With a wealth of experience in the gaming and esports space, Shane joined Cure Cancer’s Game On Cancer® team in October, 2021, and is keen to work towards Cure Cancer’s goal of making sure this is the last generation to die from cancer.
So Shane, what got you into gaming?
There are a few games that steadily made me fall in love with gaming. My first obsession was Yoshi’s Island on SNES. I still rate it one of the best 2D platformers ever made (such varied levels and mechanics that all control excellently), and I attribute it to my love for the genre today. The Nintendo 64 was my next console and I got hooked on Rare titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Diddy-Kong Racing. But I don’t think I got truly hooked on games until I got an original Xbox and Halo: Combat Evolved. Landing on the Halo ring for the first time and exploring an alien world to save humanity – what an incredible game. Halo also cemented my love for playing multiplayer games with friends. 20 years later, my mates and I play Halo Infinite almost every night.
What’s your favourite game?
To keep on the Halo-theme, it would have to be Halo 3. It’s got the whole package: a thrilling sci-fi campaign with endless replayibility, 4-player co-op and an excellent arena multiplayer suite. As someone who didn’t get access to broadband internet until 2006, it was one of the first online games I really sunk my teeth into (other than Gears of War), it was a revelation to be able to play Halo with my friends online like that. Also, I could probably quote most of the cutscenes in the game too!
If you could go for a coffee and chat with one game character, who would it be?
I’d have to say Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series. He’s such a chill guy and he’d have the best stories to tell. Plus there’s probably a good chance we’d kick on to a pub afterwards! If he’s not available, any one of the Olympian gods from Hades will do.
What’s a game you’re keen to try?
I’m really excited for the reboot of Fable (which hopefully launches next year – fingers crossed!) I’m a big fan of the first two games. The series is whimsical and has a generally more light-hearted tone than other fantasy games which is something you don’t really see nowadays. The developer, Playground Games, is really talented and I’m hopeful they’ll knock this one out of the park.
You used to work at Ubisoft – what was your role there?
Yeah, I worked at Ubisoft Australia for almost six years in several roles. I started as a Marketing Assistant helping the brand and communications teams, and then moved into Trade Marketing where I got to lead the event strategy at PAX Aus and EB Expo – loved that! I then pivoted into a communications role focused mainly on Rainbow Six Siege and esports. I was very lucky in that I got to chaperone Australian journalists to major Rainbow Six tournaments around the globe to cover the event and success of Aussie teams like FNATIC and Wildcard. By the time I finished at Ubisoft, I was Esports & Brand Manager leading marketing and esports strategy for Rainbow Six and brand campaigns for other titles like Watch Dogs Legion.
What excited you about being the Head of Gaming at Cure Cancer?
I’ve grown a passion for charity and charitable causes over the past five years or so, particularly when I first started volunteering for Feel The Magic, Australia’s leading grief education organisation. Towards the end of my time at Ubisoft, I was also involved in the internal charity committee and helped build a partnership with Australian mental health organisation LIVIN, promoting their message ‘It Ain’t Weak To Speak’ via the Oceanic Nationals, the local Rainbow Six Siege league. When the role of Head of Gaming popped up, I knew it would be something that could allow me to take all of my experience in the gaming industry and combine it with my passion for charity to make a real difference in the world. I’m stoked to be in the position and look forward to working with the gaming community to support lifesaving cancer research.
