That's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe after grad school I can randomly apply to a job posting without any professional experience and get hired too...GrizzlerBorno said:ohh It's stories like these that make it seem sooo much easier than it actually must be to get into the Games Industry. Oh well, maybe I too will have that kind of luck? *Fingers crossed*
I'd honestly like to know if Turbine would have even looked twice at his work if he'd just been a fresh-out-of-college student, or a non-graduate, and produced *exactly the same content*, rather than being a degreed lawyer who'd spent years in a publishing house.Kwil said:Yeah.. all it took this guy was 8 yrs of post-secondary, a couple years doing what I assume was mostly boring as hell copyright and contract law at a book company, while in the meantime finding a wife who not only put up with the guys geeky habits but was supportive enough to point out a job opportunity that very likely paid less and was out of his certified skill-set because she knew he'd like it, and he'd been spending so much time training himself (on both game design and the material in question) in his spare time.GrizzlerBorno said:ohh It's stories like these that make it seem sooo much easier than it actually must be to get into the Games Industry. Oh well, maybe I too will have that kind of luck? *Fingers crossed*
Yeah.. that sounds easy.. sure it does. ...
Heh. I get your point though, it kind of glosses over the harder parts.
As someone who has done quite a bit of interviewing, yeah degree and previous job experience does mean a lot. Demonstrating talent usually isn't enough for me. I've hired some young inexperienced people before based off the talent they showed and they often times turned out to be mistakes. They were smart and talented...when they worked...which unfortunately wasn't very often or didn't get along well with others or some other issue that detracts from the talent they demonstrated.RvLeshrac said:I'd honestly like to know if Turbine would have even looked twice at his work if he'd just been a fresh-out-of-college student, or a non-graduate, and produced *exactly the same content*, rather than being a degreed lawyer who'd spent years in a publishing house.
Companies generally seem to value a degree and previous job seniority infinitely more than they value the things which produce good products and content, like demonstrated talent.
Given the long hours, culture of unpaid work and general drudgery of the computer game industry, I must say I don't envy him. I hope he enjoys his lack of free time, but I'm glad he's not me.Greg Tito said:One nerdy lawyer from Boston stumbled into the dream of a lifetime: designing quests for Lord of the Rings Online.
That's exactly my point. The paper doesn't necessarily mean anything, I've seen plenty of individuals who didn't even have the most tenuous grasp on the subject of their degree, and nor does the prior work.leviticusd said:As someone who has done quite a bit of interviewing, yeah degree and previous job experience does mean a lot. Demonstrating talent usually isn't enough for me. I've hired some young inexperienced people before based off the talent they showed and they often times turned out to be mistakes. They were smart and talented...when they worked...which unfortunately wasn't very often or didn't get along well with others or some other issue that detracts from the talent they demonstrated.RvLeshrac said:I'd honestly like to know if Turbine would have even looked twice at his work if he'd just been a fresh-out-of-college student, or a non-graduate, and produced *exactly the same content*, rather than being a degreed lawyer who'd spent years in a publishing house.
Companies generally seem to value a degree and previous job seniority infinitely more than they value the things which produce good products and content, like demonstrated talent.
Seeing someone who has put the work and years into getting through college and hold down a job for a few years goes along way. That's not to say they can't still be duds or you would take with with no real demonstrated knowledge/talent just because they have a degree, but I would take a proven worker with slightly less talent than a greenie with "potential" any day of the week.
[On-Topic] I've been playing this game since beta and even with the silly Shire (as Shamus made hilariously clear on this site) it's one of the most engaging MMO's I've been a part of. They take that great attitude to the forums as well which is nice. Elbow licking and handstand challenges in the office get shared with the forum....and there's always the Ghost Bear!