In this episode of the Player Engage podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Irena Pereira, the CEO and founder of Unleashed Games. Irina is a trailblazer in game design and user experience, with a career dedicated to enhancing player interactions and experiences within games. She has worked on projects for SciPlay and Mythical Games and has a unique approach to game development that combines creativity with a deep understanding of player dynamics.

Key Points Discussed:

• Irena's Background: Irena shared her journey from being a typography nerd to becoming a pioneer in UX/UI design. She discussed her early days of web design, her time at USC, and how she transitioned into the gaming industry, eventually working on major titles like EverQuest and World of Warcraft.
• UX/UI Design Philosophy: Irena believes that trends are irrelevant in UX/UI design, emphasizing the importance of usability and the player's ease of interaction with the game. She also touched on the significance of typography and layout in design.
• Career Highlights: Irena recounted her experiences working at Blizzard, where she contributed to World of Warcraft, and at 38 Studios, where she worked on Kingdoms of Amalur. She also discussed her time with the Air Force, where she learned agile development methodologies that she later applied to game development.
• Challenges in the Industry: Irena opened up about the difficulties she faced as a woman in the gaming industry and her commitment to bringing the player's voice into the development process.
• Unleashed Games and Haven: The focus of the conversation shifted to Irena's current project, Unleashed Games, and their upcoming title, Haven. Haven is envisioned as a family friendly MMO that promotes meaningful connections and mental health through gameplay. Irena is passionate about creating a game that allows families to play together and form lasting relationships.
• Community Engagement: Irena highlighted the importance of community feedback and shared how Unleashed Games is playtesting their game live on Twitch every Friday. This allows the team to gather real-time feedback and build a community around the game even before its release.