Meet Zongze Xie

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zongze Xie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zongze, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I feel that my entire life has been attracted by various stories. Since I was young, I was a child immersed in myths and fairy tales. Those bizarre legends and imaginations formed my initial understanding of the world. Then, during my elementary school years, I entered the world of movies, and the cinema became a presence akin to a second home for me. Therefore, I believe that my longing for art and the desire for self-expression have always been deeply buried in my heart.

Naturally, I became a student majoring in digital media arts. I have always known that I aspire to be a storyteller, but I have been constantly exploring and contemplating the medium of storytelling. It was my love for video games that led me into the gaming industry, but I still have a passion for movies and stories. Thus, I became a game narrative designer.

I often feel that when a person encounters their destined vocation, they will always sense a kind of predestined feeling deep within. From the first day I embarked on this career path, I firmly believed that this was the most suitable job for me, a dream-making profession that combines art, creativity, storytelling, and expression into one.

I love that my stories in games are not just cold words and lines, but interactive content that can be appreciated by everyone. I love the collisions and exchanges with other artists in my creations; their passion always ignites me continuously. I also love this exhilarating self-expression, where every story that unfolds in a game becomes a part of myself.

The stories I absorbed from a young age have become the nourishment for my creations. I continuously learn, grow, and reflect from practical work, absorbing the strengths of predecessors’ works and infusing them with my own soul. The growth of a designer is actually quite simple: receiving one practical demand after another, providing corresponding content based on others’ requirements, accumulating, creating, practicing during the work process, and then waiting for that moment of inspiration to spark, resulting in an excellent design.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hello dear readers, I am Zongze Xie, a professional game narrative designer with 3 years of experience. My work is akin to that of a movie director for game plots. I am fully involved and responsible for everything from designing the storyline outline to writing the actual script, designing the necessary shots, and coordinating with relevant artistic resources. When I was in China, I participated in the development of several well-known games such as Justice Online, Mirage in the Flower, and LaTale Online. Upon coming to the United States, I had the honor of being involved in my first game project with Respawn Entertainment, “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.” These valuable experiences have shaped me into the designer who loves telling stories in games that I am today.

I believe that this profession itself is one filled with passion and dreams for many people, to the extent that I feel a bit embarrassed every time I introduce myself to someone new. Game design sounds very interesting, but in actual work, it can be quite tedious and monotonous. Most of the time, we are brainstorming new ideas, writing design documents, communicating with programmers and artists, trying to create design prototypes, testing the solutions, iterating and modifying, constantly cycling through thinking of new ideas. This job is more like working towards an initial dream, where a group of artisans tirelessly polish their work day and night until it reaches perfection.

The most exciting moment, surprisingly, comes after completing all the work, at the moment of the game’s release. The overwhelming praise and awards that flood in make you proud of the life you have created. This job is tough, but it allows me to feel the power of love and dreams more vividly than any other job.

Currently, I am serving as the lead narrative designer for two new projects at two game companies, one being a music game and the other a cat-themed simulation management game. I hope that everyone will get to know, support, and look forward to my new works!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Passion, perseverance, and continuous learning are the three qualities I believe are essential for anyone aspiring to be a game designer.

Passion keeps you focused and driven in this highly competitive industry. It helps you stay on course and not lose your way amidst challenges and setbacks. Perseverance is crucial as it enables you to overcome various obstacles and adjustments, ultimately leading you to the realization of your dreams. Learning is a lifelong journey for all game designers, regardless of their specialization. The gaming industry is constantly evolving with new games and trends emerging regularly. By staying open to learning, we can absorb new skills and qualities from others that we may not possess ourselves.

My advice to those starting out in this field is to establish your goals early on and continuously strive towards them. The clearer your path is, the more defined your direction of effort becomes. This clarity allows you to not only have passion but also possess the corresponding ability to execute your plans effectively. Execution is one of the most crucial skills required in this profession, and by combining passion with a strong sense of direction, you can enhance your capabilities and succeed in the industry.Passion, perseverance, and continuous learning are the three qualities I believe are essential for anyone aspiring to be a game designer.

Passion keeps you focused and driven in this highly competitive industry. It helps you stay on course and not lose your way amidst challenges and setbacks. Perseverance is crucial as it enables you to overcome various obstacles and adjustments, ultimately leading you to the realization of your dreams. Learning is a lifelong journey for all game designers, regardless of their specialization. The gaming industry is constantly evolving with new games and trends emerging regularly. By staying open to learning, we can absorb new skills and qualities from others that we may not possess ourselves.

My advice to those starting out in this field is to establish your goals early on and continuously strive towards them. The clearer your path is, the more defined your direction of effort becomes. This clarity allows you to not only have passion but also possess the corresponding ability to execute your plans effectively. Execution is one of the most crucial skills required in this profession, and by combining passion with a strong sense of direction, you can enhance your capabilities and succeed in the industry.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I like to watch movies. I return to the purest world of storytelling, allowing myself to simply detach from my reality for a while. This brief escape can often provide me with new insights and inspiration for life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Mirage In The Flower
CarminaR

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