Sector leaders series: Meet Gediminas Tarasevičius

Sector leaders series: Meet Gediminas Tarasevičius

Vilnius TechFusion had the pleasure of speaking with Gediminas Tarasevičius, the head of Lietuvos žaidimų kūrėjų asociacija (LŽKA) or Lithuanian Game Developers Association. We discussed his journey in the game development industry, the future of the industry in Lithuania, and some of his personal preferences in games and lifestyle.

What inspired you to create Lithuanian Game Developers Association, and how did you get started in the game development industry?

The popularization of game development, a small but active game dev community combined with intensified establishment and growth of game development companies, created perfect conditions for a significant breakthrough in Lithuania’s games industry. The association was a collective push from the community to make the industry known and to provide the best opportunities to achieve that breakthrough and reach its potential. As for myself, I’ve always been interested in games and technology, and I started my career in game development over 15 years ago, working on various projects as a programmer, designer, and producer.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into the game development industry, and what are some common mistakes to avoid?

You need two traits – curiosity and motivation – everything else comes with the timely use of those traits. The game industry in Lithuania reached a maturity point where the only mistake newcomers can make is to lose patience and overlook opportunities. If you love games and dream of working in games, all roads are open to you like never before. Keep learning, stay passionate, and connect with the game development community.

Gediminas Tarasevičius, the head of Lietuvos žaidimų kūrėjų asociacija (LŽKA) or Lithuanian Game Developers Association.

How do you see the game development industry evolving in Lithuania for the next 5-10 years, and what trends do you think will shape its future?

The game industry in Lithuania will double its KPIs during the next 5-10 years. We should experience sustainable growth of small companies, a notable spur of startups, and the fruitful maturity of midsized and large companies. Like in the global industry, we expect more investments and consolidation of the sector – Web3 and XR could provide a platform for incredible success stories in the Lithuanian industry.

Can you tell us about any new and exciting games that have been recently released?

Everyone should play Crowns and Pawns, released last year, cause it has so much Vilnius DNA. Additionally, promising titles in the strategy genre – Stardeus and Sweet Transit have a growing fan base worldwide and will make the headlines this year.

Blitz questions

In game development, what do you prefer, creating games that are based on reality or those that are purely fictional?

All games are based on reality, but not all present themselves in the corresponding clothes, thus I prefer games that present reality in the most interesting and curiosity-inducing form.

What is your preference when it comes to lifestyle? More usually online or mostly offline?

Online 95% of the time when my eyes are open.

Personal questions

What game character would you like to be, and why?
JC Denton from Deus Ex, because it illustrates that the change in the World cannot be achieved without the change within yourself and vice-versa.