Meet the Sages - Gareth Haage

We're sitting down with Gareth Haage, our Lead Game Designer and Director at Humble Sage Games this week. Gareth's interview focuses on how he came into the game development business, what interests him outside of gaming, and what excites him about the industry.

Tell us about yourself 

I work as a Director at Humble Sage Games (HSG). I like spending time with my wife, 3D printing, playing computer games like Overwatch, and tabletop games like DnD. I have a wide range of interests and enjoy learning new things whenever I have the opportunity.

What excites you most about this industry? 

The gaming industry excites me in two key ways. To begin with, making a new game is always a challenge; there are always new methods to solve problems, improve previous efforts, and be innovative, which is what keeps it exciting. Second, the games industry is an excellent environment for developing and testing new technology. The gaming industry has recently made significant advances in virtual reality and augmented reality, putting these technologies in the hands of ordinary people.

What led you into joining this industry and HSG?

I originally wanted to be an engineer. I've always enjoyed building and tinkering, so I assumed it would be a good fit for me, but as my studies progressed, I found myself enjoying it less and less. In 2014, I had to take a course that required some programming, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I began programming small things for myself to interact with. So, I took the plunge and changed my major to Game Development. I really enjoyed the change and learnt so much  from it. You could say I found the thing I loved doing while looking for something else. Towards the end of my degree, I needed to complete an internship and I ended up applying at HSG. I chose HSG because of their ambition; they were striving for something that others weren't even attempting, which was quite thrilling and I was interested to see how it would play out. I liked working with the team so much that I chose to stay and develop into my current position.

What does your average day look like as Lead Game Designer? 

As I have two major roles in the business, my day is often split. As the Lead Game Designer, I oversee the project as a whole, ensuring that it is meeting our needs and goals. This involves, discussing and planning with the teams, testing the game and making assessments, not only on the basic functionality, but the desired effect of each gameplay element. 

My work as a Director is similar, but instead of focusing on the project, I am also concerned with the business and our team. Finding new and interesting ways for our team to become more efficient, as well as new opportunities for development and challenges to tackle.

What have you learned on your journey to get here?

One of the aspects of my job that I enjoy is the constant learning. Science and nature have influenced my game creations and their underlying mechanisms. I find myself wondering  "How do objects and shadows behave under different types of gravity?". In addition, understanding how teams plan and collaborate is frequently required in my profession. Using and comprehending the NeuroPower framework, I've recently improved my people and team skills. 

What’s next for HSG?

As Humble Sage moves forward, I would like to create more opportunities for the growth of our team, and expansion of our skills. I am looking forward to working on more large-scale, open world games that excite so many of us, and provide opportunities for the incorporation and development of new technologies. 

What game would you say is the most memorable from your childhood? Would you say that it has influenced your career? 

Ratchet and Clank! One and Two are especially solidified in my mind. I remember coming home from school to play them with my brother to no end. I would say they definitely influenced what I did as a career and how it has progressed. Ratchet and Clank was what came to my mind the moment I considered Game Development as a career, and the thought of creating something like that was one of the key drives to step into it.