Andrea Rene - On-Camera Host, Content Creator, and Producer
Andrea Rene (She/Her) is a on-camera host, content creator, and producer for her own projects—such as her top-ranking podcast What's Good Games with Brittney Brombacher and Riana Manuel-Peña— or other organizations like when she recently moderated panels for Games for Change 2023. However, her background is extensive with her working with companies such as Xbox, Ubisoft, Warner Bros, Square Enix, and much more, rightfully earning her the moniker “The Busiest Lady in the Business."
Can you tell us a little bit about your career journey? What led you to content creating and hosting in the video game industry (both online and in-person)?
My career started in broadcast journalism school where I got my B.A. and wanted to follow the footsteps of some of my early career idols Barbara Walters, Lisa Ling, and Mary Hart. I moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue a career in entertainment news, but the WGA strike happened followed quickly by the Great Recession. Struggling to find work as an entry-level reporter, I turned to the burgeoning market of digital video and began working for online entertainment outlets. The entertainment news market was crowded with talent in L.A., to say the least, so I started looking for gigs in a different area of passion for me: video games. I went to my first E3 in 2008 as a freelance reporter for an online enthusiast site but didn't get my first full-time producing job until 2010 at the former ThisWeekIn network. It was one of the first online streaming podcast networks, and I hosted and produced several shows including This Week in Video Games.
While there I also worked at their sister site, Mahalo, on a show called Mahalo Video Games Today doing daily gaming news videos. Not long after I was recruited to help launch Clevver Games with the wildly popular Clevver TV suite of channels on YouTube. It was at Clevver that I really cut my teeth in online video production -- leveraging my background in news writing and video production with online content management and SEO strategy. It helped me catch the eye of the team at Machinima where I went on to work with their content programming team to create original content with their director's program - partnered content creators with their own successful channels on YouTube. It was the golden era of MCNs, or multi-channel networks, and I learned an incredible amount about how to craft programming to take advantage of YouTube's algorithm.
After Machinima went through some ownership changes, I was asked back to Clevver to help expand their gaming content. They were acquired by Alloy Digital, who went on to partner with Break Media to become Defy Media. At Defy I oversaw the video production and programming of all the gaming brands including Smosh Games, GameTrailers, and Escapist News. I was back doing daily video game news on YouTube for GT News and working on creative strategy to help build the Smosh Games slate.
In the fall of 2014, I made the decision to leave L.A. to move to San Francisco to be with my long-distance boyfriend who had taken a job working for PlayStation. (We've been married now for almost 7 years and have a 2-year-old daughter.) It was then I decided to become a full-time independent contractor, leaving Defy Media. I went on to work with brands like Yahoo Esports, IGN, Gamer Next Door, Kinda Funny, Facebook Gaming, and more. Along the way, I was asked to host live stage events for dozens of publishers including Ubisoft, EA, Square Enix, Xbox, Nintendo, WB Games, and more -- earning my nickname "The Busiest Lady in the Business."
Being independent allowed me to pursue some incredible opportunities, but it also meant I didn't have a consistent project or a team to work with anymore. It was then the idea for What's Good Games was born, a weekly video game podcast focused on commentary from a group of gaming industry professionals with over 30 years of combined experience. I co-founded the channel with 3 incredible friends, two of whom have gone on to jobs in game development. After nearly 350 episodes, What's Good Games is consistently ranked in the top leisure podcasts and video games podcast charts, is routinely featured on "Best Gaming Podcasts" lists, and is focused on creating inclusive spaces for gamers from all walks of life.
What’s it like being a creator and host in specifically the video game space compared to other spaces you have worked in the past?
Working in video games means being surrounded by extremely passionate voices, for good and for bad. I've seen incredible acts of friendship, kindness, and generosity in many of the video game communities I've been a part of. But there is a darker side as well. Nerd culture, in general, hasn't been historically friendly to women, and my jobs working in movies and TV were never as contentious as my jobs in games. Even though I've worked in video game media for over 15 years now there is always someone who is quick to tell me I'm not "gamer enough" which did not happen nearly as often, or ever really, in my entertainment news jobs. For over a decade, we've seen statistics about how nearly half of video game players around the world are women, but those women do not consume gaming media, participate in forums, or even actively consider themself "a gamer" the way men do. However, the men I've worked with who are also on-camera as content creators or hosts get their fair share of toxicity tossed their way. I'm not sure why gaming audiences are more likely to turn to harassment in online forums than other hobbies.
You have done a lot of hosting across the country at different showcases and conventions over the years, and I’m sure you picked up on the response to the Summer Fest on-stage hosting situation. What did you think of it and Geoff Knightly’s response?
I've worked with Geoff Keighley many times over the years, both in front of and behind the camera. He is one of the hardest-working producers in this industry, so I truly do not think the lack of female representation on his stage is intentional. It isn't Geoff's fault the video game industry at large has a diversity problem. Shows like Summer Game Fest or Opening Night Live tend to focus on showcasing heads of studios or leads of departments talking about their upcoming games. What the stage representation shows is our industry has a leadership problem that is just starting to be fixed. Diversity is finally happening, albeit slowly, and it tends to be in lower-level jobs at studios. A major AAA publisher probably doesn't want to put a junior narrative designer on stage when they can put the Creative Director. Those jobs are still mostly white men, which again, is not Geoff or his producing team's fault. I thought it was great to see so many different developers on stage in Germany, and I have no doubt he's reading the feedback asking him to "do more" in preparation for The Game Awards later this year.
Here is a question from one of our founders, Char!: What do you think about having a section of a showcase like the Game Awards that purely highlights women in the industry or an event that only celebrates women developers and other women in the industry?
There are several major award ceremonies and showcases annually for video games, but I think we need more that specifically highlight women in the games industry. I've had some ideas kicking around for one that I'd produce myself, but there are already some folks out there doing great content including Women in Games International (WIGI) and Dames 4 Games just to name a few.
While you have done a lot of on-camera and on-stage work, you have also been behind the scenes: producing, programming, and writing in your journalism experience. How has your behind-the-scenes work in journalism lended itself to your on-the-scenes work in video game journalism?
Having knowledge of production is incredibly useful for onstage work. It helps me work more efficiently with producers and directors and gives me more confidence on stage. However, the drawback can be that I want to step in creatively quite often and sometimes that is not my role but quite literally someone else's. But other times my background in producing and writing has helped me work with producers to make the content we are shooting together a better overall product. It isn't necessary to have skills in all areas of production to be a successful on-camera host, but it sure does help.
What are the similarities and differences between your on-stage and camera work with other organizations and individuals on games, and the work you do on your own podcast, What’s Good Games, with Brittney Brombacher and Riana Manuel-Peña?
Working with Britt and Riana at What's Good Games is fantastic because I'm working with two women I love dearly. When we get together to record the show, yes, there is business to be done, but there are a lot of laughs to be had as well. I get to "let my hair down" so to speak and speak freely about my thoughts on the latest news and what I'm playing. While I'm working for a client, like a publisher, my role is to help their team highlight their project and spotlight their developers. I love storytelling through interviews and panels, and helping teams share their creation with their fans. But to do so means I need to be focused on being professional and being a (temporary) representative for their brand, so the "funny stuff" our podcast is known for I save for our show.
What advice do you have for others looking to content create and host in video game spaces?
Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more! The tools are all available in today's market which is a huge difference from when I started. Anyone has access to webcams, lighting, microphones, game capture equipment, and most importantly: a platform. Having places like YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, and more where you can upload your work for the world to see is simply incredible for those interested in creating content or being on-camera. Even if you're not confident enough to start publishing, just going through the motions of recording the content is a great place to start. Or you can start live streaming but never publicize your channel until you're ready. If you want to be a host, start practicing reading out loud every day. I also HIGHLY recommend taking improv classes if you want to be a performer of any type. Most cities big and small have them available and it's a great way to get to know yourself and how to speak extemporaneously which content creators do a lot.
Is there anything else you wish to highlight about the video game industry?
The video game industry is filled with so many passionate, kind, inspiring people doing truly amazing creative work. Every opportunity I get to reflect on this industry I am grateful for the many friendships I've made along the way, and the many wonderful professionals I've had the opportunity to work with. Yes, this industry also has a bad reputation, and yes, there is a toxicity problem that still needs to be solved, but there is far more good in games, then bad. I truly hope people who are passionate about games and are interested in working in this industry don't let the vocal minority convince them they aren't welcome. Everyone is welcome here!
