Naughty Dog's Arne Meyer Talks Community and Game Dev Culture
Oct 23, 2023
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Arne Meyer, Head of Culture and Communications at Naughty Dog, talks about his early experience in game PR, starting grassroots ambassadorships in the gaming community, managing a development studio's internal culture, and handling bad press and negative feedback.
Arne Meyer started his career in PR working on the launch of the original Xbox and later joined Naughty Dog around the launch of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
Arne Meyer emphasizes the importance of building strong connections with players and fostering a two-way communication loop in the gaming community.
Managing a development studio's internal culture is complex and requires careful attention to support long-term careers.
Deep dives
Building a Global Video Game Commerce Company
Exola, a video game commerce company, assists game developers and publishers in funding, marketing, launching, and monetizing their games globally and across multiple platforms.
Crafting Premium Game Expansions and Soundtracks
I-M8bit specializes in creating premium expansions and soundtracks for popular games, including Epic's Fortnite World Cup, Untitled Goose Game, and Disco Elysium.
From Fanzines to Xbox: Arnie Meyer's Journey
Arnie Meyer, a longtime game industry professional, shares his path from creating fanzines and starting a record label to working at Xbox, Vivendi, and eventually joining Naughty Dog.
The Importance of Early Gaming Experiences
Arnie Meyer reminisces about his first gaming experiences, including playing Pac-Man at a pizza parlor and finding an early interest in software and game development.
The Evolution of Community Engagement in Gaming
As the gaming industry grows, community engagement becomes increasingly significant. Arnie Meyer discusses the importance of building strong connections with players, fostering a two-way communication loop, and managing the studio's culture to support long-term careers.
Chris Charla chats with Naughty Dog's Head of Culture and Communications, Arne Meyer. Together they discuss his early life playing games and getting his first break in PR working on the launch of the original Xbox; how his own personal work in fanzines led to his idea for grassroot ambassadorships inside the gaming community; his start at Naughty Dog around the launch of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves; and the complexities and processes of managing a development studio's internal culture.
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