Founder and President of Spark Plug Games, John O’Neill visited NC State’s Centennial Campus to speak about the perks and pitfalls of creating games for a living.
O’Neill’s speech was part of Fidelity Investments’ “Leadership in Technology Speakers Series,” and the audience was mainly composed of engineering students.
“He definitely wasn’t afraid to challenge traditional encouragement,” said Nadia Johnson, a sophomore studying electrical engineering. He helped incorporate the realistic aspect of what it means and what it takes be successful in the gaming industry and really whatever kind of job you want to get.”
O’Neill answered the numerous questions of students throughout his speech. While he talked about the different ways people can find success in the gaming industry, O’Neill also warned students about how competitive the field is.
O’Neill told his audience the deadlines for people in the gaming industry can get hectic, but that it helps bring out the best in companies. O’Neill said he and people working jobs like his “push limits for necessity.”
According to O’Neill, there are more than forty gaming companies in the Triangle area. He described them as being open to sharing ideas and knowledge with one another.
O’Neill told students that it is not always enough just to have passion. He encouraged students to seriously pursue jobs in the gaming industry only if they are both passionate and confident in their skill set as the competition in the industry can be tough.
“I have heard to run screaming from the game industry,” said Chris Collins, a senior studying computer science. “But I like John’s take on encouragement to go in because of your passion and innovation.”
During the reception following his speech, O’Neill mingled and answered more questions from aspiring engineering and computer science students from NC State.
O’Neill encouraged students already making games to not focus on creating cellular games. O’Neill described cell games as being too “quick, easy and consumable.”
“We want to create games that people want to continue playing,” said O’Neill.
O’Neill created his company, Spark Plug Games, with just one other person. Spark Plug now has 10 full-time employees and several others working in other countries.
Monique Morrow will be giving a speech concerning women in technology on April 7 as a part of Fidelity Investments’ “Leadership in Technology Speakers Series.”
