Interview Question: What Games Are You Playing

CandyStripes05

I'm about to apply for a job and one of the questions asked is

"What games are you currently playing?"

other then hopefully being able to list a game or two from that studio is there anything that should be said or explained? What if you have played there game but never really got into it?

the question is really general and is throwing me off for some reason

Pancakes

If I were answering that question, I'd mention a couple of table top games. That way they'd think I was a hardcore aficionado who functions well in social environments.

Then I'd try to pick a few titles that represent the best of some aspect of game development:

Dragon Age: Inquisition, Borderlands 2: Writing, Characters
Some Super Mario Game on Handheld: Gameplay, Game Design
Some off the wall indy game: To demonstrate my passion for games.

Lamont

I don`t think you have to list a game they worked on, might backfire on you.

Be honest, you`re over-thinking it.

Jeff Parrott

+1 Lamont. Yeah just be honest. That's usually the best approach with interview questions.

ysalex

Pancakes wrote: »

If I were answering that question, I'd mention a couple of table top games. That way they'd think I was a hardcore aficionado who functions well in social environments.

Then I'd try to pick a few titles that represent the best of some aspect of game development:

Dragon Age: Inquisition, Borderlands 2: Writing, Characters
Some Super Mario Game on Handheld: Gameplay, Game Design
Some off the wall indy game: To demonstrate my passion for games.

Damn this is so contrived and overthought.

Just be honest. And since you're in an interview try to avoid being negative. If you're gonna say something about the game, say "I really enjoyed ______ about it." Not "I hated....".

Neox

Pancakes wrote: »

If I were answering that question, I'd mention a couple of table top games. That way they'd think I was a hardcore aficionado who functions well in social environments.

Then I'd try to pick a few titles that represent the best of some aspect of game development:

Dragon Age: Inquisition, Borderlands 2: Writing, Characters
Some Super Mario Game on Handheld: Gameplay, Game Design
Some off the wall indy game: To demonstrate my passion for games.

so weird

CandyStripes05

thanks guys

[HP]

Be honest? Just tell them the games that you're playing them, lol.

They're just trying to get a sense for what games you like.

teaandcigarettes

Yeah, you're thinking too much about this. If someone asks you what games you enjoy, just straight up tell them. Chances are this is not some loaded trick question.

Shiniku

When asked what games you are playing, tell them what games you're playing. C'mon.

beefaroni

Hah I agree with the "just say what you're playing".

The number one piece of advice I've heard over and over again when I was asking for interview advice is "DON'T LIE!!"

Seriously. Trying to play mind games with the interviewer is I duno.. Just list what you like to play. If the interviewer likes the same games, you can have a actual discussion about what you like and what you don't like.

There have been multiple times where the interviewer(s) have asked me to add what I liked/did not like about a game I listed. Trying to bullshit some answers would have led me into some hot water quick.

Edit: Take a listen to this, there is some great info here about interviews. It is definitely my favorite podcast for pure games industry information.

http://gim.acanaday.com/?p=170

CandyStripes05

I was never planning on lieing, I was more curious if they wanted more out of an answer

ZacD

Interview questions can often just be a conversation starter, maybe they just want to see more of your personality or to get to know you better, see how you'll interact with the rest of the time.

Steve Schulze

They will likely ask you why you like the games that you list, so it'd be worth having a bit of a think about some moderately intelligent analysis. If you're going for an art position, maybe pick out a few things that were particularly nice on either an artistic or technical level.

Autocon

The worst thing to do in an interview is to lie.

Justin Meisse

I tell the truth "I'm kind of falling out of games, I mostly play weird indie games now" hasn't been a problem

Add3r

I work at a studio that worked on Call of Duty, and when I interviewed and did a post hire type biography thing, I listed Battlefield as one of my favorite games knowing that (was being brutally honest). Just saying, everyone thought it was more amusing/honest than anything. Guess that could definitely go both ways. +1 to everything everyone else said.

We are all gamers too, and most play competitor's games in both ways to find out what others are doing and simply because they're also awesome.

ZacD

Justin Meisse wrote: »

I tell the truth "I'm kind of falling out of games, I mostly play weird indie games now" hasn't been a problem

I don't see that being an issue unless it's something like "I exclusively play Japanese dating sims"

AtticusMars

ZacD wrote: »

I don't see that being an issue unless it's something like "I exclusively play Japanese dating sims"

Shit, do you think the reason why studios won't hire me is because I only play Katawa Shoujo?

Meloncov

I suspect the question is mostly to break the ice, and perhaps get you to chat less formally so they can get a feel for your personality. I doubt there's one right answer.