Weekends are all about downtime. After a week full of work to meet deadlines, everybody needs some breather to relax and recuperate. From watching a favourite web series to planning a vacation, weekends are designated as family and me time. Roby John, co-founder, CEO, SuperGaming, talks to BrandWagon Online about his weekends, favourite vacation destination and more.
What is the one thing you like to do when not working?
When I’m not working, I’m playing Games. For me, Gaming is not work but a way of unwinding and playing with my friends and hanging out with them in general. For me it’s a passion that goes beyond just playing for fun—it’s about experiencing the creation of other talented game makers and also being part of a community. Gaming allows me to unwind whilst staying connected to the very core of what we do at SuperGaming.
How do you spend your weekends?
On weekends, I love reading the very long list of pending books on my bookshelf. I enjoy reading biographies the most and my other favorite authors have been Chip and Dan Heath and Ryan Holiday. If you are a Gamer, you should have read the seminal book “Masters of Doom” which is the story of id software, makers of quake and doom.
What are your favorite gadgets?
One of my favorite gadgets is the Nintendo Switch. It’s the favorite gaming device in our Family and has a bunch of games on it that my kids play almost exclusively.
Given an option to choose another career, what would it be?
Choosing another career was an easy choice, since I came from a family of educators. I would choose to be a teacher and I actually taught at the University of Pune for 12 years part-time before founding SuperGaming. In fact, one of my students is my co-founder at SuperGaming.
Which is your favorite vacation spot?
I grew up with Japanese culture, be it games, movies and anime surrounding me. Working on the PAC-MAN ip and Bandai Namco allowed us to learn and understand Japanese culture. Japan is the Mecca of Gaming and almost all of us grew up on the Nintendo NES, Famicom, SEGA and Playstation consoles. Being in Tokyo for family vacations has been my favorite, especially since both my kids are also otakus and obsessed with japanese culture, manga and anime and will go daily to places like Harajuku and Akihabara while we are on vacation there.
A TV show, a movie, and an ad campaign you highly recommend watching?
As someone who literally watches everything on TV, I would recommend the TV show “The Last of Us”‘, not just because it is the best showcase of how video games can offer rich, complex narratives that translate beautifully to television. The show’s ability to delve into emotional depth and character development highlights an interesting side of video games, demonstrating that they can be just as powerful a storytelling medium as any traditional form of entertainment.
For a movie, I’d suggest The Shawshank Redemption. This timeless classic that is based on Stephen King’s novella, portrays resilience and hope in the face of adversity, and one that has left an impact on my life. I’ve watched it multiple times and the plot, centered around Andy Dufresne’s wrongful imprisonment and his eventual escape, is nothing short of breathtaking. I think Morgan Freeman’s voice as Red’s role as the narrator is integral to the film’s structure and emotional depth. His voiceover narration frames the entire story, providing context, insight, and a personal touch that draws the audience into the world of Shawshank Prison.
I find that Nike’s ‘Find Your Greatness’ campaign is my favorite example of turning around the narrative, by challenging the conventional notion of greatness and encouraging individuals to define their own paths to success vs Greatness being limited to the chosen few. Nike showcased best the human spirit that ordinary people can accomplish athletic feats and everyday acts of kindness, bravery, and compassion that still inspires me today.