Sega’s Andy Parton: ‘This isn’t a particularly secure industry; redundancies are an unfortunate way of life.’

Andy Parton recently joined Sega Amusements as lead developer, developing arcade machines for Sega themselves. We chat to him about the new role. 

Congratulations on the amazing new job! What inspired you about Sega Amusements to come and join them?

It’s every game programmer’s dream, at least from my generation, to create a genuine arcade game; the “real McCoy”, in a custom-made cabinet with unusual input controllers etc. Arcades are what got me into writing games. The opportunity to finally achieve my lofty ambitions was something I couldn’t pass up.

What’s the culture like at Sega Amusements and what’s your experience been like fitting in?

SEGA in Cardiff is an amazing place; a proper Aladdin’s cave for someone like me. I was made very welcome, felt at home immediately, and the team here is dedicated and professional (somewhat). There’s not an ego in sight, I’ve never heard a raised voice, and everyone loves what they do, and are very good at doing it.

What are you most excited about bringing to the role?

I hope to bring my long, varied and sometimes scattershot experience in the industry to good use. Creating games for the arcade is surprisingly different to creating games for the home, and there’s a lot to learn.

What will working at Sega Amusements do for your career?

Well, it can’t do any harm having SEGA on your CV can it? At the moment, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing, and certainly don’t have any more ambitions to speak of; they’ll have to carry me out of here in a box – preferably a big box with joysticks and Sonic the Hedgehog painted on the side. At my age, that’s a distinct possibility.

What would you like to say to anyone thinking about or undertaking a job move in games?

This isn’t a particularly secure industry; redundancies are an unfortunate way of life. The only advice is to not spread yourself too thinly amongst recruiters. Pick one or two of the best – and only ones that specialise in the industry – and stick with them. Amiqus did an amazing job getting me here, for which I’ll be forever grateful.