends beyond gaming, blending beauty and fashion with initiatives like Gamer Girls Night In. Named a top innovator by the Institute of Digital Fashion, she’s been featured in Vogue, Dazed and Forbes and is a sought-after speaker and presenter. Follow Jay-Ann and Black Girl Gamers: * Black Girl Gamers Website: https://www.theblackgirlgamers.com/ [https://www.theblackgirlgamers.com/] * Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/blackgirlgamers [https://www.twitch.tv/blackgirlgamers] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaming/blackgirlgamers [https://www.facebook.com/gaming/blackgirlgamers] * Twitter/X: https://x.com/blackgirlgamers [https://x.com/blackgirlgamers] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/blackgirlgamers [https://www.patreon.com/blackgirlgamers] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackgirlgamers/ [https://www.instagram.com/theblackgirlgamers/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackgirlgamers [https://www.tiktok.com/@blackgirlgamers] ------------- Follow Carmen on socials for Colorful Pixels updates and more: TikTok: @CarmenAskerneese Instagram: @CarmenAskerneese Bluesky: @CarmenAskerneese Substack: The Save Point __________ #videogames, #gamedevelopment, #gaminghistory, #programming, #gamedesign , #career , #madden , #careeradvice, #gamingindustry

Balancing Pixels and Life: Josh Navarro's Story | Colorful Pixels S1E8

Host Carmen Askerneese speaks with Guest Josh Navarro this week. From nostalgic arcade memories to the intricacies of game design, Josh shares his journey from a passionate gamer to a seasoned professional in the industry. Josh's Bio: Josh was raised in Dallas, TX and went to Texas Tech University for undergrad before moving to Florida to pursue game design at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. Since then, he has worked at Electronic Arts, Crystal Dynamics, and most recently Cloud Chamber. He has 6 years of game development experience as a Technical and Systems Designer and has contributed to titles such as Madden, Marvel’s Avengers, Perfect Dark, and the upcoming Bioshock. Josh's Links: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshmnavarro Instagram: @jnavarro_ -------------Follow Carmen on socials for Colorful Pixels updates and more: TikTok: @CarmenAskerneeseInstagram: @CarmenAskerneeseBluesky: @CarmenAskerneeseSubstack: The Save Point __________ #videogames, #gamedevelopment, #gaminghistory, #programming, #gamedesign , #career , #madden , #careeradvice, #gamingindustry

Arcade Dreams: The Evolution of a Game Developer ft. James Mielke | Colorful Pixels | S1E7

Host Carmen Askerneese speaks with James Mielke about his journey from a passionate gamer to a game developer and journalist. They discuss the early days of gaming, the evolution of the industry, and the importance of independence in game development. James shares insights on how aspiring developers can navigate their careers and the significance of shipping games, regardless of their commercial success. The conversation highlights the changing landscape of the gaming industry and the opportunities available for new creators. Chapters 00:00 The Spark of Gaming Passion 05:02 From Player to Creator: The Journey Begins 13:22 Navigating the Game Industry: A Career Path 17:52 Transitioning to Game Development 22:27 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers Links: * Stay up to date on James’ upcoming projects: https://www.tigertron.co/ [https://www.tigertron.co/] * BlueSky handle: https://bsky.app/profile/milkman.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/milkman.bsky.social] Bio: James Mielke is a 27-year veteran of all aspects of the game industry, having worked at EGM before moving into game dev and publishing, working for Square Enix, Q Entertainment, and Q-Games where he founded the indie gaming festival BitSummit. He now runs his own development studio, Tigertron, with his co-founder Sam Kennedy. -------------Follow Carmen on his socials for updates: TikTok: @CarmenAskerneeseInstagram: @CarmenAskerneeseBluesky: @CarmenAskerneeseSubstack: The Save Point #podcast #gamedevlopment #GameSpot #career #games #videogamemusic #IndieGame

The Art of Pixels: Eric Dies' Creative Path | Colorful Pixels S1E6

Host Carmen Askerneese sits down with Eric Dies to explore his journey from a young gamer to a seasoned game developer. They discuss Eric's early influences, his work on iconic games like Halo, and his passion for storytelling through game design. Eric shares insights into the creative process, the evolution of gaming communities, and the importance of collaboration in the industry. About Eric: Eric Dies is a multidisciplinary designer and screenwriter, shaped by an MFA from SCAD and a career building high-impact experiences for major franchises. At 343 Industries (now Halo Studios), he led design and realization efforts across the Halo franchise, crafting its transmedia portfolio, UI/UX, and narrative marketing. His work—recognized by SXSW, PromaxBDA, and Adobe—blends visual innovation with immersive storytelling. Recently named a Semi-Finalist in the BlueCat TV Writing Competition, Eric also writes character-driven thrillers with speculative sci-fi leanings.” Socials & Links: Instagram: @mrdies LinkedIn: Eric Dies | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdies/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdies/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdies/] IMDB: https://imdb.me/ericdies [https://imdb.me/ericdies] Design Site: https://www.mrdies.com [https://www.mrdies.com/] Other Projects: “END_LOOP” (TV Series // In Development): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37745204/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37745204/] Chapters 00:00 The Early Days of Gaming 02:30 Influences and Inspirations in Game Development 05:18 The Evolution of Gaming Communities 07:54 Transitioning to Professional Game Development 10:19 The Journey from Animation to Game Design 13:21 Skills Transfer in the Gaming Industry 15:57 Reflections on Career and Community 18:37 Connecting with Eric Diaz ______ #gaming, #gamedevelopment, #animation, #community, #careerpath, #ElderScrolls, #Halo, #co-opgames, #gamingindustry, #storytelling