Breakout! The Blog For Game Career Seekers

Breakout is Returning!

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:00:00 +0000

A dense work-load has kept me from updating Breakout, but I have decided to return to posting articles that will help those of you looking to turn your passion for video games into a career.

Here's a preview of what's to come:

Writing the Perfect Cover Letter
My Parents Think I'm Wasting My Time: How to Sell Your Family on Your Career Choice
Guest Articles!

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Quick Update

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:58:00 +0000

I wanted to thank those of you that are checking back in on this blog. Don't give up on me just yet. I posted a high amount last week due to a week free from school terms, and to give myself a cushion in case something like this happened. So yes, this week has been post-less and will be over the weekend. Monday will start with a new job listing and hopefully I can get back on track. This week has just been really tough.

Thanks for keeping interest!

Game Job Ads That Suck

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:18:00 +0000

Since Monday is when I post new entry and graduate level job opportunities in the game industry, I thought I'd direct you to the most awesome post ever written about game job ads. Seriously, you have to check this one out. Here's a pull from the article, and my personal favorite section:

The "We're Looking For a Few (More) Good Men" ad

Websites that have photos of the entire company proudly displayed in the "team" section of the studio's website. Fine, you say - but there's a bizarre twist. Every single photo is of a man. No explanation is furnished, not even an acknowledgement in fine print at the bottom of the page that yes, this is a bit weird. There's something creepy about a medium sized company that's all white men between the ages of 20 and 45. It's not their fault or anything, but most people don't go about splashing their faults all over their website now do they.
I always wonder why the don't just lie like big corporations do: from the legal arse-covering (we are an equal opportunity employer) to the touchy-feely (we are conscious of the fact that we lack female staff and we hope to change that) to the buck-passingly convenient (we'd like to recruit women but they just don't apply).

The strangest exemplar of this type of site is the GANG (Game Audio Network Guild) website. It's changed somewhat since I first saw it, and thank God for that. The GANG management committee section had a horrifying page of staggering 40 or so men grinning out from the page at you, as if to say look at us! We're all men! Yippee!; as if they'd just felled a stag and a brace of pheasants with their bare hands.

This man-imagery overload cements women's worst fears. The only industry that's perhaps more bloke-infested than the game industry is the music industry. Or maybe deep sea oil mining. Well whatever, it is positively festooned with men. You put industries like this together and you've got more androgens than you ever knew what to do with and a combined collection of at least one million fantasy character figurines and unfinished model aeroplanes.

And why go out of your way to acronymise your organisation's name into the word gang? Because gang references concepts like gang bangs, ganging up, or gang warfare? And you can tell that somebody stayed up all night on Mountain Dew to wrench this acronym out of their arse because Christ: Network Guild?? At the least, ugly, at worst vaguely tautological. Ok that's a cheap jibe but would I feel compelled to make nasty cheap jibes if it weren't for the fact that their website gave me the creeps? It makes one wonder what their GANG clubhouse would be like. One would climb to the top of the tree ladder only to get nerfed at the door by a bunch of man-nerds wielding plastic light sabres enchanted with +10 resistance to Girl Germs. Well I don't actually know as it's not something I care to speculate about for too long. Seriously, I think GANG has done some great stuff and I'm sure they're all are very nice people and all, but I'm not writing this to be nice, so, y'know...
Let us at least pretend that we don't model our industry organisations after the Vienna Philharmonic, if we can manage it.

There is something a little bit special Australian game development job ads. Often when I am perusing them I cannot help but be reminded of Emily Howard, the rubbish transvestite who is so unconvincing that she feels compelled to go up and down the High Street telling people, "I'm a laaaady!"

And how can one tell that she's a lady?
"You must know that I am a lady... I press flowers and stroke kittens and swim in rivers... wearing dresses and hats."

Contrary to what you may be thinking, Australian game studios are not populated by hairy middle-aged cross-dressers. They are, however, headed up by men who are always at pains to tell strangers that they are in fact "World Class".

Kipper's whole blog is one that should be in your bookmarks, because, quite frankly, it's just that awesome. That's pretty much all there is to it.

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Job Postings July 31st - August 6th

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:47:00 +0000

I’ve decided to start tracking trends in the entry and graduate level game industry job market as represented by Gamasutra, so this week is my first dip into that.

As you can see, programming took the cake this week, offering up a total of 9 jobs for entry and graduate level applicants. I’m not terribly surprised, as there tend to be more job offerings in programming than anywhere else, with art jobs coming in a close second. Still surprised at the lack of QA jobs available, though I suppose I shouldn’t be considering the fact that in a few months as developers prepare their Christmas releases, QA job openings will be off the charts. Still no jobs for audio or production departments.

It continues to amaze me just how many small companies require several years’ industry experience for entry level positions. I’m all for shooting for the moon, but some of these are really quite ridiculous. I’m not naming any names, of course. You know who you are!

As always, all job postings are personally selected by me with attention to the position requirements. Every posting is open to entry level or graduate applicants. Click the link to review the details of the position and additional requirements.

And remember – most industry jobs are acquired by word of mouth. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see a position here for you. Get out there and start networking!

Quality Assurance

Tools QA Engineer – Insomniac – Burbank, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11528&accountno=233

Art

Junior Animator – Vicarious Visions, Activision – Albany, NY

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11485&accountno=101

Animator – Vicarious Visions, Activision – Albany, NY

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11484&accountno=101

Technical Artist – Heavy Iron Studios – Los Angeles, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11477&accountno=375

Cinematic Artist – Volition – Champaign, IL

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11465&accountno=375

Visual Effects Artist – Liquid Entertainment – Pasadena, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11128&accountno=256

UI Artist – NCSoft – Aliso Viejo, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11450&accountno=279

Design

Junior Game Designer – Trilogy Studios – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11234&accountno=22980

Programming

Junior Programmer/UI Scripter – Backbone Entertainment – Emeryville, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11527&accountno=194

Java/C++ Programmer (Mobile) – Javaground – Irvine, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11511&accountno=242

Network Programmer – Bottlerocket Entertainment Inc. – Carlsbad, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11498&accountno=21596

Tools Programmer – Bottlerocket Entertainment Inc. – Carlsbad, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11497&accountno=21596

Junior Tools Software Engineer – Vicarious Visions, Activision – Albany, NY

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11486&accountno=101

Shader Programmer – Solutions IQ – Redmond, WA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11466&accountno=20338

Programmer – Big Huge Games – Timonium, MD

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11087&accountno=125

Tools Programmer – Concrete Games – Carlsbad, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11225&accountno=375

AI Programmer – Concrete Games – Carlsbad, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11222&accountno=375

Employers: Have a job opening for entry level and graduate applicants? Reply to this post with a link to the job requirements and your website. Game industry jobs only, please. Spam will be removed.

The Break In series is for informational purposes only. I am in no way affiliated with any of the hiring companies, or with Gamasutra.

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5 Reasons You Should Keep A Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 03:14:00 +0000

You’ve got the unforgettable portfolio, the killer demo-reel, the professional website, and the perfect resume. You’ve got self-promotion down to a science. But could you be missing something?

Blogs are quickly becoming the single most popular venue for self-promotion and networking, replacing the personal website in terms of readability. While a blog alone isn’t going to rocket you into the forefront of the game industry networking scene, it’s a great addition to an already solid self-promotion package.

Drawing Attention To Yourself There’s something about a blog that just seems far more inviting than a stodgy portfolio site. Perhaps it’s the personal narrative of a blog that makes readers feel as though they can relate to the author. Perhaps it’s the friendly, audience-oriented format that helps promote a connection between blogger and reader. Whatever it is, it’s worth tapping into. Start up a blog and write about your daily trials and tribulations as a game industry job-seeker. Share your successes as well as your failures. Chronicle your journey into the industry. Because I guarantee you there are people in your exact position, as this blog should prove. The more you connect with those people, the stronger a network you build. Oh and watch how you talk to that 18 year old wise-ass who thinks he knows everything. He could be your boss some day.

Catching the Industry’s Eye Though the bulk of your readers will likely be job-seekers like yourself, it’s quite possible to catch the attention of industry professionals. As blogging has increased in popularity, more and more game developers are tapping into the field for use not only as a sounding board, but as a promotional tool for their own projects. When you stumble across one of these blogs, having your own blog to link in addition to a meaningful comment is a great way to get noticed. And because most game industry jobs are obtained through word of mouth, you benefit from every door you open, no matter how insignificant it may first seem. The benefit of a blog over a personal website is that a blog is by its nature consistently updated, keeping your readers coming back. A website, especially a personal portfolio, is accessible only a few times at most before it loses its appeal.

Instant Promotion If you build a readership with consistent content and allow them a way to subscribe to your blog via RSS, one thing you can generally count on is their interest in your work. Trust me, I know how hard it is to get anyone to look at work thrown onto a static portfolio. But somehow a blog meets the bite-sized needs of the average online reader. Because no matter how loyal the person, nobody wants to navigate through a gallery that looks like every other gallery on the web when they can have your newest work delivered to their homepage or inbox. And this doesn’t just apply to artists. Programmers can toss up small programs and demos, designers can provide analysis documents and playable levels, audio engineers can deliver a new score or a batch of sound effects. The possibilities are endless, and the promotion occurs as soon as you hit the Publish button.

Keeping a Track Record After a while, your blog becomes a living record of everything you have done to get into the game industry, and that is a powerful tool. Far more powerful than a standard website or even the best resume, because it speaks in a way that static content simply cannot match. Your blog shows a progression, and a dedication that is reinforced by every post. No job application is going to require you to have kept a blog for the past year, but doing so is going to give you something few other applicants will have. And not only are you showing progression, but you’re also proving to your future employer that people are interested in what you do and what you have to say, and in an industry where communication is key, commanding the attention of others by sheer relation alone is a valuable asset.

Keeping the Hope There’s likely going to come a time during your job search when you question your own worth, and wonder if you should even bother continuing. Perhaps that time has already come. Perhaps if you’re bursting with self-confidence, it never will. But doubt is a very human emotion, and it’s something we must all face at some point in our lives. If like myself you have ever doubted your skills – doubted that there’s a place for you in the game industry – your blog can be the most valuable life-line your career could ever have. Seeing days, weeks, months, years of past content, all from your capable mind, is a strong reminder of your capabilities in the bleakest of times. But more than that, it gives you somewhere to speak freely. When you’re feeling inadequate, you can post your thoughts on your blog, and you can be sure that someone out there is going to relate. And sometimes, that’s all it takes. The proof that we’re not alone in our situation is one of the most valuable motivators, and keeping a blog is a way reinforce that knowledge.

With today’s technology, creating a blog is a simple task. And if you write from experience and target game industry job-seekers going through the same trials and tribulations as yourself, a blog can be one of the best investments into your potential career. So the question then becomes – can you afford the cost of not having a blog?

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Book Spotlight: Get in the Game by Marc Mencher

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:51:00 +0000

In a sentence, Get in the Game is a book about the strategies you can use to get a career in the game industry. The focus is on those who are just starting out and have not taken much time to research the industry, but the book itself is far from useless to the informed job-seeker or the reader who has been in the industry for a few years.

When considering a book of this nature, it’s natural to wonder about the author’s experience. Writers by nature are pretty good at pulling information out of various orifices. It’s how I managed fair grades on essays for which I did little actual work. So believe me when I say, it’s worth knowing what kind of experience an author has before buying a book that’s supposed to teach you something as important as getting a job. Rest assured, with ten years industry experience, as well as additional time spent as a recruiter, Marc Mencher is more than qualified to give advice on getting a job in one of the most competitive job markets.

Like most books of this type, Get in the Game is a step by step guide at its heart, but there’s a great deal more to it than a shoddy outline. From start to finish, Mencher is thorough in his advice and recommendations, even providing examples and relevant feedback from industry professionals. Throughout the chapters of this 320 page book, he discusses the process of researching employers and positions, finding unadvertised jobs through networking, writing queries to companies and individuals, assembling a resume, building a strong portfolio and demo reel, interviewing, salary negotiation, keeping a job, and rising through the ranks – in a nutshell, an overview of everything you need to know about obtaining (and maintaining) a career in the industry.

But this book is more than just a how-to guide. Along with the tips and tricks presented in Mencher’s own enthusiastic style, Get in the Game also includes a lengthy description of the different departments in the game industry and various jobs found within, as well as the qualifications for such jobs and the expectations of employers. While you should spend a great deal of additional time researching individual job opportunities in the game industry, Get in the Game provides a great starting point.

Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book, though, is the down-to-earth nature of it. Mencher describes things just as they are, with no hype or glamour, and the industry is no exception. He makes it very clear that if you are looking for that dream job in which you get paid big bucks to sit around and play video games all day, this industry is just not for you. He also doesn’t attempt to hide the fact that not only is the salary of the average industry professional far less than people assume, but the work hours tend to be far longer, especially during crunch time. A risky thing to publish? Certainly, but I wouldn’t be recommending a book that took any other approach when taking potential careers into its hands.

But like any published material, Get in the Game is not without its faults, minor as they may be. The book could have done with some extra proofing, and the writing is a bit redundant at times, yet it’s far from unreadable. Some have criticized Mencher’s methods as being far too aggressive, citing references such as his proposed one-minute ‘sell yourself’ speech and bold salary negotiations. Personally, I view Get in the Game as I would any how-to book – as the author’s personal way of solving a problem and reaching a goal. Their way is best for them, and Marc Mencher’s way is best for him. Take from it what you can, and develop your own way that’s best for you.

Breakout! Score:

4.5

There’s enough industry information packed into this book that even if you disagree with the particular methods, it’s still worth the purchase and the read. While I would recommend this book to the person who is just starting to consider a career in the game industry, it is still a good buy for those with a few years of experience looking to move up, as well as those in another entertainment industry looking to move laterally.

Have you read this book? I'd love to hear your take! Post below and I'll write an update to this review including your opinions.

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Degree Spotlight: Westwood College Part 2/2

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:40:00 +0000

In the previous article, Degree Spotlight: Westwood College Part 1/2, I introduced Westwood Online's Game Art and Design program, giving an overview of the degree as well as a look into the typical week at school. Now it's time to explore the pros and cons of this degree and deliver my final verdict.

The Pros

I do believe Westwood is helping prepare me for a career in the industry, and not just through the coursework. I have certainly learned a great deal, including industry practices and process, a large amount of art theory applicable in many different areas, mastery over industry-level software, and much more. But I have also learned things that no textbook could teach. Through taking classes at Westwood, and in particular, taking online classes, I have learned the necessity of time management and proper planning. I have become self-motivated and highly dedicated thanks to a passion for my program, only fueled by enjoyable courses. And this from a lazy student who barely graduated high school.

Another key thing Westwood has given me is experience. I have created many different portfolio pieces, yes, but that could be done outside of school, at any time. Graduating from Westwood will prove to a potential employer that I am capable of finishing what I start, and that I have been trained and come prepared with knowledge of the industry. Aside from that, Westwood has inspired me to take my future into my own hands.

The Cons

I don’t believe in painting a one-sided picture of anything, especially something as important as choosing where to attend college. It’s not fair to potential students, and it’s not fair to the school, as there’s no measure by which to improve.

Westwood College is primarily a business school. Does that mean they’re bringing in business majors to teach you about game design? Absolutely not. Instructors are appropriate to the industry, meaning if you are taking a Digital Illustration class, you’re going to receive instruction from someone who works with Adobe Illustrator in their day to day job. But the design-related programs, especially the game development programs, are relatively new, and as with every new thing, there are always going to be a few stumbling blocks.

Then there’s the stigma of the whole “online” school. People seem to think that Westwood’s online program is somehow less relevant than its campus programs. They assume that the online program is for people who can’t cut it in ‘real college’, which is always a bit surprising to me, considering the amount of self-discipline it takes to work without someone standing up in front of a classroom, giving you that “I’m disappointed in you” look. But I think there is some internal lack of belief in the online program, and it’s certainly not helpful. One instructor mentioned that team projects conducted over the internet were essentially pointless, which doesn’t give you much hope when you are meant to complete a massive team project in your senior year.

The only area in which I was truly dissatisfied with Westwood, however, was administration. I had a great admissions contact, and a wonderful student advisor. If not for her, I probably wouldn’t even be in school still thanks to a bout of miscommunication between admissions, financial aid, and myself. My information was mishandled, resulting in a major scare in which my loans would have to be paid back starting in December, just four months after my enrollment. Fortunately, again thanks to my advisor (thanks Jenny!) and swift action on my part, the situation was cleared up in a timely manner before much damage was done past the fraying of my nerves.

A lot of bad press circulates about Westwood. I’m not going to be one of those people who attacks those that speak ill of the school and writes them off as being ignorant, because the truth is, it’s an individual choice. You need to research any school that has a degree you like, because I can guarantee you that for every accolade and every bit of praise there is going to be negative press and attacks to match it. And both sides are just as inflated. In the end, you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself.

The Verdict

Westwood is not the place for students who aren’t willing to take their education into their own hands and self-motivate through it. It’s not the place for someone who isn’t willing to dedicate a good deal of time to their schoolwork. It’s not for someone who isn’t capable of independent research and learning. But then, neither is the game industry.

I can only speak of my own experience, and despite the financial aid and admissions mishaps, my true experience with Westwood – my courses – has been something I wouldn’t trade. I enjoy and take value in the things I’m learning, and I know it’s up to me to apply it.

If you expect Westwood to secretly keep the training wheels on your bike when you go out for your first ride, then you should look elsewhere. But if you’re a self-motivated, dedicated, and independent-minded person who is passionate about getting into the game industry and driven enough to take your future into your own hands, then Westwood is a great way to learn what you’ll need to get you where you want to be.

Do you attend Westwood College? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Share them below and I'll write an update to this article including them.

Westwood logo is registered trademark of Westwood Online. I claim no ownership over name or logo. Just in case you had some doubt, I am also in no way affiliated with Westwood apart from being a student. All information expressed in this article is my opinion and should be judged as such.

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Degree Spotlight: Westwood College Part 1/2

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:25:00 +0000

When I found Westwood Online I was at the end of my proverbial rope. Jobless and disillusioned with the local college scene, I started to seek vocational training in IT. I knew I would never be truly happy with my job, but at least it would keep the bills paid, and being under such a tight money crunch at the time, I was willing to give up anything just to relieve the pressure. So I started searching for a quick program in which I could get certified. And while doing so, I just happened to stumble across Westwood College Online.

I admit I was skeptical at first. After seeing a few ads for ‘game design’ programs online and finding many of them to be just a few programming classes with a History of Electronic Media course thrown in for good measure, I wasn’t counting on finding anything worthwhile at Westwood. But I signed up to receive information, and within the next two days I was awoken by an admissions representative. That afternoon, I was enrolled in Westwood College Online’s Game Art and Design program.

The Program

The Game Art and Design program is a three year accelerated Bachelor’s degree. About 70% of the program is curriculum-based, including classes such as Texture Mapping for Games and Game Design Process. About 25% is general education courses that you would get through any four year degree, and the remaining 5% is comprised of business, administration, and management courses.

Because the programs at Westwood are accelerated, the terms are only nine weeks long, with generally a week between terms. This can make for a pretty hectic schedule at times, and if you’re not highly motivated I don’t recommend it. But the benefit of having such an accelerated schedule as compared to the 12-18 week terms of traditional colleges is that you’ll be shaving a year off of your degree program, getting you into a job that much quicker.

The first week of every term is always an introduction week in which students get to know their peers and their instructors. In an online environment, this is done through threaded discussions. Students also get a chance to review the syllabus and start out with some introductory assignments and a discussion topic. For example, the task list for the first week of my Image Editing for Games class involved manipulating a supplied picture, showing the skills we had acquired prior to the class, and getting a feel for the tools. We were also required to post in the discussion, describing our favorite game from a graphical standpoint.

Just like a standard university, midterms occur at the halfway point, usually in week 5 or 6, and finals occur in week 9. This won’t always be an exam, and with curriculum courses it tends to be a project.

A Typical Week

Though my schooldays vary depending on the day of the week and the amount of work due, I follow a typical routine that likely applies to many students. I don’t attend class within a certain timeframe, but I do tend to conform to my own rituals, and try to finish a certain daily task list before doing anything else. (Admittedly, I’ve often strayed from that task list in favor of playing a game or doing… anything else besides working, but I’ve always paid for it at the end of the week.)

When I log into the course home on Monday I go through all of my classes and view the discussion topics for that week. I make my initial response for each class, and then review the weekly assignments. I like to write out a schedule for the week, detailing when I will complete certain assignments. Then, depending on the workload, I tend to start off with a design-related task on Monday. For example, if I have an illustration due at the end of the week, I will start on that first, often using Monday to research the project. Throughout the week I work on and complete the rest of the coursework. If there are weekly quizzes, I tend to do them on Friday, just to stay consistent.

Because I’m quite a horrible procrastinator, I’m often doing work on Sunday, but when I first started at Westwood, I tried to plan my schedule so that my weekends would be free, and it generally worked. It’s certainly possible, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. It just requires a solid schedule and the dedication to stick to it. But if you don’t stick to it, it’s good to know you have that flexibility to be able to work on Sunday – up until 12am MST Monday, in fact! Though I don’t recommend it. (Regardless of how many times I’ve done it.)

Continue on to Degree Spotlight: Westwood College Part 2/2 where I'll discuss the pros and cons of Westwood and give you my final verdict.

Westwood logo is registered trademark of Westwood Online. I claim no ownership over name or logo. Just in case you had some doubt, I am also in no way affiliated with Westwood apart from being a student. All information expressed in this article is my opinion and should be judged as such.

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Web Spotlight: GameCareerGuide.com

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:00:00 +0000

I originally found Game Career Guide from a link in the magazine of the same name, an industry review released annually. I had picked up the 2006 edition at a bookstore in Ocala, and I remember wanting to check out the online content. I’m glad I did, as it led me to what I consider the single most useful resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the game industry, including how to get a job there.

If you’ve ever visited Gamasutra, the format of Game Career Guide will look rather familiar. As a sister site of Gamasutra, Game Career Guide has many similarities, including the quality of content. But despite these commonalities, there’s one key difference between the two. Whereas Gamasutra is mostly targeted to game industry professionals, Game Career Guide is specifically for those who have not yet broken into the industry, with a nod to students in particular.

What will you find at Game Career Guide? As a very general outline: game education news, feature articles on everything from how to make a better portfolio to the pros and cons of developing mobile games, book reviews, gaming study theses (no, seriously!), student postmortems, and a budding community. This site is teeming with information all directly targeted to you. Not a few bones thrown your way, but a whole stockpile of premium beef carcass. Just... without the flies.

A common downside to content sites targeting a niche is that they are not updated very often, or they’re stuffed with filler news sandwiched between quality articles. Fortunately that’s not the case with Game Career Guide. It’s rare to see more than a few days pass without an article, and this generally only occurs over the weekend, which is understandable. Even editors need to sleep, contrary to popular belief.

The features make up the bulk of the content on Game Career Guide, and with good reason: They are insightful resources for the site’s target audience, which just so happens to be identical to this blog’s target audience. While a few of the articles are specifically geared toward students, they are just as enjoyable if you are not enrolled in a game development program.

And these aren’t just fluff articles written to fill a particular quota. These are quality features written by industry veterans, educators, recruiters, and even students. Many different views and many different aspects of the industry are already represented on this site, and it’s still in a relatively early stage of its existence.

The features aren’t all this site has to offer, however. Along with education and industry news, Game Career Guide has a community forum set up for its readers. While it’s still going through some growing pains, including fighting off the inevitable spam posts, there is a great deal of promise in these forums. And currently Marc Mencher, successful industry recruiter and author of Get in the Game: Careers in the Game Industry, has his own thread in which he answers any and all questions posed by community members. As a registered poster who has taken advantage of this one-of-a-kind offer, I was very satisfied with not only the answers to my questions, but the pages and pages of answers throughout the massive thread.

But my favorite aspect by far of Game Career Guide is the student postmortems. A replica of the developer postmortems in Game Developer Magazine, Game Career Guide’s postmortems are written by students for students. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term as used in the game development world, a postmortem is an analytical article – usually written by one of the leads on the project – meant to dissect a game once it has launched.

The writer takes a critical look at what went right with the development as well as what went wrong, and reflects on the process in general. Student postmortems are set up in exactly the same manner, the only difference being the nature of the analyzed game. Most student postmortems dissect games that were made for capstone projects or as contest entries, not commercially published titles.

At this point I’d like to present a challenge to my readers. I challenge you to find a site that provides as much specific content for industry hopefuls as GameCareerGuide.com. Because in my experience, there are none. So when the question is asked, “What’s unique about this site?”, my answer is “Everything!” At least, everything as a whole, in one convenient, travel-sized package. (Now with orange slice RSS flavor!)

It’s true that if you look hard enough you can probably find similar articles on other sites, with maybe a few targeted to those not yet in the game industry. And you might come across some good interviews such as those at DPerry.com, which are again meant to reach those passionate about the thought of game development as a career. There might even be a good community or two out there. But does it have Marc Mencher? Well, does it? That’s what I thought.

The truth is that Game Career Guide is what originally inspired me to create this blog. After witnessing my own excitement at the discovery of a site that actually catered to my needs, I knew there was a void of information online and off, and while it is my goal to help fill that void, I will never match the sheer quality and usefulness that Game Career Guide offers.

Breakout! Score:

Game Career Guide is a must-read for the game industry hopeful. With Gamasutra-quality features, a budding community, and a whole treasure trove of resources, GameCareerGuide.com is a site that should be on your daily bookmarks.

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Job Postings July 22nd - July 30th

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:53:00 +0000

All job postings are personally selected by me with attention to the position requirements. Every posting is open to entry level or graduate applicants. Click the link to review the details of the position and additional requirements.

And remember – most industry jobs are acquired by word of mouth. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see a position here for you. Get out there and start networking!

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Tester – Activision – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11373&accountno=101

Quality Assurance Tester – SCEA – Foster City, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11210&accountno=280

Art

3D Artist – GolemLabs – Sherbrooke, PQ, CAN

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11090&accountno=22649

Environment Artist – Treyarch – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11339&accountno=101

Environment Artist – Amaze – Austin, TX

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11293&accountno=194

Design

Junior Game Designer – Trilogy – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11234&accountno=22980

Level Builder – Treyarch – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11340&accountno=101

Level Designer – Amaze – Austin, TX

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11289&accountno=194

Level Designer – The Collective – Newport Beach, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11251&accountno=194

Programming

AI/Gameplay Programmer – Radical Entertainment – Vancouver, BC, CAN

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11402&accountno=402

Programmer – Big Huge Games – Timonium, MD

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11087&accountno=125

AI Programmer – Concrete Games – Carlsbad, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11222&accountno=375

Scripter – Treyarch – Santa Monica, CA

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11341&accountno=101

Tools Programmer – Pipeworks – Eugene, OR

http://jobs.gamasutra.com/jobseekerx/viewjobrss.asp?cjid=11281&accountno=194

The Break In series is for informational purposes only. I am in no way affiliated with any of the hiring companies, or with Gamasutra.

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How Modding Could Land You a Job in the Game Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:45:00 +0000

Many people trying to break into the game industry seem to think they need a relevant degree or internship, and while these things are certainly helpful, the true goal of employers is to find candidates with experience creating games. But how do you get that experience without already having a job in the game industry? It’s the standard Catch 22 of many industry job postings, but there is a very real, very relevant solution: computer game modding.

Before purchasing any software or doing any research, you need to take a realistic look at your goals. What do you really hope to achieve from modding? If as this article suggests you would like to get a job in the game industry with your talents, then you need to be aware of the commitment that lies ahead of you. Working on a computer game mod is not unlike working on an actual game’s development. It requires discipline, organization, a strong work ethic, and a love of the craft. If you’re modding for yourself or for a hobby then sure, you can do it every now and again and be perfectly content. But if you want to turn heads with your mod, you need to approach it like you would approach a real job in the industry.

The Community Effect

Most toolkit publishers host communities for modders. This can be anything from a simple forum to an entire site dedicated to modder interaction. If your chosen toolkit doesn’t host a community, chances are a third-party source does. Browse Google for the most active community and bookmark it, because this is the plain and simple truth:

Joining a modding community is the best way to get your work seen by employers.

Though you may not see them ever post or make any peep to show that they’re there, game developers the world over browse modding communities, especially those set up for their own games. Just as a baseball scout is going to sit in on high school, college, and minor league games to see the players in action, a game developer is going to visit modding communities to see the work being done and the potential of its members. And this is not just speculation. Modders really have been given jobs in the game industry. Perhaps the biggest success story comes from the Half-Life modding community, from which Valve recruited extensively for future projects after the success of Counter-Strike.

Even if you’re not an experienced modder, you can still contribute to a modding community. Good mods require many different skillsets, and if you are particularly talented in art, design, programming, audio, or any other game development category, you should make it known. Release small mods that highlight your strengths. Write tutorials about exporting models from Maya or synching voice acting with animation. Answer the questions of those newer to the community. Eventually you will gain credibility, and if the members take notice of you, chances are any potential employers will take notice of you as well.

A Team Effort

While it is true that you can create a successful mod on your own, it takes a great deal of time and effort, and chances are you are not talented at every single aspect of game development. Most of us have one, maybe two areas under our expertise, and everything else is average at best. For this reason, you should consider joining a mod team and bringing your expertise to an environment where you can be sure it will be appreciated. If you are an artist, you could create your own mod with rudimentary programming knowledge and basic design skills, but if you team up with a programmer and a designer, your mod will be that much more professional.

But the well-rounded quality you will get from joining a team is not the main reason you should do so. Remember, you’re trying to get a job in the game industry, and like most entertainment industries and creative venues, it functions in a solid team structure. So many people applying for jobs in the industry lack the necessary traits to play well with others and feel that they work best alone, and while some positions are more individual than others, most game developers frown on this kind of attitude. They want a person who is cooperative and can bring their expertise to a team environment.

Joining a modding team gives you the benefit of that experience, which is a very valuable asset to employers, and something you really can’t be taught in school or present in a portfolio or demo reel. Additionally, a team of modders is far more likely to succeed and be noticed than an individual modder, just because of the extra motivation from team-mates and the delegation of tasks.

A Valuable Tool

There’s no way I can promise you will get a job just by working on a mod team and being active in a modding community, or that you will even be noticed by an industry professional. But the benefit of modding is that it gives you real experience to present to an employer, and this experience says more than any degree, portfolio, or demo reel ever could. It tells the developer that you know how to manage a project, and the steps needed to take it from concept to completion. It tells them that you’re willing to work hard and contribute in a team environment. And most importantly, it tells them that you are passionate about game design and can apply that passion to unique and creative solutions.

So how can modding help you get a job in the game industry even if you’re not directly approached by an industry professional? Let’s say you are applying for a job as a 3D modeler at a well-known game design studio. The game industry is such a highly competitive field that there could be hundreds of applicants all vying for the same position. In order to apply for this job you had to submit a resume, a portfolio, and a demo reel, which means every single applicant has submitted the same. And the cold, hard truth is that in the art world, there’s always going to be someone better than you.

But, you have an ace up your sleeve. Two years ago you worked as a character modeler on a fairly successful Half Life 2 mod, and you’ve included your best models from that project in your portfolio and demo reel, as well as a link to the full download of the mod. You took care to note that you worked on a team, and listed your responsibilities in the production cycle.

Because of this, you have proven that you have experience that many of your competitors lack. You can apply for the position in confidence knowing you have a better understanding of what it means to work on a game. And experience is by far the most valuable asset you can bring to the table.

When it comes to getting a job in the game industry, you need every advantage you can find. Computer game modding experience is a great addition to any applicant’s arsenal, and most importantly, it keeps you doing what you love, and that is worth the investment in and of itself.

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Write For Breakout!

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:31:00 +0000

This blog was created with one goal in mind: to better educate the game industry career seeker. But that's not something I can do alone. Sure, I could research every school with a game development degree, and ingest article after article about game industry jobs to form my own cohesive thoughts and opinions, but that's all they'd be - thoughts and opinions. There's only so much experience I can pass along to you, and that's why I want to hear YOUR experience.

If you attend (or attended) a game development degree program, have read a book that is potentially useful to the game industry job seeker, visited (or run!) a website that's useful to the game industry job seeker, or are currently employed in the game industry, I want to hear from you, and so do the readers of Breakout!

Fill out the form below, or simply leave a comment to this post with your email address and the article you're interested in writing and I will get back to you within 24 hours. Please note at this time I cannot compensate you for your articles, but I will be more than happy to provide you with as much promotion as possible in both your article and in the form of a link in the sidebar. And if you have a relevant blog or website, I'd love to write up a Web Spotlight review for you.

Not sure which category your query belongs in? Check out this post for descriptions of all the common categories on Breakout. If you don't see an appropriate category listed, don't worry! If your idea is relevant to the game career seeker, I'd love to publish it.

All work remains the property of the author, and I claim no ownership over articles submitted by guest posters. So rest assured, your rights are safe.

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About Breakout!

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:59:00 +0000

If you're reading this, let me first say thank you, as by taking an interest in this blog, you're doing me a big favor. You're giving me one less instance of talking to myself. And if you only knew how many instances I had racked up, you'd know the kind of effect your interest actually has.

But you're not here to learn about my personal habits. (Besides, those can be found in this post.) You're here to learn about this blog.

The History (brief as it may currently be)

I started Breakout! out of a void. You see, when I was first researching ways to get a job in the game industry, I found that aside from an article now and then at Gamasutra or an advice post in a developer's blog, the informational turnpike for that particular topic had yet to be laid. When I found Game Career Guide, I was far more excited than a person likely should be, because it was a sign of things to come. There was more information available about the industry, and suddenly people were no longer content with the write-off answers they were getting before. Thanks to the internet and its wealth of knowledge both personal and public, we as job-seekers now have access to information that was just not available before, and it would be a shame for anyone trying to get a job in this industry to do so without properly arming themselves with that knowledge.

But it's difficult to gather all of the tidbits when they exist in so many different places. Game Career Guide has certainly helped in a way that no other site really has, and job-seekers that just visit that site weekly will be far better-prepared than they would have been otherwise. But the fact remains that there is still room in this niche for blogs such as this one.

So it is this need that I hope to ease, with the goal being that those seeking game industry careers in the future will have one more catch-all resource at their disposal.

The Blog

Hopefully you've noticed the categories in the sidebar. In effort to organize this blog and help break down the different resources, I devised categories or series to help instantly describe the content of a certain article. To help you find what you're looking for, I've expanded on the descriptions in the sidebar.

Know Your Worth: So many industry hopefuls really underestimate their worth as a potential employee. These articles focus on informing you about the typically overlooked facets of game development so that you don't underestimate your worth and get stuck in a displeasing situation.

Cutting Edge: If there’s one thing that remains consistent in the game industry it’s the fact that it’s always changing. These articles explore the newest in game-making technology and procedures.

Stand Out: When employers review hundreds and thousands of potential applicants for one position, simply adhering to the minimum requirements is not going to help you get the job. These articles touch on different ways to set yourself apart from other hopefuls.

Break In: Weekly postings of entry-level and graduate opportunities.

Company Spotlight: Deciding which company you want to work for is a huge undertaking, and not something you want to take lightly. But where can you find real, every-day information about a company? This isn't advertising - this is real interviews with real employees, served up for your benefit.

Degree Spotlight: Degrees in game development are becoming more and more popular, but how do you know if a school is really going to help you achieve your career goals? Before you spend the rather atrocious tuition fee most of these colleges require, you need to do your research. Degree spotlight articles are written by students, for students, with no hype and no frills - just what you need to know.

Job Spotlight: Ideally before you start looking for a job you should... maybe have a job in mind. But if you're not yet sold on a certain career path, how do you get valuable insight into a department of game development without spending time there? Job spotlight articles seek to provide this insight by providing interviews with professionals currently working in the industry.

Book Spotlight: Attending a school with a game design degree, I've racked up quite a few books. Some are your run-of-the-mill textbook, but some are books I plan to keep in my library for years to come. Book spotlight articles review these books as well as others purchased specifically with the interest of game careers in mind and rate them on a scale of 1-5 based on their usefulness to the game career seeker.

Web Spotlight: In my search for bits of relevant information here and there I've come across several gems that should not be missed. Web spotlight articles review these sites and rate them on a scale of 1-5 based on their usefulness to the game career seeker.

What do YOU want to see on this blog? Leave a comment and let me know!

About The Author

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:32:00 +0000

My name is Courtney Keene and I'm the author here at Breakout!. With the exception of guest posts labeled as such, everything you read here was written by me, for better or worse. I've been blogging for several years now on a personal and artistic level, but this is my first venture into information blogging.

I'm 21 years old, living in Gainesville, Florida, and currently attending school online through Westwood College. I've just completed one full year of my three-year Game Art and Design degree, and I'm very pleased to say I've somehow managed to keep a 4.0.

My aspirations for my career are to work as either a game designer or some sort of artist - preferably involved in 3D modeling, though I would love to try out different areas to get a feel for the various jobs. Currently I'm working part-time as a bookkeeper at Michaels Arts and Crafts store, and part-time as a freelance writer.

Gaming

I've always loved video games. My first console was an NES, and I'm pretty sure my first game was Super Mario Bros / Duck Hunt. I now own a PS2 and a gaming-ready computer (though it's now already over a year old). I haven't latched on to any of the next-gen consoles yet, though if I had the spare cash and a choice between the 3, I'd probably purchase a Wii. I also don't have a current portable device. Up until a few months ago when I bought a cheap GBA, my latest portable was an old Gameboy.

I've played games of every genre, but my favorite genres are RPGs and platformers. I know most people consider platformers as 'kids' games', and perhaps some are, but I don't have a problem owning up to watching animated films either, so I'll own up to playing kids' games, too.

My favorite RPG would have to be Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and my favorite platformer(s), the Sly Cooper series.

Right now the releases I'm most awaiting are MMOs. I've been playing MMOs since 2000 with EQ, and just recently canceled my WoW subscription for the second time. So currently I'm looking forward to Conan and Tabula Rasa.

Hobbies

Outside of gaming, my hobbies include reading, writing, and art. I've always enjoyed reading, though I don't read as many traditional books as I used to. Currently I seem to have latched onto reading personal websites, articles, and blogs. Writing is also something I've loved for a long time. I started writing stories at a young age, and began penning short stories with serious intent (well, as serious as one can be at such an age) at 11. I've also always loved to draw, but I didn't give it any serious thought until a few years ago. Currently digital art is my favorite medium.

If you want to read more about how Breakout! got started, and where it's headed, visit the About Breakout! post.