Kate Welch was a UI designer at the fantasy MMO Guild Wars 2 and somewhat of a spokesperson for the stream show “Point of Interest”. A few weeks ago, she left ArenaNet and now has quite a bit to say to the fans.
It’s not about the business
Kate Welch has left ArenaNet and is now sharing a lot on her mind in a YouTube video. Those hoping for some dirty laundry to be aired will be disappointed. Welch left on good terms, and her words are mostly directed at the players. There were apparently many things she had to endure over the years that she now wants to clarify. Understandably, this is the case for anyone transitioning from a public job, where they had to endure some criticism, back to a private life.
The frequent accusation that the developers are only in it for the money is not true, according to Welch. The people working in the video game industry are there because they love games and want to make players’ lives better. At least, that’s how they started.
Especially in Seattle, there are employers like Microsoft and Amazon who pay significantly more for exactly the same work. And those jobs require the same skills as those in the video game industry. Therefore, Welch asks everyone to consider amidst all the criticism: “Anyone who works here could earn more elsewhere.”
And how it is about the business
In the second point, she sees the individual employees more as cogs in a machine. And the mere talent of an individual doesn’t always play a role. Much lies simply outside of the individual’s control. In some weeks, it’s about increasing customer acquisition, and then everything revolves only around that.
So fans should please refrain from saying things like to a designer: “That icon looks terrible, I could have done better!”
The developer is not always truly responsible for that. The industry is saturated; anyone who lands a job has outperformed many others along the way and already has some skills. Fans might indeed sometimes be able to do it better, but in reality, it doesn’t play as big a role as one believes from the outside. It is still a business once you are in it, and it follows its own laws. It’s hard for an individual to really make a difference.
Welch advises developers to be more transparent
Welch has one more tip for the developers: they should strive for transparency. That is simply the trend today, and the companies that practice it have had great success.
Perhaps a little jab at her former employer ArenaNet. The community of Guild Wars 2 has been calling on ArenaNet for more transparency for some time now. You can enjoy Kate Welch’s video in English in full length afterwards.
