Undead Labs

using our brains to save yours

Rohan Plummer

Employee Spotlight: Grace Chien

Continuing our celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, we are pleased to introduce Grace Chien! An Undead Labs team member since 2018, Grace has had a hand in multiple State of Decay 2 updates, has steered exciting new projects, and has been spreading her love of Grogu (yes, that Grogu) around the office, filling hearts with joy. How many 6″ cakes can one person eat in a month? Let’s find out!

What do you do at the Lab?
I’m the Director of Studio Operations here at the Lab. I spend most of my time working behind the scenes making things happen.

What’s your boba order?
Taro with boba, 50% sugar, less ice.  In my book, if the bubble tea shop can’t get this staple right, it’s not worth returning to.

What’s your favorite thing about working in games?
I enjoy the vibrancy that comes with being surrounded with creative folks. I love the team problem solving, the abundance of terrible puns and jokes, and being able to joyously share my love of baby Yoda with other people who love him just as much.

What does your Asian heritage mean to you?
I grew up on the Eastside where there weren’t many folks that looked like me so I spent most of my formative years covering. It wasn’t until I went back to visit family during college that I realized how much was missing and just simply not represented back home. I’ve come to a point of contentment with it and like the other perspective it offers me. Over the course of my career, I’ve only worked directly with 8 other Asian people, all of them men. It’s weird being an oddity in the industry, so hopefully that will change in the future.

Any shout outs you want to make?
Tea Addicts or ShareTea are my preferred bubble tea shops. Northwest Tofu House is my favorite breakfast place. I love Shanghai Garden for its barley green hand shaven noodles as well as its pig ears. Its sister restaurant, Shanghai Cafe, with its (no idea how they translate this into English) dish of blood and intestines and veggies. Tiger Garden dim sum on Mercer Island. Szechuan Bowl for their beef noodle soup. Hood Bakery for their ube cookies. Tous Les Jours has been my most frequented bakery during the pandemic, I bought myself a 6″ cake from there every week for first 3 months. Zero regrets over these life choices.

Employee Spotlight: Larry Wu

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month may have come to a close at the end of May, but our celebration continues! Next up on our employee spotlight, please meet Larry Wu! Larry also joined us in January, and has been improving your gameplay experience since then –all from home! So, what does he think is the most fun aspect of design? And what Hogwarts House would Larry be sorted into?? We have the scoop.

What do you do at the Lab?
I’m a Senior Systems Designer on State of Decay 2. I maintain and improve the zombie survival experience thinking mainly in terms of how to excite players far past the point of their initial playthrough.

What’s your boba order?
My brown sugar boba fad addiction has died down and I’m back to a 50% sweet Taro Milk Tea with boba and almond milk.

What’s your favorite thing about working in games?
I especially enjoy the unexplored territory of game design that allows for creative problem solving. Designs that have been tread on a thousand times can get a small change or just a shift in context and suddenly provide a new and compelling experience. Being able to mix and match design ideas to come up with something that delights and engages players is endless fun. 

What does your Asian heritage mean to you?
I remember growing up, my dad would always ask whether I considered myself to be Chinese or American (My dad liked to test his children using questions with unclear answers). I always said “American!” and didn’t really understand why it was even a question or why I’d want to be anything else. At 31 years of age, I’m only starting to understand that Asian heritage isn’t contentious with my being an American. I am both Chinese and American and that gives me a unique perspective. I get to use that historic lens to learn and grow from the trials, triumphs, and values of my family and my people.

Any shout outs you want to make?
Boba Guys in SF, you’ll always be my #1. And to all my fellow Slytherins out there, don’t let the haters get you down.

State of Decay 2: Pre-Order Details

You can now pre-order State of Decay 2, and we’ve got the breakdown of where to order, and what you’ll get.  If you’re having a hard time deciding, you will be able to pre-order from every store and receive all of the bonuses.

Amazon: Survivor’s Pack

Vehicle: Vagabond 4-wheeler (Gambler paint job)

Survival Supplies: Zed-Swatter (Blunt):

  • Rucksacks of building materials and medication
  • Skill Book: Medicine
  • Facility Mod: Pill Press
  • 2x 7-slot Backpack
  • 2x First Aid Kit
  • 3x Potent Painkillers

Best Buy: Survival Pack

Vehicle: Miragra sedan (Flaming Demon Skull paint job)

Survival Supplies: Skullsplitter (Blade)

  • Rucksacks of building materials and food
  • Skill Book: Utilities
  • Facility Mod: Mini Fridge
  • 2x 7-slot Backpack
  • 3x Energy Drinks
  • 6x C4

 

GameStop: SHTF Pack

Vehicle: Brogan Rapscallion hatchback (Pizza Cat paint job)

Survival Supplies: Zeddpiercer (Blunt)

Rucksacks of building materials and ammo.

  • Skill Book: Computers
  • Facility Mod: Game Console
  • 2x 7-slot Backpack
  • 3x Energy Drinks
  • 6x Improvised Explosives

GAME (UK): Apocalyptic Pack

Vehicle: Pilato SUV (Kraken paint job)

Survival Supplies: Titan Bat (Blunt)

  • 2 Rucksacks of building materials
  • Skill Book: Craftsmanship
  • Facility Mod: Power Tools
  • 2x 7-slot Backpack
  • 3x Grenades
  • 6x Molotovs

Xbox/ Microsoft Store: Prepper’s Pack

Vehicle: Rhames V truck (Tiger Claw paint job)

Survival Supplies: Grasscutter (Blade)

Rucksacks of building materials and food

  • Skill Book: Gardening
  • Facility Mod: Garden Tools
  • 2×7-slot Backpack
  • 25x Boxes of Seeds
  • 6x Molotovs

 

No matter which pack you choose,  you’re in for a good time! Pre-order now!  Then tell us which one you got on Twitter @undeadlabs

We can’t wait to get into the game with you.