Matthew Wong-Stewart on LinkedIn: Was thrilled to be invited by Eliphant through my management, WDYK, to… (2024)

Here's a fascinating document that I used to use for most of my job applications, which rarely gets utilized these days: my commentary experience list.It's insane to think that not long ago, my main profession was to yell at video games. I'm very fortunate to have worked with such great teams, mentors, and leaders a long way to pick up the needed skills and do what I do now.Do you have any old documents you no longer use for job applications? Here's mine!International• Hyper Play 2018, Singapore.• Rift Rivals 2018 (LPL/LCK/LMS)• 2017 World Championship - Interviewer• 2017 Rift Rivals Purple (OPL/GPL/LJL)• 2017 Mid-Season Invitational• 2016 International Wildcard All-Star• 2016 International Wildcard Invitational• Worlds Qualifiers 2014 (SEA/LMS)• Season 3 SEA Regional Finals• Zotac Cup Charity LOL Tournament 2019• FC Mobile Pro Festival Shanghai 2024League of Legends SEA Tour.• 2019 Spring Season LST• 2020 Summer Season LSTLeague of Legends Pro League• 2018 LPL Summer Split• 2018 LPL Spring Finals• 2018 LPL Spring Playoffs• 2018 LPL Spring Split• 2016 LPL Regional Qualifiers• 2016 Summer Finals• 2016 Summer Playoffs• 2016 Summer Split• 2016 Spring Playoffs• 2016 Spring SplitOceanic Pro League•2020 Split 1 Guest Caster•2017 Split 2 Gauntlet• 2017 Split 2• 2017 League of Legends: League of Origin• 2017 Split 1 Gauntlet• 2017 Split 1• 2016 Split 2• 2016 Split 1Garena Premier League• 2015 GPL Spring• 2014 GPL Summer• 2014 GPL Spring• 2014 GPL Winter• 2013 GPL Championship• 2013 GPL Summer• 2013 GPL Spring• 2012 GPL SeasonThe Legends Circuit• 2015 TLC Spring Malaysia• 2015 TLC Spring Singapore• 2014 TLC Winter• 2014 TLC Summer• 2014 TLC Spring• 2013 TLC Summer• 2013 TLC SpringOther Events• OCE Unigames 2017• OCE Unigames 2016• Garena Campus League Singapore• Garena Campus League Malaysia• Garena Carnival 2015• Garena Carnival 2014• Garena Carnival 2012• IPL5 Singapore QualifierFIFA Online 3• Fantasy Cup – Road to Vietnam• Fantasy Cup - Road to Thailand• Fantasy Cup - Road to Korea• Summer Dream League• League One 2014• The Championship 2014• FIFA Online 3 Spearhead Invitational 2014• FIFA Online 3 No Legendary CupRules of Survival• ROS SEA Cup: Bangkok - Philippines Division 2018• ROS SEA Cup: Bangkok - SEA Other Division 2018• ROS SEA: Regional Clash S1 2018• ROS SEA: Regional Clash S2 2018• ROS NA: Fox Plain Cup 2018ROS NA: Starless Depot 1 2018• ROS NA: Starless Depot 2 2018• ROS EU Cup 1 2018• ROS EU Cup 2 2018• ROS SEA: Regional Clash S3 2019• ROS Epic Clash Mode.• ROS Inivitational NA/EU• ROS SEA: Regional Clash S4 2019Creative Destruction• Creative Destruction’s first official mini-tournament.Blackshot• Garena Carnival Blackshot FinalsAOV (FPS)• Garena Carnival AOV FinalsHalo Infinite• Lion City Gaming Community Tournament 2022

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One thing I like about the coaching sessions I've taken with Chris Tran is his prompts to 'put this in a gaming term for me.'Initially, I thought it sounded silly to describe a situation as 'It feels like my Jungler is ganking mid-lane 24/7, but I need the help top-lane.' But it helped me (less so Chris; I think my analogies can get really out of hand sometimes.) put my feelings and perspective into something I could comprehend that was abstract enough to distance myself from it and look at it logically and rationally. Which allowed me to answer important questions I might not have thought about otherwise:- Maybe there is a much larger priority on Mid Lane than the help I could get.- Knowing that your Jungle is doing this, what can you do to help your own circ*mstance?- How would you communicate this to your Jungler in a way that doesn't cause friction?When I started taking #MagicTheGathering seriously, Jensen Goh said something I still resonate with frequently: "There's no wrong threat, but there are wrong answers to your threats."In-game, this meant that having a threat on the board or in your hand will always be a threat, but if your opponent needs to play an answer, which can be more robust in some cases, it needs to be the right one. Or they may have none at all. I used this in theory crafting and deckbuilding for the card games I played, often leading me toward aggressive decks when they were the right fit for the meta.I've started to use this as an analogy for work and looking for work. To me, it looks something like this:- Can I be more proactive when applying for this job by messaging someone in my network who could connect me with someone who works there?- How can I better prepare for this interview by bringing in information that will strengthen my case?- How could I better answer this question that might proactively address some of their follow-up questions?- I feel like this project needs something more. How can I show this to the company before they ask for it?Do you have any fun analogies that you've used? :)

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Since being laid off at Riot Games, I’ve taken on many freelancing projects with my wife’s company, WDYK. I’m pleased to share that one of those projects with Smolheart is now live in beta testing.Introducing PandanBot (https://pandanbot.com/), A simple, customizable security discord bot by Singaporeans for Singaporeans.I had the fantastic opportunity of collaborating with Brigitta Darmadji-Torres before she joined Electronic Arts (EA) to consult on which features should be prioritized, and I have been running point on copy, branding, and business development for WDYK on the project since. :)If you do try it out, drop me a message! We are still actively fine-tuning it while testing and have the capacity to add new features!

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Today, Facebook reminded me that I would listen to esports podcasts while drafting floor plans for the design firm I worked at right out of school.A few months later, I dived headfirst into esports and gaming and have never looked back. Here are some things that I never expected to happen:- I never thought I’d work in gaming or esports.- I never thought I’d work for a company that provided a service to Riot Games. (Garena)- I never thought I’d live my dream of being a full-time shoutcaster with Riot Games.- I never thought I’d travel the world for my job with my phobia of flying.- I never thought I’d move to Australia, where I am ‘technically’ from.- I never thought I’d move to Shanghai.- I never thought I’d leave my dream job to join a startup funded by FunPlus & NetEase Games and stay in Shanghai.- I never thought I’d come back to #RiotGames in a role that wasn’t as a shoutcaster.- I never thought that I’d get laid off!I’ve talked a lot about how grateful and fortunate I have been for all my experiences, and I still am. But I did have an essential realization during a coaching call with Chris Tran lately that has changed my perspective as of late.Now is a rough climate to find work; every interview or opportunity I’ve come by has been through a referral. And was still phrasing things with a similar ‘I never thought’ like:- I never thought I’d consider this industry.- I never thought I’d be considered for this role.- I never thought I’d take on freelance work.- I never thought I’d consider a contract opportunity.- I never thought I’d relocate away from Singapore again.But now, I’m framing things with a mindset of ‘It would be awesome to explore’ instead, and it has been a game changer:- I’ve interviewed for really unexpected positions I did not consider before that sparked my curiosity only during the process.- I’ve started freelancing and emphasize on freelancing as my go-to instead of a way to make ends meet while job hunting.- I’ve looked at things with a fresher perspective and rolled with ‘let’s see where this goes’ more often than not and have always been surprised with the outcome.What is a perspective change that you’ve had that’s helped your journey?PS: Did I mention I’m actively freelancing? If you need a consultant for your company or project drop me a message. 👀

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Recently, I had the privilege of putting on my professional commentary hat to cover the Electronic Arts (EA) FC Pro Mobile Festival in Shanghai, where WDYK represented me and in collaboration with Eliphant . Though it was a ton of fun to put the hat back on and pick up the microphone again, something was just ‘different’ this time. It was the first time I got to see the event from the perspective of all of the other hats I’ve worn to date.I started my esports career through commentary and utilized my opportunities to pick up skills on the side:At Garena , I became a Swiss army knife (pocket-sized, at least). I was learning the basics of marketing, socials, broadcast operations, tournament operations, camerawork, and practically anything in between.At Riot Games in Australia and Shanghai, I honed my abilities in social media management and community engagement while dabbling in business development.At FunPlus Esports, I was thrown into Project Management and Business Development (Thank you, Chee Kok Ban. If you had not been there, I would have probably died a little),while thoroughly developing my content strategy skills.During my time at #RiotGames in Singapore, it was the first time that I was not commentating in any capacity. I could meld everything I had learned over the years into my craft as a Community and Channel Lead and, finally, APAC channel strategist for esports while still picking up and leading PR and Comms.This event back was the first time where it felt like I was on ‘the outside looking in.’ While still learning, I constantly bounced between ideas on ‘min-maxing.’With thoughts like how could tournament structure and operations be done better? What is great about the local language broadcast distribution being through content creators? How would I have tackled comms here?That perspective has made me even more excited as I explore opportunities for the future. The thought of applying what I’ve learned to the challenges of a new role, further deepening the specifics of my craft with something familiar, or the possibility of returning to something I took up along the way has increased my enthusiasm.Maybe I just become a yelly man again and give Victoria Cheng & Kentrell Kwek a run for their money.What’s something you would want to go back and re-live or do again?

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