At first sight, it seems like passion for psychology, languages and social research have little in common with specific interests that drive people to choose the gaming industry. 

Well, we’re here to prove you wrong! Meet our Lead UX Writer Ekaterina Gorbunova, and read more about her winding path to a career in Wargaming.

Could you tell us the story about your career path and education?

I’ve always had a passion for languages and even studied to be a professional translator and simultaneous interpreter. During this period, I also got the chance to intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but it just wasn’t quite what I wanted. Instead, I felt more drawn towards UX, psychology, and social research—all passions that could be combined within my career path. As fate would have it, Wargaming presented the perfect opportunity to do just that!

Name several reasons why you chose to join the gaming industry. What is so attractive in the game industry?

I chose to join the gaming industry because of my lifelong love for video games. Video game consoles, PC, mobile games—I’ve enjoyed all of these. My dream was to see how they are created, and to learn all those special aspects of game development. One day, I just realised I could even take part in it, I just went for it. And here I am!

Could you share your perspective on what is so unique about Wargaming?

I’d say Wargaming stands out from the other companies in many ways. Still, the one that really shines is its openness and encouragement to be as creative and innovative as possible, even in areas that are not directly yours. I’m genuinely inspired by the fact that here, my ideas are heard and considered.

Wargaming is open and supportive of each and every colleague. This lets us reveal all skills and talents to be valued, grow professionally, and contribute to creating something unique.

What’s so special about your discipline or area of responsibility?

I guess not everyone even knows what a UX writer does. It may look like giving names to buttons. Indeed, we often do this, ha-ha! It’s also true to say that UX writers create very clear, laconic, and informative text for game or app screens. While I’d say that, paradoxically, UX writers are experts who primarily try not to write anything at all. We launch a game to play, not to read, right? 

In a perfect world, games would need no hints or instructions. Everything is clear as it is. And UX writers help get closer to it by cutting extra text and avoiding long, non-informative explanations.

When designers want to write some instructions for players on a new screen, this is where my team comes into play. First, we decide if words are necessary indeed.  And then, we discuss with UX/UI designers if it’s possible to make the interface more informative without words.

Your team works with game localization, tell us more about it!

Yes, the other part of our job is localisation. My team writes in three languages. Our game is translated into 20 more, which are so much different from each other. One and the same word can contain 1 hieroglyph in Japanese and 15 letters in French. Arabic is read from right to left. This has no spaces between words. We don’t speak all these languages, of course. But we know and keep in mind these peculiarities to fit all translations nicely to the game.

Could you share your thoughts about the privileges of being in Lithuania? What do you like the most about this country? Tell the fact why everyone should visit Lithuania!

I moved to Vilnius in November, and it has always been a gloomy month for me, but not at that time. I felt so warm and welcomed. I’m not sure whether it’s the town, its people, or everything taken together, but some magic happened, and I immediately felt at home here.

In Vilnius, I found an amazing combination of old and new. The city is rich in history, as it is one of the oldest cities in Northern Europe. One can see stunning historical architecture everywhere they go, alongside modern parks and cafes that make the city so lively.

If you’re looking for a place full of culture—Lithuania is your perfect destination! Not only will you feel welcome here, but you will also learn so much about its history while having fun at the same time.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies involve exploring and learning new languages, as I’m fascinated by the diversity of cultures and ways of communicating with each other. I also enjoy painting with watercolours and ink —it’s my calm time when I can actually be in the moment and focus on something beautiful. Yoga has been a big part of my life in recent years. Its physical and mental benefits help me stay focused and productive.

Who are you when you close office doors/laptop?

When I close my laptop, I’m just an ordinary girl who walks home to meet her 3 cats and 2 dogs, hoping they haven’t ruined the apartments.

I walk a lot after work as I’m still exploring Vilnius, and there’s always something new to see or visit. And, of course, I enjoy hanging out with my new Vilnius friends or my colleagues, eating out, playing games, watching sports together, etc.

What advice would you give to a new joiner?

My advice to all new joiners would be to be passionate about their work. It’s also important to remember that failure is a part of learning and growth, so don’t be afraid to take risks or try something different. Working in UX writing requires flexibility, innovation, and a willingness to keep learning—all of which are essential for success!