Today we’d like to introduce you to Selina Liu.
Hi Selina, 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?
In 2019, I traveled from China to the United States to pursue my studies at the University of Southern California (USC). While deciding between USC and New York University, I not only had to choose between two universities but also between two different cities and lifestyles. Looking back, I’m glad I made the right decision to come to LA.
During my time at USC, I studied communication management and took a class called “The Industry, Science and Culture of Video Games.” This class ignited my interest in the video game industry, which I realized had enormous business potential in LA. I started actively searching for opportunities to work in this field and was fortunate enough to land a job at a local game company, Riot Games, after graduation. Now, I work as a full-time game producer at Riot and find immense satisfaction in creating games that I love playing.
In addition to my work at Riot, I have a passion for painting contemporary oil portraits, especially of female figures and video game characters. I am grateful for the people who have supported and helped me along my journey and would love to offer my help to see more women who love games join the industry!
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 consider myself fortunate for the journey I’ve had so far, but I must admit that there are days when stress and helplessness overwhelm me. As a foreigner, I used to struggle with the language and cultural barriers, and I often felt like an imposter when it came to communicating my ideas effectively. However, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many people from diverse backgrounds since then, and I’ve learned that clear communication trumps any concerns about accent or grammar. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a native speaker or not; what counts is that you can convey your ideas effectively, and I’m grateful for this realization.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a video game producer, I’m currently working on League of Legends, having previously worked on League of Legends: Wild Rift. I believe the mark of a great producer is the ability to establish effective processes and systems that allow the team to operate autonomously. I’m passionate about empowering my team to create games that players love, and I take pride in ensuring that my team of game designers, artists, and engineers remain hyper-focused on delivering high-quality outputs.
As a producer, it’s my responsibility to define production roadmaps for game projects and features and to lead the team in executing them, even under tight deadlines and high-pressure situations. I enjoy working with my team to identify and mitigate risks and conflicts, and I’m always looking for creative solutions to address challenges. During the launch of Wild Rift esports features, we encountered numerous difficulties, such as last-minute changes to tournament locations due to Covid-19, as well as server constraints. Nevertheless, our small team was able to successfully conduct a tournament, which I’m extremely proud of.
What sets me apart from others is my deep understanding of different markets and game development cultures. My first game, Wild Rift, was a co-development between China and the US. In my day-to-day work, I acted as a cross-cultural bridge between my US and Chinese colleagues. I helped my team understand the differences in design philosophies between Chinese and US games, as well as the audience’s reactions to various tactics, particularly in mobile games.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in how we collaborate as a team. Despite the challenges, we’ve discovered innovative ways to connect with each other, even while working remotely. Nevertheless, I still miss the in-person communication that used to bring us together. There’s something special about face-to-face interactions that simply can’t be replicated in virtual meetings. However, I’m grateful for the technology that enables us to stay connected and productive, even during these challenging times.
Personally, I discovered a lot during these two years as well, covid brought me closer to my loved ones and enabled me to talk to myself more than before and realize how lucky I was. It motivates me to support other people in the future whenever I can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selinaliusl/
