nice to meet you

I'm Emily, but everyone just calls me yams. I'm a graduate of Kennesaw State University looking for a job in the UK Games Industry.

Growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to be or do; I just knew I wanted to do something for the good of the folks around me—something creative, something big, something impactful. If you ask my mom, she'd tell you I wanted to be a part-time scientist and part-time artist. I realize now that, while I may not be winning any Nobel prizes, game development feels like the intersection of both. So, in a way, I grew up to do exactly what my childhood heart wanted. My aim is to champion inclusivity in gaming with the hope of making strides towards a future where everyone can fully immerse themselves in the magic of interactive entertainment.

Of course, it wasn't a linear journey to discovering my true path! I've worked quite a few jobs on my way to game development, including special effects technician, music teacher, SCUBA instructor, graphic designer—the list goes on.

It's been an absolute privilege and honor to be given the space to explore so many avenues of interest in my life, and it's made returning to school all the sweeter. It's my dream to one day work in games, and every day I get one step closer to that goal.

In my spare time, I think endlessly about player experience. In my even sparer time, I enjoy adding to my endless collection of books, wandering around Guildford with my camera, listening to music, boxing, and playing all types of games with my wife and friends. I'm passionate about travel, but not terribly passionate about airports.

I fell deep into mechanical keyboard rabbit hole years ago and I am, at any given time, most likely building one. I can also be found building PCs and rewiring headphones. I'm a tinkerer at heart, and I love piecing things together and getting to the root of how they work. If I can build it or mod it, I probably will.

You can find me currently playing: Fields of Mistria, Project Zomboid, Destiny 2, Hunt: Showdown, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.