Game Studios In Vancouver

StephenVyas

Hello!
Anyone know how the gaming industry in Vancouver, B.c. is doing- Has there been more job stability in the studios than before, or would you say it's about the same?

Any fun studios hiring atm??

-Steve

TWilson

Hey Steve!

It's not great. Purse strings are tight and there are a lot of people looking for work.

There are a few lucky studios who are hiring though. They get to choose carefully.

If you're looking to get in to a studio right now the best thing you can do imo is be undeniably good. So make a rad reel. Show mock gameplay or real gameplay that you're proud of.

My friend Sota hasn't had much trouble finding work as an animator even during these tough times. So I'd copy him personally

PixelMasher

Well I know its tough for artists right now with tons of layoffs, but like Tyler said a good portfolio should shine through and some of the best talent has probably been snapped up/poached already. Studios seem to be trying to cut costs all over the place in reaction to this "waaaah bad economy".

I think it will probably pick up rapidly towards the summer as studios begin to crunch towards the holiday releases.

Tyler: yea Sota is dope man, I was always slinking into their office when he and Jen
were working with us at BSG to see the cool stuff they were animating.

StephenVyas

Hey Tyler! Ya, sounds like things are still tight in vancouver and I'm not too too surprised. Thanks for the advice and making a rad reel like Sota would be a lot of fun..Man... Sota is a very talented animator.. Wow!!

Thanks PixelMasher! Ya, most of the best talent has probably been snapped up by the companies that are able to afford it and I'd like to see the economy pick up by summer as well. It must be tough on most companies that are trying to pinch their pennies and make it go as far as p ossible.

It's always good to hear what's going on in the industry, it's been awhile since I've been in it.

JacqueChoi

I left Vancouver a few years ago.

The kinds of opportunities I was sacrificing just wasn't worth it at that point in my career or my life. I find a LOT of Vancouverites pass up working on a AAA title, to work for a crappy startup with a shakey future, just to STAY in Vancity (I had also been guilty of that).

I'd highly recommend checking out opportunities Seattle. It's really only a 2hour drive to the lower mainland, and their development community dosen't have that ELEPHANT in the room (EA)


Anyways, check out www.gamedevmap.com


Although being an animator, I'd imagine you have ample opportunity to work in film as well.

Hebs

I agree with you jox,
lots of people here give up better opportunities elsewhere just to stay in a city that they like , but to some people it counts for everything.
I dont care if its the greatest game/movie ever but i dont want to work there if its at the bottom of the ocean, but to each his own there is people that are total opposite and just want to get on better projects and i can definately see the appeal in that too.

Going back to the original post, vancouver has been suffering lately with all the layoffs and its going to take a while to fully recover from that im sure, but yeah the good guys will never have problem getting in somewhere.
I guess like tyler said thats pretty much the only way these days to feel somewhat safe in this industry.

Rwolf

Tried a majority of film and games studios, nothing is really going on in terms of hiring. Other than stated, only other good chance if you have good ties to within the industry that are just starting to look.

Also try http://www.cgvancouver.com/ it lists vfx houses too.

TWilson

One of my best fiends just left Vancouver to Japan to work for Grasshopper. He's gone to find his dream project. Pretty cool. Bit of an ordeal. I wish the old men running the world would let us do these kind of things when we're young. I would have worked all over the place. I'm not that old yet but I'm more and more rooted in Vancouver ever day.

Microneezia

Hey, I just read this article, seems relevant... Grasshopper and all...

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/592/working_in_.php?page=1

I plan to work in japan about 2yrs from now if my portfolio ever gets better... this reason stated by the author is basically exactly how i feel about japan's game development scene.

"....[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]there's still a lot of creative development going on. Games still get published here that would garner no publisher interest in the West"[/FONT]