Shalin Shodhan
Director, Masala Games
Class of 2005
Describe what you currently do, and tell us the best thing about it.
I run an indie studio called Masala Games. We recently made “Detective Dotson,” which is both a game and an animated film! The best thing about my current gig is that I get to work on original projects after 20 years of working for (awesome) clients and employers.
What led you to the ETC?
My childhood buddy Rahul Nanavati discovered the ETC online in 2002, and we both applied and got in together. It was very clear that this was the program that understood folks like us who didn’t fit in boxes.
What projects did you work on at the ETC?
Panda3D and the Experimental Gameplay Project, which I pitched and co-founded.
What’s your favorite ETC memory?
There are so many, but this one changed my life. It had been 2 months since I joined the ETC and a recruiter from EA (Lisa Dennis!) was visiting to meet summer internship candidates. I was late for the bus, sprinted 5 blocks, boarded a completely full bus and about 2 miles in I had to stop the bus and throw up in a dumpster. I got to the ETC, and Brian Schrank hooked me up with Listerine before I went into the interview. I showed Lisa one of my projects, and she said “This is just like Will’s next project.”I asked “Who’s Will?” It was Will Wright, and I was on the phone with him the next day. I ended up getting a co-op and joining his 10 person team dreaming up the game Spore. That’s what the ETC did for me.
How did ETC prepare you for your career, and what impact has it had on your life?
It taught me the importance of “yes, and” — thank you Brenda! It turned me into someone who is fun to work with and someone who understands the importance of making the journey worthwhile.
What is the most interesting or enjoyable thing that you’ve gotten to do in your career so far?
Making “Detective Dotson” with a small team at Masala Games has been very rewarding. I am so proud of what we have pulled off.
What advice would you give current students?
Invest in your fellow students, your teammates. Even the ones you don’t like. Get good at that and take that into the real world.
Describe the ETC in one word.
Launchpad.
What are you working on now that excites you?
Tools that help game developers “find the fun” faster in their prototypes. I feel AI has a meaningful part to play in this, and I’m excited to build something in this space. It’s experimental gameplay redux!