What is it really like to work at Innovation Office Park?
Join the team at SEGA of America and discover how the workplace helps make collaboration, culture and community the heart of daily life.
No silos and no solos. That’s a guiding value for SEGA of America and a key reason why the company chose Innovation Office Park as their new home.
“Giving people this space was really important to us,” says Ian Curran, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Irvine Company really wanted to understand our business needs — bringing people together — and they’re very flexible to help us meet these needs.”
Innovation Office Park has made collaboration, culture and community the heart of daily life for the SEGA team. Just ask Minoru Iwasaki, Manager of Product Coordination, who likes to start his mornings with a quick workout at the Kinetic fitness center.
“I not only see my co-workers here at SEGA, but also other individuals from different companies who work here. It’s a very positive and stimulating experience, getting to bounce ideas off them as we all work out.”
A self-described “big relationship builder,” Iwasaki says working at Innovation Office Park makes it easy to tap into the broader gaming community. “There’s another gaming studio right across from our building, and right above us is Twitch. Being here helps foster better communication and stronger teamwork.”
This ease of connection is also what gives Innovation Office Park its village-like atmosphere.
“It feels almost like a small village with our own gym, cafe and outdoor space. I love how the garage doors in our office open. It’s like an outside-inside office, and I love that vibe. I take walks on my breaks down the pathline because it’s such great scenery. It’s so refreshing and the breeze is so nice.”
On a typical workday, you’ll find SEGA employees challenging each other to an impromptu game of pool, enjoying a meal al fresco at Olive Grove Cafe and winding down with an after-hours workout at Kinetic.
“We’re not just co-workers, we’re a family,” says Iwasaki, thanks in part to the ability to “do life together” at Innovation Office Park. These family ties are built, in part, by the workplace being a physical manifestation of SEGA’s company culture and values.
Each conference room is dedicated to a specific brand and IP, like Sonic, Shin Megami Tensei and Super Monkey Ball. One of the most popular is the 16-Bit Room, based on a retro SEGA Genesis.
The playful conference rooms mirror a workplace culture that prioritizes employee engagement and connection with employee events like Japanese language classes, Halloween horror movie night, ping-pong tournaments and, of course, gaming tournaments.
“We’re a really kind and passionate group of people here,” says Collins. “So many of us are here because we’re gamers and have memories of playing SEGA games growing up. Being in such an engaging workplace environment where we celebrate wins together helps build stronger personal connections.”
