Work Experience in Gaming

Lordhogo

With my Junior Cert looming over me my parents and I were recently talking about fourth year and how it can either be a boring and wasted year, or one of the best times in your life if you make the effort to actually do something. We got onto the topic of work experience and something really stuck in my head 'Do something your'e interested in'. So this is where you the boardies who have a passion for gaming come in ( you may have guessed what's coming next but bear with me).

For the last two years gaming has become possibly my biggest interest I have ever had and believe me there have been a lot. Wheter it be development, journalism, E-sports, history etc. almost every aspect that gaming has to offer I find fascinating.It has gotten to a point where when I put aside some time for gaming most of it is spent following news and forums etc. leaving very little time to actually play the games themselves.

Now, I am unsure just what is available in county Dublin so I thought it would be worthwhile asking here if there is some sort of gaming related business which offers work experience whatever that form may be.

Thanks for all your help.

RedXIV

Fortunately for you, you're asking at the right time. The game development industry in Ireland is really starting to get exciting with a host of indie companies springing up everywhere.

Depending on what you want to do and how much time you have to do it in, I would suggest getting in touch with the smaller guys first who will be able to get you far more involved in the game dev cycle than the likes of Activision Blizzard in Dublin.

Have a look at www.gamedevelopers.ie to see if you can get some more info, and after that its more about what aspects you want to get involved in. I know some of the indie studios would probably love someone to come along and beta test the hell out of some of their stuff for free just so they can get involved in the games industry, or there are a couple of gaming sites you could ask to submit a few articles to, and then there are a few other events that float around like the GAME exhibition happening in the science gallery in Dublin, coder dojos everywhere these days, and events like the games fléadh, Dare to be Digital and all other aspects of gaming. Ask the college courses also if you can sit in on a few classes and talk to the students as this may help give you a better idea of what you are looking to get involved in.

deathrider

Outside of working behind the counter in Gamestop or the games section of HMV, the only games company I can think of in Ireland is Bioware. They have a place here in Galway. No idea if they'd take on someone looking for workd exp or not, but it might be worth checking out. I believe that Popcap have a place in Dublin too, but I'm not 100% on that.

RedXIV

deathrider wrote: »

Outside of working behind the counter in Gamestop or the games section of HMV, the only games company I can think of in Ireland is Bioware. They have a place here in Galway. No idea if they'd take on someone looking for workd exp or not, but it might be worth checking out. I believe that Popcap have a place in Dublin too, but I'm not 100% on that.

Games companies currently in Ireland:

http://www.gamedevelopers.ie/companies/ wrote:

:: 2PaperDolls Game Developer
:: Affinity Tech Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: BatCat Games Game Developer
:: Beep Blip Games Game Developer
:: BitRabbit Game Developer, Tools/Middleware
:: BitSmith Game Developer
:: Brian Ledwidge Flynn Sound/Music
:: CanDo Interactive Game Developer, Tools/Middleware
:: Darkwater Studios Game Developer
:: Dean Valentine Sound/Music
:: DemonWare Tools/Middleware
:: Eirplay Games Game Developer, Localisation
:: Eyesodic Game Studios Game Developer
:: Fitchsounds Sound/Music
:: GALA Networks Europe Publisher/Distributor
:: Gametango Business/Legal Services
:: Havok Tools/Middleware
:: Icon Games Entertainment Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: Jolt Online Gaming (2008-2012) Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: Kevin Whyms Sound/Music
:: Keywords International Localisation
:: LK Shields Solicitors Business/Legal Services
:: Mason Hayes & Curran Business/Legal Services
:: McCann Fitzgerald Corporate Group Business/Legal Services
:: MW Studio Games Game Developer
:: Nevermind Games Game Developer
:: Omac Industries Game Developer, Tools/Middleware, Publisher/Distributor
:: Open Emotion Studios Game Developer
:: Pixel Wolf Studios Game Developer
:: PlayFirst Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: PopCap Games International Limited Game Developer, Localisation
:: Pufferfish games Game Developer
:: Purplenose Games Game Developer
:: Redwind Software Game Developer
:: SDL Localisation
:: Selatra Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor, Localisation
:: Simple Lifeforms Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: SuperFunPlay Games Game Developer
:: Tailteann Games Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor
:: Taxandlegal.ie Business/Legal Services
:: Tribal City Interactive Game Developer
:: Wee Man Studios Game Developer, Publisher/Distributor

deathrider

I'd like to draw attention to the words "I can think of"

Aka Ishur

RedXIV wrote: »

Games companies currently in Ireland..

Weird that big players like EA in galway, Zynga in Dublin, and Blizzard and Big Fish Games in Cork are not on that list.

Professey Chin

Aka Ishur wrote: »

Weird that big players like EA in galway, Zynga in Dublin, and Blizzard and Big Fish Games in Cork are not on that list.

Think the sites for Irish founded companies

VinLieger

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Think the sites for Irish founded companies

Not really gala and several others arent irish founded, its more a list of companies who are hiring game devolpment staff and not just customer support or pr which is all bioware and blizz ireland offices do, big fish are working on devlopment but more as a publisher and zynga require buckets of experience.

So for experience/internship work its a good list as you would get some good work.

Also as stated above its an ideal timeas theres a huge push to expand the irish game develpment scene atm and theres alot of money available for startups, who are always looking for grunt workers

Helix

Aka Ishur wrote: »

Weird that big players like EA in galway, Zynga in Dublin, and Blizzard and Big Fish Games in Cork are not on that list.

it tends to be support rather than development from bigger companies - so unless the guy is harbouring dreams of being a telephone tech support guy all his life, i doubt it's what he's looking for

Dave_The_Sheep

One job you might be able to get would be games testing. It's not particularly taxing, but has the advantage of not requiring a massive skillset other than patience, thoroughness and a methodical manner. I did it for a few months with Vivendi out in Eastpoint when I finished college waiting to get a "proper" job. I have no idea if they're still there, but games/localisation testing isn't the worst place to start.

If you speak any other languages reasonably well (not the norm for an Irish person, admittedly), it's a definite advantage (as in most professions).

RedXIV

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

One job you might be able to get would be games testing. It's not particularly taxing, but has the advantage of not requiring a massive skillset other than patience, thoroughness and a methodical manner. I did it for a few months with Vivendi out in Eastpoint when I finished college waiting to get a "proper" job. I have no idea if they're still there, but games/localisation testing isn't the worst place to start.

If you speak any other languages reasonably well (not the norm for an Irish person, admittedly), it's a definite advantage (as in most professions).

Unfortunately Vivendi only look for people fluent in foreign languages now (also former Vivendi employee )

Perhaps you could try Keywords Intl in Sandyford who also do localisation testing but do things like American English to British English and they also love short term contracts.

Gbear

If you were looking at a different side of it, isn't one of the big physics engine producers based in Ireland as well? Havok or something?

Edit: It's on the list:P

Lordhogo

Well I'm surprised so far with the amount of options I have on offer so thanks for all the help so far.

Of course with E3 happening as I speak I will be a little bit preoccupied for a while so hopefully by tomorrow when I get a little time to think about what to do I can tell you what the plan is.

gizmo

My two cents? If it's the development side of things you want to get into then forget about trying to get work experience in any of the above studios. Instead, sit down with your Year Head and talk to him about games and about their development, what's involved, what kind of things you'd need to learn etc... Then set yourself a task of learning something, I'd recommend XNA, within a specific time period with an eye to having a project completed in a set amount of time.

This would be way more beneficial for you than trying to get a couple of hours in a company where you wouldn't actually be doing anything and would set you quite nicely for 5th year when you're choosing your LC subjects and what you want to do.

RedXIV

gizmo wrote: »

My two cents? If it's the development side of things you want to get into then forget about trying to get work experience in any of the above studios. Instead, sit down with your Year Head and talk to him about games and about their development, what's involved, what kind of things you'd need to learn etc... Then set yourself a task of learning something, I'd recommend XNA, within a specific time period with an eye to having a project completed in a set amount of time.

This would be way more beneficial for you than trying to get a couple of hours in a company where you wouldn't actually be doing anything and would set you quite nicely for 5th year when you're choosing your LC subjects and what you want to do.

I agree with this up to a point. On the off chance your year head might not know whats involved, it may be worthwhile contacting either a college lecturer, industry professional or one of the new indie guys floating around to get their take on it. As you have such a wide range of disciplines, its a bit trickier to nail down what you should start working with but as said, this year would be the best year to dabble in bits of everything.

VinLieger

RedXIV wrote: »

I agree with this up to a point. On the off chance your year head might not know whats involved, it may be worthwhile contacting either a college lecturer, industry professional or one of the new indie guys floating around to get their take on it. As you have such a wide range of disciplines, its a bit trickier to nail down what you should start working with but as said, this year would be the best year to dabble in bits of everything.

This, i wouldnt have much faith in a guidance counselor having any clue about the games industry let alone a year head

gizmo

RedXIV wrote: »

I agree with this up to a point. On the off chance your year head might not know whats involved, it may be worthwhile contacting either a college lecturer, industry professional or one of the new indie guys floating around to get their take on it. As you have such a wide range of disciplines, its a bit trickier to nail down what you should start working with but as said, this year would be the best year to dabble in bits of everything.

Certainly agree in the context of figuring out what to do but the reason I said Year Head was because I'd imagine the school will be pushing the work experience element (regardless of whether it's actually beneficial) therefore they'd be the one to talk in order to get out of it.

RedXIV

gizmo wrote: »

Certainly agree in the context of figuring out what to do but the reason I said Year Head was because I'd imagine the school will be pushing the work experience element (regardless of whether it's actually beneficial) therefore they'd be the one to talk in order to get out of it.

Good point.

Just to give an example, I said I wanted to do game development in 4th year as well and my career guidance Councillor sent me computer programmer stuff, very generic and almost all VB form stuff.

They should be more up to date these days (since that was a ridiculously short 10 years ago) but I found that when you organise the stuff yourself, the teachers are usually more than happy to let you pursue what you like.

Lordhogo

With the J.C. starting tomorrow I wont be able to put any focus on this for the next two weeks but ideas are starting to form as to some of the things I can be doing throughout the year. The main aim is to try out as much as possible so that by Fifth Year I should have hammered down what I want to specialise in. This list of what I plan to begin once exams are over is fairly basic at the moment and is not definite so of course any and all advice is still quite necessary.

1. Write up a review for every newly bought game wheter it be a newly released triple A game or a four year old downloadable title that no one has ever heard of and post it onto boards for criticism. If possible I will look into seeing if I can get pieces published on whatever gaming websites will take it.

2. Post on the Irish game developers website for more detailed advice.

3.Invest in a capture card for youtube commentaries/walkthroughs.

4. E-mail some of the Dublin based companies about work experience. Also possibly look into testing as already stated for work over Summer/weekends.

5. Discuss with the career guidance counsellor about game development and look into teaching myself the basics of coding/development in my spare time.

Again this is really all about getting a taste of what I could do and will at times be hard to keep up with as I do have a lot of other optional pursuits I will be trying out as well and as again all advice greatly appreciated.

SeantheMan

There is a big difference in each field though, and I suggest you choose 1 to specialise in.

Writing articles is obviously more akin to Journalism. So if that were the route you wanted then you would probably do well to get a job with a newspaper or magazine to write articles and practice.
This in turn would help you develop your literary skills after which you can approach companies about writing articles about games etc.

The programming side is more technical , and you would probably do well to attempt learning some scripting languages during the summer , it's not for everyone.

Development can be more artistic ...., with creating 3d models, levels etc.
I'd advise you to maybe download some tools like Garrys Mod or Skyrims Development kit etc , and mess around with them.


The scope of the industry is huge, and by trying to get a little flavour of each in such a short time won't help really I feel.

I suggest you REALLY think of which avenue you have most interest in, and puruse that.
Journalism, commentary, development, project management, technical writing, storyboarding, level design, art and modelling etc

Best of luck anyways
And don't worry bout the JC, it doesn't affect your future in any way shape or form.....you're 4th year and LC can though.
It's something to keep your parents/teachers happy with your progress

pah