Meet Adam Morina | Game Developer/Designer & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Morina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, what makes you happy? Why?
Creating with friends makes me happy. My last project was a VR game built in a team of two with one of my closest friends, Ingram Mao. The project ended up getting nominated for a BAFTA, which was rewarding, but the process was the best part. We’d hang out, develop parts of the game, try things & just have fun. In my group of friends, it’s always been about creating & sharing. My friend Zach and I have made films together. I have always made music with a few of my close friends, Matt, Deacon & Cam (+ many more). It’s so great to see what everyone is doing and making. From games to film to music to art installation (and everything in between), I’m constantly inspired by my friends. Everyone around me is a lot more talented, so it just enables me to learn and get better at things that I love. Currently, I’m directing a team of 25 in developing our own Advanced Games Project game at USC. I’m in the grad program, and recruiting was unique, because I don’t know a lot of people outside of our cohort in game development. With the help of my lead producer, Abby, we’ve built this amazing team of friends who love working & spending time together. I’m so proud of what we’re making, and the team is absolutely killing it. Huge shoutout to Abby, Adrian, Jason, Dexter, Shravan, Tai, Eggsy, Jake, Maynard, Edwin, Anna, Zi & so many more. It’s so corny, but even writing this, I feel so thankful to be able to create with my friends and spend time with them doing what we love. It brings me an incredible amount of joy & gives me a reason to keep moving forward every day.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m not sure if I set myself apart from others in my art aside from the fact that I am just trying to make some fairly difficult work that merges high-level technology, and programming with narrative/character motivations. I find that in the games industry there are many amazing studios that have done that, so it’s really about trying to continue this great work of many studios I idolize. I’m proud that my narrative background has helped set my games work apart because there is a constant emphasis in internal/external constraints for player mechanics matching with internal/external goals of a character. This was a surprisingly new piece of knowledge that I learned after starting school.

Getting here was a very, very long journey. I always wanted to break into games and would build prototypes in Unity or Unreal, doing my best to teach myself how to code. But it’s crazy because, I never imagined the next 5 years, 1 year or even a month ahead. I had some great jobs/bosses, and some bad jobs/bosses, but no matter what I would just try to work everyday and move forward on something of my own. Try not to get too caught up with what was going wrong. Looking back it didn’t feel easy, it felt exhausting and defeating. When you’re working to work and not focused on building something you want or love to do it can feel very hollow. I guess what I tried to do to get through it was just move forward a tiny bit everyday. That could’ve been something simple like reading, or going on a walk to think. Doing something is already a big step.

It’s hard to definitively say what I want the world to know about my story…just that it’s very possible to learn anything. YouTube is the greatest teacher and it’s really just worth giving something you want to do a try. If I have to define a “brand…” I guess it’s hanging out and making stuff… that’s a really stupid brand but it’s the only one I can think of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m born and raised in Los Angeles, so I think there are a lot of awesome small activities to do. First, we’d be going to Leo’s Tacos for lunch, and then probably going on a hike…maybe Amalfi hike into the canyon or the Temescal Loop. There are so many good places to eat dinner but because it’s near where I live… probably go to Pine & Crane for dinner. One of the best spots in the whole city is a random turn off down PCH up a hill that has an incredible view of the city and ocean. The Los Angeles music scene is far and away the best out right now. There are so many good venues to go to and artists are playing every single night. Since it’s someone visiting, seeing a show at the Greek is a good idea because it has to be one of the best venues in the country. Another option is to come to our office space at the EGG building where we spend a lot of our time working on the next game…we have a lot of snacks (just kidding, this would be way too boring). Lastly, always good to stop by a friends place and hang out. I feel like hanging out with a group of friends is always the best option.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people, it’s endless. Even something like this interview, the opportunity would not be here without my friend, Kaitlin Bonfiglio. Massive shoutout to everyone at USC Games, especially the 2023 MFA Cohort in Game Design/Development. I have made some of my closest friends throughout graduate school (you know who you are)! Some professors who helped mentor and guide me deserve a lot of credit. Those professors are Richard Lemarchand, Tracy Fullerton, Mark Bolas, Andy Nealen, Gordon Bellamy, Scott Easley & Peter Brinson. Huge, huge recognition to Rong Deng who gave me my first opportunity as a designer on her stunning game, There You Are. She’s now a tech designer at Naughty Dog just absolutely killing it. Obviously, my parents…Sally & Tony. They’ve been so supportive in the process & finding my place throughout my twenties (many jobs, many ups & downs). Abby Sherlock deserves an important shoutout for not only being a great friend, but the person who submitted mine and Ingram’s game, Blocks, to the BAFTAs (she also is the lead voice actor & gives the most incredible performance). This one is random, but I saw you mention book so thought I’d throw it in. Gabrielle Zevin’s masterful novel, Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow came out at the perfect time, right before I went on to direct this indie game we’re currently building. That story was beyond inspiring for me, and I carry those words in my head at all times. Randomly, her lead (fictional) character, Sadie and I went to the same high school…and she is a game designer…bizarre coincidence. Dan McCaffrey got me my first meeting ever in the games industry, and during that meeting I was told to go back to school. Without Dan, none of this would’ve happened. All of my dear friends, old and new. Last but not least, my brilliant, beautiful partner, Carina Chazanas. She’s the most inspiring person I’ve ever met & an absolute boss in her own right. I look up to her, and she helps guide me every day. This is clearly very, very longwinded, but any bit of success I’ve ever had is to do with everyone around me, and very little to do with myself. I’m so fortunate to have this list of awesome humans in my life, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some.

Website: https://adammorinacreative.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morina-397421106/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adammorina1

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI6ExmuDEnY

Image Credits
Getty Images for the BAFTA ones Abigail Nakaishi for the team doing our DIY Motion Capture Carina Chazanas for the backpack one