Marcie Phillips is a game designer, based in Washington State, and has held roles at Skydance Interactive, ProbablyMonsters – and worked here at ICT from 2014 – 2017 on multiple research projects. Previously, Phillips served in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, before joining the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center at RAF Molesworth, UK. Phillips holds a BA, Intercultural Relations and Behavior from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany.
Military Beginnings
My circuitous path to ICT began in 2004 when I enlisted in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst. Shortly after enlisting, I deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2006 – 2007), and again in 2008 – 2009.
Surprisingly, games were an important part of my memories while deployed. For many Soldiers, games acted as a haven in places where it was almost impossible to relax. Titles like Call of Duty acted as a form of unconscious narrative therapy, allowing us to author and envision mission success and survival with each round of play. Though I understood, deeply, the good that gaming could provide, it would be years before I had an opportunity to bring that same joy to others.
Serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom was my first real experience working in a highly multinational environment. I was immediately struck by how people from different parts of the globe could come together and organize, but equally aware of how tenuous that effectiveness was. A single misunderstanding could ruin relationships, a fatal error in high stakes environments. A keen interest in effective cross-cultural communication began to take shape.
Following my separation from the military, I was determined to remain in a multinational environment. In 2010, I joined the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center at RAF Molesworth, UK, where I would spend the next two and a half years. It was at this point that I decided to formally pursue my interest in culture studies.
A Fateful Conversation
In 2012, I enrolled at Jacobs University Bremen (now Constructor University) in Bremen, Germany, where I pursued an undergraduate degree in intercultural relations and behavior. It was here that one fateful conversation with my psychology professor would guide me to ICT.
During a mentorship meeting with Prof. Dr. Arvid Kappas, I mentioned an interest in the intersections of technology, psychology, and military defense. Having previously co-authored several papers with Dr. Jonathan Gratch, Dr. Kappas pointed me to the work being done at ICT. I quickly applied to the 2014 internship program and was accepted.
Doors Opened
When I arrived at ICT, I joined Ryan McAlinden’s efforts to provide cost-effective, cutting-edge virtual training to the Department of Defense.
My first assignment was DisasterSim, a single-player 2D simulation designed to familiarize Soldiers with the challenges faced during real-world foreign disaster relief missions. This project set a department record for quickest sponsor approval and highest end user rating – my first taste of pride at having crafted engaging virtual content.
I would eventually sign on to ICT as a full-time employee. I spent my remaining time working on Captivating Virtual Instruction for Training (CVIT). CVIT is a larger framework covering many topics, but my specific contributions focused on the intelligence analysis specialization. I directly used my past military intelligence experience to create a program that taught new Soldiers the structure of military intelligence operations. This was deployed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ as part of the Army’s Intelligence Architecture Online Course (IAOC). I remember shortly after launching, a personal friend and instructor at Ft. Huachuca reached out to tell me how students were immediately benefiting from a “first day on the job” experience, something I wish I had had when going through my own intelligence training years ago.
For both of these projects, I dove into the deep end of game design and the Unity game engine. I found myself weaving my second passion, games, into my career.
While at ICT, I was presented with boundless opportunities to connect with experts and attend events in the entertainment technology scene. In 2014, the MxR lab hosted one of the first Virtual Reality Los Angeles (VRLA) gatherings, which was at the time the leading virtual reality event in Los Angeles. I was introduced to VR as a medium for gaming, training, and storytelling. This experience was invaluable when I finally decided to pivot from military simulations to games for entertainment in 2016.
A Home in Games
The first time I put on an Oculus headset at the MxR lab I was blown away by the immersion. I knew the platform had so much potential and I loved the innovative spirit of everyone working in the space.
So I was thrilled when I landed my first gaming job at VR studio Skydance Interactive, and even more thrilled when we shipped The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners, which earned a 9/10 rating from IGN. I was reminded, again, of the joy gaming can bring and decided right there that this was the industry for me.
Most recently, I joined the Hidden Grove Team at Probably Monsters, working on an unannounced multiplayer title. My continued interests focus on positive psychology in game design and how it can be used to increase individual and community happiness.
ICT allowed me to experience, first-hand, many new technologies and an immense passion for invention. Without that opportunity, my life would look different and I am forever grateful for my time there.
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Marcie Phillips is a game designer, based in Washington State, and has held roles at Skydance Interactive, ProbablyMonsters – and worked here at ICT from 2014 – 2017 on multiple research projects. Previously, Philips served in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, before joining the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center at RAF Molesworth, UK. Philips holds a BA, Intercultural Relations and Behavior from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany.