Game On

Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.

 

You could say Michael Saladino never grew up. When he was 16 years old, his whole world revolved around video games. He spent his days and most of his nights playing and creating them. He admits to being a "hardcore certified nerd."

"I didn't become a real human being until I entered college," says Saladino. That's when he weaned himself off a steady diet of Coca-Cola and pizza.

Today, the 28-year-old self-confessed game freak's entire world--both personal (what time there is for it) and business--revolves around video games. But now it's on a much higher level--a multimillion-dollar level, to be exact. Saladino is development director of Electronic Arts studio in Los Angeles. Redwood City, Calif.-based EA is the largest independent game producer in the United States.

You're about to read a true story about a high-ranking project manager employed by one of the most famous video game companies in the world. Landing a job there is harder than getting into Harvard. Having the right skills is one thing, but being able to endure the grueling pace is another. Find out how one talented guy does it.

If Saladino worked for a technology company, his title would be senior project manager, or more likely vice president of project management. Whatever title you want to put next to his name, Saladino is a top-of-the-line project manager …

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