An interview with Colin Chang
Abertay Game Production Management graduate, Colin Chang speaks about his experience working on the BAFTA nominated, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.
Briefly describe the game?
Hellblade follows the journey of Senua, a broken Celtic warrior, who embarks on a vision quest into Viking hell to fight for the soul of her lover, Dillion.
What was your role on the game?
I was a producer on the team. I worked directly with the various disciplines to ensure we delivered the vision of the game. And because Ninja Theory self-published Hellblade, it was also my responsibility to work with the console manufacturers (Sony and Microsoft), age rating boards (PEGI, ESRB, etc) around the world and vendors like localisation in order to release the game on time to a global audience.
Do you think it’s important that games deal with real life issues?
That certainly depends on the aim and vision of the game. Hellblade’s plot deals with psychosis and Ninja Theory worked with neuroscientists to ensure this was depicted accurately. We always intended on representing the mental health elements as accurately and honestly as possible from the very beginning of the project. I think it’s healthy and beneficial for the industry that more games cover these types of topics in this manner. It will help the medium grow.
What does it mean to you to get a BAFTA nomination?
Getting one nomination is such a great honour but 9? That continues to leave me speechless.
Anything particular about your Abertay experience that benefited your game?
Because Abertay brings together so many people from across the world, it opened me up to collaborating with other students from all walks of life and cultures who share a passion for games.
Do you have any advice for students creating their first game?
Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t be afraid to fail (especially for your first game). You’ll learn what works, and what doesn’t and you could have something special in your hands.
What do you think makes a good games team successful?
Communicate with each other, share as much information as you can with each other and ensure everyone understands the vision of the game. You’ll build a good relationship with your team and be able to react to issues that arise more effectively.
