Calling Kathleen Sanders a gamer geek, while true, is really an understatement. She’s unlike pretty much anyone else I’ve met in my career. So, it’s not surprising that this interview is a bit different as well. Check out these NINE Questions with Kathleen Sanders, and then check out her blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/xna/
1. Where are you from?
Originally from Flint, Michigan. I got to Seattle by way of San Francisco, though.
2. What do you do / Who do you work for / What is your product? Give us the "10 second pitch" on why I should use your product or services.
I’m the XNA Community Manager for Microsoft. Right now, my job is mostly just fighting to make sure that indie game devs get as much good love from Microsoft as we can give them.
3. How did you get to where you are now?
I started as an intern for a gaming enthusiast magazine called EGM. From there I was hired as a News Editor for IGN, but Ziff Davis and 1UP missed me too much! They hired me back after a few months to produce The 1UP Show. It was a weekly videogame-related video podcast that I’m really very proud of! At some point, Pete Parsons called me up, because he had a really awesome idea and needed a Community Manager for a start-up called Fyreball.com. I learned so much from him on that team and I really enjoyed being part of making something like that. However, like many start-ups it needed to adapt and change direction. The entire team there was so supportive and helped me to find a position here with Microsoft as the XNA Community Manager. I’ve always been a fan of Indie Games – so the fit was a great one!
4. What's it like being the face of the XNA Community?
Well, I have sort of combination skin. So I have to be careful to use two types of moisturizers. Otherwise, I get sorta shiny in the T-zone area.
5. How has the general response been to the XNA Community Games since coming out of beta?
I’m endlessly amazed by what the Creators have brought to the system. Everyone has been so excited and impressed by the response! I’m really looking forward to what people will be able to do with the XNA Game Studio 3.1 features like Avatars, too!
6. What's the hardest part of your job?
Having to say no. There are lots of things I want to be able to give and do, but it is important to keep this system.
7. What's next for XNA (we can keep a secret!!)
Okay, don’t tell anyone but I’m hoping that we can include Unicorns in the next patch. Fingers crossed!
8. Any non-technical hobbies / interests? What's something the world doesn't already know about Kathleen Sanders?
I have a sidekick, she’s the world’s greatest dog and her name is Minerva Zu-Zu Chihuahua. I also adore Neil Patrick Harris – I celebrate the man’s entire catalog.
9. Last of all (everyone gets this one) any interesting tattoos?
I have no tattoos at all! I don’t even have my ears pierced! I’m so boring!
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