Inside Agate: Office Adjustments and Homecoming Tips for Eid
Ramadan is a month of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion for Muslims worldwide. As the holy month approaches, workplaces everywhere are gearing up to create an inclusive environment that allows employees to observe the month without compromising their work productivity. As a result, Agate has implemented some significant office changes to ensure an inclusive environment throughout Ramadan. One of the significant adjustments we’ve made is to shorten the lunch break from one hour to thirty minutes (12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.) to allow crews to leave the office earlier and avoid traffic congestion. To help ensure everyone can maintain their energy level throughout the day, we have also made some changes to our meal schedule. For those who are not fasting, we serve lunch during the break time. But for those who are fasting, we provide meals in boxes that can be taken home at 4:00 p.m. Another change that has been implemented is hybrid work. Although some crews were already working remotely before Ramadan, all crews, including trainees, can now work from home twice a week (trainees are new crew who undergo a training program for 6 or 12 months). This new policy is not limited to Ramadan only. Still, it will continue beyond the holy month because the hybrid work policy is more efficient and beneficial for everyone in the long term. Crews heading home early with shuttle bus Online meeting with WFH crews Caterer preparing the lunchboxes Lunchbox for iftar As we strive to create an inclusive and supportive workplace for all our crews during Ramadan, we also recognize that the end of the month brings its own challenges. Homecoming, or “mudik” as it’s known in Indonesia, is a long-standing tradition for many Muslims, but it can be a stressful experience, especially during the pandemic. To help everyone prepare for this annual event, we’ve compiled some tips to make the journey as smooth and safe as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind for a triumphant Eid homecoming: Be Fit Before starting the trip, you must ensure that your body is in good health. To achieve this, start by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and taking additional health supplements. Choose menus for suhoor and iftar that contain lots of minerals and vitamins so that the nutrients the body needs will be fulfilled. You can consume fruits and vegetables and drink enough mineral water. Also, ensure you have taken the COVID-19 vaccine booster to boost your immune system. Remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial not only before traveling but also during the journey. Choose the Most Suitable Mode of Transportation You can travel home for Eid using a variety of types of transportation. You can choose land, sea, or air routes depending on your destination and return needs. If you have a long-distance homecoming destination, it is recommended that you fly to save time and money. To avoid ticket price increases, reserve your tickets well before your journey. If your homecoming destination permits land transportation, you can take trains, buses, or private cars. It will be more efficient if you use the train because you will not be stuck on the streets. However, make sure you book your tickets quickly when they’re available. In the meantime, taking a private car back home for Eid may be an excellent choice. Going home in a private car may be more enjoyable for some individuals, despite potential hours spent in traffic, due to Eid’s highly anticipated and once-a-year nature. Check Your Vehicle and Route For travelers using private vehicles to go home for Eid, it is essential to take some precautions. First, it is mandatory to check the readiness of your vehicle for long trips, including the batteries, brakes, oil, and engine. You can service the car one month before going home to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. Additionally, it’s essential to master and regularly check the route you’ll be taking. The roads will likely be congested, and you may want to locate alternate routes to avoid traffic jams. Before starting your journey back, ensure you know the rest area or rest stop locations for your resting site. Taking note of their spots ahead of time can make the trip more comfortable. Pack Smart Prepare a travel health kit with essential items, such as prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card. Make sure you have enough supplies to last the entire trip. Apply Health Protocols In these times, following health protocols is still crucial. It is important to maintain strict guidelines, including wearing a mask indoors and outdoors and keeping a safe distance from crowds. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water regularly to remove the germs; if unavailable, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Hopefully, these tips can help you make the most of your Eid homecoming. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check the vacancy list below! Vacancy On Quality Department All DepartmentsTalentQualityFinance, Corporate and LegalDesign and WritingArt All DivisionsSupportGamificationFull DevelopmentArt Service All ContractsTemporaryRegular Search Position Department Division Contract Type 3D Artist Art Gamification Contract Type : Temporary Details 2D Artist Art Gamification Contract Type : Temporary Details Game Designer Design and Writing Full Development Contract Type : Temporary Details Social Media Specialist Finance, Corporate and Legal Support Contract Type : Temporary Details Load More
More Than Just a Game: The Real-World Applications of the Super Mario Effect
Who knew that games could help us learn? It turns out that every game involves some struggle, which is just what we need for optimal learning! Learning something new can be challenging, we need to go through that trial-and-error phase until we finally reach that amazing “aha” moment. Ever wondered why we tend to give up when faced with challenges instead of seeing them as opportunities for growth? Mark Rober’s TEDxPenn talk, “The Super Mario Effect,” explains that our approach to learning is key. In Super Mario, players are motivated to learn the game mechanics and hone their skills to save the princess rather than fear failure. The Super Mario Effect is explained as “focusing on the Princess and not the pits, to stick with a task and learn more.” There are three takeaways to apply this to feel less stressed and learn more. Reframe Your Mindset The Super Mario Effect is about turning challenges into engaging opportunities for growth. Rather than dwelling on failure, players focus on mastering each level to progress to the next. It’s a game that reframes loss as a learning experience and inspires us to keep going. Gamification can be a game-changer in our lives, according to Rober! By treating challenges as games, we can view the learning process as an enjoyable activity that we want to keep doing. In other words, gamification can help us reframe challenges and make them more engaging and motivating. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Playing a game always ends with one thing: the prize! Even when the going gets tough, the thrill of mastering the game is just too enjoyable to pass up. Unlike real life, mistakes don’t have to be devastating in a “give it your all to win” environment. Instead, they’re like fun-sized opportunities to learn and improve for your next try. According to Rober, The Super Mario Effect is more than just having a positive attitude. Turning challenges into games and emphasizing the prize makes the process feel lighter and more empowering; it makes you think, “What worked? What didn’t? What can I learn from it? I’ll try again.” Rather than enduring, it becomes about learning and trying again. Focusing on the Prize can trick your brain into learning more. Shift Your Focus from Failure By freeing us from the fear of failure, the Super Mario Effect has revolutionized the way we approach challenges. Its core idea is to learn from mistakes without fixating on them, which means that failing to beat level one isn’t a reason to quit, but rather a chance to gain insight from errors and persist toward our goal. Gamification The Super Mario Effect is a phenomenon that describes how individuals become more motivated and engaged in tasks that are challenging and rewarding. By utilizing gamification, this concept can extend beyond gaming to various aspects of life, including education, work, and even personal development. Gamification is the incorporation of game mechanics and principles into non-game contexts. It involves applying gaming characteristics to address problems and achieve goals through various activities and procedures. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s all about figuring out the objective and picking the right game design to achieve it! The ultimate goal of gamification is to boost interaction, collaboration, sharing, and engagement among different groups, including partners, employees, and customers. Gamification also works wonders in marketing. Enhancing engagement and experience increases user retention and acquisition through social sharing. It also promotes brand awareness, loyalty, and provides a sense of accomplishment to users. Lastly, it simplifies data gathering, providing valuable insights to businesses. Gamification can help businesses improve customer engagement and achieve marketing goals by incorporating game elements into their products or services. This leads to more enjoyable and rewarding customer experiences and drives business success. Gamification by AgateGamification isn’t just about making things more productive or efficient. It can also be fun! Incorporating game elements into non-game contexts can make mundane tasks more engaging and exciting. The examples are Agate’s gamification features. They’re helpful in onboarding users and collecting data and provide a fun and interactive experience. Let’s look closer and see how Agate has taken gamification to the next level! GoPay Indonesia designed the Suwit game to encourage users to try their P2P transfer feature, resulting in a 40% increase in daily use. Play Video Populix created a family feud-style game called Pop Quest, which motivated users to answer questions quickly and honestly, leading to better data collection. Play Video Moreover, an elementary school gamified assessment tool was developed to help students recognize their potential and receive personalized recommendations based on their needs, resulting in more accurate behavioral assessments than traditional tests. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type [Mythic Protocol] Creature 3D Artist Art Contract Type : Project Based Details VFX Artist Art Contract Type : Regular Crew Details [Project-Based] Quality Assurance (QA) Quality Contract Type : Project Based Details UI Artist Art Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Load More
Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to Empowering Leadership
Want to know how to be an effective leader? Becoming an effective leader can be a daunting task, and trying to master all aspects of leadership alone can be challenging. Empowering leadership requires both soft skills and technical proficiency, with a focus on comprehending the team’s work and effective communication. But worry not, here are some tips for you to be empowering leaders! Create a Safe and Welcoming Space As a leader, creating a space for your team to take risks and try out new ideas without fear of being blamed is important. Rather than pointing fingers, the focus should be learning from mistakes and exploring possible solutions. Clear communication of expectations is also crucial. Leaders should be attentive to feedback from their teams, making it easy for them to discuss complex issues and seek support when needed. Empower Your Team Empowering your team boosts productivity and engagement. Encourage them to take on challenges, organize work, and improve processes. It’s important to give clear goals and context to help them understand what to achieve and why. Trust and give them a sense of ownership to enhance their commitment to their work. Learn Efficiently Stay open to new ideas and be flexible enough to change your opinion based on new information. Discussing new developments with your team before making critical decisions that could impact them is essential. This helps build trust, promotes collaboration, and ensures everyone is on the same page. Nurture Growth Team growth and development can be facilitated in several ways, such as nurturing each crew member’s skill sets, strengths, and interests. Encourage personal and professional growth by allowing your team members to explore their interests and supporting them in learning new skills that could benefit them in their current or future roles. Foster Connection & Belongings Show compassion and understanding towards your team members when communicating with them. Acknowledge their emotions and remember they’re human beings, not just resources for completing tasks. Celebrate successes and failures as a team and openly give credit where it’s due. Strive to balance personal and professional connections, as this can help foster a more supportive and collaborative work environment. Be Competent & Set Examples Take the time to think carefully about the issue at hand and the different options available. Use your knowledge and judgment to make the best decision possible. Analyze the problem, identify its root cause, and hone your problem-solving skills. Additionally, be a positive example to others, lead by example, and be open and honest. As an empowering leader, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the technical aspects of your team’s work. While soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are important for effective leadership, technical skills are equally necessary to manage your team’s tasks effectively. A key element of technical competence is the ability to proficiently document tasks and data. Check out the tips below for more information about documentation! Effective Documentation Tips When creating documentation, it’s important to consider the target audience and the objective of the documentation. If a broad audience will read the documentation, it’s important to use language that is easy to understand for people with technical and non-technical backgrounds. The documentation should be comprehensive enough to meet the needs of more experienced individuals and easily digestible for those with less experience. Moreover, if you share the document with others, you can use online platforms such as Notion, Miro, or Figma to work together more effectively. At Agate, we mostly use Notion for documentation because it’s easy to use. Notion provides a user-friendly interface and user experience, making it beginner-friendly. Its linked databases feature lets us synchronize content across multiple pages, making it easier to filter team task views and create task dashboards. Additionally, Notion’s customizable options allow us to tailor their workspace to meet their needs, resulting in a more organized and efficient workflow. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type Game Tester Intern Quality Contract Type : Internship Details Product Management Intern Product Manager Contract Type : Internship Details Business Development Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Outsourcing Staff Intern Studio Contract Type : Internship Details Load More
Leading the Way: The Role of Leadership in Agate
Leadership is one of the most critical factors determining a company’s success. Effective leadership will inspire and motivate crews, encourage collaboration, drive innovation, and navigate challenges. A good leader sets the tone for the entire team and creates a culture that values teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement. In this fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, leadership isn’t just about managing people and empowering them to achieve their full potential. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of leadership in Agate. But before we begin, let’s take a look at the number of leaders in Agate! Leaders Responsibility Leaders play a crucial role in supporting their team to achieve common objectives that align with the overall strategy of Agate. Activities performed by leaders vary depending on the grade, ranging from ensuring timelines and quality of work by expectations, helping team members solve problems and obstacles in daily work, coordinating with other stakeholders, managing team allocation and workload, creating policies with a specific scope, creating and maintaining OKRs, strategic planning, evaluation, and others. Senior leadership refers to the leaders who hold the highest-level positions and are responsible for guiding the company’s overall direction. They’re responsible for supervising multiple department heads, a broader scope than typical department heads. Their duties include creating long-term plans and evaluations, covering a 3-5 year period, and evaluating the impact on the company. Leadership Program LeadershipReview Every six months, all leads will undergo a review process that involves evaluation by their superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. LeadershipDevelopment Program Leadership Sharing SessionThe Head of Departments or other Senior Leadership members conduct the session, which covers various general competencies such as time management, strategic thinking, and assertive communication. The session is available to all leaders interested in attending, including C-level executives, VPs, Senior Specialists, Producers, Product Managers, and Managers. Leadership Intensive CoachingThis is an ongoing program that collaborates with the Agate Academy team to identify the strengths and areas of improvement for potential and existing leaders. They will be paired with other leaders who can act as coaches to help them develop the necessary skills. For example, Lead A, who excels in numbers but needs to enhance their public speaking abilities, will be matched with Lead B, who has exceptional public speaking skills but needs to improve in numbers. Through this coaching process, participants can schedule sessions to coach each other and complement each other’s skills. Management Trainee Sharing SessionThe session is conducted by Senior Leaders, MTs who have graduated, or other MTs. The session’s content is tailored to the current tasks and challenges faced by MTs. For instance, before the bi-monthly meetings, MTs can share their experiences and discuss topics like OKRs, strategic planning, and evaluations. Additionally, the session covers general competencies that include communication, company knowledge, time management, problem-solving, and decision-making. There’s also an opportunity for MTs to participate in Q&A sessions and other activities that align with their interests. Learning& Development Budget At Agate, leaders can request various learning resources, including workshops, materials, and other tools to help them grow and develop their skills. By taking advantage of these resources, leaders can continue to level up and improve their abilities, leading to better outcomes for themselves and their teams. Trial Timefor Promotion To ensure a smooth transition and set leaders up for success, a trial period of 6-12 months is implemented before crews are promoted to lead or before a lead is promoted to a higher grade. During this period, leaders are exposed to new challenges they will face in their new roles. This trial period allows leaders to develop new skills and gain the necessary experience to confidently and effectively fulfill their new responsibilities. One-on-One Session At Agate, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration is highly valued. Work is not viewed as a transactional task but rather as an opportunity for personal and professional development. To support this culture, we held 1-on-1 meetings between crews and their leaders periodically to allow crew members to discuss their work, personal growth, interests, career projections, and other topics, even those unrelated to work. These meetings are crucial in allowing leaders to practice active listening and empathy and learn how to direct and nurture their team members. By prioritizing open and honest communication, Agate can create an environment where everyone can thrive both personally and professionally. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type Game Tester Intern Quality Contract Type : Internship Details Product Management Intern Product Manager Contract Type : Internship Details Business Development Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Outsourcing Staff Intern Studio Contract Type : Internship Details Load More
Indonesia Gaming Ecosystem: A Growing Landscape with a Promising Future
Indonesia’s game development ecosystem is rapidly growing and becoming more established, with a growing talent pool and local game development studios. However, the industry still faces challenges, such as a lack of funding and limited access to the global market. Despite these challenges, the future of Indonesia’s game development ecosystem looks promising, with potential for further growth and recognition in the international gaming market. What’s the current state of the global and Indonesian game ecosystem? Global The global gaming ecosystem is constantly evolving due to market growth and changing trends, especially during the pandemic when people spend more time at home. The industry is closely linked to technology and therefore changes every year. This can be seen in the evolution of platforms that we come to love, from the early years of console games shifted to arcades, and today we witness a plethora of mobile games on our phones. Additionally, new platforms such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S Console, and cloud streaming have emerged, providing more immersive and realistic gaming experiences and appealing to a broader audience. Indonesia In the case of Indonesia, it all depends on how locally-made games are marketed rather than how games evolve along with the current state of technology. In the beginning, many Indonesian developers created mobile games because they were more accessible, and making PC games or buying consoles in Indonesia was still relatively expensive. Even so, the mobile market turned out to be top-heavy, making it difficult for new mobile games to catch up. As a result, Indonesian developers eventually switched to PC and console games, which were then exported because PC and console players were more open to trying new games. In fact, there are many capable Indonesian talents, but they deliberately do not target the local market, so many people don’t realize that Indonesian talents can make good games. What are the changes in the Indonesian game ecosystem these past few years? Other than the development change from mobile games to PC and console games, in 2022, there are many investments for the game industry, especially in Web3. This allows developers who used to make small-scale games with their own money to have the opportunity to make large-scale games with their own uniqueness. What challenges must be faced to grow the game development ecosystem in Indonesia? In Indonesia, many things must be self-taught as there are still not many professional paths to learn about game development. Also, while there are a few large gaming companies in Indonesia, such as Agate, many people who are hired still have limited experience in game development. Because many things must be self-taught, we don’t have benchmarks, and it also takes a lot of time, energy, and resources because we make a lot of trial and error. Many Indonesian game developers sell their services abroad, and after finding success, they often choose to relocate overseas. This makes it challenging to retain top talent who want to stay in Indonesia. How does Agate approach these challenges? Agate was founded with the dream of becoming a home for Indonesian game developers. To make this happen, Agate has several initiatives, such as creating Agate Academy, working with associations and incubations to create programs, gathering new talents, and providing education and mentoring. These things are done not only to resolve Agate’s talent problems but also to help solve talent problems in Indonesia. To actively reach for Senior talents, Agate takes the initiative to connect with people abroad, especially the skillful Indonesians who have worked in the game industry abroad. In addition, we also learned from experts such as ByteDance and worked with Activition Blizzard to become our mentors. For example, artists at Agate will discuss and receive input from the Art Director of Zelda Breath of the Wild every few weeks. Although we can’t hire them full-time, the insights or decisions they provide are often those we’ve not considered before. What are Agate’s reasons for advancing the game development ecosystem? It’s impossible to realize Agate’s dream of becoming a developer house if the game ecosystem isn’t moving forward. So, growing the ecosystem is not just an ideal; it’s a necessity. We need it to become big and fulfill Agate’s dream of becoming a home for developers. From the development of the ecosystem, Agate can get the best talent, build trust, and gain networks. What does Agate hope for the game development ecosystem in Indonesia? Game development is highly digitized, so there are no logistical, geographical, or physical limitations. This is an opportunity for Indonesia to compete with other countries that are far more advanced than us. We hope Indonesia can be on par with other countries that are more advanced in the game industry. Why does Agate attend various external events? As a part of the ecosystem, Agate contributes to the game ecosystem in Indonesia by improving as a company. One of the ways is by attending various external events to level up. Attending these events provides a range of benefits, including: Speaking opportunities Goals: Provide information about materials related to tech development, games, and other topics related to the game development industry and Agate’s business. Maintain the existence of Agate representatives’ public presence. Showcasing our products Goals: Help increase product and brand awareness. As a place to provide free trial products to the target market and get feedback from players. Networking and business matching Goals: Find and build relationships related to business development, such as investors, publishers, clients, and other game developers. Looking for and building relationships related to brand awareness, such as with TV, media, and Key Opinion Leaders (KOL). Sharing insights from attendees about the development of the tech world and its market demands to help get a more realistic picture in the marketplace. Research & Development Goals: Exploring trends and market in their respective roles. in their respective roles. Why does Agate do Merger & Aquisition? What were Agate’s reasons for M&A with Ekuator and Freemergeny? Agate recognizes that progress cannot be made
Rising above Burnout: Understanding the Problem and Finding Ways to Bounce Back
Did you know? Working in the game industry isn’t always fun and games. The people behind the games also have the same struggles as employees in other industries, including burnout. Burnout can stem from various sources, including job stress, lack of stability, and long working hours. Let’s delve deeper into this topic! What is Burnout? Burnout is a condition that arises from unmanaged stress in the workplace, affecting both employees and employers alike. When experiencing burnout, you may experience fatigue, negativity, and a decrease in job performance. You might feel physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Plus, negativity might make you feel indifferent toward your work. Burnout can also lead to decreased productivity and feelings of inadequacy when you might feel like you’re not accomplishing as much as you want to. What Factors Contribute to Burnout? Burnout is a common thing that can happen in all industries. But what are the causes? You might want to remember these major factors that can contribute to burnout! Here they are: Unfair Treatment at Work Unmanageable Workload Lack of Role Clarity Insufficient Communication and Guidance from Leaders Unrealistic Deadlines In the game industry itself, burnout isn’t limited to only big console game studios. Burnout can happen in any part of the game industry, from large studios to indie developers. One of the contributors is “crunch time,” which refers to extended work hours, often surpassing 40 hours a week, over a prolonged period. At Agate, while crunch time may occur, we have implemented preventive measures, which will be discussed later in this article. What are the Signs of Burnout? Insomnia Research indicates that prolonged stress impacts the delicate balance of the neurological and hormonal systems responsible for regulating sleep. So, when you’re not sleeping well, it can make feelings of burnout worse. Difficulty sleeping at night may be a warning sign of burnout. Physical exhaustion Feeling wiped out all the time is another big sign of burnout. It can be a common sign of burnout if you need to nap every day after work. Changes in eating habits Changes in eating habits, such as eating more or less than usual, can also indicate burnout. This can happen when you’re too busy or stressed to eat or crave more food. Stress hormones can also play a role, making you less hungry when you’re stressed and super hungry when the stress goes away. Headaches and stomachaches It is noteworthy that burnout can occur simultaneously with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, which may also lead to physical symptoms. Depression can make your muscles ache, give you stomachaches, mess with your sleep and change your appetite. Anxiety can give you headaches, make you feel sick to your stomach, and make it hard to catch your breath. How to Deal with Burnout? Contact professional help If you’re dealing with physical symptoms of burnout, it’s a good idea to check in with your regular doctor or a mental health professional to determine if it’s from stress or something else. Address the root of the problem It’s important to address the root of your problems. For example, burnout usually comes from work-related stuff. However, chronic stress can have various causes, such as financial and relationship problems. It’s important to take a step back and figure out what’s going on so you can find a way to fix it. Request better working conditions If your working condition contributes to your burnout, it’s important to address the issue by speaking with your leaders or HR team. In Agate, we offer various resources to promote a positive work atmosphere, such as free coffee and designated quiet spaces for employees to recharge and focus. Other than the various resources, leaders in Agate are also very open to discussing the working conditions. Also, there are Talent Relation functions that are ready to listen and solve our crews’ burnout issues. Ensure you have some freedom and autonomy in your job When coping with burnout, it’s important to maintain a sense of control in your work. This can include having the ability to prioritize tasks and decide which ones to tackle first, whether it’s starting with the most challenging or easiest tasks based on your preference. Having control over your job can greatly help in managing burnout. Try to make time to do what you love Concentrating on work for extended periods can be draining. That’s why taking a break and engaging in activities you enjoy are essential. It can be as simple as watching your favorite movies or spending time with your closest ones. How We Identify and Address Our Crews Burnout Burnout can have multiple causes, but it’s often the result of systemic imbalances within an organization. That’s why Agate conducts a monthly well-being and burnout checkup to determine what systemic change we need to adjust to create a better work environment for everyone. Here’s how we do it: GatherIt’s important to recognize that our employees may be experiencing increased workload and emotional stress outside of work, which can contribute to burnout. That’s why we gather data about our crews’ problems and issues through monthly well-being checkups. AddressThe data we gather will be analyzed to determine if the issues fall under professional well-being, such as workload, rewards, and benefits, or general well-being, such as team dynamics and company policies. Only by having a clear understanding of our workplace, team, and behaviors can we make meaningful changes to improve the well-being of our employees. SolveWith the data, we take steps to make adjustments such as managing workload, implementing new procedures, offering rewards, etc. We also provide opportunities for learning, team bonding, and events to improve the overall well-being of our employees. Talent’s Insight What made Agate aware of burnout? “We spend at least 1/3 of our weekdays at work interacting with each other. Many things such as issues, decisions, and discussions, can happen during the day. The interaction and daily work definitely affect crew well-being, including burnout levels.” What drove Agate to create a
DISC in the Workplace: Unlocking the Benefits of Different Strengths and Perspectives
Diversity is common in the workplace, but it can sometimes lead to conflict among the crews. It’s important to understand that everyone might act or react differently in a certain situation. You might wonder if only there’s a way to develop a greater understanding of our teammates, those we work with as colleagues, and those we manage and lead. Well, the good news is: there’s a way! Personality assessment tools like DISC can do just that. DISC is a personality assessment tool Agate uses to improve communication in the workplace, guide career decisions, and empower meaningful professional connections. What is DISC? DISC stands for the four main behavioral styles described in the DISC model: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Each person usually has a combination of these styles, but only one or two will be the most prominent. Dominance People with a preference for Dominance (D) tend to be confident and emphasize accomplishing results. They are motivated by winning, competing, and gaining success. Strengths People with D personality establish clear objectives and devise plans to attain them; they’re able to plan quickly and analyze resources and skills needed to finish something. With their drive to win and compete for success, they enjoy taking on challenges and finding solutions to overcome them. ChallengesPeople with a D personality type may become frustrated with those with a low level of ambition due to their strong desire to win and succeed. However, it’s important for them to keep in mind that goals cannot be accomplished without assistance and that they should learn to trust others to reach their goals. Patience and clarity when explaining things to those around them could help in that regard. Another challenge they need to overcome is their tendency to display sensitivity. An Example of D Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationWinning every fight PositivesBrawny, Competitive, Disciplined LikesSport, Confrontation Chad is a very competitive person who sees anyone stronger than him as a challenge. Overall, he is just a simple young man who wants something simple: to be stronger than everyone else. Maybe, he’s actually too simple to be true. Influence Those with the Influence (I) preference tend to be more open and emphasize relationships and influencing others. They tend to be enthusiastic and hopeful, making the work environment fun. If you come across someone who enjoys talking, making friends, and creating social events, they likely have a high Influence preference. StrengthsThey excel at persuading, motivating, and selling ideas to others. Additionally, they are adept at creating a pleasant environment and fostering relationships with other people. ChallengesThe I personality type may find it challenging to stay organized, requiring someone to follow them up on their responsibilities and projects. They may also have trouble concentrating for prolonged periods and should try to manage their time better and slow down their pace to listen more to other people. An Example of I Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationFollow any mood booster PositivesAttractive, Good fashion sense LikesColors, Ornaments, Love A carefree and happy-go-lucky young woman whose bubbly personality and beauty make her very well-liked. This suits her perfectly, as she also likes people and friends. Steadiness People with a preference for Steadiness (S) tend to be consistent, calm, and patient. They are people who emphasize cooperation and sincerity. What they do is driven by opportunities to help and sincere appreciation. This personality enjoys identifying and providing what others require without seeking recognition or acknowledgment. Strengths They are known for their steadiness and are calm, composed, and patient. This allows them to create a safe and welcoming work environment. People with the S personality are adept at working toward a group consensus, setting objectives, assigning duties, and valuing everyone’s input. Challenges Despite appearing to be composed and collected on the outside, S personality is quite sensitive to criticism and confrontation. They tend to struggle to express their true emotions openly. In a relationship, instead of facing conflicts, they will do whatever is necessary to maintain peace. An Example of S Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationBeing his true self PositivesKind, Resourceful, Big-hearted LikesHealing, Helping Hugo is a kind young man who believes that everyone must be true to themselves and pursue the future they wish. He is mostly a pacifist and would prefer to avoid fighting and physical confrontation. His true calling for being a hero is to help and heal people in need. Conscientiousness Those with Conscientiousness (C) personality are known for their attention to detail, accuracy, expertise, and competency. They tend to think carefully before taking any action and make it a point to do thorough research before making decisions. Despite this, they are quite guarded when it comes to their personal life, not willing to share their feelings even if it could be beneficial for them. StrengthsPeople with C personalities are known for their high standards and thoroughness in gathering and analyzing information. When it comes to decision-making, they can think ahead, plan long-term objectives, and weigh the pros and cons of a particular situation. ChallengesType C personalities often find it difficult to deal with changes and unexpected situations and interact with particularly expressive people. Though they’re known for their expertise and competency, they should keep in mind that they can obtain a better comprehension by appreciating the standpoints of others and considering them when they make their assessment. Another challenge that they need to overcome is to verbalize their feelings better. An Example of C Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationNot get involved with anyone else PositivesCreative, Quirky, Smart LikesMagic, Monsters, Technology Alphonse is a genius Magi whose aptitude for understanding the arcane arts is unmatched by most. He is admittedly a bit awkward and withdrawn, which, at first glance, may be viewed as a side effect of his dedication to his craft. Why do we use DISC? Conflict ManagementThe DISC assessment allows us to understand how each person
Agate’s Internship Program: Kickstart Your Career in the Game Industry
The internship program in Agate aims to give the opportunity to students, especially those in their final year of university or people who want to experience working in the game industry. With the program, Agate offers a first-hand experience where interns can learn, work, and discuss directly with professionals in the game industry. Not just that, the interns also have the opportunity to get the golden ticket that will prioritize them to be recruited in Agate in the future. Out of 28 interns who graduated in 2022, 9 are now working in Agate as a regular crew. What do you think about the internship program? “We’re very happy with this internship program in the Quality Assurance Department. With this program, the future generation of the game industry can gain working experience directly, and we can also learn many things from the interns from various backgrounds.” How was your internship experience in Agate? “The opportunity to join Agate was an excellent experience for me. From the Kampus Merdeka Program in 2021, I started my career as an Intern in the Talent Department here. I could learn many interesting things, from soft skills to hard skills, that I didn’t have before. I also feel that Agate is a comfortable workplace, especially for fresh graduates. That’s because Agate is a suitable place to learn and improve self-ability to build a career in the future. Now I have become a Talent Development Staff, and I am ready to grow to be an epic crew in the following years.” “Initially, I learned about game development with my friends in college. In the past, I made several games, but most weren’t finished; they were still prototypes. Then, I saw an internship opportunity at Agate and went for it. I learned a lot in Agate, especially about the culture here that suits me well. It’s about positivity, collaboration, level-up, and excellence. I used to be a person that’s afraid to make mistakes. However, in Agate, I met many good mentors, and they shared positive values and culture in Agate which made me learn new perspectives about many things. I feel lucky that I got to meet supportive mentors and teams that care for my development. It made me comfortable learning new things. Also, when I wanted to step up to be a lead or explore another role, many seniors supported me and gave me many recommendations about where to start if I want to go there. All in all, I learned and got so many new things, both technical and soft skills. I learned more about game development and also about self-improvement. It’s all thanks to my mentors that have been patient in teaching me during my internship.” The internship program is meant to give interns the opportunity to explore and develop their careers while also learning new skills. We aim to produce a new generation of game developers through this program. Are you ready to be one of them? Check out the vacancy list below! INTERNSHIP VACANCY LIST All DepartmentsTechTalentStudioProductionMarketing Sales & OperationDesignCorporateArt Internship Search Position Department Contract Type Talent Manager Art Department Art Contract Type : Internship Details Production Support Production Contract Type : Internship Details Digital Marketing Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Internship Details Tech DevOps Tech Contract Type : Internship Details Load More
Talent Development Programs: How We Support Our Crews’ Growth in Agate
In Agate, we strive to be better at growing our crews to the next level. That’s why we support our crews’ growth by providing various Talent Development programs. Let’s take a look at our programs! Performance Management To ensure we give every crew the same treatment and chances, we uphold the system of meritocracy. Meritocracy is a system that assesses individuals based on their competency and cultural alignment. We conduct a periodic review to assess their soft skills, technical skills, and cultural alignment in the company. We aim to give crews fair rewards and feedback continuously for our crews. Leadership Review Not only for the crews, but we also conduct a review for all the leaders and managers in Agate. The reviewers consist of direct reports, peers, direct leaders, and crews from other departments working with them. Learning Materials Aligning with our core value to level up, we always strive to support our crews to improve their skills. We facilitate them by giving them access to learning materials requests across various platforms and formats. Career Path & Grade Up Session Here, crews have the right to always grow for their career path. We provide an opportunity for crews to get promoted. They can submit a grade-up request to their leaders and head departments. PDP (Personal Development Program) Agate’s leaders and mentors also get hands-on with our crews’ development. One example is when our crews need guidance or advice to track their development skills plan. Personal Development Program is a program that allows every crew to level up with guidance given by their leaders. Overall, the result of this program impacts our crews’ well-being, especially for fairness, growth, and reward. What do our leaders think about the Talent Development programs? All Talent Development programs are created from crews and for crews. We’re always open to listening to our crews’ needs in their career milestones. Our programs are created to fully support our crews’ growth and needs such as providing mentors for new crews to guide and help them. Also, we’re providing access to learning materials, so it can be easier for our crews to develop both their personal and professional skills. It’s nice to see ourselves growing along with others; I’m happy to be a part of the team that always supports others’ growth personally and professionally! The Talent Development programs help the lead to plan the development of the crew’s career potential in the future with measurable standards and expectations, as well as finding solutions for a crew whose performance can still be improved. Similarly, the leaders are graded with a 360-degree grading system to prevent subjectivity and ensure all crews, including leaders, always conform with Agate values.” Performance Management: For a company to thrive, we must ensure every crew carries their responsibility well. It’s important to acknowledge which crew performs excellently and which crews need to improve. That’s why an accurate performance management system is required. Leadership Review: The review also goes both ways for the leaders. Every crew has the right to give an evaluation to their leaders. From there, every crew can appreciate their leaders or help identify leaders that need help. This program is the starting point of the Leadership Development series in Agate. Learning Materials: Here, everyone has the same opportunity to learn. How quickly a person can develop in Agate will be primarily determined by how much effort the person puts in. We provide a variety of self-study materials according to the needs of the crew at Agate. Grade Up: Crews have the right to submit an evaluation for grade-up, so we can provide a reward that matches their abilities. In addition, if a crew is not qualified to level up, they will get clear guidance about what improvements they should make to level up. Personal Development Program: We also offer a Personal Development Program (PDP), which allows everyone to grow to be their best version. PDP is created to encourage crews to continuously improve with a more concrete target they can achieve within one to three months. Grade Up: We provide the opportunity for crews to grade up when they think they’re ready for more responsibility. This aligns with the Meritocracy system and Level Up spirit. With a Grade-Up session, the crew can request promotion without feeling ‘pushy or ambitious.’ It is a very transparent system where people are promoted based on merit. Career Path: We give crews choices to determine their career path and the skills needed to reach their career goals. This clarifies the learning process and helps the crew stay motivated to learn new skills. Leadership Review: It doesn’t matter how great the company is; it’s the leaders within that matter. If there’s a bad leader, it impacts the crews under them negatively. The system of meritocracy here doesn’t only apply to crews but also all leaders. Leadership Review helps the company to identify leaders that need improvements to be better. Performance Management: Meritocracy is a good system for fast learners and competent people. Performance Management allows the crew to showcase their capability and growth. This will help the department to identify and promote rising stars’ talent. Personal Development Program: We appreciate people who keep learning new things and push them to be more capable. The Personal Development Program allows them to showcase their growth, so we can give them the opportunity to match their aspirations. Learning Materials: Some learning materials are not accessible because they’re locked behind a paywall. Also, the paid version is sometimes far better than the free version; by providing free access to those materials, we help our crews’ learning speed significantly. All in all, our crews’ growth is our priority. With these programs, we aim to create a comfortable workplace for our crew to level up and unlock their full potential. If you’re interested in joining our team, check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY ON TALENT DEPARTMENT All DepartmentsTechTalentStudioProductionMarketing Sales & OperationDesignCorporateArt All Contract TypesRegular CrewInternship Search Position Department Contract Type Talent Manager
Recruitment Tips and Tricks: Career Types in the Game Industry
The rapid growth of the game industry in the past years proves that gaming is one of the promising industries in the future. Undoubtedly, many professions have emerged in the game industry today. Thus, making a career in the gaming industry sounds quite tempting. Are you curious about the career types in the game industry? As Indonesia’s leading game company, Agate has several types and categories of career types that our crews undertake. These several career types aim to meet the demand for a diverse workforce in the video game industry. Our Recruiter, Hanifah Oktarina Arief, and our HR Generalist Kemas Rahmat Mubarrak will give you other recruitment tips and tricks, specifically about career types in Agate. Hopefully, these recruitment tips and tricks will provide you with an understanding of the path you want to pursue. Are you ready to join the game industry? Agate is hiring! Take a look at our open job roles here: Agate is hiring!
