abstraction

We’ve just introduced something exciting to our company-wide Show & Tell sessions— Monthly Fireside Chats! 🔥 Now, our exec team steps into the spotlight to answer live, unscripted questions from our Abstractioners. It’s all about creating open dialogue, encouraging transparency, and fostering a stronger connection across the team. A fresh way to keep everyone engaged and involved as we continue to grow together! 💬✨ #FiresideChat #ShowAndTell #TeamCulture #Leadership #AbstractionGames

We are deeply saddened to hear about the closure of Dutch Game Garden, they have been a bastion of support within the Dutch gaming industry and will be sorely missed. Through their incubator program and hosting network events, such as Indigo, the Dutch Game Garden has been crucial for driving growth within the Dutch gaming sector, but also a cornerstone of the local gaming community. We’re grateful for everything Dutch Game Garden has done to shape the gaming landscape here in the Netherlands. Though they’re closing their doors, the connections, support, and opportunities they’ve created will carry on in the industry for years to come. Thank you, Dutch Game Garden, for being such a vital part of our community!

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Meet Marine Lara, Our HR Manager! This month, we're excited to introduce Marine Lara who transitioned into the gaming industry and joined our team at Abstraction as our HR Manager! -Marine, can you tell us about your journey to the gaming industry? "The gaming industry was a completely new field for me, and I have to admit, I was genuinely intrigued by the opportunity to explore this dynamic and creative environment. From the very first interview, I could sense the energy and innovation that drives this industry. I was eager to discover what goes on behind the scenes of game development, to understand the processes and creativity involved in bringing these games to life." -What drew you to Abstraction? "Several key factors: the studio's core values, inspiring people, and the challenge of stepping into a role that pushed me to the next-level position. Abstraction felt like the perfect place for me. As an HR professional felt a strong desire to connect more closely with people, and I was looking for an opportunity within a smaller company that offered be fewer reporting layers and quicker decision-making. All of these aspects made Abstraction feel like the perfect place for me, aligning with what I was seeking in my career." -What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprised you? "The sense of community. The gaming world is both big and small, and the level of passion and dedication here is truly inspiring." -What advice would you give to someone new joining our team? "Reach out! Don’t hesitate to ask questions, stay curious, and bring your fresh perspective to the team." -Pro Tip: What advice would you give to someone considering a career in gaming? "Do your research, understand the industry’s culture, network, and show your passion for gaming. Be persistent, patient, and proactive." We’re thrilled to have Marine onboard, bringing her passion for people into the gaming industry. Her story is a great reminder of how curiosity and enthusiasm can open new doors. 🚀 #EmployeeSpotlight #AbstractionGames #HR #CareerJourney

Onsite week just wrapped up, and it’s been amazing to be back at Abstraction HQ! There’s something energizing about coming together after a summer break – catching up with the team in person, sharing ideas, and collaborating face-to-face. This week has reminded us how important these onsite meetups are for keeping our momentum strong. We’ve set the groundwork for some exciting months ahead, and being together in the same space really sparked some great conversations. Ready to see what’s next! 💡 #OnsiteWeek #OfficeVibes #AbstractionHQ

An awesome episode with our Head of Recruitment Christopher Redmond 🙌 Check it out and learn about everything, he and his talented team, have been up to at abstraction.

It's #Gamescom which means it's our favourite time of year once again! 🎉 We can't wait to catch up with old acquaintances and meet new ones! If you spot one of our team on the convention floor make sure to stop and say hello! 

Our own Marc Smids took the stage at #Indigo2024 to dive deep into the complexities of multiplayer matchmaking systems! 🎮 He shared insights on how to tackle the challenges of cross-platform play and optimize the player experience. Check out some key takeaways from his talk below ⬇️ 🛠️ Leverage Existing Tools: Marc highlighted the use of Agones and Open Match from Google for Games, which helped bootstrap their multiplayer systems. 🔄 Optimize Match Quality: Ensure balanced matches by considering player skill, region, and team composition to create the best possible player experience. 🌐 Seamless Global Environment: Marc discussed the importance of seamless integration of server regions and platforms, making sure players can play on their platform of choice with their friends from all over the world. 💡 Automate Where You Can: Automate the deployment of gameservers so that QA can test what they want when they want to, without interrupting your programmers. 🚫 Avoid Sealed Secrets: Marc's pro tip—skip the hassle of sealed secrets in Kubernetes. Instead, use scripts to manage your secrets directly.

Employee Spotlight: Meet Giuliane Ramos, Our Engineering Manager! 🌟 This time, we are excited to introduce Giuliane, who joined Abstraction six months ago as our first Engineering Manager. Giuliane's journey with us has been inspiring, and we are thrilled to share her experiences and insights. 🎉 -Hi Giuliane, can you tell us what initially drew you to Abstraction and what excited you about joining the team? "Our recruitment team did an outstanding job of engaging me with the role. The position was exactly what I was looking for, and knowing that I would be the first Engineering Manager at the company, with the opportunity to help set standards, was more than enough to attract me." 💼 -What was your first impression of Abstraction when you started six months ago? "Abstraction is a company full of people passionate about their work, and that was something that captivated me. Working with people who are passionate about what they do makes every interaction a moment of learning and growth." 💡 -How do you approach building relationships with your team members as a relatively new manager? "As Brené Brown says, vulnerability is powerful, and I truly believe trust is forged during moments of vulnerability. Connecting with people is about being vulnerable, showing them who you are, the values that drive you, and genuinely caring. It's about listening with an open heart and finding common ground. These small acts build strong and unique relationships." 🤝 -How do you see your role evolving as you continue to grow with Abstraction? "My role is relatively new to Abstraction, and there's a lot for Engineering Managers to accomplish. Time is our best ally in this process. We will undoubtedly make many mistakes, but those mistakes will prepare the ground for future leaders. I hope to be there to embrace each mistake and learn from it." ⏳ -Pro tip: What advice would you give to someone starting a new role in a fast-paced industry like gaming? "Research as much as you can about the industry before attempting to make meaningful changes. Try to understand why things are the way they are. Be kind to yourself, don't be afraid to ask for help, make mistakes, or admit what you don't know. It might be challenging at the beginning, but time is a blessing, and things will get easier as you go along." 🎮💪 We are delighted to have Giuliane on our team and look forward to the incredible impact she will continue to make at Abstraction! Stay tuned for the next editions of our Employee Spotlight series! 👀 #EmployeeSpotlight #GamingIndustry #EngineeringManager

Our own Masha Begovic spoke at #Indigo2024 in June, and shared tips with job seekers on how they could stand out! Check out just some of her Networking tips below ⬇ 📨 Find studios where you wish to join and reach out to their recruiters and/or hiring manager + send personalized messages 🤝Look for people you would wish to learn from and connect + follow them 🔍 Look at people LinkedIn who are similar to you in experience or even (ex)-colleagues - is there anything you forgot to mention in your responsibilities 📝 Update your LinkedIn page - showcase who you are and what others should know about you (i.e. your about you section, responsibilities) 🌆 See what mixers or events are near you (in the NL we have Dutch Game Garden monthly lunch, iD3 drinks, Amsterdam and Utrecht drinks). Try and get your name and face out there. 🥅 Make Goals for yourself - either how people you wish to speak to at events or how many connection requests you want to send per week. It keeps you motivated and gives a metric of progress.

⭐ Employee Spotlight: Marco Mele, Head of Design at Abstraction. Meet Marco Mele, an inspiring figure in the Abstraction team. This month, we're thrilled to share insights into his career, his approach to design, and his top tips for aspiring game designers. Join us in exploring the world of game design through Marco's eyes! - Hi Marco, can you tell us a bit about your journey in the gaming industry? "My journey started a little by accident. I was pretty sure that working in the gaming industry was impossible, a privilege for a few North American and Japanese geniuses. But once I entered, I knew I would head toward Design and Level Design, driven by my love for RPGs." - What does your typical day look like as the Head of Design at Abstraction? "My day starts early with emails and research. A lot of my time is dedicated to one-on-ones with the Design and Art Teams, and meetings with Production and other Directors about allocations, milestones, planning, and recruitment." - What skills do you believe are essential for someone in a design role in the gaming industry? "I believe in knowledge beyond games—movies, books, music, architecture, food—everything tells a story and creates emotion. This should push us to create something that generates those butterflies in the player's guts." -How do you balance creativity with the technical constraints of game development? "Technical constraints frame creation. Understand what's possible to create something meaningful. Balance tech, design, and art to serve the purpose of creation." 💡 Pro Tip for Aspiring Game Designers from Marco: "Be humble. Creating emotions is about being aware of others' feelings. Listen and be open-minded to start creating impactful experiences." Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our team in our Employee Spotlight series! #GameDesign #EmployeeSpotlight #GamingIndustry #CareerJourney #CreativityInTech