Greetings Infinity Warriors,
A very interesting question was recently asked of the Infinity Wars community as a whole, and instead of just a silly little forum response, I felt it would be better if I wrote my thoughts in a more formal fashion.
A very interesting question was recently asked of the Infinity Wars community as a whole, and instead of just a silly little forum response, I felt it would be better if I wrote my thoughts in a more formal fashion.
The question was posed was the following:
What does Infinity Wars mean to you? - Delusionsofhope
A rather harmless question as a whole, and most people will have extremely differing perspectives on how they'd like to answer that question. It's the kind of question that gives you insight into what kind of gamer someone is, and what they value in their game of choice.
That said, the question has a bit more of a sentimental meaning to me. Infinity Wars changed not only me as a person, but my future as well. This is why I wanted to write out a blog for the response instead of just a forum response, because Infinity Wars means more to me than just a few lines of forum code.
That said, the question has a bit more of a sentimental meaning to me. Infinity Wars changed not only me as a person, but my future as well. This is why I wanted to write out a blog for the response instead of just a forum response, because Infinity Wars means more to me than just a few lines of forum code.
The Beginning
Bowling Centers and Retail. I had just graduated High School, and honestly had no idea what in the world I wanted to do. Didn't attend college because I had no concept of what I'd like to pursue, what kind of courses to go after, and honestly had no end goal.
Shift Leader for AMF Bowling Centers, bowling tournaments on the side, and just being a young kid. I accepted a very gracious opportunity to represent a brand named Jet Bowling, and assist them in their growth through Facebook, something I had an intimate knowledge of through my own personal use and self-education.
This led to a friend of mine letting me know that a local company named Revana was hiring for their Facebook Advertising division, working with Facebook directly to grow their advertising wing. It was a new opportunity for me and I decided to just go for it.
I learned a lot there. Proper Social Media operations, how each unique platform (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, G+) catered to different kinds of information and people. How to work with all manners of different companies to find their goals and how they can achieve their goals through Social Media. It was an excellent learning experience.
Shift Leader for AMF Bowling Centers, bowling tournaments on the side, and just being a young kid. I accepted a very gracious opportunity to represent a brand named Jet Bowling, and assist them in their growth through Facebook, something I had an intimate knowledge of through my own personal use and self-education.
This led to a friend of mine letting me know that a local company named Revana was hiring for their Facebook Advertising division, working with Facebook directly to grow their advertising wing. It was a new opportunity for me and I decided to just go for it.
I learned a lot there. Proper Social Media operations, how each unique platform (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, G+) catered to different kinds of information and people. How to work with all manners of different companies to find their goals and how they can achieve their goals through Social Media. It was an excellent learning experience.
Present Day
While at Facebook, on a call helping a client, I was looking at their Business Page to get a feel for their company and operations. Once I navigated to their page I was served a Kickstarter Advertisement for a new game trying to get funding called Infinity Wars.
Once I was off the call I took a look at the campaign for the game and was pretty interested in it. I backed it for $25 because this game looked like something I would really enjoy. I was still a giant Yugioh/MTG nerd, at the time I was still playing Yugioh tournaments locally.
Once I was home after work I decided to send a message to the Campaign Owner, Elphie Coyle, and let him know that if he was interested in getting any help spreading the message of the campaign on Social Media I'd be happy to help and advise. I just wanted the campaign to succeed, it looked like a really neat project.
This was November 2012.
2 months later, January 2013, here I am accepting a position to work with Lightmare Studios on the Infinity Wars project. I had always been a hardcore video gamer, but never had I imagined myself working in Video Games. I was a marketer, a social media guy, never in a million years did I envision actually WORKING in the Video Game industry. It was a chance I had to jump on, an opportunity to do something really new and exciting in my life. Who wouldn't want that chance?
Fast forward nearly 3 years to present day, November 3rd, 2015. I am now a Community Manager, a man who knows what he wants to do with his career, someone who is confident in his capability to do his job to the best of his ability. A Community Manager, Social Media Manager, and On-Screen Host who is honestly excited with the prospect of learning new things and challenging myself to become better for the players I care for.
For the longest time I was just that, a player. Just another gamer who bought and played games, never cared one single bit for design philosophy or ever considered monetization/progression methodology. I come from a background of simplicity, just play the damn game and enjoy myself.
Now it's difficult for me not to look at a game with a completely different perspective, it's difficult for me NOT to wonder what players think about a certain product. I WANT to know why things are done the way they are, because I want to provide an excellent environment for the people that play the game I'm working on.
Once I was off the call I took a look at the campaign for the game and was pretty interested in it. I backed it for $25 because this game looked like something I would really enjoy. I was still a giant Yugioh/MTG nerd, at the time I was still playing Yugioh tournaments locally.
Once I was home after work I decided to send a message to the Campaign Owner, Elphie Coyle, and let him know that if he was interested in getting any help spreading the message of the campaign on Social Media I'd be happy to help and advise. I just wanted the campaign to succeed, it looked like a really neat project.
This was November 2012.
2 months later, January 2013, here I am accepting a position to work with Lightmare Studios on the Infinity Wars project. I had always been a hardcore video gamer, but never had I imagined myself working in Video Games. I was a marketer, a social media guy, never in a million years did I envision actually WORKING in the Video Game industry. It was a chance I had to jump on, an opportunity to do something really new and exciting in my life. Who wouldn't want that chance?
Fast forward nearly 3 years to present day, November 3rd, 2015. I am now a Community Manager, a man who knows what he wants to do with his career, someone who is confident in his capability to do his job to the best of his ability. A Community Manager, Social Media Manager, and On-Screen Host who is honestly excited with the prospect of learning new things and challenging myself to become better for the players I care for.
For the longest time I was just that, a player. Just another gamer who bought and played games, never cared one single bit for design philosophy or ever considered monetization/progression methodology. I come from a background of simplicity, just play the damn game and enjoy myself.
Now it's difficult for me not to look at a game with a completely different perspective, it's difficult for me NOT to wonder what players think about a certain product. I WANT to know why things are done the way they are, because I want to provide an excellent environment for the people that play the game I'm working on.
The Future
None of this, NONE OF THIS, would have happened without Lightmare offering me the opportunity to be a part of Infinity Wars. I would still be working some random bowling center or retail job, no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and no goal for myself.
I know the career I want to be in for the rest of my life, I found a passion for what I do and the people that I help to enjoy themselves each and every day. Community management is so much more than just Customer Support, and it brings me a great deal of joy to help others find a great deal of joy.
My goal is no longer to find a goal, my goal is to make sure the Video Game industry knows the username "Teremus" is someone that honestly and legitimately cares for players and their desires to enjoy the things that help us remove our minds from the stress of the real world....even if for a short time.
So when you ask me "What does Infinity Wars mean to you?" I can honestly say that it was the launching point for my career, and far more than just another video game. It was the reason I know who I am, and what I'm doing in my life. It started with a random opportunity with Jet Bowling, and came to fruition through a completely random set of events that eventually led to me realizing my potential as a Community Manager in the same Video Game Industry that I have loved for so long.
I know the career I want to be in for the rest of my life, I found a passion for what I do and the people that I help to enjoy themselves each and every day. Community management is so much more than just Customer Support, and it brings me a great deal of joy to help others find a great deal of joy.
My goal is no longer to find a goal, my goal is to make sure the Video Game industry knows the username "Teremus" is someone that honestly and legitimately cares for players and their desires to enjoy the things that help us remove our minds from the stress of the real world....even if for a short time.
So when you ask me "What does Infinity Wars mean to you?" I can honestly say that it was the launching point for my career, and far more than just another video game. It was the reason I know who I am, and what I'm doing in my life. It started with a random opportunity with Jet Bowling, and came to fruition through a completely random set of events that eventually led to me realizing my potential as a Community Manager in the same Video Game Industry that I have loved for so long.
Thanks everyone for reading, and thank you Delusionsofhope for posing that question!
I hope perhaps I was able to help some others get a sense for what the game means to me, and perhaps help you figure out what you're doing with yourself as well. Taking risks can be scary and dangerous, but if I hadn't, I never would have come anywhere near the industry that I now know is where I should be.
Have an excellent rest of your day, and see you on the battlefield!
I hope perhaps I was able to help some others get a sense for what the game means to me, and perhaps help you figure out what you're doing with yourself as well. Taking risks can be scary and dangerous, but if I hadn't, I never would have come anywhere near the industry that I now know is where I should be.
Have an excellent rest of your day, and see you on the battlefield!