Meet the Team: Nicole Gabriel
February 18, 2022
What’s your role on the Third Pie Studios (TPS) team and what all does this entail?
I am one of the founders of TPS, and I serve the roles of COO and Producer for our team! Those are my titles, but what I do on our team encapsulates pretty much anything and everything that needs doing be it analytical or creative work. I manage company finances, the team schedule, and the bulk of all correspondence. I create a ton of marketing content, which includes photo, video, and sound editing. I hold interviews, manage the legal side of hiring, and onboard everyone on our team. I maintain company records in the form of contracts, registration, receipts, and meeting minutes. I work closely with our composer to bring the musical vision to life. Aaaand that’s about everything I can think of right now.
What interested you in game development?
I love art! All forms of art fascinate me. I was involved in theatre for almost ten years, mainly acting and directing before I left to pursue a more “productive” career path. I was working in the events industry for two years before the pandemic hit, at which point my job evaporated. Nervous and excited, I saw an opportunity to get back into the art space and do something creative with a team of people. Alex was playing through The Last of Us II at the time, and I remember that being the first time I really started to look at video games as a form of art. They had all the things I loved from theatre and film: storytelling, set design, music, lighting, pacing… But video games even had the unique component of direct audience interaction! I started to notice all of these things in the games that I played and watched Alex play, and I fell in love.
What are your favorite video games, and why?
My favourite video game right now is Super Mario 3D world! I’m a huge fan of Mario games in general, but this one offers a great combination of power-ups both classic and new, challenging levels, and it’s a great time with friends. I’m also loving Super Mario Odyssey which has SO much to do, offers customization options, and has these absolutely humongous levels.
If you could be any video game character (past, present, or future) who would you be?
I am obsessed with the DLC space office from Trover Saves the Universe, and if we ever have enough money, I will be building our Third Pie Studios office in space. I choose Trover!
What are your favorite non-gaming things to do?
I love to enjoy TV, movies, and books! If you ask me for TV recs, I will probably talk your ear off for an hour. Also, pondering the relationship between diversity and oneness is my bread and butter. Talking anything philosophy in the area of ontology, phenomenology, or hermeneutics. I love to spend time with my gigantic crazy family, I like to ride roller coasters and I like to travel. I also love to practice just sitting and being present, enjoying the sound of rain or a crackling fire, or watching clouds drift by.
What about Colonies of Cataria are you most excited about?
I’m most excited to see all of the unique worlds that our players will create! Every single new game started offers so many unique choices and pathways; I can’t wait to see people sharing their unique setups they create and stories they discover! Also the fact that your villagers will die… So fascinating to me. They are just living out entire lives and becoming their own person until one day… Well, you know. We’re designing it to be really peaceful and almost a reason to celebrate, but some sense of loss is expected. I love being able to design a game that will walk that line between cute/cozy and deep/sad.
Beyond TPS, where can we find you?
Uhhhhh… You’re really going to see most of me on the TPS socials, but occasionally, I post on my Instagram and Twitter.
