Meet Louise Sanft
Meet members of the team behind the Electronic Arts Playtesting program and find out about what they do.
Meet the Team
Louise Sanft - Lead Moderator
Redwood City, USA
What do you do at EA?
I’m the Lead Moderator for our Playtesting team, where I work with various Researchers and game development teams. My main responsibilities include executing the Playtests put together by our Researchers and overseeing the amazing Moderators on our team. Our Moderators are so important in making Playtests happen and help Researchers to focus on what they do best: data. GO MODS!
This position allows us to be the face of EA to our Playtesters. We prepare labs for exciting Playtests or moderate remote interviews. While they’re enjoying our games, I help the Playtest run smoothly by troubleshooting any issues that may arise. Not only that, but I also assist in gathering their feedback and ensuring everything is secure. I love interacting with our Playtesters and seeing the appreciation for our games first hand!
How did you start working in the gaming industry?
On one hand, I was fresh out of college with an Anthropology degree. Through this, I realized I loved learning about people. I loved trying to understand what folks thought and why. This led me to User Experience Research. On the other, I’d spent most of my college days (and younger years) gaming well into the early hours of the morning. I would spend my free time playing battle royale games, grinding for first, or wasting hours on character customization on a game totally not meant for that. Now what do you get from a gaming addiction and an interest in UXR? My first career out of college with EA.
What is your favorite thing about what you do?
As someone who doesn’t have a single creative bone in my body, I love seeing what dev. teams can create and being there first-hand as our Playtesters experience it. I sometimes feel sorry that more people can’t see the amazing reactions we get from our Playtesters. I’ve seen some folks spend hours trying to get to grips with something and even when we let them know they should move on, they beg for five more minutes. The adrenaline of whether they’ll understand it or not is a rush only comparable to when that Playtester finally gets it and has that amazing “huzzah!” moment. If you ever get the chance to participate in or observe a Playtest, do it! You won’t regret it.
Why do you think Playtesting is important?
I believe any product should have as many perspectives and backgrounds as possible. Through Playtesting, we open up the possibilities of where a game can go. We see things that might not have been so apparent when you work so closely to a game. I also love the Playtesting Community we’ve developed over time. They feel a part of what we create and feel seen as a player. I know for myself, I love seeing where a game was and where it is now. There’s a certain pride being a part of that.
What is your favorite game and why?
I love me some Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Zombies. I have fond memories of doing easter eggs until 7am with friends. It’s an experience filled with anger, frustration and a lot of, “why would you kill the crawler?!”, but at the end of it, you have this amazing sense of accomplishment and peace that finally lets you sleep like the dead. Or maybe that’s just the effects of five consecutive all nighters…
