Interview with The Tester: Season 2’s winner, Matthew Brown
PSLS: We all watched you outperform the rest during The Tester: Season 2, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, or is there anything you’d like people to know about you that you may not have had a chance to express during the show?
Gaymer: Ha! It depends what people want to know. I’m such an open book and believe the happiest people are those who are doing what they love while unafraid to be themselves (read: I love David Jaffe). The appeal of this show is that I get to pursue my dreams while never hiding who I really am. I’m just so grateful that viewers embraced me, rooted for me, and I am able to make them proud. I’m just so grateful for that.
Do you feel that the final three contestants were the best suited for the role as a PlayStation tester?
Abso-frakin-lutely. Ches-ka and Scooter are both killer gamers and amazing people. I want them to get jobs in the industry and I fully intend on helping them in any way I can in the future. They’re my family now.
What was running through your head when you first saw the Killzone 3 logo appear on the screen and you knew you had won?
Pretty much my childhood and every dream I ever had raced through my head. Everything seemed so close and my heart was practically beating out of my chest. When the confetti came down I thought I was still playing the game and it was snowing.
Everyone goes into a competition hoping to win. But did you ever really see yourself coming out on top?
Going in, I approached it quietly and humbly. I never wanted to get over-confident. I analyzed my competition and knew my advantages and disadvantages, but I didn’t know what skills would be tested. It wasn’t until Tripplethreat went home and I won Challenge 5 with Sharkface that I realized I had a really good shot at making the top 3.
What was your strategy going into the competition and did it change at all as you got closer to the finale?
I think it’s evident that I was much more silent towards the beginning and became stronger as the competition progressed. I learned about my competition but focused mostly on improving myself, and then went all-out towards the end.
What are you most looking forward to in your new position at SCEA?
Aside from testing some fun titles (I’m crossing my fingers for Twisted Metal), I really want to meet and learn about all the people it takes to make a game at Sony. I have over 6 years of experience in business settings, but I’ve never had a chance to use my skills in the industry for which I’m passionate. It will be a great learning experience and I look forward to working with some amazing team members.
In the last episode, while speaking with Travis Williams, you mentioned that you would like to do PR or community management for SCEA. Do you have ambitious to go other places within the company? Do you see the job as a QA tester as more of a stepping stone?
I recognize this position as very versatile. I know one person might approach this job, love QA and grow within this department. Another might venture out into game development. My best guess is that I’ll work my way towards PR or marketing since I have a background in that, but I absolutely am open to any and all possibilities. I’d be lying if I didn’t say my dream was to be a game director for an amazing AAA title.
Last season’s winner, Will Powers, is a prime example of how you can advance at SCEA through hard work and determination. Would you say he is a role model of sorts?
Will has done a great job working his way into PR and I certainly will learn all that I can from his experiences.
You went to college in Berkeley and were an activist in your home town. Do you think you can apply any of the skills you’ve learned in the past to your new career?
Being an activist has taught me many important lessons for this job, and certainly many things that will help me as I work to grow at Sony. That said, right now I’m focused on the activist lesson of humility. I always want to respect those who have come before me and learn all that I can from them. I fully intend to do that with my new position in QA.
Do you still keep in touch with the other contestants from the show? Is there anyone you have remained particularly close with?
I love and tweet all the contestants, but being in the finale with Scooter (Leo) and Ches-ka (Francesca) makes me feel especially close to them. Ches-ka was my best friend in the house and that continued through and after the finale. You don’t see it, but we’re holding hands in the car on the way to the final challenge. Scooter and I were playful rivals the majority of the show (notice we even have competing interview shirts), but we shared many laughs and got closer once Tripplethreat was eliminated. After our insanely close finish, the two of us shared a drink and toasted to an amazing competition. Now we visit each other all the time and I can safely say he is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met. I wish so many good things for him.
If you hadn’t won, who do you believe would have been the best fit for the job?
There were so many deserving and willing contestants that it would be impossible to choose just one. There’s a reason eliminations and challenges are stressful and heartbreaking.
You won among other things, $5000. What was the first thing you went out and purchased with the money?
I bought freedom. I took an extended vacation from work and enjoyed a long deserved break from 80 hours a week of stress. Now I’m refreshed and ready to work at SCEA!
Do you have any advice for future contestants?
Don’t hold yourself back. Too often we feel there’s a barrier between us and our dreams, but often times that’s just a mental block. If you want something bad enough, you’ll make it happen. And when you do, it’ll be so, so worth it. Good luck and thank you to everyone out there.
