Quasi-functional Technology

My last week at Blizzard

I have been at Blizzard for just over thirteen years. The last two years at Blizzard I took on a lead role, being a lead was a thing I always wanted to do and I learned a ton what it is like to be in that role. I worked closely with production and saw a game through multiple internal releases. I worked with my direct reports mentoring them which was my favorite part. I helped move the game towards a stable release through my experience and knowledge. It was truly special experiencing all of that. Unfortunately one of the things I learned is that with all the things I had to track I could not focus and in the end it wasn’t a good match for me.

So I had to rethink my career goals. What I decided is that I have a side project in me that is really important to me to try out and see if it works. Unfortunately this project isn’t one I can work on while employed at Blizzard and so, our interests no longer aligned, I am in my last week at Blizzard.

My time at Blizzard has been great. From Titan to Overwatch to being a Lead on Diablo 4 I have learn a lot and made a ton of awesome stuff. I will look back fondly, but with eyes to the future.

For those I leave behind, especially those who reported to me, you are all amazing and I cannot wait for D4. More importantly, however, I cannot wait to see your careers take on their paths too and see you do just as amazingly as the game will.

A new side project

Over the last couple of years I have observed people like Stefan Reinalter of Molecular Matters (Live++), Omar Cornut of Dear ImGui, and Stephanie Hurlburt and Rich Geldreich of Binomial LLC. All of these people were identifying something they could do and do well and putting something out into the world and making something of it. Meanwhile an itch has formed in the back of my head that I too have a project in me. Something I know I could do well in. Famous last words? Only one way to find out.

I somewhat recently posted a poll on Twitter about asset pipelines as a possible project. I am really passionate about this and do think I can make something in this space. I am going to take some time to figure out exactly what that is and see if I can deliver on it. My unintentional specialization in game development is in asset build pipelines and so that will be my focus.

I already hear the doubt, build pipelines are very specialized to each project. Believe me I know and that is indeed my largest hurdle, but I think it is possible and I know so many game dev teams want to focus on the game not their build pipeline and it is an area for vast improvement for many so off I go.

More details on this will come, I’ve been avoiding any work on it due to the conflict of interest and I want to do this right for everyone involved so I legitimately don’t have any to give. Hopefully I maintain the blogging thing and get to share details as it develops.

A new job?

Unfortunately, going off and writing code for a year isn’t something very financially responsible for me and my path towards retirement so I am currently interviewing at a couple of places that are ok with my side project and working with me to find an agreement that is acceptable.

I am very fortunate to have found some companies willing to work with me here and excited at some of the possibilities. Hopefully I will have more on this in coming weeks. As these possibilities are exciting to me.

Next steps

There are a lot of next steps, find a new job, learn about reviewing/forming agreements, everything one has to do when they leave a job, but for now my focus is on taking a break. It is why so am leaving Blizzard before I even have the new job official.

I am going to take some time to unwind, I am going to visit one of my brothers and my nephews, and I’ll save some time to actually noodle about the project too. I’ve been at Blizzard for 13 years so the idea of having a month straight (or more?) of no work is mind blowing to me. I will enjoy this, and maybe, just maybe I will blog again.