Lucas Arts Producer giving lecture

[Kenzomatic]

So for the next 2 days a Producer from Lucas Arts will be in town giving a lecture on the video game industry and giving advice on how to get into it. This be directed at 3D professional more then "how johnny can have a career in gaming." Also there will be a few people from Gorilla Systems (some nacy drew games and Wii stuff).

Anyways I wil be there and hopefully on top of making some conections, I will learn some more about the inner working of game companies and what they are looking for.

I will be sure to tell you about anything interesting

[Brute]

This is cool, too bad no game producer ever comes to where I live.

[Luinil]

Neato. I want in.

[Don Ramón]

Good LUCK!

[B4L]

Cool, good luck hope you score a gig .

[Kenzomatic]

Some of the questions and answers I got from the Lucas Art Producer

Brian: So when I was a SIGGRAPH a while ago a few of the gaming companies said that they would not hire anyone with out experience and that I should go to EA and get a job.

Craig Derrick (Lucas Arts): Well I remember a few years ago when you would never see an intern get a job at Lucas Arts and they would only hire seniors from other companies. But you hire these people and there older getting set in their ways and most have a chip on their should plus they cost a lot more. Well some have a chip on their shoulder. On the other hand if we hire 5 new people (to the industry) we will have to have 1 manager to mentor them a grow them into are company. But I think your seeing a paradigm shift to more building people in your company. You look at EA and almost all their top people where grown from within, of course they can bring in groups and drop them a lot easier then smaller companies. But new people have always kinda had a place since turn over used to be so high. I mean it used to be most would only last 5 years.

Brian: What would you say your ratio of contractors to employees is?

Craig: Well I couldn’t really tell you but we have mostly employees and just pick up contractors for times when projects are swelling. But we are a bigger place some of the smaller companies use more contractors.

Brian: Would you view working around HR (human rescources) to get a job as a bad think?

Craig: No not unless your like stocking a director or something in which case you’ll never get hired. You want to do as much networking as possible get to know people go to online forums go to IGDA (http://www.igda.org/) gatherings. I don’t think anyone would be offended or anything you know that’s how things work, make friends with a director and he drops your name for a job.

Brian: How much does location matter when applying, I mean if I’m located in Florida and apply in LA etc.?

Craig: It doesn’t matter if your already in the industry the company will pay for you to move usually. If your new your probably have to pay your own way, but unless it’s a contract job (in which case location does matter) you won’t be discrimination against based on location.

[Kenzomatic]

So my Demo reel was one of the few chosen to be shown and reviewed by the panel (Lucas Arts Producer, Gorila Systems Art Director, Gorila Systems Lead story something, Owner of small animation comapany)

The guy from Gorila Systems saw my demo reel and told me my enviroments looked better then a lot of what they get/have seen from other entire companies.

The Lucas Arts guy said my ruins and such was great and that you never see stuff like that on individuals demo reels.

During the Q & A sessions people where reffering to "Not reaching the qaulity of my demo reel" to which they where told they needed to work on their stuf and try to work there way up to my quality.

LOL

This should make me happy but instead I'm just bitter about not having a job.

[Don Ramón]

did you gave them your number?

[Luinil]

Wow. Congratz on the great work then. Maybe you will get a call from someone who saw your reel.

[Kenzomatic]

Yeah I got to talk one on one with almost everyone and gave all them my business card.

[Gengibre]

Well is great, too bad for your current situation, but hey, they know about you, and that will lead to something...

[Luinil]

Well is great, too bad for your current situation, but hey, they know about you, and that will lead to something...

That's right Gengi. Knowing people leads you somewhere. You made impressions on them and I am sure that will help you sooner or later, hopefully sooner. Keep the faith!

[Falcon095]

if that's the case i think you'll find a job very soon. Congratulations with the good work

[Kenzomatic]

Well today was good Craig from Lucas Arts gave a speel about what he does how things work etc. It was very informative. The only thing I think might intrest you guys is he said he part of a new section of Lucas Art that will be making brand new IP's that are NOT Star Wars or indie games.

Anyways I got to talk to him a little he was a pretty cool guy, and I got his contect info, personal info.

[B4L]

Damn sounds like your gonna get hooked up with some thing soon, hope you do anyways. I can see it now co-op ghost hunter game with ppl using lightsabers yep .....

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