Press Startup: Rubin, Spector and Others Talk Business in Gamers at Work

"In quieter times, both [Jason] Rubin and [Warren] Spector were interviewed by Morgan Ramsay for his book Gamers at Work: Stories Behind the Games People Play, which was published last year. Ramsay's intent in collecting long-form interviews with 18 gaming luminaries, from Nolan Bushnell of Atari to the Sony rivals Rubin and Ted Price of Insomniac Games, was to paint a picture of the pitfalls and challenges of making a gaming business work."

Read the full article at Forbes ›

Book offers inside look at video games

How did you decide who to interview?

As the son of a former pro bowler, I learned that if you want to be a champion, don’t watch the people who are throwing gutter balls; watch the people who are throwing strikes. Gamers at Work would have to feature "the world's most successful entrepreneurs in the video game industry" because nobody reaches the top without at least a few scratches. These business leaders would have the necessary experiences, and the appropriate distance from which to reflect, to make insightful, entertaining and motivational stories.

What do you think people will get out of reading it?

I think most readers have learned that successful video-game developers and publishers require focus, discipline, and skill. When fear would cause you to waver, you need to be committed to one direction. When competitors appear more interested in opportunities that you're not pursuing, you need to stay the course. When your view of your goal becomes obstructed and the path begins to twist and turn, you need to adapt. Ultimately, Gamers at Work explores what happens when the right or wrong people are in charge.

Read the full interview at The San Diego Union-Tribune ›