This is Jared Slawski

The Short Version

• Current dual-master's candidate at the University of Utah (MBA and Masters of Entertainment Arts and Engineering)
  
  
• University of Michigan, Bachelor's in Computer Science, minor in Japanese (2016)
  
  
• Zynga, Software Engineer (2016-2020)
  
  
• Experience with C#, C++, PHP, Unreal, Unity, and more
  
  
• 9 years combined professional and hobbyist game making experience

Flavor Text

Born an raised in the suburban midwest, Jared was a simple kid who spent most of his free time in the basement playing video games and getting scolded by his parents to go outside more.

During his high school years, he decided he wanted play a role in making the kinds of games future introverts like himself would play as children and look back on with great fondness.

This was his prime motivation as he studied Computer Science at the University of Michigan. Like many aspiring game devs, he foolishly assumed that making video games would be just as fun as playing them.

And so began his rapid spiral into madness and obsession.

After completing his undergrad, Jared found employment at Zynga, where he worked on the Poker team in San Francisco. In his free time though, he still enjoyed making his own games as personal projects.

Eventually, after 4 fulfilling years at his job, he decided to finally pursue his dream of managing his own studio. His first steps involved learning how exactly to do that, because he had absolutley no idea...

This conundrum was what led him to discover the University of Utah, where he is currently earning both an MBA as well as a Masters of Entertainment Arts and Engineering. It is his hope that upon graduation, he'll be armed with all of the knowledge he needs to achieve his dreams.

I want more Jared Facts!

What are your favorite games?

Journey, Celeste, Hades, and Braid have been HUGE inspirations for me throughout my game dev journey.

Meanwhile, Persona 4, Chrono Trigger, Fatal Frame II, and Shadow of the Colossus remain some of my ALL-TIME favorites that I can't stop coming back to regularly.

I have too many favorite games!! If you want a complete list of all of them, check out my Backloggery page where I archive all of the games I've played, am currently playing, and have yet to play!

What have you been playing recently?

Monster Hunter Rise has been absolutely devouring my free time lately.

Occassionally I'll also boot up Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (a guilty pleasure favorite of mine).

If I'm feelin' super stressed, some Tetris Effect is the perfect antidote for me.

Do you do anything other than game dev?

Sometimes!!

I do stream regularly on Twitch, come check me out on weekends!

I also try to prevent my muscles from atrophying with some tennis and am an absolute manga nut on rainy days.

MOAR JARED FACTS!!

I'm honestly terrible expressing myself with text (or words in general).

If you'd REALLY like to get to know me (and what it's like for me to get to know others) try out this game I made a while back about this very idea! I feel that I'm much better at CONVEYING ideas than I am explaining them...