The last thing I did before pulling the U-Haul out of the driveway in Quebec City (about an hour north of Maine) was scrape snow and ice off the windshield. For a native Texan, the idea of snow in April is a bit extreme, and 6-months of winter are practically unbearable. This was my third Canadian winter making video games, and I decided to make it my last.
So after 3 amazing years in French Canada (oui, je parle Francais) and following 4 years in Los Angeles it was time to go home, and for me home means Texas. Don’t get me wrong, California has a lot going for it and Montreal is probably my favorite big city on the planet (and I’ve seen several as a DJ) but like they say, “there’s no place like home.”
Now of course, spending 5 days on a road trip across the country in a moving truck does suck, compared to being on tour with a band or gearing up for extended camping; but it can still be liberating. Nobody expects you to return emails or phone calls right away, you see countryside otherwise unexplored, and you have time to breathe, or in my case, decompress.
At Ubisoft we had just delivered Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood with killer reviews, award recognition, and sales surpassing expectations – as the Audio Director for our studio I was deeply involved with that project which would have been enough, but all the while juggling and driving other projects including my own creations. It was time for a break.
Working in video games often means long hours in “crunch time”, the most extreme in my experience was 60 days straight with no time off, and each day no less than 10 hours behind my desk. I gained 30 pounds from too many free fast food meals served up by the studio, and the Irish pub next door knew my crew well as upbeat workaholics who could pound a pint of Guinness in about 8 seconds – which we did often during late night breaks while game code compiled; rushing back to our desks to work a little more before passing out under them. The production was a nightmare, but at least it came with food, beer, and a paycheck.
The Canadian or I guess I should say the “Quebecois” style and pace was way more laid back. There was less constant urgency, few overachievers, and more focus on striking a work-life balance. It was refreshing to see young parents going home to be with their families in the midst of shipping front line games – something often promised but rarely delivered by west coast game studios.
And the cheese was amazing. If you ever find yourself in Quebec, get coffee from the local cafes which are top-notch and eat all the cheese you can.
Yes, it was a delicious three years. But it’s all over now. This past weekend I unloaded the U-Haul into a storage locker while my partner and I begin to rebuild our lives back in the good ole USA. When we left there was a different president. And I didn’t think I would ever miss Mexican food so much, but now I can have it every day if I want. I just might for a while.
On the horizon, life is full of possibilities. I am exploring new projects with folks in Houston, Dallas, and Austin (where we hope to settle) and thanks to YouSendIt have a fantastic new way to keep and share a journal of events as they unfold. So stay tuned, it’s sure you will have new adventures to read about from the video game world, the music world, and more. I don’t sit still for long, live to create, and generally surround myself with the kind of people who make for good anecdotes so there are bound to be a few gems coming. Cheers all!
By Levon Louis
www.levonlouis.com
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I have been testing some new, live dubstep-leaning material with small-scale shows in Austin (Loft 718) and Houston (Mango’s: Riddim Tuesday) in preparation for larger events and festivals on the horizon. The tune-up gigs have been fun, and met with positive response.
