For the final session of my Survey of the Video Game Industry class, I conduct mock job interviews with my students to give them a taste of what it is like to interview for a job at a game company. Usually I pretend to be an Activision recruiter because: 1) I used to be an Activision producer; and 2) many of our students get hired by the company. However, since our final class was held late in December — on a Saturday night, no less, I decided to do something a little different.

I told the class that a “special guest” would be conducting the mock interview later in the evening. When they returned from their dinner break, this is who they saw waiting for them.

Santa had made a special trip down from the North Pole to interview each of them for a toy tester position. Each student answered all of Santa’s questions earnestly, and for their reward, each received a candy cane.

Why go through such silliness in a college class. Well, the game industry is full of stress and responsibility, but I never want them to forget that it also should be fun — otherwise, what’s the point?

Have yourself a Merry Christmas!