COVID-19, VR Meditation, Rubber Duck Debugging, Judas Priest, and Breaking into the Game Industry with Andreja Djokovic

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

GDA24 Timestamps:

[01:11] Introductions

[01:20] COVID-19

[02:50] What Are Your Current Roles in the Game Industry?

[04:30] Pursuing VR

[06:25] Immersive Meditation Experience Through VR

[07:40] Babaroga

[09:18] How Did You Get Started?

[11:30] Video Game QA in the 90s

[14:34] What Would You Have Liked to Have Known When You Started?

[16:20] Imposter Syndrome as a Newbie Engineer

[18:20] What Advice Would You Give to Someone Looking to Get Their First Job?

[19:00] Rubber Duck Debugging

[19:40] Any Advice for Someone Furthering Their Career?

[21:36] Gaming Industry Always on The Edge of Innovation

[22:48] What Has Been Your Favorite Project to Work On?

[24:00] Working with Judas Priest

[26:42] What Are You Curious About Right Now?

[27:30] Concerns About the Industry

[30:03] Any Funny Stories?

[31:38] What Games Are You Playing Right Now?

[32:05] Anything That I Should Have Asked You About That I Didn’t?

[36:18] Where Can People Find You?

[37:15] Meditation As a Tool For Stress

[45:08] Closing Thoughts

Description:

Founder & CEO of Andreja Djokovic speaks on the recent events happening and the impacts it has on the gaming industry. Andreja talks about his current roles as the founder of Babaroga, and his newest project, Third Eye Center. Starting in QA, Andreja has worked his way through the industry and has shown his success with countless collaborations and whole project developments as well as running his company, Babaroga for over 18 years.

Hear how Andreja believes that VR is worth pursuing. Even though VR has not seen the adaptation that was expected, he feels that it’s just a matter of time that a tremendous shift will be seen. With Third Eye Center, Andreja has brought meditation to VR. Third Eye Center is a live feed, VR experience that is described as being transformative and immersive.

Learn how Andreja was able to get his start in the video game industry. From a witty newspaper ad starting out as a QA and what his first interview question was. You get a peek into what QA in the 90s looked like and learn something that Andreja would tell his younger self. With resilience and persistence, you have the first characteristics needed to succeed in the industry. Hear how even a successful name in the game, had beginnings that started with insecurity and a life lesson he learned that changed how he approached problems.

Andreja gives his own advice to those who are looking to get their first job and those who are already in the industry who are wanting to further advance their career. Mentions of the Rubber Duck Debugging Method are explained and how the constant shift in innovation of the industry can excite you.

Hear some of Andreja’s favorite games and projects, including working with the band Judas Priest. Talks of what he’s curious about and what concerns he has about the industry is discussed. See how working in the game industry has changed Andreja’s perspective on gaming over the years and his favorite interview question for potential candidates.

Lastly, the discussion turns back to the importance of meditation as a tool to allow yourself to process situations and build a space between the stimulus and response in a challenging world.

Resources:

Guest:

*Andreja Djokovic Babaroga website

*Andreja Djokovic Twitter

*Andreja Djokovic LinkedIn

*Third Eye Center Website

Game Dev:

*New: Game Dev Advice Patreon

*Game Dev Advice Twitter

*Game Dev Advice email

*Game Dev Advice website

*Level Ex website - we’re hiring!

*Game Dev Advice Hotline: [phone]

In the News:

*The Many Ways the Video Game Community is Helping Coronavirus Relief Efforts GamesRadar+

*Gaming Companies Launch ‘Play Apart Together’ to Push WHO Messaging Insider

*COVID-19 Global Case Map Johns Hopkins

*XR Association Releases Results of Fourth Augmented and Virtual Reality Survey MarTech Series

Book/Stories:

*The Pragmatic Programmer Andrew Hunt & David Thomas

*How an On-Air Panic Attack Improved My Life ABC News Dan Harris

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