By: Anna S
In this interview, Lisa Saposh, an experienced developer who has contributed to some of the world’s most well-known games, shares her personal journey, professional insights, and thoughts on current trends in the gaming industry. Discover what inspires her, the skills often essential for success in game development, and her advice for aspiring game creators.
1) Lisa, you’ve worked on some of the most popular games in the world. Could you tell us about your journey into the industry?
I’ve been passionate about games since childhood—my family got our first computer when I was five. From then on, I was deeply drawn into this fascinating world. Creativity always fascinated me, and I spent most of my time either playing games or drawing in Photoshop. My first game was Unreal—a terrifying yet remarkably captivating experience. Then came Sonic, Half-Life, and, of course, The Sims—games that helped shape my love for this art and became a significant part of my life.
Creativity surrounded me from an early age—my mother is an artist, and I always felt my path would involve art. The only question was, in what way?
I received a classical art education and studied graphic design. But by my second year, I realized I wanted to focus on games. It was more of an internal realization than a conscious decision—I became deeply passionate about the idea. Thus, my two main interests merged into a clear direction.
In 2015, I enrolled at Scream School in Game Art, which reinforced that this was my true calling. It wasn’t easy—I lacked technical knowledge and had to learn many new things. But persistence and passion helped me land my first job in the industry within a year. It was a small company developing custom VR projects. That marked the start of my professional journey in game development.
2) What was the first game you worked on?
My first complete game was Singing Stones: The Temple of Red Maple. At that point, I hadn’t finished my studies yet, so the project was quite a challenge. The game was developed in Unity, an engine I’d never used before, and I had to learn it quickly.
But what made it even more interesting was that I was responsible not just for the visuals—creating locations and 3D models—but also for the game concept itself, mechanics, and gameplay. It was my first experience handling multiple areas simultaneously, which was undoubtedly challenging. I had to constantly learn and find solutions to various issues.
Despite the difficulties, this project became a key milestone—it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the game creation process and strengthened my confidence in my career choice.
3) What inspires you in game development?
I’m inspired by games being a highly distinctive form of art. As a player, I’ve always seen games as offering experiences that are difficult to replicate in movies or books. Their interactivity allows us not just to observe a story but to live it, become part of a world, influence events, and experience deep emotions. This powerful immersion fascinates me every time.
As a developer, I see games as an expansive field for creativity. The essence of game development is aimed at evoking specific emotions, immersing players in an atmosphere, and making them feel deeply. Game development shares similarities with traditional art, working with perception through visuals, story, mechanics, sound, and interactivity. This combination makes games stand out and gives developers significant freedom in creating unique worlds and experiences.
4) Professionally, what skills are most important for a game developer?
One of the most valuable skills is a genuine passion for games. Anyone creating games benefits from being a gamer. Without this, it’s hard to fully grasp what makes games engaging, what mechanics work, and how players perceive different gameplay elements.
Another key skill is having a sense of “fun.” Whatever your development role—modeling, level design, mechanics, characters, effects, or even all these simultaneously as an indie developer—everything should contribute to making the game engaging and exciting. Whatever the genre, the game should aim to entertain and evoke emotion.
Continuous learning is also essential. Game development is constantly changing—new technologies, trends, tools, and genres regularly emerge. Developers need to always be ready to learn, adapt, and embrace change.
Ultimately, game development combines creativity, analysis, and continuous growth, making it deeply rewarding.
5) Which trends in the gaming industry do you find most interesting?
In my view, recent years have seen somewhat of a slowdown in major game development. Truly innovative projects are fewer, as the industry often focuses on sequels and remakes. While some are successful, genuine risk and experimentation in AAA gaming have become less common.
The indie scene continues to stand out. Here, truly original ideas, fresh mechanics, and unconventional storytelling often emerge. Indie developers are more willing to experiment, sometimes leading to notable discoveries.
It’s encouraging to see that major companies and software developers are increasingly supporting indie creators, offering special licensing terms, accessible marketplaces, and asset libraries. This support suggests potential for more creative, unique, and memorable games in the future.
6) Which projects are you proudest of?
I’m proud of many projects I’ve worked on—from my early smaller games to recent large-scale AAA projects.
Working on several installments of Call of Duty was particularly meaningful. It was my first experience on a major AAA project, involving creating outdoor locations, landscapes, and city streets. It was both complex and fascinating, requiring mastery of a custom game engine. Such challenges are a big part of what makes game development exciting—constant growth, overcoming difficulties, and seeing your work become part of projects enjoyed by millions.
My experience developing VR games, such as RevolVR and PolyFun VR, was also unique. VR development requires a different approach to environment creation, perspective, and interactivity, which has significantly shaped my overall perspective on game development.
7) Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by indie developers, especially solo creators or small teams, who bring their ideas to life largely on their own. They show that remarkable things can be achieved with passion, persistence, and storytelling.
I admire developers like Tomas Brush, Mike Klubnika, Sergey Noskov, Toby Fox, and Lucas Pope. Each has created something truly distinctive. Brush excels in artistic styling and atmosphere; Klubnika crafts short, impactful horror games; Noskov’s games, like 35MM, offer atmospheric narratives; Fox’s Undertale demonstrates compelling storytelling and unique mechanics; Pope’s Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn use gameplay mechanics as powerful storytelling tools. They don’t follow trends but create something original and memorable, which I find truly inspiring.
8) Share your creative plans/dreams. Who would you like to work with?
I want to continue growing in the AAA industry, working on large projects and exploring new directions. Most of my experience is in multiplayer games, which I enjoy, but I also hope to work on single-player projects, which demand different approaches to environment, atmosphere, and narrative immersion. This challenge motivates me greatly.
Additionally, I’m spending more time on personal creative projects. Recently, I’ve started experimenting with small, personal projects to explore ideas freely, without the constraints of large productions. This creative freedom allows me to try unconventional approaches without the pressure of strict technical requirements or commercial expectations. I hope to continue exploring this direction—perhaps it could grow into something bigger someday.
9) What advice would you give to those who want to start in game development?
My main advice: take the leap. Game development is an industry that welcomes newcomers, and formal education isn’t always necessary. Many talented professionals are self-taught, driven purely by passion.
Stay open to new things, learn quickly, and don’t fear mistakes—they’re part of the process. The sooner you start experimenting, the quicker you’ll find your path. There are plenty of accessible resources, courses, and communities to help you learn, ask questions, and find like-minded people.
Game development isn’t just about technology—it’s about creativity, teamwork, and creating emotional experiences for players. Even small steps can open doors to big opportunities.
Official website of Lisa Saposh — lisasaposh.com
Published by Joseph T.
