:D "After carefully reviewing [...] we regret to inform you [...]" bla :D Hey, at least this time around I actually got a "no" as an answer. Last time back in January '11 they didn't even respond.
I guess they are looking for people more talented in SC2-stuff, I'm still very newbie... I also don't have a working permit (and I heard Blizzard doesn't hand them out themselves), i also don't know any real scripting/programming language and maybe my application wasn't "american" enough. It would be nice to know what exactly I can do to improve their view on me. What do you guys think? Share some private experience with gaming industry experience :D
I'm either at or ahead of where you are now and I still have a few years to go before I even think about submitting an application into any gaming company. I'd go to college, get a good education. I'd also work more on programming, that'll help tons. Next I would see about getting an internship to blizzard first. Then if they like you enough, they'll think a little more about you.
Lack of US work authorization is probably enough to hold you back by itself, no matter how good you are in other ways.
I've got a buddy in europe who does a lot of modding. He's been trying to break into development in the US for a while,and it's proven to be largely impossible because nobody in the industry will offer a work visa for an entry level position. These days with all the border security nonsense, even senior developer positions often won't come with visa assistance.
You don't really need to be a programmer to be a developer (though it doesn't hurt), so that's probably a more minor concern. I can't really comment on anything else as I haven't played your maps yet (but I've heard great things!).
The only other suggestion I can offer, after looking at your portfolio, is that it really needs to do more to show off your "design" skills. All I see on that page are pretty screenshots. They look amazing, but they don't tell me anything about the overall layout of your levels, how they flow, where the key points of interest are, etc... I could probably get that by playing them, but assuming I don't have time, your best bet would be to make that more easily apparent.
I'd suggest doing either a short video (2-3 mins) giving a quick overview of one of your levels and its gameplay, or an overhead drawing (in photoshop or something) that's easy to read and understand. It also helps to point out why you made the decisions you did, and to talk about any problems you encountered and how you solved them.
Overall it seems like you're really passionate about this sort of thing. I hope it eventually works out for you! :)
Well, from looking at your portfolio, I couldn't see anything that referenced or pointed to:
"A minimum of 5 years game design experience including lead design experience on a shipped product"
So I'm going to say that was probably one of the major points. Blizzard's probably not the easiest company to get into if you're trying to break into the game-design industry, which you seem to be.
To get a lead position, you need a LOT of credentials. Basically you've got to be a professional to get the professional position. What you're probably looking for is an entry level position, especially if you're new to the industry and trying to get your foot in the door.
Mod experience is good to have, but it doesn't replace industry experience by any means.
You guys are confusing something. I didn't apply for "Lead Campaign Designer", I applied for "Level Designer" (and Associate Level Designer 8 months ago). I was informed that my application was declined as soon as that jobpost was taken down.
@yukaboy I'm not sure if that is visible form just the portfolio but the Settlers 7 stuff I worked on was an internship for a game company. My WC3 stuff got me that internship. They had offered me an Associate position but I declined due to conflcits with my night school. In the last 7 months I've also done PR helper stuff for Ubisoft. I'll start studying media informatics in October. Of course it's all about getting bigger, better and badder for the future. Learning never stops.
You guys are confusing something. I didn't apply for "Lead Campaign Designer", I applied for "Level Designer" (and Associate Level Designer 8 months ago).
No. I get that. That's why I said lack of a visa disqualifies you for any US studio unless it's a higher up position.
Quote:
I'm not sure if that is visible form just the portfolio but the Settlers 7 stuff I worked on was an internship for a game company. My WC3 stuff got me that internship. They had offered me an Associate position but I declined due to conflcits with my night school.
If I was eating cereal, I would've just spit it out in amazement. Why?
@Chiquihuite That "you guys are confusing something"-post wasn't about you Chiquihuite. Your post was very good and interesting.
I didn't accept the position for two reasons. 1. I had used up all of my leave days for class tests. The night school got difficult to a point were it was only theoretically possible to get a good degree while working full time (working part time is not an option for the company-understandably). I would rather do one thing right than two things wrong. Besides, school ends eventually, a job doesn't until you get retired.
2. level designers aren't treated very well: Pay is bad and they are usually the first to being let go once a project is finished. The time period between polishing the final stages of a map of Project A and starting the first designs on Project B is too long; DLCs don't help enough. A single (lead) level designer is enough during that time.
Bonus reason: I stay in contact with the people working there (visiting them from time to time) so when the time is right I have good chances of being rehired.
@ Wacclian321 My current portfolio includes one finished map and one demo map. Both are part of a larger campaign based on a blizzard novel. I plan to finish a map every 6 to 9 months. 7 maps total. (had some stress issues during wc3; don't want to repeat that so I'm taking my sweet time). I update the portfolio and reapply whenever a new map is finished and blizzard is looking for designers.
All in all, it is a great job, but in germany, level design isn't big enough to keep a family well fed. You need to push yourself to become a game designer (forget game design degrees from game academies. Employers know its shit, students only learn that after graduating. It's much better to have a portfolio based on modding). Better: programmer (best pay) or artists (relatively secure position).
Blizzard actually hires modders that make really great custom maps. So make something even better than sc2 in the editor.... Get their attention :D
I think to get into Blizzard using an internship as experience would require a map thats popularity is legendary... like DOTA. Not some short campaigns and not even a map thats all the rage for a little while on Bnet before dying.
Your problem is, Outsider, the same as mine. We're in Germany. One of the former Blizz guys that now works at Crytek basically told it to me like this: You need at LEAST 5 years of actual work experience in your field with 2-3 AAA games shipped for them to even consider hiring you. Reason is, if they wanna help you getting a work visa, they gotta prove somehow that they can not get someone of your skill level in the US.
So, yeah. That's why. Try something closer to home, I'd guess ;)
I think to get into Blizzard using an internship as experience would require a map thats popularity is legendary... like DOTA. Not some short campaigns and not even a map thats all the rage for a little while on Bnet before dying.
There is the guy who made Skibi's Castle Defense. Another made Azure Tower Defense and a campaign whose name I don't remember. I also heard they hired the guy who made the Diablo 3 Warcraft mod. I'm nor sure about the Diablo guy but all others were hired during the WC3 era. Now I'm sure Blizzard is looking for experts on SC2. I strongly believe there are talented people on this forum who could get a job within Blizzard but don't quite believe it or have other plans.
Of course we can't really know what else they had in their portfolio or skills.
I think to get into Blizzard using an internship as experience would require a map thats popularity is legendary... like DOTA. Not some short campaigns and not even a map thats all the rage for a little while on Bnet before dying.
Popularity is not a requirement nor will a certain amount of popularity mean you get a job at Blizzard.
Imagine you would make an epic campaign map that has the same quality as the ones from Blizzard, it can be really fun but you will never play it more then once. Also the Blizzard custom maps are made by Blizzard people who got a job there. However their maps don't have crazy popularities.
On the other hand if you make a super popular map but your map making skills are lacking then it means they will have someone who can't do any of the actual work. Also there is a chance that your next idea might not be as good as your previous one which means they can't really use you at all.
Of course this is just my opinion as an outsider so feel free to reject it.
I had applied about 3 months with this (and some more): http://outsiderxe.blogspot.com/ as a Level Designer.
:D "After carefully reviewing [...] we regret to inform you [...]" bla :D Hey, at least this time around I actually got a "no" as an answer. Last time back in January '11 they didn't even respond.
I guess they are looking for people more talented in SC2-stuff, I'm still very newbie... I also don't have a working permit (and I heard Blizzard doesn't hand them out themselves), i also don't know any real scripting/programming language and maybe my application wasn't "american" enough. It would be nice to know what exactly I can do to improve their view on me. What do you guys think? Share some private experience with gaming industry experience :D
I'm either at or ahead of where you are now and I still have a few years to go before I even think about submitting an application into any gaming company. I'd go to college, get a good education. I'd also work more on programming, that'll help tons. Next I would see about getting an internship to blizzard first. Then if they like you enough, they'll think a little more about you.
Lack of US work authorization is probably enough to hold you back by itself, no matter how good you are in other ways.
I've got a buddy in europe who does a lot of modding. He's been trying to break into development in the US for a while,and it's proven to be largely impossible because nobody in the industry will offer a work visa for an entry level position. These days with all the border security nonsense, even senior developer positions often won't come with visa assistance.
You don't really need to be a programmer to be a developer (though it doesn't hurt), so that's probably a more minor concern. I can't really comment on anything else as I haven't played your maps yet (but I've heard great things!).
The only other suggestion I can offer, after looking at your portfolio, is that it really needs to do more to show off your "design" skills. All I see on that page are pretty screenshots. They look amazing, but they don't tell me anything about the overall layout of your levels, how they flow, where the key points of interest are, etc... I could probably get that by playing them, but assuming I don't have time, your best bet would be to make that more easily apparent.
I'd suggest doing either a short video (2-3 mins) giving a quick overview of one of your levels and its gameplay, or an overhead drawing (in photoshop or something) that's easy to read and understand. It also helps to point out why you made the decisions you did, and to talk about any problems you encountered and how you solved them.
Overall it seems like you're really passionate about this sort of thing. I hope it eventually works out for you! :)
Well, from looking at your portfolio, I couldn't see anything that referenced or pointed to:
"A minimum of 5 years game design experience including lead design experience on a shipped product"
So I'm going to say that was probably one of the major points. Blizzard's probably not the easiest company to get into if you're trying to break into the game-design industry, which you seem to be.
Also, what Chiquihuite said.
To get a lead position, you need a LOT of credentials. Basically you've got to be a professional to get the professional position. What you're probably looking for is an entry level position, especially if you're new to the industry and trying to get your foot in the door.
Mod experience is good to have, but it doesn't replace industry experience by any means.
You guys are confusing something. I didn't apply for "Lead Campaign Designer", I applied for "Level Designer" (and Associate Level Designer 8 months ago). I was informed that my application was declined as soon as that jobpost was taken down.
@yukaboy I'm not sure if that is visible form just the portfolio but the Settlers 7 stuff I worked on was an internship for a game company. My WC3 stuff got me that internship. They had offered me an Associate position but I declined due to conflcits with my night school. In the last 7 months I've also done PR helper stuff for Ubisoft. I'll start studying media informatics in October. Of course it's all about getting bigger, better and badder for the future. Learning never stops.
I'm curious to know what your credentials are.
@OutsiderXE: Go
Have ever tried to make a campaign map or a series of them in the SC2 Editor?
I'm only guessing, but if you showed Blizzard your skills by making such maps your portfolio would maybe become even better.
No. I get that. That's why I said lack of a visa disqualifies you for any US studio unless it's a higher up position.
If I was eating cereal, I would've just spit it out in amazement. Why?
@Chiquihuite That "you guys are confusing something"-post wasn't about you Chiquihuite. Your post was very good and interesting.
I didn't accept the position for two reasons. 1. I had used up all of my leave days for class tests. The night school got difficult to a point were it was only theoretically possible to get a good degree while working full time (working part time is not an option for the company-understandably). I would rather do one thing right than two things wrong. Besides, school ends eventually, a job doesn't until you get retired.
2. level designers aren't treated very well: Pay is bad and they are usually the first to being let go once a project is finished. The time period between polishing the final stages of a map of Project A and starting the first designs on Project B is too long; DLCs don't help enough. A single (lead) level designer is enough during that time.
Bonus reason: I stay in contact with the people working there (visiting them from time to time) so when the time is right I have good chances of being rehired.
@ Wacclian321 My current portfolio includes one finished map and one demo map. Both are part of a larger campaign based on a blizzard novel. I plan to finish a map every 6 to 9 months. 7 maps total. (had some stress issues during wc3; don't want to repeat that so I'm taking my sweet time). I update the portfolio and reapply whenever a new map is finished and blizzard is looking for designers.
All in all, it is a great job, but in germany, level design isn't big enough to keep a family well fed. You need to push yourself to become a game designer (forget game design degrees from game academies. Employers know its shit, students only learn that after graduating. It's much better to have a portfolio based on modding). Better: programmer (best pay) or artists (relatively secure position).
@OutsiderXE: Go
Interesting. I guess German studios roll a bit differently than in the US.
@Chiquihuite: Go
Blizzard actually hires modders that make really great custom maps. So make something even better than sc2 in the editor.... Get their attention :D
I think to get into Blizzard using an internship as experience would require a map thats popularity is legendary... like DOTA. Not some short campaigns and not even a map thats all the rage for a little while on Bnet before dying.
Your problem is, Outsider, the same as mine. We're in Germany. One of the former Blizz guys that now works at Crytek basically told it to me like this: You need at LEAST 5 years of actual work experience in your field with 2-3 AAA games shipped for them to even consider hiring you. Reason is, if they wanna help you getting a work visa, they gotta prove somehow that they can not get someone of your skill level in the US.
So, yeah. That's why. Try something closer to home, I'd guess ;)
@Gorandor: Go
Blue Byte is 20 minutes away ;) (and I was already there as a level designer for Settlers 7)
There is the guy who made Skibi's Castle Defense. Another made Azure Tower Defense and a campaign whose name I don't remember. I also heard they hired the guy who made the Diablo 3 Warcraft mod. I'm nor sure about the Diablo guy but all others were hired during the WC3 era. Now I'm sure Blizzard is looking for experts on SC2. I strongly believe there are talented people on this forum who could get a job within Blizzard but don't quite believe it or have other plans.
Of course we can't really know what else they had in their portfolio or skills.
Popularity is not a requirement nor will a certain amount of popularity mean you get a job at Blizzard.
Imagine you would make an epic campaign map that has the same quality as the ones from Blizzard, it can be really fun but you will never play it more then once. Also the Blizzard custom maps are made by Blizzard people who got a job there. However their maps don't have crazy popularities.
On the other hand if you make a super popular map but your map making skills are lacking then it means they will have someone who can't do any of the actual work. Also there is a chance that your next idea might not be as good as your previous one which means they can't really use you at all.
Of course this is just my opinion as an outsider so feel free to reject it.
@RandomNoExit: Go
^ This guy has a point here.