Gregory Marques’ Post

Are you looking for a forward-thinking and open-minded company❓❓❓ Check our latest job openings ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e-62ss6m We are Cultural Catalyst 🥳🌈 What does it mean? Well.. to put it simply, we are the unicorn of the pub industry 🦄 At Laine, we are not just another pub - We are the heartbeat of community and culture, breaking down barriers and building connections. It is all about embracing the extraordinary, ditching the status quo and creating a space where everyone belongs. 🦖 We are the place where rebels, misfits and free spirits unite. From sharing a pint to celebrating individuality., we believe in sparkling change from the inside out. Together, we are shaping a new generation of pubs. Here's to tearing down walls, building bridges, and raising pints to a future that's as bold and diverse as our community. 🍻🙌 #lifeatlaine #culturalcatalyst #diversitydefenders #ignitethemoment

It's two weeks from Christmas, the time of year the studios collectively wind down and we all get to relax and enjoy a well earned break from the stresses of the year and spend time with friends and family... Except it's not is it. Not anymore anyway. It's two weeks from Christmas and I'm still seeing posts and messages from highly skilled people I've known for years being laid off. People who I know consistently put in the extra unpaid hours to make those ridiculous deadlines. I understand layoffs are necessary, I understand times are tough for the industry, but these people are contractors and likely weren't being expecting to be paid for the shutdown period anyway. It's two weeks from Christmas and companies are winding down, not hiring, at least not in a timely manner. Instead of relaxing with friends they are forced to create portfolios, apply to closed studios, pick up underpaid contracts and tighten their spending in the season of giving. I was laid off this time last year, and it sucks. It's all consuming stress for weeks. And if you are lucky enough to line up a new job for when studios reopen you don't get to come in fresh and unburdened. Unless your studio is actually on the brink of closure, please don't do this. It's not a "business decision" or "cost cutting measure", it's an insult to the people that put their heart and soul into your product. Sure, let the team know cuts are coming but wait until January when others are hiring again. Let your team wind down too. It's two weeks from Christmas, be better. I usually try to stay away from contentious topics, but I am getting really irked at how this industry treats people like expendable resources, especially at this time of year. And if you are one of the ones that got laid off recently, I know it's tough but try and set aside time to deal with it, and time to spend with friends and family, don't let them take away all your joy this season. That's all. /endrant

Good opportunity

Spooky post ahead! 👻 For the Seattle Indies Halloween party, I dressed up as one of the scariest things: the Evil CEO laying people off. (Ignore my awful handwriting!) On a serious note, many of my friends have shared that they no longer feel secure in their jobs again after these harsh years of layoffs. Being laid off, or "surviving" a layoff while friends around you are removed, can be traumatic. Even if I don't have employees yet at Timeless Toucan I've been thinking about this issue. What can we do as studio directors to support people, preserve their mental health, and prevent them from constantly looking for other opportunities out of fear of layoffs? Is reassurance enough? Should we offer generous severance packages? Do we just accept that this is how people will feel? Ultimately, leading by example and avoiding layoffs in our studios, transparently communicating the studio's finances and runway length to ensure people are not caught off guard is probably the only way to repair this damage long term. I'm curious about your perspectives on this, as employees and studio owners - what would you like to do or see done?

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬, displayed within the serene domestic setting beckons a pause, a gentle reminder of the importance of stillness in the relentless flow of life.  It captures an essence of warmth and comfort, a fragment of a world that can feel both foreign and familiar, encouraging one to delve into a self-reflective journey.  The vibrant, almost ember-like colors may evoke memories of joy or the glow of passion, inviting a connection with emotions that perhaps have been overlooked or set aside in the ebb and flow of daily survival. 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅-𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 The textures visible in Playoffs encourage the observer to explore the texture of their own life's tapestry, recognizing the interwoven threads of trials and triumphs.  In such moments, the artwork becomes more than a visual experience; it becomes a mirror to the soul, reflecting back not just beauty but also a resilience that has been, perhaps, too long unrecognized. 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 By contemplating Playoffs, you can practice self-compassion, acknowledging the intricate patterns of one's personal journey.  It allows you to acknowledge your narrative in its fullness—celebrating the ornate embroidery of your successes while also tenderly touching upon the worn threads of their struggles.  Thus, art appreciation transforms into a form of self-care, as it offers a space for the mind to wander, to heal, and to find joy in the curated gallery of one's own life experiences. #selfcaretips #selfhelp #selfcarethreads #lifebydesign #selfcaresunday #taketimeforyou #youtime #grounding #selfempowerment #bemindful #mentalwellbeing #breathwork #takeyourtime #taketimeforyou #maketimeforyou #selfcareobsessed #mentalcare #selfcarefam #selfcareclub #selfhealth #selfcarehelp #selfcarejourney #selflovetribe #selfcarechallenge #prioritizeyourself #lookafteryou #radicalselfcare #careforyouirself #selfkindless #selflovemovement

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬, displayed within the serene domestic setting beckons a pause, a gentle reminder of the importance of stillness in the relentless flow of life.  It captures an essence of warmth and comfort, a fragment of a world that can feel both foreign and familiar, encouraging one to delve into a self-reflective journey.  The vibrant, almost ember-like colors may evoke memories of joy or the glow of passion, inviting a connection with emotions that perhaps have been overlooked or set aside in the ebb and flow of daily survival. 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅-𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 The textures visible in Playoffs encourage the observer to explore the texture of their own life's tapestry, recognizing the interwoven threads of trials and triumphs.  In such moments, the artwork becomes more than a visual experience; it becomes a mirror to the soul, reflecting back not just beauty but also a resilience that has been, perhaps, too long unrecognized. 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 By contemplating Playoffs, you can practice self-compassion, acknowledging the intricate patterns of one's personal journey.  It allows you to acknowledge your narrative in its fullness—celebrating the ornate embroidery of your successes while also tenderly touching upon the worn threads of their struggles.  Thus, art appreciation transforms into a form of self-care, as it offers a space for the mind to wander, to heal, and to find joy in the curated gallery of one's own life experiences. #selfcaretips #selfhelp #selfcarethreads #lifebydesign #selfcaresunday #taketimeforyou #youtime #grounding #selfempowerment #bemindful #mentalwellbeing #breathwork #takeyourtime #taketimeforyou #maketimeforyou #selfcareobsessed #mentalcare #selfcarefam #selfcareclub #selfhealth #selfcarehelp #selfcarejourney #selflovetribe #selfcarechallenge #prioritizeyourself #lookafteryou #radicalselfcare #careforyouirself #selfkindless #selflovemovement

Brilliant advice from Jesse Alexander “Remember that your exit is as important as your entrance.” This is solid advice because your next employer, job interviewer, recruiter, coworker, manager, or person who might recommend you is watching. This industry is small and bad reputations travel fast. Another way to look at it: Just like how dating isn’t true love, dating is situation-ships. In todays job market: Jobs aren’t careers, they are Employment-ships. So enjoy it while it lasts, learn things, grow, update your CV & LinkedIn when new tasks, skills, titles, and games (if unannounced label it as such) are added and move onto the next.

Hey folks! Alongside many of my coworkers, my time at Relic Entertainment also came to an end this week. This is a difficult experience for workers of an industry that hooks us by the heart, so my heart goes back out to all my fellow workers who've been let go. All of them are talented folks, and they deserve nothing but success in whatever opportunities they pursue next. I'm more than happy to have been with Relic during these years. Of the several games I worked on, Age of Empires IV was a bucket list project. The Age of Empires series left a deep mark on my childhood, from encyclopedias and campaigns that sparked a long-standing interest in world history, to many fun and dramatic LAN games with my dad and sister, to my first time working with a game editor. To then work on the fourth instalment of the series, and to do so alongside a solid team full of smart and thoughtful developers, was truly a privilege, a homecoming, a circle completed. And now, it's time for me to try to build something new. It's no secret that the pattern of layoffs is bigger than Relic. For many workers of the video games industry, recent years have been frightening, frustrating, exhausting, and bewildering. Our collective losses can't be understated: the stress and exhaustion and financial bruises, the talented people who will leave our industry for good, the talented youth who will look upon our industry and turn elsewhere for a future. We are losing careers and friends that could have been, ideas we could have treasured, and silly as it may sound, games we all could have played. Here's hoping that once the dust settles, this period of hardship triggers serious introspection and change in those studios that survive. And perhaps more importantly, I dearly hope new studios are born to reckon with what has happened. Studios built from the ground up by workers, studios willing to work to find more sustainable ways of building games that we and players all love, whether that means learning from the studios that are already trying other models, or developing entirely new approaches. After all, if there's one thing we quickly become familiar with in game development, it's the profound value of iteration. Wishing all the best to my fellow workers, whether your path through these woods is steady and even, weaves unpredictably through the trees, or breaks out into brand new fields.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬, displayed within the serene domestic setting beckons a pause, a gentle reminder of the importance of stillness in the relentless flow of life.  It captures an essence of warmth and comfort, a fragment of a world that can feel both foreign and familiar, encouraging one to delve into a self-reflective journey.  The vibrant, almost ember-like colors may evoke memories of joy or the glow of passion, inviting a connection with emotions that perhaps have been overlooked or set aside in the ebb and flow of daily survival. 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅-𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 The textures visible in Playoffs encourage the observer to explore the texture of their own life's tapestry, recognizing the interwoven threads of trials and triumphs.  In such moments, the artwork becomes more than a visual experience; it becomes a mirror to the soul, reflecting back not just beauty but also a resilience that has been, perhaps, too long unrecognized. 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 By contemplating Playoffs, you can practice self-compassion, acknowledging the intricate patterns of one's personal journey.  It allows you to acknowledge your narrative in its fullness—celebrating the ornate embroidery of your successes while also tenderly touching upon the worn threads of their struggles.  Thus, art appreciation transforms into a form of self-care, as it offers a space for the mind to wander, to heal, and to find joy in the curated gallery of one's own life experiences. #selfcaretips #selfhelp #selfcarethreads #lifebydesign #selfcaresunday #taketimeforyou #youtime #grounding #selfempowerment #bemindful #mentalwellbeing #breathwork #takeyourtime #taketimeforyou #maketimeforyou #selfcareobsessed #mentalcare #selfcarefam #selfcareclub #selfhealth #selfcarehelp #selfcarejourney #selflovetribe #selfcarechallenge #prioritizeyourself #lookafteryou #radicalselfcare #careforyouirself #selfkindless #selflovemovement

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬, displayed within the serene domestic setting beckons a pause, a gentle reminder of the importance of stillness in the relentless flow of life.  It captures an essence of warmth and comfort, a fragment of a world that can feel both foreign and familiar, encouraging one to delve into a self-reflective journey.  The vibrant, almost ember-like colors may evoke memories of joy or the glow of passion, inviting a connection with emotions that perhaps have been overlooked or set aside in the ebb and flow of daily survival. 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅-𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 The textures visible in Playoffs encourage the observer to explore the texture of their own life's tapestry, recognizing the interwoven threads of trials and triumphs.  In such moments, the artwork becomes more than a visual experience; it becomes a mirror to the soul, reflecting back not just beauty but also a resilience that has been, perhaps, too long unrecognized. 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 By contemplating Playoffs, you can practice self-compassion, acknowledging the intricate patterns of one's personal journey.  It allows you to acknowledge your narrative in its fullness—celebrating the ornate embroidery of your successes while also tenderly touching upon the worn threads of their struggles.  Thus, art appreciation transforms into a form of self-care, as it offers a space for the mind to wander, to heal, and to find joy in the curated gallery of one's own life experiences. #selfcaretips #selfhelp #selfcarethreads #lifebydesign #selfcaresunday #taketimeforyou #youtime #grounding #selfempowerment #bemindful #mentalwellbeing #breathwork #takeyourtime #taketimeforyou #maketimeforyou #selfcareobsessed #mentalcare #selfcarefam #selfcareclub #selfhealth #selfcarehelp #selfcarejourney #selflovetribe #selfcarechallenge #prioritizeyourself #lookafteryou #radicalselfcare #careforyouirself #selfkindless #selflovemovement