In Their Own Words: Sigurlina Ingvarsdottir, Senior Producer, Star Wars Battlefront
2015-06-09
Electronic Arts
From industrial engineering to leading the Star Wars team at DICE.
There are many different types of people working at EA, all united by one common thread: our passion for video games. We love games, and we love being able to connect our players with the passionate people behind them.
What inspired you to get into video games?
At first, I meant to have a really “serious” career. I studied industrial engineering and actually dreamt of running an aluminum smelter. But after university and a career in project management and retail business development, I found myself at a lecture at CCP Games and was completely blown away by their work. I introduced myself to the CEO and six weeks later I started my career in videogames. Now, I’m very excited to be part of the DICE team and of course the development of Star Wars™: Battlefront™.
What does it mean to you to be working on Star Wars: Battlefront?
It means a lot. I’ve been a fan since a very early age and the Star Wars™ franchise is extremely important to me. Rebooting this beloved title and bringing it to a new generation of fans and consoles is an extraordinary responsibility. I’m humbled by the opportunity to be a part of shaping the future of Star Wars, to work with Lucasfilm, and to work with the fantastic DICE team.
What in particular excites you about being part of the DICE team?
The fact that people are so talented, dedicated, and passionate about what they’re doing. I feel incredibly privileged to get to work with this team, and seeing their creations come to life everyday constantly surprises and delights me. Ever since I joined I’ve felt the same thing – that I can’t believe I get to be a part of this.
Can you describe your relationship with the Star Wars franchise?
It’s funny, I don’t really remember not knowing about Star Wars. It’s been part of my cultural framework for so long. When I was first asked if I wanted to work on the franchise, my response was to show a picture of my Christmas decorations from five years ago. On several holidays, I’ve decorated my tree and advent candles with Star Wars figures. So these characters and this iconography have always been very present and interspersed throughout my life in different ways.
What is the best part of working on Star Wars Battlefront?
When working on a Star Wars videogame you can completely geek out on something you love, and that’s a great opportunity. I really appreciate the opportunity to dive head-first into this universe, immerse myself in it, and figure out how I want to represent it. I’ve asked myself – how do I want to reintroduce Star Wars Battlefront to a new generation of fans? What do I want to pick out? How can we make it grow? Star Wars means so much to so many people, so these are important things to get right.
Is there such a thing as a “typical day” for you working on Star Wars Battlefront?
The days are incredibly varied, especially since a project has so many different phases. Right now, we are preparing Star Wars Battlefront for E3, so that is naturally a part of my day. I have a lot of meetings with my leads and part of my job is also to talk with Lucasfilm, marketing teams, and the press. There’s also a lot of switching between micro and macro topics. For instance, I can be part of discussions about EA’s general Star Wars strategies one moment, and then how the Tow Cable animation looks the next.
Developing a game like Star Wars: Battlefront takes an enormous team effort. How do you manage a team on this type of project?
It’s very challenging, but also very interesting since I’m fascinated at how organizations and companies operate – especially when it comes to something as complex as building videogames. I believe in trust, ownership and good organization. Also, that good people make good decisions.
What do you hope players feel when they are playing Star Wars Battlefront?
Most of all, I hope they will have a lot of fun. I want them to feel they’ve been brought into the Star Wars universe in a way they haven’t experienced before. We want fans to immerse themselves in their own Star Wars battle fantasies, whether those fantasies are based on the original trilogy, or new ones they’ve created themselves. But again, fun is the most important aspect.
Learn more about Star Wars Battlefront here.
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