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Please link through to http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2810646 . Start a discussion, share news! Just join the group and start networking. Good luck. Adam Boyes is originally from Vancouver. He met David Smith from Interactive Selection and Game Careers at the Develop conference in Brighton, UK. He is a 15 year game industry veteran who has specialized in Production and Business Development. He has held positions such as Executive Producer at Midway and most recently he ran the Product Development group at Capcom US. At the helm, he delivered the most successful digital games initiative of the industry. Adam has more recently founded a company, Beefy Media, which specializes in helping developers create identities for their studios and better sell themselves to Publishers. He works with teams from the pitch process through to the Post Mortem to ensure that developers are taking a mature approach to game development, and are taking their initiative seriously. His advice to those seeking a job in video games: “I think getting out there, being persistent obviously, but classy persistence, meeting people, and going to shows like Develop. There are a lot of opportunities around the globe to go to great shows and meet people, engage with them and ask them questions. A lot of guys who are senior in the industry want to answer questions and they want to help and get you placed so you can enjoy the great things they have enjoyed in their careers.” Eidos Montreal is making Deus Ex Revolution and Thief 4, The Deus Ex Human Revolution team offers a friendly, multi-cultural work setting. To create the feeling of ownership of their titles, the focus is on communication and idea sharing. They work as a close-knit team with long development schedules (at least 24 months), allowing them to get closer to the game. During the development cycle, each team member will perform different types of work within their field, to avoid overspecialization and help foster individual versatility and resourcefulness. Other Ocean’s thoughts on the vibrant and highly-creative digital gaming industry in Canada. Deidre Ayre, Head of Studio tells us more….. Canada is now the world’s third largest employer of videogame professionals, pushing the UK into fourth place according to new data from the Electronic Software Association of Canada (ESAC). As reported by the Canadian Financial Post more than 14,000 people are now directly employed by more than 247 Canadian videogame companies. The ESAC claims this is more than the UK and behind only Japan and the USA. Other statistics show that 138,000 people were employed in general programming and development roles in Canada in 2008, suggesting that videogame developers account for around 10 per cent of all software jobs in the country. The ESAC attributes Canada’s success to generous tax incentives, which have helped to attract large scale investment from companies such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Eidos. Up to 29 per cent more videogame employees are expected in Canada by 2011, with Ubisoft already suggesting that its headcount will nearly double in the country to 3,000 employees by 2013. Interactive Selection is the first international recruiter assisting the leading Canadian studios. Relic’s thoughts on the vibrant and highly-creative digital gaming industry in Canada. Tarrnie Williams, General Manager of Relic Entertainment is interviewed by governed backed Invest in Canada. Ubisoft is to open a new development studio in Toronto which is expected to result in the creation of 800 jobs. The studio has been invested in by the government of Ontario, which will put CAD 263 million into the project over a ten year time frame – that’s on top of the half a billion CAD Ubisoft expects to invest. Operations within the studio, which will work on triple-A Ubisoft titles, are expected to begin in late 2009. Overseeing the new Ubisoft Toronto will be Yannis Mallat, chief executive officer at Ubisoft Montreal and producer of the Prince of Persia series. He will lead a team focused on furthering Ubisoft’s plan of extending its brands to complement mediums such as books, comics, short films and other products. The new Toronto arm of the business will also collaborate with the local film industry to enhance its creations, according to Mallat. “We are incredibly excited to finally tap into the remarkable talent Ontario has been developing over the years,” said Mallat. The studio will be the fourth for Ubisoft in Canada, joining Montreal, Quebec City and Vancouver – studios which employ more than 2,300 creative staff in total. The Canadian government have put together this showcase of how innovative Canadian companies are in the video game development industry. They want YOU to join them in Canada. The video gives details of the best selling games and which states have the most studios. Vancouver, Quebec and Ontario by the way. 500 companies are thought to generate $2 billion for Canada and you could be part if it. See this first and then ask how Interactive Selection can help you with this move. Interactive Selection are the leading international recruiter bringing developers in to Canada. Game Developer Research has compiled the results of its third annual Game Developer Census, tallying game development and publishing companies working in North America, revealing that the United States videogame industry employee count is essentially flat year-over-year, rising slightly from 44,400 to 44,806. The small rise in North American game industry employment was marked by an unusually high number of new studios — particularly in social and online gaming – springing up to counterbalance the many closures that occurred throughout the rest of the industry. Canadian companies, however, saw growth that can almost be called explosive. The continued establishment of new studios and expansion of existing large studios led the region’s employee count in the Census to rise 30 percent year-on-year. The totals — also boosted by additional Game Developer research on Canadian developers, with the help of local authorities — rose from 9,500 Canadian video game employees in 2008 to 12,480 in 2009. Much of the actual Canadian growth is due to the strengthening of the major development hubs in Vancouver and Montreal, as well as up-and-coming development centers like Toronto. By contrast, while U.S. states continue to maintain similar amounts of employees, anecdotal evidence indicates that American game development is becoming less clustered around urban centers. In the United States, California remains the undisputed development heavyweight, with 20,815 developers (46 percent of the U.S. total) employed in the state. Washington is the second most-popular state for game employment, with over 4,500 employees, and Texas is third with over 2,600. Those rankings remain intact from last year. In total, eight states (California, Washington, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, and Maryland) have more than 1,000 game professionals working in them, with North Carolina close behind. Maryland is a newcomer to that group this year, in part due to the expansion of state heavyweight ZeniMax Media, Bethesda’s parent company. More information is available at the Game Developer Research website: http://www.gamedevresearch.com/. 1. ALWAYS REGISTER WITH AT LEAST ONE AGENCY You cannot know of all the vacancies that exist in the marketplace. It is our job to know. We don’t promise to know every one, but we do know of 95% and more importantly, we know exactly who to get your resume or CV to. Don’t assume that all resumes or CV’s sent to a company find their way to the right person’s desk. 2. SELECT YOUR AGENCY CAREFULLY Who has given you a good service in the past? Which agencies have a good reputation and which ones have appalling reputations? Ask around. Study testimonials on site like LinkedIn. 3. BEWARE REGISTERING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES Candidates good at their jobs need only work with one agency (to help organise interviews for them). Candidates only average at their job should register with different agencies in different areas of expertise – they will need more help. Do NOT register with as many agencies as possible. Some companies reject resumes or CVs if received from more than one agency because they do not want to risk disputes with different agencies. Also individual recruitment consultants value the trust of exclusive relationships and will not spend as much time on candidates that they know have registered with multiple agencies. 4. PUT TOGETHER A PROFESSIONAL RESUME OR CV Speed isn’t everything in finding your next job. Even top artists can design adisappointing resume or CV. Get your agency to advise you on your resume or CV. They are probably writing resumes or CVs every day of the week and they know what makes a good one. You may only do it once every few years. 5. THINK ABOUT YOUR JOB HUNTING STRATEGY Think about what you realistically want from your next job. Apply for jobs that you stand a chance of getting! A senior artist job in one company may be just as prestigious and well paid as a lead artist in another company. Be flexible about the location that you want to work in. Don’t rule out relocating for the right job. This is expected more and more. 6. COMMUNICATE YOUR STRATEGY TO YOUR AGENT AND MAKE SURE THEY FOLLOW IT Discuss your strategy with your agent to make sure it is realistic. If it is, don’t let your agent send your resume or CV just anywhere. It may damage your credibility and could cost you your existing job! 7. KEEP A RECORD OF WHERE YOUR RESUME OR CV HAS BEEN SENT By all means allow your agent a free hand in selecting companies for you – only if you want your agent to have this freedom. Remember that you will get a bad reputation in the marketplace (as well as the agent) if you resume or CV goes to a company that already knows you or which you subsequently have to disappoint. 8. TALK REGULARLY WITH YOUR AGENT A good agent will always find time to talk to you. If they cannot take the call immediately, they should at least be able to return your call. The best agents are extremely busy and do not have the time for everyday chats, but they should be able to take a call every 2 weeks or so. Beware of agents that never return phone calls! 9. DONT TOLERATE POOR STANDARDS FROM A BAD AGENT! Find a good agent and develop the relationship with him or her. If you hit a serious problem, you can terminate your relationship with an agent at any time, provided that you let them know of this, preferably in writing. You are the principal and they are working for you! Most agents are professional and doing their best. But don’t tolerate bad practice or sloppy behavior. Your reputation within the marketplace is at stake. 10. DON’T PANIC! The economic climate is not good but it is improving slowly. There IS demand for game professionals provided you show a little flexibility in salary and location. Your time will come, so stay calm. A good agent will not stop working for you. You have someone looking after your interests. Work together and in 6 months time you will be wondering what all the fuss was about! |
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