In Their Own Words: Stephanie Cramer
Meet Stephanie Cramer, Senior Development Director for Star Wars™: Galaxy of Heroes
At Electronic Arts, everything we do is meant to Inspire the World to Play. Approximately 8,800 employees bring the spirit of play to EA every day, living our Purpose & Beliefs – Creativity, Pioneering, Passion, Determination, Learning and Teamwork – to deliver powerful and immersive experiences to millions of players around the world. To celebrate employees who embody these values in their work, EA recently launched our first annual Purpose & Beliefs Awards.
Meet Stephanie Cramer, Senior Development Director for Star Wars™: Galaxy of Heroes, who was recognized with the Determination Award for developing the live services pipeline at EA’s Capital Games studio in Sacramento to consistently release high quality game updates.
What is your role at EA?
I focus on process improvements to the workflows of the Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes development team. Whether we’re in the initial concept or rolling out a launch, I look for opportunities big and small to improve the game and development process. As a result, I am able to create efficiencies for the team at large, helping them bring their vision to reality.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I worked in the movie industry for over 15 years, so I enjoy bringing big creative projects to life alongside great teams. At EA, I have the opportunity to work with such talented people and it might sound cliché, but we’re all like family and it’s incredibly rewarding to help them develop their ideas and reach their full potential.
What are you currently working on?
In preparation for Star Wars: The Last Jedi in December, we are working in lockstep with Lucasfilm to bring new characters and experiences to the players, while ensuring a steady stream of the content and characters they already know and love.
What is your favorite game of all time?
I love RPG and story-driven games. I play to relax, so some of my favorite games were the Fable series because I was able to explore and immerse myself in a beautiful, open universe at my own pace. I am currently playing through What Remains of Edith Finch.
Stephanie channels her inner Storm Trooper at the office.
How do you embrace Determination at EA?
Going back to our early days as a startup, determination and drive have always been an integral part of our studio culture. We have a highly motivated team and determination enables us to creatively problem-solve, focus our decision making and push through challenges as we continue to build new experiences for our players in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.
At EA, we create games that are varied and immersive to appeal to a diverse global audience. We respect all our players, their passion for games and their desire for unique experiences.
In your mind, what does it mean to Inspire the World to Play?
The reasons we play games are different for each person – to compete, to build communities, to escape and to be entertained. At EA, we create games that are varied and immersive to appeal to a diverse global audience. We respect all our players, their passion for games and their desire for unique experiences.
Stephanie and her team stop for a photo in front of EA’s Capital Games studio in Sacramento.
How does Determination advance EA’s purpose to Inspire the World to Play?
Determination drives us to push the boundaries and challenge our thought processes in developing great games. We are constantly forging new paths and the results of that journey are poured into the experiences we create for players.
What was your experience being recognized as a recipient of the Determination Award?
Honestly, it was a bit harrowing! As an introvert, I am uncomfortable in the spotlight and the idea of getting on stage at a company-wide awards ceremony gave me anxiety, but it was also an incredible opportunity. I just pretended I was talking to my team and at the end of the day, I turned it into a personal growth moment!
The EA team hosted an incredible event that really embodied the spirit of EA’s Purpose & Beliefs and I met some extraordinary people during the course of a special week. I also had the opportunity to make a donation to the nonprofit of my choice, and I chose Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s largest farm animal rescue and protection organization. As a big advocate for animals, I felt really good about this contribution, and it was amazing to be able to give to a cause that I’m passionate about.
What does it mean to you to be recognized?
I might still be in shock! I really see this as a recognition for Capital Games as a whole. You are really only as good as the people you surround yourself with. We have a passion for games, for the Star Wars brand, and for our players, and I think that passion comes through every day with the work we do in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.
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