Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Ling.
Hi Morgan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in New Jersey and am of Chinese and Taiwanese descent. Growing up, I had an addictive personality. Fortunately for my parents (although they would likely disagree), I centered that addiction on video games. I distinctly remember waking up at 4 am before school to play games like MapleStory because my parents blocked access to the internet during the day. They thought they were being clever by restricting my access to games so that I’d finally focus on my schoolwork instead. I was obsessed with finding new and fun games to play online, from simple flash games like Adventure Quest to popular MMOs like Runescape.
Gaming served as more than just a fun way to spend my time – it was a way for me to connect with friends and an outlet for creativity. I loved getting lost in another world for hours, roleplaying different characters, and challenging myself to learn new mechanics and solve puzzles. Although video games played a pretty critical role in my life, I never seriously considered what a career could look like in this space. At least, not while I was still in school.
After graduating from Rutgers University in 2016 with a degree in General Physics and Economics, I landed my first corporate role. I was at a stage in my life where I felt super unsure of myself. I also realized pretty quickly that from a career perspective, this was not the path I wanted to stay on. So, I eventually thought to myself: “Why not explore something that I think would make me happy?” and decided to look into video game development. I never seriously considered the games industry before because I didn’t know if it was a viable career option … in truth, I didn’t really see many people that looked like me. The industry was (and still is) heavily white and male-dominated. Information on the types of roles and skill sets needed within game development was also pretty limited. I spent a decent chunk of time learning more about the industry and figuring out what I thought I’d be most interested in.
I eventually made the jump into the games industry and joined Riot Games in 2019. My most notable experience there was helping build and launch several of Riot’s first story-driven single-player games. Today, I am a Senior Live Operations Product Manager, with a specialty in ethical monetization design, at Amazon Games. Amazon has focused its efforts on making a big splash in the industry, with a goal of developing new, high quality games that millions of players will love. My role there consists of ensuring that our games effectively engage and retain players. My day-to-day involves building the roadmap for live operations, designing economies and monetization systems, and writing product requirements.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d definitely be lying if I said I’ve never come across any roadblocks. As a woman of color who has worked across several industries (consumer packaged goods, gaming, entertainment, and tech) in need of more diverse representation, I’ve faced sexist and racist comments, unprofessional politics, pay disparity and more. I’ve had people try to invalidate my worth, hard work, and experience, saying things like: “Don’t you think you got that job because they need to hire more women?”
That’s why it’s become incredibly important for me to work at studios that actively strive to include more diverse representation in their character designs and stories. At Amazon Games, I get to directly influence and shape the guiding principles and tenets of my game to ensure that it features authentic stories and inclusive experiences. During my time at Riot Games, I helped run and organize the “Play like a Woman” initiative, which was an internal event that encouraged Rioters to build empathy by temporarily changing their summoner names to be more traditionally feminine facing. We interviewed several female-identifying developers, asking them to share more broadly their gaming experiences.
To be frank, I’ve probably built up some obstacles for myself. It’s not uncommon for me to either be the only or one of two women in the room. At the start, it was a bit unnerving for me. I’m often surrounded by incredibly smart and talented people and have thought to myself on a number of occasions: “Do I belong here?”. Imposter syndrome can be a bitch. Fortunately, I’ve built an amazing community of gaming and tech ladies that have been incredibly supportive throughout my journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My role within game development requires me to oversee the entire game and player lifecycle. But, I get especially excited about monetization and designing ethical systems that drive value for players without feeling predatory. It requires me to have a good understanding of player behavior and psychology, a familiarity with large data sets and statistics, and a flexible mental framework that allows me to customize to a specific game’s needs.
Somewhere along my journey within the games industry, I began creating content on social media. I’m particularly passionate about amplifying the voices of women in gaming and tech and strive to make the industry more accessible through my content. I’ve been lucky enough to amass a community of over 100k that aligns with my values around the importance of diversity & inclusion and mental health. Oh yeah, and we love gaming memes.
I recently started a podcast called Blood, Sweat and Games with my good friend, Miranda O’Hare (who is also an actress, voice actress, and creator … she’s a badass). We like to describe the vibe as a cross between ‘Call Her Daddy’ and ‘What’s Good Games’. It’s a pop culture pod for the gamer girls – it’s meant to be a safe space where we chat about hot-button topics such as hate raids, sexism, and addiction. We also plan to bring on a bunch of key industry and community figures as guests!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.morgan-ling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganling/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUwWtwVhI6bkfh4jyrXRzKw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@themorganling?lang=en
