Celebrating Women in Gaming —#LaraPavedTheWay
To commemorate Prime Gaming offering Rise of the Tomb Raider as a Free Game with Prime in November, we will be celebrating women in gaming across our social channels — and publishing their full interviews then on the Prime Gaming blog.
Up first is our converse with Sojin Hwang, an associate art director for Amazon Games who helped bring the macrocosm of New World to life.
What makes you enjoy working in gaming?
When I was a child, I spent endless hours playing hall games and rehearsing my foundational delineation chops. I went to art academy because I wanted to work in the entertainment assiduity as a conception artist. One of the stylish effects about working as a conception artist in games is being suitable to produce a credible and immersive macrocosm from your imagination, and you get visual control over the look and sense of the characters and brutes. Creativity is endless and encouraged then at the plant. Presently, I do n’t have as important time to draw as I used to, since my position involves furnishing feedback and easing openings for artists’ growth. But, I love the fact that I get to be part of creating an experience for players to enjoy and I get to work with numerous passionate people who continue to inspire me. It’s an evolving assiduity. There’s still a lot to learn and grow.
What’s your favorite Tomb Raider memory?
I still remember watching the Tomb Raider advertisement caravan back in 2013 with myco-workers in the office. It was dark, gritty, and violent. The plates and vitality were really emotional back also and, of course, the dedication and position of detail was pushed indeed further on The Rise of the Tomb Raider. I also appreciate the fact that this ballot is one of the rare IPs that features a womanish commanding character.
What’s your career highlight?
Shipping games has always been one of the most satisfying achievements throughout my career over the once 15 times. After times of devoted trouble, there’s always a feeling of accomplishment and relief when the product eventually reaches an followership.
Two of the stylish highlights in my career were the release of Diablo III and, most lately, New World. Launching New World was an incredibly satisfying and instigative experience. The platoon did an inconceivable job of delivering on the high prospects from the community and suckers — we nailed it! I’m so thankful and proud because we worked extremely hard. The platoon’s passion, hard work, and fidelity really showed throughout the entire design. Diablo III was released six times after I joined Diablo platoon. This was my first packed game title and being suitable to be part of a AAA game that was enjoyed by over 30 million suckers was a surreal experience.
Favorite videotape game?
I’m a casual gamer, which means I do n’t play every game that gets released, and I’m extremely picky about games that I choose to invest time into. Utmost of my favorite games are the bones I worked on … of course! I might be poisoned, but I believe New World is one of the stylish MMOs on the request. Diablo III has to be my alternate-favorite. When it was released, I invested multitudinous hours and spent a lot of time in the transaction house. Third on my top 3 would be the Witcher series. I love the immersive story and really appreciated the quality of art and its polished direction. Presently, I’m spending utmost of my free time playing New World any chance I get. I play enough much every day. I’m a PVE player, so I try to complete every hunt and collect as numerous coffers as possible. There’s a certain satisfaction I get when I turn in the searches and position-up my character. It’s really addictive.
Next over, Antonela Pounder, the Director of Global Community at 505 Games!

What makes you enjoy working in gaming?
This assiduity is immensely satisfying and delightful! Then at 505 Games, we’ve the occasion to work with so numerous talented individualities on a lot of different titles, which means no day is the same. It keeps effects fresh and instigative.
Still, one of the stylish effects is being suitable to talk to communities who authentically appreciate and support what the platoon is doing — It’s a great motivational boost for all involved, If we want to talk about Community Management in games specifically.
What’s your favorite gaming memory?
Seeing my name in the credits of a game I ’d worked on for the veritably first time was super inviting. Proper pinch yourself moment! I ’ll noway forget that moment.
What’s your career highlight?
Two effects come to mind and it’s hard to pick between them. Originally, attending E3 for the veritably first time back in 2018 is a huge career highlight. I remember getting to my hostel and having a little cry. Noway did I ever suppose I ’d get such an instigative occasion.
Secondly, being featured as part of the MCV’s 30 Under 30 selection is commodity I ’ve still not really come to terms with. I felt like an pretender among so numerous immensely talented people in the assiduity. But it was lovely!
Favorite videotape game?
Easy one — Spyro the Dragon! I’ve awful recollections visiting my Pater with my PlayStation as a sprat, where I ’d principally take over the Television for hours trying to save as numerous dragons and collect as important treasure as I could find. Good times!
Next is Rose Hunt, the Director of Product at Crystal Dynamics who served as the Lead Patron of Rise of the Tomb Raider.

What makes you enjoy working in gaming?
There are two effects that I enjoy the most about working in gaming. First are the other game inventors — at times, I’m starstruck and lowered hanging around with similar kind and talented folks. They’re all gemstone stars to me.
Next come the suckers. There’s nothing better than seeing addict art someone has poured their heart into grounded on a moment in the game you ’ve made. And I love reading addict letters transferred to the plant, explaining how Tomb Raider changed their life. When you ’ve been fastening all your energy into a game, there’s no better price than to see it make an print on someone differently.
What’s your favorite Tomb Raider memory?
Tomb Raider and I go way back, long before I ever pictured a career in gaming. One of my favorite recollections is staying up until the atomic hours with council musketeers, taking turns playing Lara as she battled a T-Rex with binary fireballs.
What’s your career highlight?
One of the hardest effects to do in game development is to prepare for a rally of your game. There’s generally a tight deadline, and the scrutiny of the work is off the maps. I couldn’t have been prouder to see the E3 2015 rally of Rise of the Tomb Raider played live on the big stage at the Microsoft press conference and earn the rally platoon well-justified applause and cheers of excitement.
Favorite videotape game?
This is similar a hard question! My answer changes every time or so, as stupendous new games come out, but I ’d have to say I ’ve spent the utmost time playing Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, trying to complete 100 of that brilliant open world.
Now, we will showcase Laura Lundberg, a Social Media Director at Prime Gaming!

What makes you enjoy working in gaming?
I first got into gaming with the N64 and original Xbox, and would spend innumerous hours playing Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and the original Halo. As an grown-up, it was n’t until I was assigned with managing a gaming account that I completely understood how hectically delightful working in the space could be — and how passionate I would come. When I first started my career, I truly noway allowed I would be suitable to do commodity in my professional life that I actually enjoyed, but working on that gaming account showed me how wrong I could be. The assiduity is a place where like-inclined people can come together, and everyone that I’ve worked with has made such a positive impact on my life. I love being suitable to nerd out with fellow gamers about a particular IP, to deep- dive with gaming strategies, and to reply to new game adverts and campers together. I suppose that’s commodity unique to this assiduity, that you ’re suitable to form bonds and gemütlichkeit over different IPs within this assiduity.
What’s your favorite gaming memory?
When COVID happed, everyone was locked indoors and quarantining. Right around that time, Beast Crossing New Horizons came out. For me, being suitable to play Beast Crossing with musketeers indeed while we could n’t see each other IRL helped bridge the gap. I remember in the early days of Beast Crossing New Horizons’ release, I would have diurnal Drone calls with musketeers and we’d visit each other’s islets to help water flowers, or to give each other particulars that we were looking for, or just to hang out and wish on stars. I indeed celebrated my birthday in- game, with musketeers surprising me with an entire house full of delicacies! Animal Crossing was further than just a game to me during 2020, it was a way to witness life together while we were all piecemeal.
What’s your career highlight?
One of the top moments in my career is working at conventions and shows. I love being suitable to walk into the cell and prisoner the excitement that suckers have when playing a new game or passing a new gaming technology. I remember one time I was at CES and was traveling the Corsair cell. They had a customD.Va Overwatch-themed PC, and it was simply stirring. I incontinently posted filmland of the carriage to social media and saw all these other Overwatch suckers getting just as agitated as I was over this PC. That moment truly made me realize the power of social media and being suitable to partake effects with an followership that would get as agitated as I was.
Favorite Videotape game?
This is a really tough bone! If I had to pick, it would be a tie between Halo 2 and Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. Those are the two titles that really burned my passion for gaming and I would n’t be the same person I’m moment if I had n’t played those games. Outside of those two, I’m a big Overwatch addict (and yes, I ’m a pass-hard in ranked). I love playing tank/ support places and find that I ’m most effective as a player when I ’m helping to clear the way or supporting other members of the platoon, thereby allowing us to secure a palm.
Next is Rachel Barnum, a Program Manager (Player Experience) at Amazon Games!
What makes you enjoy working in gaming?
I authentically feel like I get to work with some of the most creative problem-solvers on this earth. A lot of my job is presenting contrivers with problems that players are having with the game. Witnessing them work on judgments has been a master class in game development for me, and has made me deeply appreciate the trouble that goes into making games.
What’s your Tomb Raider memory?