John Scott Tynes is an essential figure for any self-respecting geek! Currently in charge of the Imagine Cup (The Software World Cup) at Microsoft, his ambition is to teach students all over the world how to code!
Before that, he was Lead Game Designer at Microsoft where he worked on Kinect and XBOX, not to mention his scenarios for Acclaim, Wizards of the Coast, Atlas Games, Steve Jackson Games, and more.]Hello John Scott Tynes, you are somewhat the father of the Imagine Cup, how did you find the level of this Pan-Arab semi-final in Bahrain?
To tell you the truth, this is my very first time in this part of the world and it’s a great pleasure for me to be here. On the other hand, I notice that everything I was told about the heat in my youth was wrong (laughs)! But to be more serious, as a former video game designer and programmer who worked with the XBOX team for a long time, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the level of the teams, especially by the games from the Tunisians and Algerians, with their heroic water bubble and their principle of combining chemical elements.
Too bad they didn’t win!
But well, the mere fact of reaching this level of competition is a victory in itself! They learn to work in a team, to talk business, marketing, to create a network… A whole wide range of skills that they do not yet master.
Most of the participants are future computer or electronics engineers, so do you think their training remains insufficient in certain aspects?
Yes, the vast majority of students in engineering schools, for example, have no idea how to talk to a businessman or how to “sell” themselves properly! This kind of event gives them the opportunity to interact with the corporate world and hone their skills!
And once they are fully immersed in the professional world, they will be able to look their future manager in the eye!]So the losers have still won something after all?…..
Absolutely, it’s a kind of simulation, a training for their future life! What happens during this short period of the ICUP is very intense and gives them a concentrate of life in a very short time!
Now, whether they set up a company afterwards or launch a start-up is not very important to us, the main thing being that they acquire these skills that will serve them in the future!!
To get back to you, you are in charge of the ICUP globally in addition to being an author, screenwriter, film critic, designer… how do you find the time to do all that?
(Laughs) I’ve slowed down a bit in the last few years, I have a six-year-old daughter and my family obviously comes first.
But well, what helps is that we have a very good team at Microsoft! When the work atmosphere is healthy and the collaborative aspect is on point, it leaves us more time for our “side projects”!
During this edition of the ICUP for example, everyone was there to help, to give lectures to students, to participate, to advise, to volunteer….
It is extremely funny and rewarding to see a high-ranking executive director roll up his sleeves and help a group of students with their circuit board soldering.
Maybe I’m being idealistic, but it’s an environment where people really like working together.
So the losers have still won something after all?…..
Absolutely, it’s a kind of simulation, a training for their future life! What happens during this short period of the ICUP is very intense and gives them a concentrate of life in a very short time!
Now, whether they set up a company afterwards or launch a start-up is not very important to us, the main thing being that they acquire these skills that will serve them in the future!!
To get back to you, you are in charge of the ICUP globally in addition to being an author, screenwriter, film critic, designer… how do you find the time to do all that?
(Laughs) I’ve slowed down a bit in the last few years, I have a six-year-old daughter and my family obviously comes first.
But well, what helps is that we have a very good team at Microsoft! When the work atmosphere is healthy and the collaborative aspect is on point, it leaves us more time for our “side projects”!
During this edition of the ICUP for example, everyone was there to help, to give lectures to students, to participate, to advise, to volunteer….
It is extremely funny and rewarding to see a high-ranking executive director roll up his sleeves and help a group of students with their circuit board soldering.
Maybe I’m being idealistic, but it’s an environment where people really like working together.
