Post on 30-May-2018
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Improving TheOdds
Developer DevelopmentFinal Session
Chris DeLeon
Nov. 2, 2006
www.chrisdeleon.com
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EA Founder Bing GordonSays
What I did well:
Do-ers Profile
Moonlighting
Pattern of Achievement
Explored
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EA Founder Bing GordonSays
What I would have done differently:
Recruit a Godfather
Big testable goals
Max learning ops
More tech courses
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EA Founder Bing GordonSays
Pick opportunity, not salary.
If you have a job, and some basic fiscal responsibility:
In 3 years youll have enough money.
In 5 years you might have more thanyou know what to do with.
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Meet Jill Donald
Development Director, BFME2 expansion pack
BS in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon
With EA for 7 years
Has been an Executive Assistant, AssistantProducer, Associate Producer, Design DD andDD in that time
Worked at Maxis, EA Redwood Shores, EA
Pacific and EALA Started knowing nothing about the
videogames industry
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Where to find Jill
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A note from Jill
If you love videogames, there is
a career path that will use your
talents, whatever they are.
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Lines of Work
Engineers: User Interface, Audio, AI, Build, Gameplay,Tools, Rendering, Networking
Art: Modelers, Texturers, Lighters, Effects Artists,
Animators, Concept Artists, 2D Artists
Design: Level, AI, User Interface, Game Balance
Audio: Audio Technician, Musician
Management: Producer, Development Director
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Other jobs in the industry
Human Resources, Recruiting, Customer Service,Community Relations, Marketing, Sales, LicensorRelations, Community Management, Finance,Payroll, Accounts Receivable, Stock
Administration, Localization Manager, LocalizationEngineer, Translators, Legal, Licensing,Playtesting, QA Management, QA Engineering,Bug Database Administration, Manual writers,
Story writers, IT, Mastering Lab, CompatibilityTesting, Cinematics, Video Editors, PublicRelations, Voice Director, Motion Capture Director
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From the Others
Good grades are important. They
let me know whos able to do the
work that wont be fun.
-Ian DavisMad Doc Games
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From the Others
Help from Shinys David Perry:
http://www.dperry.com
Go to Jobs section, then Advice,followed by Job Hunting Sites
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From Me #1
Create games. Now.
Finaling and battling deadlines on
diverse teams = strong experienceTheres no better teacher than
necessity, as found in application
Nothing says I can louder than
Time and time again: I did.
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From Me #2
Keep yourself broadly educated
Keep playing games, esp. the hits
Find books on game development
Read well-known fiction books,
watch noteworthy movies
Explore skills outside of game
making (ski, play instrument, paint)
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From Me #3
Seek an internship
Attend CMU job fairs
Keep the resume up to date
Ask career center for help
Apply broadly think college appsThe best positions may be gone by
early/mid-Spring!
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From Me #4
Network proactively
Go to hear guest speakers!
Introduce yourself afterwards!Attend the Game Developers
Conference in the Spring
Get to know others in GCS: on
other projects, the officers, me
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From Me #5
Aim to be the best at something
Being good at many things helps
But people will be hired for doingone particular line of work (even if
they can deviate a bit on the job)
No matter what youre the best at:
communication skill is still essential!
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From Me
1. Create games. Now.
2. Keep yourself broadly educated
3. Seek an internship
4. Network proactively
5. Aim to be the best at something
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Any Questions?