Industrial Toys: Mobile To The Core

To the northeast of downtown Los Angeles, lies the Californian city of Pasadena. Home to both the world-famous Rose Bowl sports stadium and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it’s a place where science, technology, and creativity come to life. And nestled among the Mission architecture and art deco buildings of Old Pasadena, is Industrial Toys.

Known for games like Midnight Star that deliver intense action experiences in mobile-sized bursts, this “Mobile To The Core” studio is busy working on their next adventure. While that adventure with EA is top secret for now, why not take a peek at the behaviors, beliefs, and habits that characterize life at Industrial Toys.

Tap, Tap, Swipe

Some of the brightest minds from disciplines spanning Game Design, Concept Art, Product Management UX, UI, and much more populate a creative ecosystem where innovation thrives.

“Our culture is about sharing new ideas, trying new things, and being critical of them in a balanced way. It’s core to how we get things done.” Said UX/UI Lead, Scott Cameron.

Communication & Collaboration

Located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, Industrial Toys is a bright space with a large open plan footprint, designed to encourage a free flow of ideas between co-workers and facilitate communication.

Many on the team are 20-year veterans in the videogame industry and know from experience that good ideas come from all directions, anyone is free to walk over to someone to discuss an issue or pitch an idea.

During weekly build reviews, participants from all areas of expertise are encouraged to review a specific project while leaving their titles at the door. They are invited to speak up as equals and give their honest feedback and thoughts.

Its interior walls and workspaces are adorned with popular culture, video game memorabilia, and mementos of past projects. And just like many other EA World Wide Studios, the studio has original names for meetings rooms like Sarge Lives, Purple Room, Oberon, and War Chief, all inspired by characters from the Midnight Star franchise.

Work-Life Balance

Many on the team have been making video games for many years, and know from experience that a burned-out developer is an unproductive developer.

Flexible and remote working, a strong focus on productivity rather than hours, and giving employees the opportunity to volunteer all help cultivate a healthy work-life balance, For example, the team recently spent a day volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

"We were really excited to team up with our friends at Respawn and EALA Mobile to help out at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. We know how fortunate we are to work in this industry and in this wonderful community and are thrilled to have a chance to give back”, noted Alexander Seropian, Founder and CEO of Industrial Toys.

Happy Hour

The team likes to get together outside of work too, whether it’s ringing in the New Year at a rooftop restaurant or during their popular Happy Hours on Wednesdays.

This is when everyone kicks back with drinks and snacks, has fun and conversations that are unrelated to work. Board games and cards games also bring co-workers together to discuss new information, share experiences and most importantly, enjoy themselves.

It’s a type of interactivity that doesn’t really happen during working hours and is important to fostering a close-knit studio team.

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Industrial Toys is on a mission. Do you have what it takes to bring amazing games to life? Are you skilled, smart, and motivated? Learn more about their current career opportunities.

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