The Science of Gaming

by Heather Keroes

Do you know what STEM stands for?  It’s an acronym our client EA-Tiburon, the Orlando-based EA SPORTS studio, is dedicated to helping you learn.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, important areas of expertise that are critical to filling jobs in fields such as physics and engineering.  Believe it or not, game development is also on the list of fields requiring STEM skills, and the folks at EA-Tiburon look for ways to communicate the importance of STEM studies in hopes of encouraging the next generation of game developers.

Among its many STEM-related initiatives, EA-Tiburon has regularly partnered with the Orlando Science Center to meet this mutual goal with the belief that STEM subjects can also be fun and entertaining.  For the past two years, the game studio has sponsored and participated in Otronicon, an annual Orlando Science Center celebration of interactive technology.

Working with Curley & Pynn, EA SPORTS provided prizes for a contest at this year’s Otronicon, and the grand prize winner was treated along with his family to a fun and educational tour of the game studio.  The Callahan family of Orlando, Fla., was given a sneak peek at how games are created and met with several of the game makers, themselves.  There was also plenty of fun to be had, including neat surprises such as a dip in the studio’s ball pit, and, of course, some game time.

The Callahan family enjoys a dip in the ball pit at EA SPORTS’ studio in Orlando, Fla. The game studio features a fun and unique work environment to foster creativity. Pictured: (L-R) Malakai Callahan (age seven), Richard Todd Callahan, Matai Callahan (age 7), Trinity Callahan (age 11), Destiny Callahan (age 8) and Xio Callahan. Photo Credit: EA-Tiburon

Tapping into Local Talent

by Ashley Pinder

When one of the world’s leading video game developers operates in your own backyard you have to tap into it as a resource. That’s why we organized a Leadership Orlando visit to Electronic Arts Tiburon’s Maitland studio to provide local leaders an opportunity to learn more about this creative company that’s on top of the competitive digital media industry.

As part of the business group’s Regional Entrepreneurship Day, more than 50 professionals from around Central Florida took a tour of the studio and heard from EA Tiburon executives including Phil Holt, Daryl Holt, Dale Jackson and Roy Harvey about how EA functions.

In order to produce some of the biggest games in the industry, like Madden NFL, NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA Tour and others, Tiburon recruits highly skilled employees to work in a competitive team centric environment with a strategy to “Win at Everything We Do!”

Executive Producer Dale Jackson compared the company’s hiring philosophy to that of the Navy Seals, “only the best and the brightest,” he said. “We drop them off in the deep end and they have to swim to safety; they use their problem-solving and passion for games to make an unbeatable product this way.”

During the tour, the LO students saw those highly skilled EA team members hard at work. Concept artwork and brainstorming notes covered the walls showing project developments, but it was clear the intensity of the work is balanced by opportunities for fun. Seen below, great minds need an outlet, and what better way to let loose then playing in a ball pit within a conference room?

The mixture of high performing creative minds, casual attire, dynamic leaders and free-thinking atmosphere make EA Tiburon a perfect place to learn about building a team and operating a successful company.