Hello and welcome to our second edition of what is apparently a recurring feature where we run a bunch of pictures of game developers' pets!
Before we get to the good stuff, let's start with a little audience participation. It looks like this is going to be a semi-regular feature for as long as this pandemic lasts and we really need the semi-regular pick-me-up. And that being the case, it stands to reason that it would have a semi-regular name, right? But we here at GamesIndustry.biz are sort of torn on what that should be.
Here are a few options we've batted around like a ball of yarn, and a few we regretted as soon as we came up with them:
Picks of the Litter
Paws for the Pause
GamesIndustry.pets
Game Pads and Paw Pads
Lighter Petting
Developer Familiars
Computing Companions
Comforting Creatures
GamesIndustry.biz Surfs the Petstream
Where the Domesticated Things Are
[Note: The suggested names above were all from the brain of Brendan Sinclair. The rest of the team headed slowly for the door while he brainstormed into the night.]
Rebekah Valentine also suggested we nix the idea of a recurring title at all and just keep headlining these stories with variations of "Here are even more cute pet pictures to make your day better." After looking over that list again, I'm really starting to think "Developers' Pets" has a nice, simple, unlikely-to-be-an-ongoing-embarrassment ring to it.
Yes, you would think a group of professional writers would come up with some better options. But these are unthinkable times.
So just as we put out the call for your pet pictures and were overwhelmed by the response, we're putting out the call for your better column name ideas. Whether you want to send us a picture of your own pet or just want to help us name this thing, you can contribute to the cause by reaching out to us a news@gamesindustry.biz.
And of course, thanks again to everyone who submitted photos. Sorry if your pet isn't in this batch; we're holding onto all the pics and each column will be a mix of new and older submissions.
Boo, submitted by Minecraft product marketing manager Jeff Rivait and Gears of War marketing communications manager Nicole FawcetteBrushfyre and Cinnamon, submitted by 343 franchise creative director Frank O'ConnorGoliath Dav Nation Banks (Golly), submitted by Tia Dalupan-Wong, producer on the Minecraft Central Creative teamLuna (the dog) and chicken army, submitted by Undead Labs mission designer Leah RiveraRoscoe, submitted by Undead Labs senior UX designer Kelsey PickinpaughMojo, submitted by fortyseven communications account manager Monica De LeonEvander and Tyson, submitted by fortyseven communications assistant account executive Maddy TrohaHarry, submitted by fortyseven communications assistant account executive Doug WoodburnLola 'Bean' Engel, submitted by fortyseven communications account coordinator Jules EngelAda and Hopper, submitted by Drinkbox Studios associate producer Kaitlin SmithRex, submitted by Yacht Club Games senior QA lead AdamAva and Ivy, submitted by Deep Silver US COO Geoff MulliganBear, submitted by KO_OP studio director Saleem DabbousBear (left) and Roxy, submitted by New Blood Interactive head and RocketWerkz senior director Dave OshryBilbo, submitted by Outerloop Games concept artist Vijay KrishBoddy, submitted by Katy Radelich, events and partnerships at ArenaNetBowie, submitted by Bethesda Studios' Jeff Gardiner, project lead on Fallout 76Bowser, submitted by Maximum Games account manager Giuseppe TravaliniBulleit, submitted by Mattel Digital Games head of marketing Russell IriyeMisha and Zuko, submitted by Capcom senior PR manager Angella AustinDasher, submitted by Arkane Austin creative director Harvey SmithBanzai, submitted by EA Madrid certification manager Earl BakerMonty (Sir Montague), submitted by Epic Games head of games licensing EMEA Mike GambleBuddy, submitted by BioWare Edmonton UX scripter Kelsey WicentowichFinn, submitted by EA Tiburon product manager Kevin BoyceJessie, submitted by EA Galway associate quality designer Maaike van der LeedenPuppies, submitted by SneakyBox project manager Tadas MigauskasPurrington, submitted by SneakyBox lead game designer Ieva BeneckeNala, submitted by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment VP of worldwide communications and PR Remi SklarWinston, submitted by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment director of events and experiential marketing Laura HalasaMonkey, submitted by DICE LA technical engagement designer Rob WatkinsRocket, submitted by PopCap sound designer Amanda MoscickiEmile, submitted by Dear Villagers PR manager Stephanie BeaudoinFreya, submitted by Drinkbox Studios programmer Mayuran ThurairatnamHamilton, submitted by Elder Scrolls Online game director Matt FirorJimmy, submitted by Capybara Games creative director Kris PiotrowskiKiki, submitted by PUBG Corp. environment artist NinaLoki, submitted by Fortitude studio director James GriffithLucy Oreo, submitted by PUBG Corp. head of North America business BrianMagicarpe and Métacarpe, submitted by Evil Empire artist AuroreManchitas, submitted by Seashell Studio visual developer Miguel SilvaMay and June, submitted by Respawn Entertainment senior environment artist Jobye KarmakerMeeko, Baby, and Copper, submitted by PUBG Corp. associate producer HarmonyMigsy, submitted by Capybara Games artist Vic NguyenNapoleon and Dexter, submitted by Young Horses president Philip TibitoskiNavy, submitted by PUBG Corp. office manager AlyssaNibbler, submitted by Liquid Crimson video editor and sound engineer LindaOscar, submitted by Mediatonic client engineer Matthew SheeresAlfie (left) and Oscar, submitted by Plan of Attack PR account director Aidan MinterOtto, submitted by Seashell Studios' Rodrigo Cuadriello, director of Lunch A PaloozaOzzie, submitted by Fortitude coder Jennifer EdwardsPercy (left) and SuperHans, submitted by Mediatonic UI artist Eilis ArmstrongPetrie, submitted by Versus Evil community manager Amanda KirbyPilou (left) and Ocarina, submitted by Dear Villagers community manager Mickael AndrieuQubit, submitted by Flight School Studio game director Bohdon SayreRaz and Lili, submitted by Double Fine senior communications manager James SpaffordRoman, submitted by PUBG Corp. project manager CarolineRosetta (Rosie), submitted by EA Tiburon senior technical artist Todd KusmickSadie Falcor, submitted by Phoenix Labs' Nick CliffordShiva, submitted by Snowcastle Games audio designer Cam JarvisFrom left, Snow, Flash, and Lulu, submitted by Dear Villagers head of publishing Guillaume JametSterling, submitted by Twitch Prime technical program manager Joanna ParkhurtHobbes, submitted by Creative Assembly lead technical artist Mohrag TaylorMomo, submitted by Creative Assembly head of corporate communications Lucy BoxallAugust and Brodie, submitted by Tag Games games programmer Eoghan MulvennaMole the Hamster, submitted by Tag Games lead artist Lara BendorisYoshi, submitted by Sega brand manager Nathan ShabaziZiggy, submitted by Fortitude QA tester Anna PearsonAda Wong, submitted by Polyarc Games senior designer Barton SladeRiven, submitted by Blizzard digital marketing manager Savannah HoTryn, submitted by Blizzard digital marketing manager Savannah HoBooker, submitted by Purewal Consulting operations manager Dan PearsonArya, submitted by Double Eleven IT support engineer Lewis RaffertyFinn, submitted by Minecraft Dungeons QA tester Courtney RaineLuna, submitted by Minecraft Dungeons QA tester Courtney RaineGeorge and Gus Gus, submitted by Minecraft Dungeons QA tester Darren ArquettePeck-Peck, submitted by Aspyr Media UX design lead Maggie DuvallTotoro, submitted by Animmal co-founder Dato KiknavelidzePonyo, submitted by Animmal co-founder Dato KiknavelidzeGalleta, submitted by Seashell Studios music composer Carlos Ernesto LópezAnselmo, submitted by Seashell Studios music composer Carlos Ernesto LópezBrindle, submitted by Splash Damage head of business development Will LowtherLenny, submitted by Splash Damage production tester Jacob BlackmanNinja, submitted by Splash Damage associate level design director David EdwardsTimmy, submitted by Splash Damage associate cinematics director Simon HarveyAstro Bandito, submitted by Zynga people operations program specialist Katie MorrisBunnie James Dio, submitted by Boss Alien principal artist Matthew KobylarekJackson, submitted by Zynga talent acquisition recruiter Katherine Moser and Chloe, submitted by Zynga talent acquisition senior manager Liz AdwersTux, submitted by Zynga chief legal officer Phuong PhillipsBaily (left) and Piper, submitted by GamesIndustry.biz sales manager Chris Buckley
Additional reporting by Rebekah Valentine and Marie Dealessandri