What to do?!

Sharvo

Hey all,

I graduated last year from an Animation course and have had a bit of experiance in preschool animation stuff and i am now currently a runner in London for a post production company. But yesterday i got an email from a company 4hours a way to work on an upcoming game, i had an interview them last year and they have just got back to me, i know i will love it and have always wanted to work for them (great for my portfolio and the chance to move up), the work is good, the location will be good (will need to relocate) and the money is good!
Work found out and have now said that they will get me in the 3d department to work on commercials by the end of march, which will also be great for my portfolio nice and varied work, location is spot on as my girlfriend is coming home from uni after 3 years and working locally and our relationship is for the long run, but i dont know what the salary will be like.

Its such a tough decision for me and would just like some advice from you as to what you would do?! Games have always excited me, but i just feel there is more job security at the place i am at, which is what i need if i am starting to think of setling down with my girlfriend as we will be looking to get a house.

Thanks

Stromberg90

You just graduated and want to settle down? o.O

But seriously tough, it's hard to tell because everyone has different priority's and plans on what they want there life to be like.
I for example will put career over anything, if I got a game job I would move asap.
And others may want to start a family not rush into things, be a bit more reluctant to move.

I know this reply is not of great help, but I can't help you take that choice

d1ver

If personal experience is of any indication, security traded for dreams is not a road to happiness. "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish".

But it's your call buddy.

ParoXum

Location's good, pay's good, what are you waiting for seriously. If you truly want to move, drop your girlfriend.:poly142:

Tom Ellis

Very tough decision I agree, but ultimately it's going to come down to one simple deciding factor;

'What do you want to do'.

I don't mean, do you want to work in games / film. I mean, as you say, both have their pro's and cons. If I'm honest, I'd take job security and personal/social happiness over a slightly more attractive job any day. Remember a job for some people is just that, a job. There are those who live for their job and would do anything it takes to get it, relocate, leave families, partners etc, but some people prefer to take it on the chin that they might not be working a dream job, but then benefit from a solid, stable job, with a comfortable family. Of course there are also those lucky swines who have both

Also remember that really, no job is 'secure' at the moment as we all know. While the games industry might be struggling in places, there are also plenty of companies hiring lots of people, and also many other industries that are cutting staff just as much, we just don't hear about it because it might not be in an area we're interested in.

Good luck!

EDIT: Also check out this thread for a similar situation, lots of good, bad, and emo replies in there but might help put a new perspective on thins.

Saman

I think you also should take what you like doing into consideration. I've worked in commercials too(also in London) but I found game art to be more creatively challenging(at least over the commercial projects I worked on). Most of the commercials I worked on consisted of match-moving, lighting and modeling of shampoo bottles and the likes. I'm not saying these kind of projects are boring but if the game art you'll be doing at the other company sounds more fun then you should go for the game company.

JustinPunio

You write that you know you will love games and it has always excited you. All you say about your current work is it'll be nice and varied... ^^ Maybe think about which opportunity would you most regret passing on?

Andreas

Tom Ellis

JustinPunio wrote: »

You write that you know you will love games and it has always excited you. All you say about your current work is it'll be nice and varied... ^^ Maybe think about which opportunity would you most regret passing on?

He also writes he has a girlfriend, who I assume he loves and she always excites him (I would hope )

crazyfingers

Really not the kind of decision anyone here can help you with. You know the variables more than we do (how much are they willing to pay? how smoking hot is your GF?). I kid but the devil's in the details, only you can really plan your life and know what you want, but the fact you posted this kinda shows you really can't decide or don't have faith in your own decisions, this almost makes me want to say go for it, live a little and explore life a bit, learn from your mistakes and grow.

40 years down the line do you want to be sitting around regretting not having lived a more exciting life? Or will you regret that cute girl you let slip away? Either path could have regrets, or none at all. You gotta decide for yourself man.

Tom Ellis

crazyfingers wrote: »

40 years down the line do you want to be sitting around regretting not having lived a more exciting life?

What is it with people here just associating exciting/wonderful/mind-blowing lives only with jobs in the game industry?

Can the OP not possibly live an exciting life if he chooses the TV job? Who knows what'll happen if he goes with the games job, maybe he'll have to work 80 hour weeks, live in a slum of a box for an apartment and walk 40 minutes to work, and not wanna do anything but sleep in his spare time... whereas staying put in the TV job might allow holidays across the world, promotion to their transatlantic office (if such a thing exists) or receiving awards at award shows. The same could indeed happen with the games company.

As CrazyFingers pointed out, these are the variables that only you can know, but I really dislike the attitude on here where the only way to a happy life is working in the games industry and every other choice is a 'cop-out' or a 'boring, dull lifestyle choice'.... as I mentioned before, there is, you know, life outside of a job. For some of us anyway.

d1ver

creationtwentytwo wrote: »

as I mentioned before, there is, you know, life outside of a job. For some of us anyway.

poor bastards.

on a serious note, though, it has to be a dream job or a road in that direction, for it to be worth it. And a "dream job" is what everyone is implying I think.

crazyfingers

...well that sorta came out of nowhere, Creation... this is a site for game art enthusiasts. The OP said himself, "Games have always excited me". Frankly the random assertion that many people here "don't have lies" because they want a game art job is a bit insulting.

How you think this job offer would likely not be exciting is also dumbfounding but I'm not looking to derail this thread. Already said what i wanted to say, this job certainly could be an exciting new experience for an artist who may want a change of pace.

Edit:
I've had other jobs, parked cars, delivered pizzas, bussed tables, etc. etc. Making video games IS a pretty frickin' awesome job (did QA, loved it). But hey that's just my own take on it, like I said before everyone has to weigh what they think they may want and what will make them happy.

Tom Ellis

crazyfingers wrote: »

...well that sorta came out of nowhere, Creation... this is a site for game art enthusiasts. The OP said himself, "Games have always excited me".

How you think this job offer would likely not be exciting is a bit dumbfounding but I'm not looking to derail this thread. Already said what i wanted to say, but this job certainly could be an exciting new experience for an artist who may want a change of pace.

Yeah I came across as more of an ass than I intended to.

I'm not saying the games job wouldn't be exciting purely by definition, it could easily be infinitely more exciting than the other job. What I'm saying is that the games job doesn't necessarily guarantee an exciting life, nor does the current job immediately mean a boring and subdued life. Or vice versa.

ceebee

Most of the game companies I've toured have been WAY more fun than any post production companies I've been to.

After being exposed to the film and games industry I have to say if I had an offer at the best game studio and the best film studio, I'd go with games. Everybody in film seems either really serious or completely miserable. They might have a better paycheck but I don't think that should be a deciding factor.

(I am not referring to ALL film industry employees, just the ones I am friends with)

Artifice

I know I'm in the minority here, but I can't imagine enjoying being a production artist of any kind. Years of doing graphic design showed me how much I dislike making someone else's art. I'd rather work a job I like and get to come home to do the art I want than be lashed to a desk all day making something someone else designed. At that point, it's just going through the motions, using the tools. I'd rather be an amateur painter than a professional illustrator, if you will.

I'm not saying either choice is right or wrong, just that there's more than one way to enjoy this stuff.

notman

It depends on how you feel about your current employer. What bothers me, is they didn't offer you this position until you were leaving, or at least, that's how it sounds. Why didn't they do this sooner? I would also get pay details if you stay.

As for the GF, is it possible for her to find a job near the new job? (Since it sounds like she hasn't started hers yet) Or, maybe you can live somewhere in the middle, so it's only an hour drive to work, and a little longer to see your lady? Honestly, I'd hate to make a decision based on a GF, only to break up with her later (if that were to happen). But, of course, there is the flip side, where you could move to the new job, and it stresses the relationship too much and causes a breakup.

In the end, we can only offer up ideas. Like others said, you have to make the decision that's right for you, since we aren't you and don't know all the details. My biggest recommendation is to try being creative. Don't limit your options, and think of ways you may be able to get the new job, and keep the GF. I sense that you want the new job more than your old job.

Sharvo

Tank you all for the comments and advice and it is pretty much a YOU situation, the GF and i are for the long term and i cant really see us breaking up we have had some bad times at the beginning but all is good now. She is becoming a teacher! She knows how much he games company means to me its been a long wait! Its the dream job!

As for the work i agree that games will be more exciting than a post production and i know i will enjoy it and proberbly a lot more than at a post house, as it will be commercial after commercial at the moment but i dont want to be here the rest of my life. The games would be a steeping stone to hopefully allow me to get more work nearer home!

I will see what work have to offer in terms of a contract, but yeah they have spoken before about me joining the team, but will have to see. I will post you my answer wants i have made a decision, but thanks once again for your time!

Sharvo

Well the post production company decided that they may not have work and finding out more about the games job, it was hard to resist what i will be doing....

So i can officially say from next Monday i will be a games artist my girlfriend will be moving up with me once she has finished her degree, so all is amazing right now.

Thanks again with all your comments and i hope to show the work when i can prob wont be till next year but oh well, personal projects it is

Tom Ellis

Congrats! She's a keeper

Great news man, best of both worlds. Good luck and enjoy!

crazyfingers

Great to hear man! Life is good

Del

~ Tough call. Scientifically it's neither here nor there. By keeping both, you've won at life.

ceebee

(100% AWESOME)

Ruz

perosnally I find games industry more attractive than working in post production/ advertising. You actually get more time to finish stuff in games and they treat you like a semi human at times.
Also what would you rather be working on, a nappy advert or some exciting new game?

I bet you work at either Nexus or Pipedreams:)

glottis8

Having worked for both industries I can tell you this. If you like stability and salaries take the video game job. That is if you find that the company is stable, and that they have released some games and that their bank account is not depleted. That the studio is filled with people that you want to work with and spend your week around. Your experience will be more gratifying. If you like contract work that pays well, but after a job you might have to look for another job. Then take the Movie place. Working contract builds your resume, but you always have some dry periods of time where there is no work. So have that in mind. If you work contract you do get paid overtime, and it's big money! But i mean, it just depends what you want to do with your life right now.

Personally, i love the video game industry, and I would not go back into Previs or Movie CG.

scotthomer

Im lucky that my girlfriend has been supportive over the last 2 years. This being said, if she tried to make me choose between Games Art and the relationship, there wouldn't be a choice in my eyes. If you turn down the dream job for your girlfriend, you may end up resenting her, and then the relationship will inevitably break down.

EDIT. Im glad you made the right choice buddy, best of luck with the job. + you've overcome a pretty major hurdle in the relationship, obviously a keeper.