Re:Game Job: Getting a job in the game industry simulator
by TimTimTim on Tuesday July 08, 2014 @05:59AM
(#8003719)
As a programmer working in games. I am afraid that what you say about getting into being hard without connections just isn't true. It is something I see written about a lot. The truth is that if you are a good programmer, comfortable working in C++ and can work in a team you will have no problem getting a job in games, connections or not. In fact, that is how most people I know in games got into games, myself included.
There are problems of exploitation of the workers but this isnt through people scared of getting work, I think everyone with a few years in the games industry knows they have the skills that would help them get another programming job without too much hassle. The problem is that people are passionate and that is being exploited in some places. The trick is find the good games companies and stand your ground on salary and working hours, admittedly this is probably easier in the UK than the US.
The problem with game dev is the same as Hollywood, professional music, and popular pro athletics, namely that there are waaaaaay more people who aspire to it than there are jobs. As a result, there's an extreme hockey stick distribution for success and a lot of exploitative labor practices like unpaid internships, long hours, unusually low pay, etc.
Connections seem to count for more in narrowly gated fields too. It probably has something to do with the number of top insiders being close to the Dunbar number, causing them to form a close-knit insular club of mutual back-scratchers. All the insiders know all the other insiders. Not an insider? Go home.