Forums superstar David Kaye minimized Notepad++ and his browser to answer our questions this time!

Name and position

David Kaye – Senior System Engineer

Why did you want to work in the games industry and how did you get started?

I loved computer games as a child, and never stopped playing as I grew older. I wanted to be part of an industry that I care about, and that other people know about.

What are you working on at the moment? What's first on your to-do list?

I’m working on our Continuous Integration system, automating as much as possible of the process – not just compiling code and building assets, but running performance tests and uploading builds to Steam. Sometimes I dabble in WAF and Linux.

First on my to-do list is expanding the number of automated tests that we run.

What music do you listen to at work?

·  Ludovico Einaudi

·  Cradle of Filth

·  Rammstein

·  Pretty much anything with a Cello.

What tools are you using at the moment?

I use PyCharm for my day-to-day development work, alongside Notepad++ and Perforce Visual Client.

What types of games do you like, and what is your favorite game of all time?

I usually play first-person shooters; I use the voice chat to keep in touch with some of my best friends in England. My favourite game of all time is probably The Cat Lady – it’s a fairly simple game, and certainly not for the faint of heart, but it drew me in from the outset and hooked me until the end.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy improving my German, working on my PhD, and finding new restaurants and parks around town.

Where are you going on your next vacation?

I’m going back to the UK to introduce a German friend to Guy Fawkes’ night. It seems to be one of those events that only makes sense if you grew up with it, as I’ve never spoken to a non-Brit who didn’t raise an eyebrow. Then we’ll be sampling the finest in English cuisine – from fish and chips, to Sunday roasts and rhubarb crumble.

Do you have any tips for people wanting to get started in the industry?

I’d suggest that people find something they enjoy doing, and then move into the games industry, rather than trying to get into the industry and then decide what they want to do/try to find what they enjoy.