Which should I go for?
polycounter lvl 18
Before I start, just some quick background info. I got my first job in the game industry about a year and a half ago as a level designer and am still here. Second project finished a couple months ago, so am currently on my third. The second project's production was a huge fucking bitch. It was downright horrible. A lot of people on the team were on the verge of quitting, threatened to quit, or actually quit. I myself applied to a couple places and had a couple of interviews. I had an interview with this one company about...4 months ago and tonight, I got a call after work from that company, asking me if I was still interested in working for them. Well...a lot has changed since that interview. I'm still don't like the games I'm working on, but I've started to move up in title. I'm actually doing a lot of game design for this project, which is what I really want to do. I could probably be moved up to game designer for the next project.
Now, if I take the job at the other company, I'll be back in Vancouver, where I have good friends, be working on higher profile games, be paid more, and may be able to work my way onto their action game team. But, if I go, I'll probably have to start at a level designer position again, move from exciting Montreal to dull-city, and I'll be abandoning my team. For design, it's just me, the lead designer, and the guy that's doing the story. I'll end up totally fucking them over if I leave. But then, would the team or company show me the loyalty I would show by staying?
Arrrgghh! It's a tough decision. I'm going to get a phone call from them soon, so I'll ask a bunch of questions then, but I just want to hear some thoughts from other people.
Now, if I take the job at the other company, I'll be back in Vancouver, where I have good friends, be working on higher profile games, be paid more, and may be able to work my way onto their action game team. But, if I go, I'll probably have to start at a level designer position again, move from exciting Montreal to dull-city, and I'll be abandoning my team. For design, it's just me, the lead designer, and the guy that's doing the story. I'll end up totally fucking them over if I leave. But then, would the team or company show me the loyalty I would show by staying?
Arrrgghh! It's a tough decision. I'm going to get a phone call from them soon, so I'll ask a bunch of questions then, but I just want to hear some thoughts from other people.
Replies
maybe not immediately after starting there but after some time.... and like you said you'd be working on more high-profile titles which helps your CV. And I hear that vancouver is a really nice place to live.
I say go for it (vancouver). finish your project in montreal if you can. if you cant.....oh well.
Higher profile games would be a really good thing, but it's about which holds more value: be a game designer sooner while working on crummy games or spend longer as a level designer but work on bigger name titles.
If you're a good level designer who has demonstratable game design skills, then very likely you new employer will recognize that also. If someone asks you about your goals in an interview, feel free to discuss that. A good employer WANTS it's employees to grow, develop and add more value and depth to the company.
Another thing to weigh is the stability of both employers. Who is likely to keep you employed?
Mc Donalds is always hiring...
Dude I would go.
You say you're working on games you don't like anyway, i don't see how helping designing them is gonna be more fun.
Most companies will always appreciate your input in the design process, how much you get involved depends on you.
Better move now and start working your way up at a new place than having to do it in 5 years.
Yeah, designing games I don't like wouldn't be the most fun thing in the world, but I would finally be a game designer. To be there, I'm kinda willing to go through shit. But also, I really like the people at this company, which brings me to my next problem. Thinking about abandoning the team makes me feel like shit. I'm friends with these people, and I'm the only level designer, possibly for the whole project. I'm so integrated into the project, since I'm proposing a bunch of tools and production saving methods and crap, working with the programmers about how the hero will handle, taking charge of the scripting language, fleshed out all the gameplay mechanics, and yadda yadda yadda. I know that someone else can be brought up to speed about everything, but it's probably gonna take a while. I just don't like the idea of fucking these people over.
"I am not indispensible in my current job."
"I can be replaced (and probably more easily than I think)."
"I respect and like my coworkers. They are competent professionals who can take up some of my workload until the company fills my position."
"By bettering my own career and moving on, I create a place in the game industry for someone else who would kill to get the job I have now."
btw, no one even blinked in my direction until i shipped a game that was warmly recieved. it's true, you're only as marketable as your lasted shipped title.
-R
For what I have read in your post I do think you're if not indispensable, quite important for the company. And yep, I know they'll loose a bit for the need of getting someone else as qualified as you. But in that country, I doubt there's a real problem.Game companies close and open constantly, and you're often left alone in the rain. Experienced that company falling several times. So, go for the bucks and better situation in that new job.
About embarrassment, no reason for it. Your mates there must understand one has to improve his own situation, and same that you'd be fired under certain circumstances, you can also choose what is better for you. If they get upset, not so good friends, then. The boss is allways another stuff, but I wouldn't worry about that...
Is like any other kind of job. You try to improve, you work well while in a company, you produce a lot of benefit (as I read u've been doing)for the company, and keep working there while it keeps suiting you. But you don't have any kind of slavery contract for x years, imho.
Don't feel any kind of embarrasment for opening this thread.
Money isn't really a huge factor for me. While more money is nice, I'd rather be working on good games, in good conditions, with good people. I didn't think much about company stability, either, since both are quite stable for their own reasons. Also, it wasn't so much the current situation that was a factor, but the potential of the company and if they were on the track to getting there.