Larisa Parasca
Game Developer
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hi, I am Larisa, I am from Romania and I am a Game Developer
Whats your background?
I have a background in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, with a focus on hardware systems and programming in C for embedded applications.
Whats your current role?
I’m currently a Game Developer in the gambling industry. My work involves using JavaScript and TypeScript, with PixiJS as a rendering engine. I also work extensively with React and Redux
Why have you decided to learn to code?
I’ve been passionate about coding since high school but struggled to find a niche I truly loved. In my final year of university, I worked as a tester for a gambling company, where I discovered my enthusiasm for creating engaging and rewarding experiences. This inspired me to start learning TypeScript, which led to my first role as a Game Developer four and a half years ago.
Do you think its important to learn to code?
I strongly believe coding is one of the best ways to enhance problem-solving skills and creativity. The process of debugging or completing a complex project is incredibly rewarding and a great source of dopamine. Coding also offers flexibility and freedom. For example, I’ve embraced a part-time digital nomad lifestyle, coding from beaches in Europe—life is pretty good :)
Do you feel the tech industry is male dominated? How can we encourage more women into the industry?
The company I currently work for has 21 developers—20 males and only one female: me. This reflects a gap I’ve observed in tech departments across all the companies I’ve worked with. To encourage more women to pursue careers in tech, we need to highlight the valuable skills women often bring to the field, such as attention to detail, patience, and creativity. These traits are highly valuable in programming but are sometimes overlooked.
Did you struggle being a woman in the tech industry yourself?
There have been moments where I’ve experienced subtle discrimination, which can still be felt in the industry. However, I’ve found that these challenges can be approached with resilience and determination. It motivates me to prove my value and contribute to closing the gender gap, while also contributing to creating a safe space for the next generation of women entering the tech world.
Whats the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your tech career so far?
The projects I’m working on now are the most rewarding aspect of my career. I develop games for a company operating in the unregulated gambling market, which offers immense creative freedom. Without strict regulations, I can code captivating games with unique features, allowing me to push boundaries and innovate.
At the same time, this freedom comes with its own challenges. Each game is entirely different, requiring me to create features from scratch and solve complex problems along the way. Balancing creativity with technical precision makes the work both demanding and deeply satisfying.