12 Devs in 12 months: Scott Phillips

Even if our 15th anniversary is behind us, we still have a bunch of amazing employees that deserve to be known. That’s why we’re starting the second edition of 12 Devs in 12 Months. Until March 2022, you’ll get to meet 12 new talented and friendly members of our team.

This month, we’re introducing you to SCOTT PHILLIPS, Creative Director who has been with us for 7 years.

Enjoy!

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DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN A GIF.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY UBI?

My favourite memory at Ubi is visiting Greece with some of the director team for the ACOD research trip. It was such an inspiring trip with visits to amazing historical and beautiful places, learning awesome and insightful facts, and spending time with the key people on the project. I will always remember being in a valley in Sparta as the thunder cracked from a nearby storm and we could hear that thunder echo throughout the valley in an eerie and epic way – that’s the sort of thing that can’t be learned from a book or from Wikipedia and is key to what makes Ubisoft games special.

WHAT LED YOU TO THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY? 

For as long as I can remember I wanted to do something with computers and technology. As I grew up and learned more about computers and video games it became clearer and clearer to me that that was what I wanted to do with my life. So, by the time it came to high school – I was very confident in my career path – the only question was how to get into the industry. I started modding games and putting together my own computers from purchased components to learn more about what it would mean to make games. Thankfully after graduating college, I found an amazing job in the industry and the rest is history!

WHAT WAS THE BEST PROJECT YOU WORKED ON?

I’m going to cheat, because I have a tie for my favourite project: Saints Row The Third and Assassins Creed Odyssey. Saints Row 3 was the perfect storm of having enough time, the right opportunity with a fun IP, and a senior/skilled team to deliver a great game. It felt like the stars aligned for us with that project and even though it wasn’t always smooth sailing – the final product is something I’m very proud of.

Assassins Creed Odyssey is my other favourite project because it was also a perfect storm of a great setting and fantasy, made by a great team, and given enough time to do the things we wanted to do and do them right. It was also an opportunity to make a great RPG – which is something I had always wanted to make because it is my favourite style of game to play.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST?

I like most being able to multi-task during meetings and I like least being able to multi-task during meetings. It’s a double-edged sword because as humans we feel more productive when multitasking, but it’s pretty well proven that we’re actually less focused and efficient when working that way.

IF YOU HAD ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME JOB AS YOU, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

With your Rational side – Think critically. Ask “why”? Try to understand what you (or others) do or do not like about entertainment (or anything really). Break it down and try to evaluate it in an objective and critical manner. Really try to define and understand words like “fun”.
At the same time – with your Emotional side – feel deeply and strongly, but never so much that you can’t admit when you’re wrong to grow & change.

WHICH COLLEAGUE HAS MARKED YOU IN THE LAST YEAR AND WHY?

There are many, so if I had to pick only one, I would say our new Managing Director at Ubisoft Quebec – Nathalie Bouchard. She has impressed me with her enthusiasm, pragmatism, and desire to make us all better. I can’t say I spend a lot of time with her, but the times where I see her in action have made it clear that she is a breath of fresh air for the studio and for Ubisoft in general.

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I’m pretty boring honestly, I don’t have any real “hobbies”… BUT I do like doing work around the house (even though it might be a stretch to call it “home improvement” because of my skill level). I also enjoy watching tv shows, movies, reading books, and of course spending time with my family!

WHAT DID WORK FROM HOME ALLOWED YOU TO DISCOVER ABOUT YOURSELF?

That even though I consider myself an introvert I do need human contact to nourish my drive, passion, and creativity for making games. As the song goes – “you don’t know what you got til it’s gone.”

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE STUDIO?

I’m already back in the studio several times a month! So, I can tell you that I’m enjoying seeing people in person again, feeling the energy of a group of people achieving goals and making progress, being able to have normal lag-free human conversations – especially with larger groups of people, having impromptu hallway conversations that weren’t happening virtually, and finally feeling the intangible energy, excitement, and inspiration of game development – which can’t be replicated virtually… Yet…

[CLÉMENCE’S QUESTION] A DRAGON AGAINST A HYDRA, WHO WINS AND WHY?

Gotta be the Hydra – since it regrows its heads of course!

WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU ASK THE NEXT #12DEVSEN12MONTH PARTICIPANT?

What makes you cry (in a cathartic/happy way)?