Getting to Knowmade: Oliver Wauters

Oliver is Glowmade’s bread and butter. His big brain and can-do attitude are what see our gameplay constantly strengthening and evolving. Not a problem he can’t solve, which helps a lot in a game where causing problems on purpose is a big part of what makes it fun!

OooOOOooooooliver! What is it you do at Glowmade?

I’m a Senior Game Designer, working primarily on the wider systems & features surrounding the core gameplay. I convert problems into detailed solutions that I cunningly coerce the whole team to get onboard with. And always put the player first!

Now how would your parent describe your job?

Poorly, but with enthusiasm!

How did you get to this point in your career?

I originally wanted to become a film director until my university degree Interactive Media introduced me to making games as a profession! I got my foot in the door by landing a 6 month internship at Gameloft in Vietnam as a concept producer, where I was a Concept Producer coming up with digital solutions and 30s minigame adverts for brands. I then moved back to the UK to join mobile games company Viker in their early days as their first and only Game Designer making a variety of mobile titles in quick succession. Being the only designer there and working off my good intuition was quite the adventure, but very rewarding!

My goal was always to get into PC/Console so when I got the opportunity to join Mediatonic’s sister studio Fortitude came knocking I answered. There I worked on a cancelled title before merging into Mediatonic working on Fall Guys and UEFN projects as we got acquired by Epic Games. Learned a huge amount from the veterans and talented designers I had the privilege of working alongside here!

A little over three years later I’m now here at Glowmade, driven by the chance of working on an exciting new project to really sink my passion into and back to a smaller closer knit team for wholesomeness. Excited for the world to see what we are working on!

What made you want to pursue games?

As I say, I wanted to be a director. I applied to universities known to have renowned film courses. University of York got back to me with a counter-offer to join their brand new (in its very first year) course Interactive Media instead as it seemed to align with my interests in film & tech/programming nicely. They said I would still get the chance to make films through the liberty of their coursework – so I thought it was an exciting opportunity to broaden my skillset.

Ultimately the course ended up being very games-oriented, which I had never considered as a potential career path before. I wanted to become a game designer specifically as I’m very much still an ideas man and a passionate storyteller – so I figured that position was the best way for me to still develop my creative vision but in a this new format!

Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.

Other than obviously being obsessed with movies given my previous responses, I also love going to the theatre to watch plays. This was actually one of my primary motivators to live in/around London, so I could have the West End at my doorstep! I always wanted to be an actor growing up, I acted in some adverts as a kid and performed in school plays whenever I got the chance.

Live performances never fail to reignite that joy and passion, it makes me feel genuine emotion unlike any other medium – I love it! I even made a ranked tier list of all the plays I’ve seen since moving around here about 4.5 years ago and it’s already 28 entries long.

Who or what inspires you?

I can feel inspired by just about anything; from movies to books to boardgames to just seeing things out in the world like unique architecture!

A lot of inspiration comes from other videogames though. I strive to play a wide variety and often think of ways other games tackled a certain feature to try and learn from what they did well as a starting point to build upon. I play a lot of narrative driven games, and the games that draw me in the most are the ones that tell a compelling story with little or no dialogue like Little Nightmares or Outer Wilds. I think that’s where our medium excels the most, being able to tell a story purely through environmental worldbuilding and the player’s direct interactive participation in it.

Share something you appreciate about yourself. Give yaself a pat on the back, why don’t ya?

I appreciate my wide skillset derived from my education journey. I specialise in design but have a knack for programming, 3D Modeling, and making music/sounds. I’m like a Swiss knife of gamedev, although some of the tools might need sharpening.

What game do you wish you could’ve developed?

Little Nightmares. It feels like such a polished little experience where all the pieces of game dev fitted perfectly together as if everyone on the team shared the exact same passionate vision. I also love the game, the art, the mood, the tone, the wordless storytelling – sign me up time machine!

What’s the best thing about working at Glowmade?

The passion of the team! Everyone makes a concerted effort to call out suggestions for improvement and actively encourages candid feedback for the betterment of the game. We all want to make the best game we can, and celebrate every small victory step in that direction.

Who on the team inspires you the most? What do they do that’s so great?

It’s only been a few weeks, but Mike & Jonny have been standout powerhouses! Great to see the top brass getting stuck in just like the rest of us, all while spinning the additional admin & management plates that come with running a games studio. True champs!

What do you want from your career? What goals are you looking forward to vaulting past?

I want to create worlds and tell stories that inspire people, that last, that people think about long after they’re done. I want to be part of a game from the ground up that I can truly feel reflects a part of my creative self; my inner vision realised for others to experience. And I’d like to make something unique, that pushes the medium forward in new creative directions!

What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?

Make stuff! Art, stories, mechanics, animations, vfx – whatever helps you develop and showcase the skills you strive to pursue professionally. Especially doing so in your free time aside from coursework or other mandatory endeavours, as that shows your true passion and personality in your work. I’ve been doing game jams yearly since starting university, which is a great motivator to get something made & out there!

Get your foot in the door! That’s the hardest part, then you can wriggle your way into what you want to specialise in fully. Don’t get bogged down if your favourite studio rejects you, keep an open mind when exploring opportunities and keep applying. Any experience is good experience, and who knows you might discover your new dream job!

Explore, take risks, subvert expectations and engage with the unexpected. Most of my journey so far has been the result of taking a chance on unanticipated opportunities when they presented itself, and it has yet to disappoint!

In your opinion, who is the cutest Glowmade pet?

The Artvark itself, of course! Who can possibly resist those adorable beady eyes?

(Who indeed? The perfect answer, right here!)

If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Judging by my borderline addiction in the past, probably League of Legends.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Pin badges! I’ve got a fully decorated backpack with them and an ever growing collection of spares. I like to keep them as either tokens of my favourite things or as souvenirs; perusing any and all gift shops I come across for a potential newcomer. Anything Limited Edition is another pleasure; so a limited edition pin badge is my wallet’s ultimate weakness.

(A fellow pin goblin, yeeeesss, YEEEESSSSS!!)

There’s one biscuit left in the tin and it’s your favourite… what is it?

Speculoos from a Belgian bakery called Philip’s Biscuits, can’t beat it!