Are you counting the days until MHW Iceborne comes out? Or maybe you’re itching to be the first to get your hands on the next-gen Project Scarlett Xbox. If you’re as obsessed with video games as us, then a career in digital distribution could be for you. We rounded up the troops at Genba HQ to get the inside scoop on how to get into the industry. Here’s Part One of our career advice.
The first step
For Nick Craig, Genba’s chief operations officer, his career started 20 years ago in video game operations. “Most of that time was spent in purchasing and physical ops and logistics for console and PC software,” says Nick, who heads up the operations and tech team.
“The principles and practices of running a successful ops department are similar whether you’re dealing with a box on a shelf or a number on a screen – surround yourself with an excellent team who have a real passion to always give 100 per cent and who are really committed to making the company a success.”
Passion is key
For CEO Matt Murphy it was quite a different story – he worked in healthcare technology for over ten years before joining Genba in 2017. “I was an outsider,” admits Matt, “but I was introduced to Genba through a tech contact I’d known for years and as soon as I spoke to our founders I was hooked!”
Passion is clearly a prerequisite when it comes to working in digital distribution, as James McNerney, Genba’s business development manager, explains: “I’ve always wanted to be a part of this industry and want to leave a positive mark on it, which is what motivates me every day.”
It’s this drive that has led to James to work his way up the ladder, working for some of the biggest names in the industry for the past 12 years.
At Genba it’s his job to negotiate new business opportunities – he’s a trend forecaster who expertly analyses the rapidly evolving gaming industry to identify any interesting commercial partnerships. Drawing on his talent for spotting the next big thing, James is in part responsible for bringing some of the most exciting games into living rooms everywhere.
If this sounds like your dream job, be sure to check out part 2 of How to get into digital distribution here and read more of our top tips about breaking into the industry.
Keep tabs on our team vacancies here.
