Continuing our commitment to mentoring the next generation of game developers, we’re thrilled to announce that Crystal Dynamics will be hosting Girls Make Games summer camps at our San Mateo and Bellevue studios for a third year in a row. 

Girls Make Games is a series of summer camps, workshops and game jams designed to inspire the next generation of designers, creators, and engineers. Launched in 2014, the program has reached 7,200 girls through workshops and camps, and over 25,000 through tutorials, games and resources. 
 

At the end of the three-week camp, teams of students deliver and present playable game demos; all of which have left our teams impressed and assured us that the future of the game industry is bright. You can check out some of the past Demo Day grand prize winners here.  

Now in their 11^th year, Girls Make Games has added another outreach arm to their programming – the 501c3 GMG Scholarship Fund offering financial aid to aspiring college students and to students whose families need assistance with their summer camp tuition.  

“Like much else, GMG camps have had to evolve since Covid,” explained Laila Shabir, the founder and CEO of Girls Make Games. “Our students have always loved being onsite at game studios, but understandably that’s been a challenge across the industry. We’re immensely grateful to the leadership and employees at Crystal Dynamics for opening their doors and welcoming Girls Make Games students for the 3rd time this July!  

“It takes a tremendous amount of effort behind the scenes to put a camp together, and it has always been a pleasure working with the employees at Crystal Dynamics who truly believe in our mission to create a more inclusive industry. 

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing all of the amazing Lara Croft fan art that comes out of camp every year.” 

We are too!  

You can find more information about the in-person and virtual summer camps here.  

GMG 2023 Summer Camp Art by Ruenis. 

Last year as part of our BHM celebrations we shared profiles of Gerald Lawson and Muriel Tramis, and explored how they became pioneers in the video game industry. With so much rich Black gaming history, it feels often as though gaming in the modern era is making moves, albeit at a slow pace. In December of 2023, Community Coordinator Vanessa Brasfield had the wonderful opportunity to meet the daughter of the gaming pioneer Gerald Lawson. 

Vanessa took this opportunity to dive deeper into this rich history in an interview with Karen Lawson. Watch the interview below to learn more about Karen’s work, advocacy, and her father’s legacy in gaming.  

Check out the video for the interview here on our YouTube.

As a thank-you for her time, we are donating to the American Diabetes Association in honor of the Lawson family.  

Check out some of our other Black History Month content from 2024 and 2023 below: 

• Making Black History: An Interview with Derrick Fields  
• Black History Month: Giving Back 
• Making Black History: 28 Days of Black Cosplay w/ Chaka Cumberbatch
• Black Excellence in Gaming: Gerald Lawson & Muriel Tramis – Crystal Dynamics

Black Charities and Organizations

Black in Gaming: https://www.thebigfoundation.org/
Our Vision is to inspire a world where every individual has equity in the gaming industry. Our Mission is to connect, educate, and empower black talent in the worldwide gaming ecosystem by striving to achieve significant increases in black representation that accurately reflects the diverse participants in the industry.

Black Girls Code: https://www.wearebgc.org/
WE BELONG IN THE ROOM: Black girls and gender nonconforming youth of color can power the future. Their code gets us there. We support their creativity and boldness with skills, training, and resources that launch their leadership.

Gameheads: https://gameheadsoakland.org/
We envision a world where low income youth and youth of color are equipped to thrive and succeed in any field they choose, including the tech and video game industries.

POC in Play: pocplay.org
POC in Play is an independent organization creating a range of initiatives and programs of events designed to increase the visibility and representation of People of Color in the video games industry. We aim to work with industry, educators, and other diverse organizations to create more opportunities for all.

Spawn on Me: https://campsite.bio/spawnonme
Spawn On Me is the internet’s definitive video game podcast featuring and spotlighting gamers of color. Brought to you directly from Brookago bringing you gaming news, previews, and reviews while simultaneously looking at how games affect the world. Humor, insight, and some of the most important people in the gaming world can be found in only one place…the Spawn On Me podcast!

Black-Developed Games

ValiDATE: Struggling Singles in Your Area: https://validategame.com/

Before I Forget: https://www.3foldgames.uk/

Hex Gambit: http://onemanleft.com/games/hexgambit/

Breeze in the Clouds: https://www.breezethegame.com/

She Dreams Elsewhere: https://www.studiozevere.com/

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan: https://aurionthegame.com/?nextLocale=en

Who are you, and what is Waking Oni Games?

“Who am I? What a time to confront that answer, ha! I imagine many, like myself, are contemplating their own answer to that question. Well, today I’d consider myself somewhere in the margin of fleshy and incorporeal, composited together to enact upon an overactive imagination.

“I am a father, a professor, and founder/game director at Waking Oni Games an indie studio most likely built upon the same aforementioned compositions, but I would add that the collective imaginations and talents have come together to make exciting media to drive conversations around the exchange of Black and Japanese media and culture.”

How long have you been involved in gaming?

“You asked for it! Gaming, for me, goes all the way back to cords and cartridges at the neighbor’s house. I did not see my own console till the Sega 16-bit was released, and I can recall many attempts to complete titles like Aladdin, Rocket Knight, and Sonic. By no means would I have considered myself good at them or even really understanding them much. Paired with a loving mother who regularly sent me outside to use my imagination, I spent a lot of time reenacting scenes of my favorite comic and TV characters across yards and up a few trees I had no business climbing (my wrist still makes a funny click if I turn it just right). When I was not outside, I spent a lot of time creating worlds and characters in numerous sketchbooks.

“That radically changed when the PlayStation was first released. Through magazines, demo discs, and the few games I owned, I was thrust into a world that felt truly immersive for the first time. Games like Final Fantasy 9 opened my mind to imaginative character design, while Tenchu or the aptly titled Ninja (Shadow of Darkness) allowed me to embody the coolest interpretations of ninja, which I thought only stayed on the TV or movie screen. The PS1/PSX fundamentally shifted my perspective on video games, and I was officially hooked. I remember begging my mom for a GamePro Magazine subscription so that I could experience new games through some of its demo discs. When I wasn’t challenging myself to complete snippets of titles yet released or too expensive, I often traded and borrowed games from other friends, who continued to introduce me to a variety of role-playing games, fighting games, and action-adventure titles. That’s when I found out about RPG Maker.

“RPG Maker, for those who are not aware, was a creator tool that allowed you to make your own games for PlayStation. It had PC versions but this was the first release I ever knew of. Imagine 5^th-grader me realizing there are tools out there to make your own games. It didn’t even dawn on me before then that actual people were behind all of these experiences. What was I thinking? I would later spend an inordinate amount of time trying to understand the console game engine and probably did not do a very good job, but it unlocked the thought that I could take the worlds sketched across sheets of paper and bring them into something someone could one day play with a controller.”

“That all came rushing back, thanks to PC gaming and massively multiplayer online role-playing games.

“Likening myself a comic artist and illustrator, I was still filling up sketchbooks and being sent out the door by my mom, but this time, I ventured to my friend’s homes to engage with broader games, graphics, and a hefty amount of tabletop roleplaying. I cannot quite remember the order of events here, but during my four years of high school, I was once again deeply entrenched in the idea of creating my own game now, thanks to the very advanced and definitely realistic graphic capability of the PlayStation 2 and eventually Xbox. My moods for inspiration would shift among the genres I now played the most, RPGs and Horror games. From Final Fantasy XII to Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, I continued to be inspired by the potential for video games to bring players to places they have never seen before.

“After graduating, college for me was settled. I would pursue becoming a concept artist for video games and help characters as influential as the one that inspired me. I later attended Columbus College of Art and Design, and while it challenged me to understand art and color theory, something felt off. The idea of creating characters at the time didn’t feel as cutting edge as the 3D characters I was looking at on-screen, and I wanted to have control of that experience. I went to my advisor to ask about 3D modeling and received the unfortunate reply, ‘Sorry, we don’t do that here.’ You see, at the time, CCAD didn’t offer 3D Modeling for games, let alone have a degree for it. I would have had to pursue the animation track instead to get an introduction to software like Maya, but it didn’t feel satisfying enough (time would later see me learning animation anyway). Lucky for me, my mom worked for an education board and had recently heard about a small university down in Portsmouth, Ohio, offering exactly what I was looking for—a degree in game design. Without hesitation, I asked if I could transfer and was transported to Shawnee State University, which had a distinct border to Kentucky, thanks to the Ohio River. I had finally made it! Or so I thought.

“Let me start by saying Shawnee State University is a wonderful university, and its gaming degree and faculty hold some of my most formative introductions to 3D modeling, game engines, and game design. My relationship with the university, however, was complicated by its surrounding town. Outside of the campus, I held several part-time jobs (and almost tried to open a video game café) but unfortunately dealt with a great deal of discrimination and racism. Being a Black queer individual from Columbus, as you might imagine, came with its challenges in this southern Ohio city. My time here would soon end after my life was threatened, and I no longer felt safe to pursue the degree of my dreams among my talented peers. So, I transferred one last time to Kent State University, kept my head down, and completed the last leg of my university adventure largely online. Thanks to my time at the two other universities, I did not have much left to complete and graduated with a degree in Animation Game “Design (there’s that animation returning for vengeance). With a degree in hand and a heaping amount of excitement and naivety, I leaped right into applying my portfolio to some of my favorite game studios. I only knew of the ones I personally played or saw featured in the magazine, so that’s where I started. As it would turn out, getting a job in the industry was not easy by any measure. I did not know about events like the Game Developer’s Conference and certainly could not afford to get across the country, so all of this together made it hard to understand what was out there.

“I once again found myself placing these dreams in the back seat.

“It was not all gloom, however. Being an artist took me to many different anime conventions, where I eventually landed a full-time job with a cosplay wig company. I spent a lot of my time traveling across the country and making wonderful connections all around the second most important influence on my life next to games– anime. I even made it to my very first E3 after creating a small 2D mobile game about crashing cars. Getting a chance to experience this space once again brought my goals to the front seat, and I started to develop a lot of enthusiasm for making more of my own games. Some time and a heaping dose of domestic travel to more pop culture events eventually helped to bridge a connection to new friends who shared a similar dream for leaping into the industry. We would later become roommates and work part-time on a project that eventually became Waking Oni Game’s first title, Onsen Master.

“With that, I had finally made what felt like an official entry into the game’s industry.”

You’re also a professor by day: what are some of the topics you share/teach?

“Correct! I am an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Northwestern University. Go Wildcats! There, I teach sequence courses for Game Design and 3D Modeling and, most recently, have introduced Game Design Entrepreneurship with the hope of helping students understand some of the biz-dev sides of the gaming industry. We hosted our first game jam last year through the revival of a micro game conference and are actively expanding game-related course offerings. To me, the future of games is brightest with the next generation of creators.”

What were some of your biggest inspirations to pursue a career in gaming and teaching?

“Representation and providing access to burgeoning creators remain paramount as my biggest motivators for pursuing a career in games and teaching. I believe the next generation of creators will find new ways to disrupt the industry and continue innovation. That said, I hope to continue contributing to the development of culturally authentic gameplay experiences so that wider audiences may continue to see themselves represented in exciting narratives and experiences. When it comes to teaching, for me this means creating classrooms and curriculum that validate and empower students, providing them with tools and access to opportunities to help them excel. I firmly believe supporting these two pillars can help cultivate environments where everyone feels valued and supported, fostering a sense of belonging and fueling creativity.”

Tell us about your game Onsen Master.

“Onsen Master is an unapologetic love letter to my favorite Ghibli Film, Spirited Away.  It is the first game out of Waking Oni and represents the start of a much larger conversation about exploring the cross-cultural conversation between Black and Japanese media. Through it, I hope to send a signal that we are only just getting started in creating larger, more impactful titles for players to engage with. As for the story, well, I don’t want to spoil anything, but it is a cute tale about one young pupil’s journey in reviving the local onsen on the fantasy island of Izajima while engaging with its locals, confronting peculiar spirits called yokai, and seeking out the great Onsen Master.”

What is your ultimate end goal in creating games at Waking Oni? What are your hopes for Black game devs and educators in the future?

“As a game developer, my mission is to craft immersive and culturally authentic experiences that explore the intersections of Black and Japanese cultures. It’s not only about recognizing the influence of Black culture on anime but also about providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and representation within the gaming world. Over the years, anime has frequently drawn inspiration from Black culture, from its music to its fashion and beyond. Yet, while this influence is evident, there’s often been a lack of agency for Black creators to actively participate in shaping these narratives. My aim is to change that by creating games that not only celebrate the rich tapestry of Black and Japanese cultures but also deepen the cultural conversation by returning the influence through entertainment in the form of gaming.”

“In pursuit of this goal, I draw inspiration from impactful titles that have explored cultural themes with depth and authenticity. These games serve as a foundation upon which to build, providing valuable insights into storytelling techniques, character development, and world-building. However, I also recognize the importance of creating new stories that reflect the lived experiences and perspectives of both Black and Japanese communities. By infusing these narratives with authenticity and nuance, I hope to create games that resonate with players on a profound level, sparking thought-provoking discussions and fostering a greater appreciation for cultural diversity. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to a gaming landscape that celebrates and uplifts the voices of marginalized communities, creating space for their stories to be told and their experiences to be honored.”

What is your favorite genre, and game in it? 

“IMMERSIVE SIMS!!! I cannot get enough of them, and this goes way back to my earlier mention of Tenchu. The way this game had me hooked on sneaking around and trying to complete levels with perfect stealth sparked a deep interest in systems and replayability. Today, I still revisit the series but now get to accompany this experience with titles like Dishonored, Hitman, and more. I long for the day that a game like Tenchu makes its return, BUT ONLY IF it’s guaranteed to come with the deliberate subterfuge and patient gameplay of its former years. Please, if you are listening FromSoft, I know Sekiro was almost a Tenchu game, but you can still bring it back.

“I also maintain a profound affinity for Bushido Blade 2 but I will have to save that rant for another time.”

You can find Derrick and his gaming studio/work at:

Waking Oni Games
https://wakingonigames.com
https://twitter.com/wakingonigames

Happy Holidays everyone! It’s Vanessa, gearing up for the long holiday – which many of us use as a time to relax, sit back, and tackle that growing pile of great games released each year! While Christmas traditions are common in the United States and have become popular worldwide, we often say ‘Happy Holidays’ to acknowledge the many celebrations happening around the world as the calendar year closes. In this blog I explore what these diverse celebrations around the world entail. While the festivities themselves may be quite different, common themes include quality time with family and friends, reflection, and of course…great food!  

Learn about the many holidays celebrated in December across the globe below! 

December 7^th – 15^{th |} Jewish Holiday 

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second temple in Jerusalem. It’s celebrated over a span of eight days, with each day recognized via the lighting of a candle on the traditional menorah.   

Several interpretations exist on how Hanukkah came to be, with one version told to recognize the triumph of Judah Maccabee over the Seleucid king of Syria, Antiochus III in 164 B.C., after Maccabee drove Syrians out of Jerusalem. They cleansed the Second Temple and lit the menorah with the remains of untainted oil expected to last for a single day, but it miraculously continued flickering for eight days. 

Another version from Jewish scholars claim it may have been an iteration of Sukkot as a result of missing the observance during the Maccabena Revolt. In both interpretations, the occasion is celebrated with a rekindling of the menorah, reciting blessings, and displaying the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder of the olive oil miracle. Additionally, traditional foods are fried in oil to celebrate (typically potato pancakes and various doughnuts), singing Hannukah songs, exchanging gifts, and eating dairy.)

December 8^{th |} Buddhist Holiday 

Bodhi Day, also referred to as Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, commemorates when Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment ~2,600 years ago and became Buddha.  

Siddhartha Guatama was originally a prince from Nepal who, at the age of 29, wanted to find a purpose in life after traveling and witnessing the anguish of aging, illness, and suffering in the world.  It is believed that he spent many years seated under a peepal tree to meditate until he understood how to liberate oneself from suffering. Another iteration of the story of his enlightenment was that while meditating he continuously warded off Mara, the demon of illusion, who would tempt and harass him.  

His enlightenment is documented in three stages: discovering his past lives in the cycle of rebirth, discovering the Law of Karma and the importance of living by the Noble Eightfold Path, and finally discovering the Four Noble Truths, reaching Nirvana.  

Many celebrate by revisiting scriptures and prayer, decorating trees with bright, multi-colored lights to symbolize enlightenment, and engaging in various acts of kindness. Special family meals are prepared, and many will consume rice and milk in accordance with teachings that these were the sustenance that helped Buddha achieve his goals. Some Buddhists opt to celebrate the day in May or June, in closer alignment with Buddha’s Birthday. 

December 16^th – 24^{th |} Mexican-Catholic Holiday 
Las Posadas is the religious festival celebrated in Mexico and some parts of the US commemorating the journey that Mary and Joseph made from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  The most notable aspect of the Las Posadas celebration is  a festival beginning with a child dressed as an angel leading a procession through town. Other children are dressed in silver and gold carrying lit candles, poinsettias, and images of Mary and Joseph, with adults dressed up as Mary and Joseph. The procession visits selected homes and reenacts asking for lodging. While they’re denied, the homes they visit will often offer refreshments, read scriptures, and sing Christmas songs. Each day when the procession concludes, mass is held and the children break open piñatas containing candy, toys, and sometimes money. The night ends with a feast.  

In other regions, instead of doing the full reenactment they have moved to other celebrations with the same desire to honor Mary and the coming of Jesus, such as La Gritería or Parrandas. 

December 20^th-22^{nd |} Persian/Iranian Holiday, varies on day 

Yaldā Night is an ancient festival in Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey celebrating the winter solstice and is one of the most revered celebrations on the Persian calendar.  

The holiday celebrates more than the solstice however: it highlights a time when pre-Islamic, Zoroastrian, and eventually Islamic traditions came together. Initially, the celebration derived from respect held for the solstice as an indicator of a shift of seasons and time, recognized when the longest night of the year would pass and the promise of increased light would begin.  

In Iran, the holiday is focused on the deity Mithra who embodied the sun and was assumed to be born on Yaldā Night itself. This was read by many as Mithra’s birth being the ‘triumph over the darkness.’ Once Zoroastrian beliefs were introduced, it brought more significance to the day, highlighting the struggle between light and darkness. They had their own festivities dedicated to the deity of time and cosmic order.  

Now, the longest and darkest night of the year is a time when friends and family gather to eat, drink, and read poetry and works of renowned Persian poet Hafez, and the Shahnameh until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten, and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant, as their red color symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life. Like many of the traditions mentioned, there is also traditional music, exchanging of gifts, and the lighting of bonfires and candles to ‘bring light to the darkness.’ 

December 26^th – January 1^{st |} African American Holiday 

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was first celebrated in 1966 when it was created by activist Maulana Karenga, and it is based on the various harvest festivals and traditions of West and Southeast Africa.  

The goal of the creation of Kwanzaa was to afford Black people a holiday that could be separated from Christmas that celebrates our history and culture . Kwanzaa peaked in popularity during the Afrocentrist movement of the 1980s and 1990s and is now even celebrated by Black people in Canada and the Caribbean. The name Kwanzaa derives from a Swahili phrase: “matunda ya kwanza” which translates to ‘first fruits.’  

Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. Kwanzaa introduces seven principles: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). It also includes seven accompanying symbols:  

• Mazao representing historical foundation,  
• The mkeka providing foundation to stand and build upon,  
• An ear of corn for fertility,  
• The seven candles representing the pan-African flag and each day of the holiday 
• the kinara candleholder for the stalk which we stem,  
• The ceremonial kikombe cha umoja cup for the Karamu festival,  
• And meaningful gifts to encourage growth, success, and self-determination. 

Some who participate also wear traditional African clothing during the holidays. 

December 31^{st |} Japanese holiday 

Omisoka is a Japanese traditional celebration that is typically held on the final day of the year. Originally it was celebrated on the 12^th month of the lunar year, but once they moved over to the Gregorian calendar it shifted to December 31^st.  The root of the holiday is to celebrate the close of the year and traditionally, this would be the way of acknowledging the ‘purification’ of many things: new furniture is brought, debts and deals are ‘balanced out,’ and year-end gifts are generously given.  

At midnight, you will hear a temple bell rung exactly 108 times, which calls back to the prayer beads that Japanese Buddhists use. The beads are symbolic of the ‘perfect circle’ that opens and closes the year, the world as it exists, and the Zodiac and it’s digits. Modern adaptations of the bell ringing have become more of an attraction, enticing Buddhists from around the world and tourists to observe for a fee, or even participate in ringing the bell themselves.  

To celebrate Omisoka, extensive cleaning goes underway for some to help bring in the new year ‘with a clean start.’ Large quantities of pine, bamboo, and plum are placed at the entrance of most homes to welcome the start of the new year. After houses are cleaned, families gather for traditional dinners of buckwheat noodles and spiced sweet sake. Houses are often decorated with ornaments and decorations specific to the new year, and mirror rice cakes are available which consists of rice cakes of two different sizes, symbolizing the old year and the new year, and a bitter orange for good luck.

These are just some of the many holidays celebrated this time of year around the globe, but the blog is already pretty lengthy with just having scratched the surface! Wherever you are this season, and however you celebrate: Happy Holidays, from the Crystal Dynamics team! 
 
-Vanessa B! 

Part of why we wanted to craft this blog is to help people take more control over their mental well-being so that it doesn’t keep you from having a fulfilling day, a good week, or time to appreciate you. No one should be made to constantly feel like they’re on edge, anxious, irritable, or unmotivated due to things outside of their control. In earnest: seeking help isn’t just challenging-it’s expensive, which adds it’s own layer of anxiety when considering taking better care of your mental health. We want to try and help in that endeavor by providing resources that people here at Crystal have found to be beneficial but more importantly low-cost (if not free). Our hope is that this World Mental Health Day, you can be empowered to reclaim your mental well-being. We’ve also listed some charities whose work is focused in helping those with mental health needs gain access to resources, therapy, medical needs, and much more.

RESOURCES (Free & Low Cost)
Centre for Interactive Mental Health Solutions (CIMHS)
While CIMHS offers paid services at low cost, their main product that they boast on their home page is for Bliss: a free, 8 session interactive therapy program with a focus on depression. They offer services worldwide, but are based out of Ontario, Canada.

TickTalkTo
Based in Silicon Valley, this is a readily mobile accessible means to reach out for help at all times of the day. Upon getting started, you will be given a free personal Happiness Coach. Additionally, you can opt for dedicated therapy plans for just a fraction of the cost of traditional counseling (however this is not mandatory or pushed on you at any time).

BetterHelp
BetterHelp strives to make therapy of all types more affordable across the board. According to Forbes, in-person therapy can range anywhere from $100-$200/hr; BetterHelp offers counseling and therapeutic services starting from $60-$90 per week. They cover the entirety of the continental US and offer both in-person and virtual options.

7 Cups of Tea
7 Cups of Tea is a free online text client utilizing non-clinician liksteners, complimented with paid online therapy. Their philosophy thrives on the need of individuals needing someone to talk to who can empathize, understand, relate, or simply listen when paying for therapy isn’t an option. They build community around similar and like-minded people finding each other who need help from all around the globe.

CHARITIES
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI offers education and advocacy for those in need, while also advocating for better mental health training and helps shape public policy around mental health for individuals and families. They work with volunteers and put on public facing events to help raise awareness and rally to destigmatize the negativity around mental health.

To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA)
TWLOHA is an organization focused around presenting hope and aiding people struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction, and self-injury. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. Their mission is realized through a series of events, festivals, marathons, and a content creation program.

TakeThis!
TakeThis! is a non-profit providing comprehensive resources and support that is tailored for the unique needs of the game development community and embraces the diverse cultures and issues of the game community. Their goal is to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces specifically in gaming, while acknowledging the need for mental health awareness and tools that cater specifically to the gaming space. They accomplish their mission through a variety of panels in gaming conferences, talks, and a thorough listing of therapy resources covering the world.

Fountain House
The Fountain House operates on a ‘clubhouse model’ of community therapy. Their model is built specifically to aid those in recovery of living with severe mental illness. FH seeks to help those with severe mental illness by integrating back into day-to-day life and activities, with a firm belief that normalized social and recreational activities are pivotal to an individual’s recovery. They base their methods on the historical use of activity group therapy and milieu therapy.

Active Minds
Active Minds boasts itself as the premier nonprofit supporting mental health and education for young adults. AM is looking to have conversations about mental health start sooner rather than later, before they manifest as larger problems that require more help. They have presence in over 1,000 schools, communities, and workplaces nationwide, with over 500 student-led chapters. Their work is predominantly ushered to students.

Meet some of the Latinx teammates at Crystal, and learn about the ways they carry their Hispanic heritage with them as games industry professionals. 

Illustrations by the fabulous David Alejandro Mejía.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalejomej/
• X: https://twitter.com/dalejomej
• DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/dalejomej

Annette Mercado, Recruiter 

Howdy! My name is Annette Mercado. I am a Recruiter at Crystal Dynamics and am based out of my hometown – Austin, Texas. I have been part of this team for a year and half.  

I adore video games! Video games have a great way of bringing people together in such a charismatic way. I have been playing games since I was a child, with an Atari 5200 (which we still own!). The games industry has been such a great place to grow my career as a recruiter. 

I am so honored to be highlighted for Hispanic Heritage Month at Crystal. Hispanic heritage holds a special place in my heart. It represents the blend of my Mexican-American culture, my traditions, and my values that have been passed down through generations. Embracing my Hispanic heritage is a way of honoring the strength and resilience of my ancestors who navigated challenges with grace and determination. I am my ancestor’s dream! My Hispanic heritage has taught me the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and fostering meaningful relationships, which has been vital to growing my career in video games. 

Stephen Perez, Sr. Software Engineer II 

I’m Stephen Perez, Senior Software Engineer II and Lead Combat Engineer on the Tomb Raider project at Crystal Dynamics, where I started in 2005. 

My generation was the first to have home consoles. I grew up playing Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros on the Nintendo NES. However, I have always gravitated towards adventure titles, such as Zelda and Land Stalker, which I played on the Sega Genesis.  At 15, I knew gaming was what I wanted to do professionally. Declaring a major was easy – Software Engineering – as there were no programs at the time that offered a specialization in engineering for gaming. While pursuing my degree, I found myself playing a lot of Tomb Raider on the PlayStation. Fast forward nearly a decade, and I joined Crystal Dynamics to bring Lara Croft to life. 

Perhaps my desire for adventure, whether it’s running Spartan Races, training for triathlons, raising three children, and working on the epitome of adventure gaming titles – Tomb Raider – is primal destiny. I spawn from a long lineage of explorers. My father was an adventurer with a passion for flight. (He was an airplane mechanic and Korean War veteran.) His father, a Merchant Marine, explored the world and then immigrated to the United States from Spain with my grandmother, who was born in Puerto Rico.  

Being part of a team that builds adventure games is a rewarding career; we are explorers building new worlds to explore and discover. Viscerally exciting and instinctively satisfying, gaming connects me to my ancestors. 

Felix Mendoza, Sr. Lighter 

Hello, my name is Felix Mendoza. I’ve been working as a Senior Lighter for Crystal Dynamics for the last five years. I started my career as a graphic designer, but soon transitioned to 3D design. I pushed 3D logos around for a few years until Rhythm & Hues Studios gave me my first break in the movies industry. From there I slowly made my way to Pixar – where I met my wife. 

After several years in the movies industry, my attention turned back to video games and I was able to join Electronic Arts. EA was a great way to learn all about real-time lighting. My wife and I stayed there for nearly 10 years until we left for an amazing opportunity in Japan. 

We were in Japan for a 5-year whirlwind adventure where I worked as a Lighting Director for From Software. 

Five years was a long time to be away from friends and family. We returned home where we landed in Seattle. I worked for several video game companies until I finally found my current company, Crystal Dynamics. In college we used to stay late huddled up at the computer lab to sneak some computer time in to play, Silicon Graphic Inc.’s: Dogfight. (A multiplayer aerial combat game.) As much fun as that was, it wasn’t until Doom came out that the dam was broken for me. Once I figured out how to get that chainsaw – I was hooked! 

As I mentioned, I broke into the games industry later in my career with Electronic Arts. When I joined EA, lighting was such a new concept. I wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms by everybody. As a minority I was never really accepted at school, work, or neighborhoods. But slowly I started changing hearts and minds. My work seemed to speak for itself, and soon I was part of the team. 

When I first came to this country, fitting in was especially hard. I used to come home crying because the kids were so mean. My mom used to say, “¡Deja que con la sonrisas se gane el corazón de todos!” Which can be loosely translated to: “With a smile, you can change hearts and minds.”  

Family, food, music, and dancing are at the center of my heritage. Growing up with abuela’s cooking, and radio WADO (a Spanish radio station that plays salsa/merengue music) playing on the radio is a treasured memory. 

Growing up, my father instilled the virtues of hard work and perseverance. I try to apply that attitude to everything I do. I think my work ethic represents my heritage with the tenacity and fortitude that I put forth every day. 

Wendy Salguero, People Experience Generalist 

My name is Wendy Salguero, and I am the People Experience Generalist at Crystal Dynamics! I have been with Crystal for 5 years now. Wow, how time flies when you are having fun.   

Games have always been part of my life. Growing up, I would spend nights playing Super Mario with my dad and brother. It was our way of spending some quality time together. It is one of the main reasons why Nintendo games have a special space in my heart.  

To be honest, I did not know you could make a career in gaming, so I had not planned to work in it. I just ended up in the gaming industry. When I first moved to Northern California, I would do temporary jobs here and there as a receptionist/admin assistant, however my goal was to make my way into HR. In early 2015, I got assigned to my first ever HR job at a Call of Duty studio and fell in love with the industry and have only been working in games since! I love seeing the passion people have for their work and just how different the vibes are in this industry.  

I was raised in a Guatemalan immigrant household. We grew up surrounded by family and would travel every year to Guatemala to visit and explore parts of the country. One of my favorite places to go in Guatemala is Antigua, which is where the iconic arch with the volcano background is. It is the first thing you see when you search up Guatemala. Guate has so much culture, history, and color that it is easy to lose yourself in it all. It is what I love the most about it!  

Our games at Crystal, especially Tomb Raider, remind me a lot of Guate because you immerse yourself in a different culture and explore various parts of the country and learn about the people. Games have come so far, and it makes me so happy to see how diverse the characters in today’s games are! It makes me even more excited and fortunate to be part of this amazing industry with the most talented people there are! 

Experience the original adventures that started it all, lovingly restored with enhanced graphics and complete with all expansions and secret levelsPre-order the definitive collection of iconic Tomb Raider adventures today!

Lara Croft is back! Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics have partnered to announce Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, a new three-game bundle of the first three Tomb Raider titles (Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III), lovingly restored with upgraded graphics and performance enhancements, complete with all expansions and secret levels for the first time ever on consoles. Developed and published by Aspyr, this definitive collection is available to pre-order today and launches Feb. 14, 2024, on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG.  

Pre-orders are available now at:

• Nintendo Switch
• PlayStation link coming soon!
• Steam
• Xbox

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft lets long-time fans and newcomers alike step into the boots of the iconic hero in her first three adventures like never before. Experience the classic action and innovative gameplay that helped pioneer 3D gaming, spawned a beloved franchise which has sold more than 95 million copies worldwide since its debut in 1996, and made Lara Croft one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world.   

Players can experience the journey their own way, with the ability to toggle on the fly between enhanced and original graphics, as well as switch between classic and modern joystick control schemes. Fans will also discover a variety of quality-of-life improvements, including camera lock-on and achievements.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft features:  

Tomb Raider I + the “Unfinished Business” Expansion

In the game that started it all, adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artifact known as the Scion. Run, jump, swim and climb in fearless acrobatic style to find out the truth of its origin and powers, leaving only a trail of empty tombs and ammo in your wake. The original Tomb Raider comes complete with the “Unfinished Business” expansion, which adds four new bonus levels in two extra chapters.

Tomb Raider II + the “Gold Mask” Expansion

The award-winning second installment in the Tomb Raider series invites you to join Lara as she travels around the globe to retrieve the legendary Dagger of Xian, said to grant the powers of a fire-breathing dragon to its holder. Tomb Raider II includes the “Gold Mask” expansion, which adds five new bonus levels in a separate mini-adventure.

Tomb Raider III + “The Lost Artifact” Expansion

In Tomb Raider III, Lara follows the clues to a deadly secret in this complex adventure combining challenging puzzles with high-speed action. Boldly leap chasms and blast monsters in pursuit of a mystery that defies any earthly explanation. “The Lost Artifact” includes six new levels that continue Lara’s adventures from the original Tomb Raider III.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is available to pre-order today for $29.99, with several opportunities for additional savings, including:

• Console players can pre-order with a 10% discount (Some restrictions apply, see retailers/platforms for details.)
• PC players who currently own Tomb Raider I (Steam), Tomb Raider II (Steam), Tomb Raider III (Steam), or Tomb Raider Trilogy (GOG) can pre-order with a 20% loyalty discount on the platform where they own the original titles.

Brief summary of role: “I help bring the Environments in which we explore in video games to life! I utilize art concepts and author them in 3D to be used in our games. I contribute to the environment where your favorite characters roam, making them feel authentic and high quality.”

What’s your favorite video game? “This is an honest answer…….The Tomb Raider Reboot. Tomb Raider was my favorite (and first!) game I ever played as a child. When The Reboot happened, and we got to experience Lara’s origin – it was just perfect. It was everything I wanted and more!”

Three words to describe Crystal: “Inspirational. Contemporary. Inclusive.”

Why did you choose Crystal? “I changed careers later in life. I had always wanted to be an artist as a full-time career, so it was extremely scary but exciting to start something new. I always had my sights set on Crystal Dynamics as a gold standard studio to work for. It was on my “Dream Job” List. It was the first place I applied after completing my master’s degree. I chose Crystal because of its legacy within the gaming industry. The way the studio transformed Lara Croft’s character over the course of many years with such compelling story , art, gameplay and awareness of her origin really speaks to the integrity of a Studio’s goals and aims. To me, it is a place that nurtures its IP, and is a studio that produces exceedingly high-quality products. I felt it was a place I could learn to be the best in my field.”

What has been your greatest adventure since joining Crystal? “My whole career change has been a whirlwind of an adventure in itself here at Crystal! It’s one that my whole team have been on with me – The best thing so far has been having mentorship and growth in my skills from the industry best for sure.  My Art Leads are extremely talented artists. They have been so inspirational to me as a newcomer to this field. Every day here feels like I’m learning something new and exciting about game development,  it’s a real honor to work with my team. I feel Crystal invests in its future, nurturing growth from all levels of experience; from grass roots to the very top.”

Hobbies: “I’m a figure skater! I am currently training to compete, so usually if I’m not with my sketchbook I’m skating at the Ice Rink!”

Brief Summary of Role: “I prototype, test, implement, and fix gameplay mechanics.”

What is your favorite video game? Team Fortress 2

What three words describe Crystal Dynamics: Friendly, Exciting, and Inspiring

Why did you choose CD? “I played the original Tomb Raider as a kid, loved the Survivor Trilogy as an adult, and Crystal Dynamics was hiring for an Associate Designer, so I just had to land this role!”

What has been your best adventure since joining CD? “I think my time at Crystal Dynamics has been the best adventure since joining Crystal Dynamics! I always wake up excited about having a career doing what I love, and getting to work with awesome people has made it even better.”

Hobbies: Golfing, Dioramas