Firaxis Producer Connects Club Kids to Careers in Video Games
Updated: Jul 28, 2021
Members of our esports club got a surprise visit from a video game producer during this week’s Clubhouse @YourHouse session. Michael Kotey, associate producer for Firaxis Games, gave members a sense of his day-to-day work developing video games before joining members for a game of Roblox. “Hearing from professionals like Michael really helps encourage active participation in our Club activities,” explained Kaitlin Keefer, who leads the esports club that meets twice a week through BGCMB’s virtual platform.
Michael’s journey into the gaming industry began when he graduated the University of Baltimore with a bachelor's degree in technology and professional studies in simulation and digital entertainment. Now at Firaxis for seven years, Michael began as a quality assurance tester and then lead tester before assuming his current role. “Kids are the future,” Michael explained, “and I wanted to show them that pursuing a career in making games is something that can be decided at any point during their education.”
Before joining our esports session, Michael got to know Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore alongside fellow Firaxis employees at several volunteer days in 2019. “Michael is my #1 volunteer and has been at every event we have done as an organization,” confirmed Shawn Kohn, Firaxis’ human resources director who leads the company’s community engagement efforts.
If you have a job in video games and would like to talk with our members about your career path, please contact us at info@bgcmetrobaltimore.org.
It’s inspiring to see gaming professionals sharing their career journeys with young people. Stories like Michael’s show that the video game industry offers opportunities beyond playing, including quality assurance, production, design, and development. Whether someone starts out playing on a game console or enjoying a handheld game on a J36 Ultra handheld, curiosity about games can grow into an interest in how they are made. What skills would you recommend young gamers start developing if they hope to pursue a career in the gaming industry?