How It Started

My journey to become a creative has been slow-cooking my entire life. As a child, I was always prone to “asking too many questions” and having an over-active imagination. I would constantly come up with stories and invent new characters in line with my favourite video game or comic book characters. Unfortunately, I was also raised with certain expectations. Having been born into a very STEM-oriented family in Israel, one thing was always clear about my path: be like the rest of us doctors and scientists. Growing up I was always told that I would a. finish high school with top grades, b. join the military, c. study a STEM field at university, and d. do “something with computers or medicine.” And so, I did, for a while. I finished high school majoring in physics and computer science (even though the acting program appealed to me much more), I joined the military (because a good Israeli boy must do so), and I prepared myself for a life of quiet obedience. However, at the back of my mind, and because I never quite grew out of the “asking too many questions” phase, I always had that nagging feeling: am I truly happy?

The uncomfortable answer I had in return was a resounding no. I wasn’t happy being part of an ongoing war. I wasn’t happy fitting my round self into a square hole. I wasn’t happy with the lack of agency I had. And so, I made the decision to redefine myself by moving to the United States, escaping the obligatory military service, and pursuing a better life. Under the guise of “going on an adventure” and “getting a good education” I enrolled at a university here. I majored in something safe with a cool name: Biomedical Engineering. I figured it would be a good way for me to satisfy my creative side with my highly trained technical side. Little did I know, life was about to throw me a sign in the form of a global pandemic.

Being stuck at home for the majority of 2020, I delved into creative writing and stand-up comedy, rediscovering a passion that was snuffed out in me as a child, one that transcends the traditional engineering path I initially pursued. I quickly unveiled a whole new world inside myself, one that has been dormant for over a decade. Still, in order to stay in the country, I had to, for the time being, contend with engineering roles that were suitable for my work visa at the time. I felt that, once permanent residence was achieved, I could start looking into transitioning from my field. Four years have passed, and I am now fully eligible to work for any employer.

Combining my technical skills with my creative writing abilities, I embarked on a journey to transition into the field of video game production. Despite the uncertainty that accompanies such a change, I took deliberate steps to prepare for this shift, including coursework in Acting Basics, Improv, and Game Writing by Hogwarts Legacy’s Adrian Ropp.

My approach to this transition was accelerated by an unexpected tech layoff, providing me with the impetus to fully commit to my newfound career path. With ten months of dedicated work, positive project outcomes, and a commitment to continuous learning, I found myself on the receiving end of a tech layoff. This turn of events has only fueled my determination to contribute my skills and passion to the ever-evolving world of video games.

I cannot think of a better-fitting career path for someone like me with a strong technical background and an even stronger passion for innovative storytelling. I may not have a prestigious English Literature degree from an Ivy League college, I may not have 15+ years of video game development experience, but what I do have is passion, talent, and a long and varied array of life and professional experiences. A good story can come from anywhere, even the unlikeliest of places. That is a strong belief that I hold dear to my heart. If you share this belief, let’s connect, I’d love to talk more about stories and the way they can shape the world.

Thank you for taking the time to read,

Arnon Ashkenazi