20 Treyarch Interview Questions and Answers

Treyarch is an American video game developer, founded in 1996 and based in Santa Monica, California. The company is best known for its work on the “Call of Duty” franchise.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Treyarch, you can expect to be asked a mix of questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge of the video game industry. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample Treyarch interview questions and answers.

Treyarch Interview Process

The interview process at Treyarch can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least a phone interview, followed by one or more in-person interviews. For some positions, you may also be required to complete a written or practical exam. Overall, the interview process is generally lengthy and can be quite difficult, especially if you are not familiar with the Call of Duty franchise.

1. What is your experience with game testing?

Game testing is an important part of the development process, and employers may ask this question to see if you have experience with it. If you do, they might want to know what your role was in game testing and how you contributed to the overall success of a game’s launch. If you don’t have experience with game testing, you can talk about other ways you’ve tested games or software products.

Example: “In my previous position as a game tester, I worked on finding bugs and glitches within the game. I would play through levels multiple times to find any issues that could cause problems for players. This helped me contribute to the overall quality of the game before its release.”

2. How would you test a new feature in the Call of Duty series?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the Call of Duty series and how you would apply your skills in Treyarch. You can answer this question by describing a specific test you performed on a previous project, or you can describe what you would do if you were testing a new feature for Call of Duty.

Example: “I would first make sure that I understood the goals of the new feature. Then, I would create a plan for how I would test it. For example, when working on my last project, we had to implement a new system where players could customize their weapons. We decided to have two playtests with different groups of people to see how they reacted to the new feature.”

3. If hired, how would you keep track of bugs found during testing?

Bugs are common in video games, and the interviewer may want to know how you would keep track of them during testing. Use your answer to highlight your organizational skills and ability to multitask.

Example: “I have a system for keeping track of bugs I find during testing that has worked well for me in the past. First, I write down all the bugs I find on sticky notes and place them on my computer monitor. Then, I organize the bugs by type and color-code each one so I can easily see which ones need immediate attention. Finally, I make sure to note when I fixed or closed each bug.”

4. Can you tell me about a time when you had to work under tight deadlines?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle pressure and time constraints. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation or project that required you to work quickly and efficiently.

Example: “In my last role as an associate producer, I was responsible for managing the development of a new game mode. The deadline for this project was only two weeks away, so I had to delegate tasks among my team members and ensure everyone stayed on track. We were able to successfully complete the project in time, which helped us avoid any potential consequences from missing our deadline.”

5. Tell us about a time where you took initiative on a project and what the outcome was.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and how you can take charge of projects. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the steps you took to complete the project and what the outcome was.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a lot of clients who were having issues with their website. The company didn’t have enough developers to handle all of the requests, so I volunteered to help out on some of the more difficult websites. After working on several websites, I noticed that many of them had similar coding errors. So, I created a training course for our team members to learn about common coding errors. This helped us save time when fixing websites and also allowed me to train new employees.”

6. What are some of your favorite games?

This question is a great way to see if you and the interviewer have similar tastes in games. It can also help them understand your gaming background, which may be helpful when deciding whether or not you’re qualified for the position. When answering this question, it’s important to mention some of your favorite games that are relevant to Treyarch’s work.

Example: “I’ve always been a fan of first-person shooters, so I’m a big fan of Call of Duty. My favorite game in the series was Black Ops II because I loved the futuristic setting. I also really enjoyed Destiny, mostly because of how much fun I had playing with my friends online.”

7. Have you ever worked with a team before? Describe your experience.

Treyarch is a team-based environment, so it’s important to show that you’re comfortable working with others. When answering this question, describe your experience collaborating with teams and how you’ve helped them succeed in the past.

Example: “I have worked on several projects with other designers before, but my most recent collaboration was with a group of developers at my last job. We were tasked with creating an app for a client, and I had some ideas about what we could do to make it more user-friendly. The developers agreed with me, and together we created a better product than our client expected.”

8. Do you have any experience working with 3D software?

Treyarch is a video game developer that uses 3D software to create its games. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working with similar technology in the past. If you do, share your experience and explain how it helped you complete your job responsibilities. If you don’t have any experience, you can talk about what you know about 3D software and why you’re interested in learning more about it.

Example: “I’ve worked with 3D software before when I was creating marketing materials for my previous employer. It’s definitely an interesting process, but I think I would enjoy using it to develop video games. I’m excited to learn more about Treyarch’s use of 3D software.”

9. Why do you want to work at Treyarch?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what attracted you to Treyarch and how it fits into your career goals. Use this opportunity to highlight any specific aspects of the job listing that appeal to you. You can also use this time to explain why you are passionate about video games or working in the gaming industry.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in game development, so I started learning coding when I was in high school. After completing my degree in computer science, I worked as an intern at Activision where I learned more about the process of creating games. When I saw the position here at Treyarch, I knew it would be a great fit for me because of my background in coding and my passion for FPS games.”

10. What has been your biggest challenge as an artist so far?

This question can help interviewers understand your problem-solving skills and how you’ve overcome challenges in the past. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a challenge that you overcame and what steps you took to solve the issue.

Example: “My biggest challenge as an artist has been finding ways to stay motivated when I’m working on projects for long periods of time. To combat this, I try to take breaks throughout my workday and find other creative outlets outside of work to keep myself inspired. For example, I started painting again after taking a break from it for several years. This helped me get back into the mindset of being an artist.”

11. We are looking for someone who can be creative but also collaborate well with others. Are you able to do this?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are able to work well with others and can be creative. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight how you have been successful in these areas in the past.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed being creative and coming up with new ideas. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new game mode for our community. I worked with two other designers to come up with several different game modes. We then presented them to the rest of the team so they could vote on which one we should implement. The winning game mode ended up being very popular among players.”

12. What types of artistic styles are you most comfortable with?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your artistic style and determine if you’re a good fit for Treyarch’s games. Your answer should include examples of how you’ve used different styles in your past work, such as realism, cartoon or abstract.

Example: “I’m most comfortable with realistic art styles because I enjoy creating detailed environments that look like real places. However, I also have experience working with other types of styles, including abstract and cartoon. In my last position, I worked on an open-world game where I had to create both realistic and cartoonish elements. I found it challenging at first but eventually got the hang of it.”

13. What type of art do you specialize in?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your skills and experience. You can answer this question by describing what type of art you specialize in, such as modeling or texturing. If you have experience with multiple types of art, explain which one you prefer.

Example: “I am most experienced with 3D modeling. I started out working on textures but found that I enjoyed creating entire characters and objects much more than just adding color to them. I also enjoy designing levels because it’s fun to create an environment where players can interact with each other.”

14. What is your preferred method of communication when collaborating with other artists?

Collaboration is an important part of the game development process. Employers want to know that you can work well with others and communicate effectively. When answering this question, consider what methods your potential employer uses for communication. If they use a specific method, it’s best to mention it in your answer.

Example: “I prefer to collaborate using video conferencing software like Skype or Google Hangouts. I find these tools are more effective than phone calls because we can see each other while talking and share our ideas visually. In my last role, I also used Trello to keep track of tasks and projects. It was helpful to have a digital board where I could post updates about my progress.”

15. Provide examples of projects that you’ve done that were successful and explain why they were successful.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’re proud of the work you’ve done and how it helped your previous employer. It also gives them insight into what kind of projects you enjoy working on most.

Example: “In my last role, I was tasked with creating an in-game currency system for our multiplayer mode. The currency system allowed players to earn points by completing objectives or killing other players. They could then use those points to purchase weapons, equipment and upgrades. This project was successful because I used my knowledge of coding languages to create a currency system that was easy to understand and fun for the player.”

16. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem that was not straightforward. How did you approach the problem?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to solve the issue and how you were able to come up with an effective solution.

Example: “When I was working as a server at a restaurant, we had a large party that came in for dinner. The group ordered many different meals, which made it difficult to keep track of who’s meal was whose. To solve this problem, I wrote each person’s name on their plate so that I could easily identify whose food was whose.”

17. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager, how did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your problem-solving and communication skills. Use examples from previous jobs to showcase how you handled the situation, what steps you took to resolve it and what the outcome was.

Example: “In my last position as a game designer, I disagreed with my manager on some of the features we were adding to our newest release. My manager wanted to add in new weapons while I felt that would take away from the overall experience. We discussed our opinions and came up with a compromise where we added one weapon per class. This helped keep the balance between fun and realistic.”

18. Tell us why you want to work at Treyarch.

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what you like about Treyarch and why you’re excited to work there. When answering this question, make sure to highlight aspects of the company that appeal to you. Consider mentioning things like the culture, the people or the mission statement.

Example: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Call of Duty, so I’m really excited to get the opportunity to work at Treyarch. I love how dedicated the team is to creating innovative games that are fun for players of all ages. I also appreciate the fact that Treyarch has such an open-door policy when it comes to feedback. I feel confident that if I have any suggestions, they would be welcome.”

19. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews. It allows the interviewer to see if you have career goals and aspirations beyond this role. Your answer should include your professional goals, but also personal ones.

Example: “I would like to be working as a lead designer for Treyarch by then. I am passionate about video games and want to continue making them. However, I also hope to start a family within that time frame. I think it’s important to find balance between work and life, so I plan on finding a job where I can do both.”

20. Who is your favorite character from the Call of Duty series and why?

This question is a great way to see if you are familiar with the Call of Duty series. It also allows you to show your personality and passion for the game. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention which character you play as most often or why you like that character.

Example: “My favorite character from the Call of Duty series has always been Captain Price. I love his British accent and how he’s such an experienced soldier. He’s one of the characters I’ve played as the most in multiplayer because I enjoy being able to use him so effectively.”