Getting to Knowmade: Jonny Hopper
Jonny Hopper
Studio Head / Technical Director
Sound the fanfare and roll out the red carpet, because it’s Jonny! One of our three unforgettable founders, Jonny spends all day every day being a beacon of inspiration and support to every single one of us in the studio, and also building the game (but that’s secondary). His brain is a goldmine of great technical nuggets, and his dad jokes…. leave absolutely nothing to be desired but that they please stop immediately.
Just kidding, they’re actually kinda incredible - just like he is. Now, get comfy, and let’s get to knowmade!
O Jonny, m’lord, my liege! What is it you do at Glowmade?
As studio head/technical director, I wear multiple hats and it depends on the time of the day/week/month/project for what I end up actually doing: coding, reviewing, studio strategy, spreadsheets, liaising with the publisher, people management, financial planning, HR stuff, policy setting...
Now how would your parent describe your job?
"Runs a games company."
How did you get to this point in your career?
Work experience at Lionhead in the late 90s. Internship at Lionhead during university. Full-time job at Lionhead in 2004 after university. Media molecule 2006. Started another studio 2011 - closed that studio 2013 - back to Lionhead(!)
Started Glowmade 2015 with Adam and Mike!
What made you want to pursue games?
I said to Peter Molyneux, "Can I have a job?" And he said: "okay." Everyone was quite suspicious when I turned up because he had neglected to tell anyone. They just said, "oh, he's done that again…"
Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.
Playing the piano and rock climbing. One day I hope to do both at the same time.
Who or what inspires you?
My daughter and my wife are the two most incredible women I know. Both are fierce, tenacious, incredible women who make me laugh, inspire me and are there for me when I'm struggling.
The compassion modeled by Jesus is hugely important, especially when you are running a not-small games studio. Every individual has problems or issues from time to time, that's just life. So for me it's important to look past the immediate problem and work out what's really going wrong, and why. Once you work that out you can have a much more rounded and compassionate response to an individual's needs and concerns.
Share something you appreciate about yourself. Give yaself a pat on the back, why don’t ya?
When I tell a dad joke I genuinely don't care if anyone else laughs. Stuff you! I love my terrible jokes.
What game do you wish you could’ve developed?
Half Life 1.
What's your personal motto? Or just your fave inspirational quote.
"Everyone has their sh*t."
It's good to remember everyone has their own problems that we don't see, most stuff we see on social media is just a veneer. No one is perfect and no one really has it all together!
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
I love the studio culture we have here, people seem to genuinely love working here and are all incredibly welcoming, supportive and kind when a new person joins.
Anyone on the team who stands out as a role model, or source of inspiration, perhaps?
Adam, Mike and Fi, my LT crew, I don't know how you juggle so many things and all remain so lovely.
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Get a good portfolio, don't give up, and pay attention to the requirements of the role you're actually applying for.
Don't use those little bar charts to compare your skills in your CV, no-one is 100% Photoshop…
In your opinion, who is the cutest Glowmade pet?
Frank, the weird half pig/half frog/ half dog hybrid who also happens to be my pug.
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Something massive that I never have time in real life to get into. Baldur's Gate 3! Everyone's telling me it's brilliant but I don't have a hope of actually experiencing it properly.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Eating peanut butter with my finger.
