In the dynamic and diverse landscape of the gaming industry, Tarja Porkka-Kontturi, our guest today, has blazed a unique trail, encompassing roles from community management to sensitivity consultancy. Her journey is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and a deep commitment to making the gaming world more inclusive. Join us as we delve into the inspiring story and insights of this remarkable individual.
Question: You have an impressive and diverse background in the gaming industry, from community management to sensitivity consultancy. What inspired you to pursue such a multifaceted career in gaming?
Answer: I was originally going to be a pure craftsman. I was a teenage mother, but the wonderful support of those close to me helped me to finish my studies. Eventually I studied upholstery and restoration, and completed a carpentry apprenticeship. I then went on to become an artisan and specialized in soft materials such as weaving fabric. I worked with people with substance abuse problems and the long-term unemployed as a counselor, helping them to learn new skills and find a new direction in their lives. At the age of 22 I suffered a stroke and at the age of 26 I got a pacemaker for chronic heart illness – life changed. I had all my life been an active member in different organizations and unions, starting all kinds of initiatives from all women football teams to better hobby opportunities for young people in my hometown. But at around the age of 26, I had to go on disability pension because of my chronic illness. It was tough! I had mental health issues due to all these difficulties; medical PTSD was one of them. I went through all kinds of treatments from therapy to medications, but nothing worked for me. Pretty much a year ago, at the age of 40 I finally got it figured out, I was diagnosed with autism, and it explains SO MUCH. Long story short, my own complicated background and difficulties pushed me to help others. All that I do in the game industry leans on the same pillar: How can I help others the best way possible, how can I serve the communities and people who work in the industry. If my expertise helps even one person to have it a bit easier than it ever was for me, my goal is achieved! Life is hard enough; we need to try and make it softer for each other. Oh and of course I also love all things gaming, so there’s that too!
Question: Could you tell us about your favorite video game and what aspects of it resonate with you the most?
Answer: I could reply to this properly only with an 8932 page essay. Haha. I try to make it simple. Souls games are close to my heart. I love their atmosphere, straightforward battles, and the fact that they carried me over some tough times in my life by offering a sweet escape from my own circling thoughts. I love to disappear in their worlds, collect things, and I find myself returning to them repeatedly. Same goes with Skyrim. You wouldn’t believe how many cheeses I’ve gathered! Then there’s NieR: Automata… that game broke me badly, and then helped me to heal fully – also from the things that I didn’t know I hadn’t healed from. Its narrative is so impactful. I cried for hours and hours with it, what an excellent story! Finally, I must mention all the little indies I’ve played! This world is full of wonderful, creative people who don’t fail to fascinate and impress me. Like, look at Renee Gittins who worked her butt off to bring Potions: A Curious Tale to life! People achieving their dreams makes me so happy. I had the pleasure to be a play tester for the game, and it was a fantastic experience.
Question: As the Director of Community Engagement at The Global Game Jam, you play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community among game developers. What strategies have you found most effective in building and maintaining such a community?
Answer: If you are yourself and stay true to yourself, and treat people with kindness and empathy that everyone deserves, rest takes care of itself. Of course you need to have strategies and plans, but those alone are never enough. You have to be ready to listen with the intention to actually understand different world views and opinions. You can never please everyone, but together we can find solutions that work for everyone in some way. Community building is team work, and you have to see yourself as a team member.
Question: You’ve been involved with organizations like IGDA and We in Games Finland, actively promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry. How do you see the gaming industry evolving in terms of diversity and representation?
Answer: Change is slow, but it’s been great to see some aspects of it becoming reality. We, who promote these topics, often face belittling and harassment, and it can be heavy at times. I still believe it’s worth it to fight this battle for those who come after us, if we ourselves aren’t yet benefitting from that change. I love the Greek proverb “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” Anyway, as said, our industry is evolving and new normal shapes slowly but steadily. World is full of diverse people! So why would not the games industry be?
Question: Your work as a consultant for AAA and indie titles is intriguing. Can you share any memorable moments or projects you’ve worked on that left a significant impact on you?
Answer: Oh I would LOVE to talk about some titles I’ve worked on during the past 1-2 years! But we still need to wait a little. I’d love to share one experience though: I was invited to consult on one upcoming AAA title, but due to my disability I cannot travel. The person facilitating the consultancy sessions jumped through so many hoops to get me in there remotely! Paperwork was a mountain but there we saw again that if there’s a will there’s a way. I felt so deep belonging and appreciation.
Working on PR with some clients has been such a joy as well. One beloved example for me is Burning Planet, a Swedish publisher founded by rock musicians. Greetings Max, Karl and Niklas! Love you, guys! Those kinds of people and projects inspire me.
Question: As a playtest mentor, what guidance or insights do you offer to up-and-coming game developers to enhance the refinement and effective testing of their games?
Answer: For me the focus is always on accessibility, lately more on the cognitive side of it. For example neurodiversity effects in gaming experiences too, and these are things that have been recognized only lately. As general guidance I always underline the importance of having your player personas (target group) carefully outlined, so you find the right testers for your game. It’s also important to listen to the feedback that comes from different sources, so be open and don’t take offense from criticism. Playtest offers you tools to be a better developer and to create a better product. It can be hard to hear criticism but learn to aim it towards your development process instead of you as a person. Have a good feedback system in place so that you can collect data easily and compare your findings.
Question: You’ve been a part of various PR campaigns for games like GTAV, League of Legends, and Arcane on Netflix. Could you share a behind-the-scenes experience from working on a high-profile game launch?
Answer: Well, there’s more money and more people and more restrictions involved. Also longer timelines. Otherwise the drill is the same as with indies. After all it’s just people making games in both cases. Stress of the whole production cycle, catching the deadlines, last minute changes, chaos combined with joy, and finally the excitement of the launch. I have massive respect for indies who do it all with such small teams without different departments taking care of different parts of the production. Of course AAA folks have it hard too, there’s so much pressure, not to mention recent layoffs around the industry… Making games isn’t rainbows and magic all the time, but sometimes it really is.
At DeepWell DTx it’s been very exciting to work with multi talented folks who are super passionate about what they are doing. I’m doing the community management there but it naturally includes the PR and marketing aspects as well. Working with legends like Mike Wilson, Ryan Douglas, Nicole Sorochan and many more in the team is fun, educational and heartwarming. DeepWell is an excellent example of great workplace culture!
Question: Sensitivity consultancy is an important aspect of game development today. Can you explain how this role contributes to creating more inclusive and culturally sensitive games?
Answer: Often people tend to think that sensitivity consultancy is only about educating on how to best communicate with your target audience in different markets. Of course that is true, but my approach is more about educating companies and people on how to treat different people as valuable and worthwhile individuals. How to be a human to other human beings. It sprouts from kindness and consideration. Also, learning about the world outside your own views and culture is enriching. There’s never harm in being a bit more understanding, kind, or sensitive. Sensitivity checking through the game development process ensures that there’s no offensive material present, and when taken further, it can also support, validate and empower the people about whom the story is told.
Question: Throughout your career, you’ve held roles related to accessibility and representation in gaming. What do you think are the most pressing challenges in these areas, and how can the industry address them?
Answer: The biggest challenge really is to get people to understand how important accessibility and representation are. I’m not sure why they are often seen as something additional, or even frowned upon. I have no perfect answer to how the industry should address these challenges, but I will keep being vocal and visible with many others fighting for the cause. Everyone deserves a place and space in the industry, and gaming is for everyone. I’m determined to break biases (after making people recognize their biases) and contributing in creating a new normal.
Question: As a journalist and writer in the gaming space, what topics or trends do you find most fascinating to cover, and why?
Answer: Nowadays I must pick my topics carefully so as not to conflict with my work. But overall, I love to cover fresh approaches, good practices, and just cool games! I also enjoy doing tech reviews, tech is such a big part of my life as a remote worker and disabled person who spends lots of time at home.
Question: Your involvement with the International Games Summit and Nordic Game shows your commitment to industry events. What do you think makes a game development conference or event truly valuable to attendees?
Answer: When an event is built with the “audience first” mentality, that’s 80% of the success. I won’t stop speaking about the accessibility of these events, we cannot forget hybrids now that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Speaker accessibility and inclusion is so important as well. I’ve been invited to speak about accessibility and DEI in accessibility focused events that did not arrange hybrid options… It’s saddening and frustrating for obvious reasons. In general, events that invest in pre-production, accessibility (including financial!), clear communications and security, are most likely to be successful. Games industry has all the resources to create accessible and inclusive events, so let’s do it!
Question: In your current role as a consultant for PlayStation, can you give us any insights into the importance of accessibility and representation in the upcoming unannounced game you’re working on?
Answer: I can’t say much yet, but I do want to pay tribute to the specific people at PlayStation who work tirelessly to enable inclusive and accessible gaming experiences – these people push for consultations and revisions by professionals. I’m more than honored to be part of that.
Question: With your role as the Director of Community Engagement at The Global Game Jam, can you give us a sneak peek into what game developers and enthusiasts can expect from the Global Game Jam 2024, and why should they be excited to participate?
Answer: It will be the best GGJ so far! Tim Cullings is an amazing, emphatic leader who has great ideas, and our diverse board is supporting that progress. Charly is creating wonderful connections around the world, and Zain works so hard on the tech side. We have listened to our community and always try to do better. Like last year, there will be a preparation week where we will hear some of the industry leaders and learn new things. I cannot wait to experience all that with our community! Game Jams in general are a great way to hone your skills or learn new ones, network, build your portfolio and just have fun! Treat yourself!
Our conversation with Tarja Porkka-Kontturi, Director of Community Engagement at The Global Game Jam and community manager at DeepWell DTx, has shed light on the profound impact of accessibility, representation, and community-building in the gaming industry. Her dedication to these causes and her multifaceted career path serve as an inspiration to all. As we eagerly anticipate the future of gaming, it’s clear that individuals like her are shaping a brighter, more inclusive, and empathetic landscape for gamers and creators alike.
For more information about The Global Game Jam and to get involved in this exciting event, visit their website at https://globalgamejam.org. Site applications are set to open on 6th of November 2023, and Jammer registrations start on 4th of December 2023, leading up to the big event happening from 22-28 January 2024! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible gaming community initiative.
