Hazel Kelly is originally from Bray, Co Wicklow. She lives in North Carolina and is a video game developer, currently working as a producer on Fortnite.
When did you leave Ireland?
I left Ireland in 2014 when I was offered the chance of a lifetime to join BioWare in their Austin, Texas studio as a live producer. I was working in EA's customer service in Galway as an area manager, joining for the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic (SW:TOR). In Galway, we were the eyes and ears for the game from a customer service point of view.
I chatted with the producers in Austin almost daily, and built some pretty strong relationships. When they had an opening on their team, I jumped at the chance to join them.
So you moved to Austin - how did you make it to North Carolina?
The video game industry is big and spread wide. There are some cities where you’ll find gaming hubs where multiple companies have large studios, cities such as Austin or Seattle, and other cities that just have one big studio HQ and maybe a handful of smaller studios. So when you’re looking to change jobs, you could stay local or like me, you could end up on the other side of the country. So far, I’ve been at BioWare/EA offices in Austin and San Francisco and now I’m in North Carolina.
Tell us about your career in North Carolina?
I'm relatively new to the Epic Games family. I was a player first, playing Fortnite (Battle Royale, but mainly Save The World). I fell in love with the game first, and now working on it is a dream come true. The team is so talented, and it's clear for everyone to see.
The game industry also has so many different’t types of roles. I’m a producer, so my job is to help the designers, artists and engineers execute and make something awesome come to life. I’ve also picked a company to work for that welcomes ideas and suggestions that could inspire the game design itself.
A day for me can be checking in with our team and making sure they have what they need to do what they do best, play-testing our latest build. It could also be in planning mode - playing with numbers and dates!
Do you think working abroad has offered you greater opportunities?
Yes, without a doubt. I'm fortunate that my first game dev role was on such a large game that gave me the opportunity to explore different roles before I found my perfect fit. I've worked on a SW:TOR, Anthem and now Fortnite, I don't think any of that would have been possible without working with the team in Austin when I took that first jump.
Now, the selection of jobs and companies I have to choose from in the US is just greater than it is back home. I can work on projects I’m excited about, and pick the one that’s right for me.
What are your plans for the future?
The gaming industry is growing back home in Ireland, so I’m hopeful that the opportunities are there for someone looking to get into the industry and for me in the future.
Global companies such as EA, Blizzard, Riot all have offices in Ireland, and we have some amazing homegrown studios that are growing by the day, like Digit Gaming. I can’t forget Romero Games in Galway - it’s led by Brenda and John Romero, definitely some legendary veterans of the industry.
Seeing the industry grow in Ireland from afar gives me hope that I’ll be able to take this passion of mine back home one day.
As for my accent, it's still a pain that I can't get anyone to understand how we say the letter `R'
What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career abroad - especially in your area?
Get experience (look at all those companies I just named, and there are tons more), and don’t be afraid to take chances. I’ve said yes to things that might not always make sense to anyone but me, but in the end it means I love what I get to do every day.
Since the world is so connected now, don’t think you have to stick to what you can access locally. Explore the game dev community, find out what works for you and start building your network. Keep it diverse and listen to people who might have a different opinion than you - that’s when you’ll learn the most, even if it’s just communication skills.
Is there anything you miss about living and working in Ireland?
Yes, I miss the people and knowing that most people I speak to will understand me. I still have a great group of friends that I keep in touch with, they won’t let me forget where I came from. I try see them at least once a year, coincidently when the Galway beer tent is in session.
My family live within a five-minute drive of each other, apart from one brother who lives in Canada. Knowing you can’t be there for BBQs or just to drive to my sister’s house and have a cuppa or go next door and see my friend is tough, but you find a way to make it work.
As for my accent, it’s a great conversation starter, but it’s still a pain that I can’t get anyone to understand how we say the letter “R”.
