News » » » Episode 2: Behind the scenes at SimBin Studios

Episode 2: Behind the scenes at SimBin Studios

Lidköping, Sweden, October 7th 2011 [ simbin ] [ interview ] [ jay ekkel ] [ meet the team ]


The time has come for another installment of our Meet the SimBin Team series. In episode two we introduce you to Jay Ekkel, Licensing Manager, and Associate Producer at SimBin Studios.  When it comes to SimBin titles, Jay is an expert and has had a hand in every game SimBin has released.  We are happy to get at the chance to meet with such a long standing team member, and with just a little coaxing we were able to borrow him from the studio for this interview.  We hope you enjoy getting to know Jay and life in the SimBin Studio a little better.




Name: Jay Ekkel
Nationality: Dutch
Age: 29
Position: Associate Producer, Licensing Manager

RR: You've been with SimBin for a long time, and worked on every title they've released.  Tell us about your first visit to the Studio?

Jay: My first contact with the SimBin crew face to face was at the Spa 24 hour race a lot of years ago. Or maybe better said that is when they had their first experience with me! I stayed awake for a straight 72 hours roughly Friday morning till Sunday, including parties and a kart race. Still going strong after the race while everyone else was extremely exhausted, I was ready to go for an other round. I am still infamous within SimBin for my short night of sleep, but yet awake fresh and early the next day. Doing a run at three in the morning is very nice, you should try it one day.

RR: Did you have any background in Sim racing before coming to SimBin?

Jay: Yes, I was modding on my own before entering TDG together with Tantra.  We made several mods among the back then much anticipated 1994 mod. Then I joined the still existing and in my opinion one of the best groups around, CTDP. Modding is a great example of working with no deadline though, which is the best thing about it. It is done when you feel like it is done, not a second earlier.

RR: You've been a fixture at SimBin for many years, what do you enjoy about your career at SimBin?

Jay: It is a great mix of good things, mixing hobby and personal interest with work. I like to travel, I love race cars, I love games and i like working in a creative environment and the team is great. SimBin allows me to do all of them.
 
RR: After all these years, have you learned to speak any Swedish?

Jay: Yes, but this is in writing and I can't write a word Swedish! (Honestly, I understand quite a bit of Swedish, but don't tell anyone, it is my secret weapon. I just let them think I don't understand one word of what they say!)

RR: SimBin recently moved into a new studio in Lidköping, Sweden.  How does the environment in the Lidköping studio differ from old place in Vara?

Jay: Lidköping is a worlds apart when compared to Vara. Vara is a quiet place, and once I proved this by having a picnic in the middle of the biggest road in town just after 20.00. I think it took nearly an hour before the first car came by and I had to move out of the way. This wouldn't be possible in Lidköping.

In Lidköping we have a kart track, one of Europe's biggest lakes and the great Swedish nature. As a sporting fanatic there is always a good place for a run. I must say i am not super familiar with the Lidköping area other then the things I just have mentioned, but these reasons alone already triple the things you could do in Vara.

RR: October 6th marked the five year anniversary GTR 2's release in Europe.  You were on the team that developed that game.  What memories stick out in your mind about the development of GTR 2, and life at SimBin at that time?  How do those memories compare to life in the studio today?

Jay: Has it been that long already?  During GTR2 development I was in a totally different position, back then I was on the track team creating track assets. Now days I take care of licensing and am also tasked as an Associate Producer which has me helping out with production management where I can.

The major difference is that during GTR and GTR2 we had a completely different team structure, we would work mostly from home as we were a distributed team with no real development studio. The core group now shares a brand new state of the art studio, we still work with a group of talented distributed artists, but we all get to the Studio on a very regular basis. Between traveling for licensing and references I am in Sweden every other week. I prefer the face time with the development team, getting together to collaborate about the projects is good fun and inspiring. The pressure to deliver the best we can in the time given is still the same though. So no major change in that department.

RR: These days you carry two titles, Licensing Manager, and Associate Producer.  Can you tell us more about what those titles have you doing?

Jay: I assist the producers with the current productions and where I can I mingle with the creative department for some creative discussions. As a licensing manager I am in contact with manufacturers and various race series trying to acquire licenses for our upcoming projects. In that role I also travel to game shows to meet the license owners which is hard work, but good fun. And when lucky, you get treated to a factory visit or event, for a car nut like me, that is just too cool for my own good.

RR: You mention deadlines a couple of times, do those goals and their accompanying dates have a big impact on your every day life?

Jay: Deadlines are a means to an end. A project with no goals will never end, so its good to have them. But, deadlines are one of the worst and hardest things in this industry. No matter how hard you try, you will miss one eventually. And when you do, you will know it!






Jay's home office


RR: Recently the development team started their own internal race series using RACE 07 inside the Lidköping RaceRoom Location.  What is like racing in the same room with guys who know these games inside and out?  How are you doing in the standings?

Jay: As it is when we go karting, I enjoy racing in real and virtual with these guys. I know they know how to race and drive a fair race.  So we have close, hard, yet fair fights, which for me creates the best fun, coming first or last.

Another similarity with karting is that also in the virtual world Georg wins all the fr***ing time, but in the virtual world it is because he is pretty damn fast, not because he is small guy. 2 Georg's equals 1 Jay.  He is like our own little Vettel, thank God without the annoying finger after a victory.

I honestly do not know where i am in the standings, definitely not in the bottom but also not in the top 3, I might be floating just behind the top 3, so lets settle for 4th in the standings. Currently we are racing in the retro classes, which is not my strong suit. I am more into the modern GT and Formula cars, so my time will come. Also due to my travel schedule I cannot compete every race, so i am more of a guest racer.

RR: You are an avid gamer.  What game are you playing now?

Jay: Currently I am playing Dues Ex Revolution.  Enjoying it more then I expected on before hand i have to say. No real favorite game at the moment, I like to play current games when I have the time.  Fifa11 is commonly used in the office during breaks, it is that time where I open a can of whoop ass!

RR: What is your favorite game mode found in any game?

Jay: Time attack in any genre, just me and the game trying to beat the rest of the world. No one else to blame but me when it goes wrong.

RR: What is your favorite game mode ever which you wish to have in SimBin's next big thing?

Jay: Haha, not going to give this away just yet!

RR: Do you prefer GT, Touring, Rally, or Formula cars?

 Jay: Tough Choice, all of them have their own appeal. I will call this a draw.

RR: Do you take your race lines straight or sideways?

Jay: For my own and other people safety I prefer to go straight, people that go sideways in real life deserve the up most respect. Rally drivers are just insane in the head.

RR: During your free time, do you grab a Book or turn on the TV?

Jay: I would like to say book to come across somewhat smart, but its TV.

RR: Your best friend has scheduled his wedding on the same day as the Championship deciding race of the season, where will you be?

Jay: A wedding on Sunday, who does that?  I missed a F1 race twice in my life. First time it was the huge crash at Spa, the 2nd time Schumacher broke his leg. There will be no third time...

RR: What is your favorite road car to date?

Jay: Has not been made yet, I change my mind very often on this subject.

RR: What is your favorite race car to date?

Jay: Anything with Group 5 in the name generally does the job for me.

RR: Do you have a favorite race car driver?

Jay: Very cliche maybe, but with no doubt Senna. He was the person that got me into racing when i was a young(er) boy.

RR: Coffee or Tea?

Jay: Tea.

RR: If we opened your refrigerator right now, what would we find?

Jay: A lot of green things, not because it is old and moldy. But i like to eat salads and Italian food. I am somewhat of a nut when it comes to cooking.

RR: Train or Plane?

Jay: My hatred towards trains and public transportation in general is well known within the studio.

RR: iOS or Droid?

Jay: Both,yes it can work together just fine. I am the only one in SimBin that works on a Mac, but i only own android phones. Would not mind having an iPhone. But i will take the best of both worlds. Why choose if you can have both!

RR: Dog or cat?

Jay: Cats, we have two them. A younger one and one slightly older. The young one gets beat up all the time because she has a great aura of ignorance around here. Everything happens on her terms, even getting beat up by the other cat is on her terms I believe. They are lovely and I really enjoy the presence of animals in our house."

RR: What would you say to someone considering joining our family here at SimBin?

Jay: Well since we are a small team compared to our competitors, for me personally it is more important that you are passionate and talented rather then have a long list of degrees. Since I am more involved in the creative side of things that is easier compared to programming. Be eager and passionate about what you come here to do. Create the best race game ever made!

If you are ever in the area, swing by for some racing i would say and experience SimBin and Lidkoping in one go!



 -  Discuss this this interview here in our forum  -

Read the first episode in our Meet the Team series.
 to News overview

News