Amanda Kirk - Game Producer

Production Work

Storyloom

Storyloom was a UGC platform for creating and sharing stories available on iOS and Android and web. My team was responsible for the front-end development on web, including the discovery and FTUE. Additionally I worked with an external team to develop some of the internal CMS tools.

Old World

I was the sole producer credited on this project, which won 2021 PC Gamer Best Strategy Game. I was responsible for the overall production of the game, including the schedule and team management of 50 FTEs and contractors. I worked closely with the contract art team to ensure their assets were delievered to a high quality standard and prioritized their backlog.

Barbie Malibu Mysteries.

One of a number of games I produced while at 1st Playable Productions, this game was made in partnership with Leapfrog and featured the Barbie brand. I was responosible for the overall design and production of the game, including the schedule and scope and insured a timely delivery of quality features to our client.

Speaking Engagements

Access Granted: Getting into Code in our current climate

Troy, NY • 2020

Microtalk given locally for Capital District IWD day 2020. Focused on how technology has become more accessible and how to get started in the field.

A Primer on Design Thinking

Troy, NY • 2019

Presentation given to potential students as part of a RPI STEM experience. I discuss the importance of design thinking and how it can be applied to the game development process.

Barriers to Balance

Troy NY • 2019

Mircrotalk for the Capital District IWD day 2019. Focused on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and getting started with technology.

Your Guide to Games-Adjacent and Alternative Games Careers

ECGC, Cary NC • 2019

Panel discussion about non-traditional game positions including production, audio and business. Presented at the East Coast Game Conference.

Open Source Game Development

MAGFEST, National Harbor, MD • 2019

Presentation on the game design process and sharing open source tools that can be used to develop games. I additionally discuss why choose open source over other software and how to evaluate tools using game jams.

Scoping it Out: How to Plan your Next Game Project

Troy NY • 2018

Presentation delivered for IGDA Albany about production planning on a limited budget, best practices and the importance of evaluating risk and managing scope. Link.

Tech Smart Girls in STEM Keynote

Malta NY • 2018

Aspirational presentation aimed at girls in grades 4-6, focused on STEM fields, perseverance and career planning. This presentation was the kick-off for a full day of STEM related workshops at TEC-SMART to get girls excited about possible career paths

Verge of Virtual: A Discussion on VR

Abany, NY • 2017

Panel discussion with other local area experts on the future of Virtual Reality and the current challenges faced by developers.

Augmented Reality: What is it and how does it Increase Engagement for Learners

SUNY Cobleskill • 2017

Topic or title of your talk. Brief description of what you discussed and key takeaways.

About Me

When I was young my father taught me I could do anything, and I may have taken it to mean I could do everything. I come from a programming background and did game design in my early career and am now an experienced game producer. My favorite game genres are strategy and simulation, but I find joy in all the games where I have made contributions. I am currently a producer at Epic Games and live in upstate New York with my family and two cats, someday I dream of owning sheep.

Production Philosophy

Strong teams build great games. My production philosophy is to work with teams to develop a process that will best achieve their short and long term goals. I develop rituals that allow for feedback and continuous improvement of our processes while also capturing data to predict potential risk to our schedules.

I have production experience on small and medium sized teams with budgets ranging from 10k to 10 million+. I have worked on licensed commercial games for entertainment and education, unique IP and have experience working on PC, Mobile and console. Listen to my podcast from when I worked on Old World.

Welcome