Comments on Ixobelle: Alas, Andorhal Defeat...

I've pretty much only just stumbled across thi...

2009-10-07T22:49:02.476-07:00

I've pretty much only just stumbled across this during an attempt to scour the internets for tips on becoming a game designer and examples of game documents, etc but given what's being said here and what I've found out so far I felt I should add my 0.02c

I'd listen to what the 'anonymous game devs' are saying rather than the cheerleaders here. Yes you have

Screw NaySayers Ixo. Anonymous "Game Designer...

2009-09-28T15:56:39.205-07:00

Screw NaySayers Ixo.
Anonymous "Game Designers" (yeah, sure you are) acting all bitter can't take away from you the sheer audacity and flair of what you did.
You were the one to drive down there.
You were the one to put your money and dignity on the line.
Don't let anyone tell you that you are less than awesome for doing it.
Good Luck

2009-09-28T08:49:39.191-07:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

The advice on your resume and from the game develo...

2009-09-27T20:59:59.381-07:00

The advice on your resume and from the game developers (they sure sound like game devs to me) is good stuff. I hope you listen.

Driving hundreds of miles to Irvine doesn't show drive. It shows obsession. Why do you think there are security guards here? It's not even all that creative.

If you want to show *professional* drive and real creativity, then make

Industry insiders always think they're hot shi...

2009-09-27T19:25:36.916-07:00

Industry insiders always think they're hot shit, and the more ambiguous the job description ("game designer" lol), the more it shows.

Reality, which I'm sure you know, is that you get in by any means necessary. Acknowledging the odds is a guaranteed way to reduce them.

I would forget Blizzard though. Find a company willing to take big risks, one that

... as long as everyone realizes this wasn't m...

2009-09-27T01:29:55.665-07:00

... as long as everyone realizes this wasn't my ONLY avenue, then feel free to keep similar comments coming.

I apllied in the normal fashion, and figured coming down to hand out full color PDFs of what I emailed in would been seen as having drive (HAVING DROVE all the way to irvine...) and showing a willingness to stand out from the crowd.

I understand how to make

AnonymousGameDesigner is right (I'm Anonymous ...

2009-09-27T00:29:33.246-07:00

AnonymousGameDesigner is right (I'm Anonymous for the same reasons). That's solid advice but it may be hard to take. Take all that passion and determination and make something. In NWN or whatever. It doesn't have to be WOW-specific. it just has to show that you can do game design. Without this all your passion is worthless. A design on paper is useless to get you into game

Leaving this anonymous because in the game industr...

2009-09-26T17:51:30.554-07:00

Leaving this anonymous because in the game industry, names actually mean something – and I don’t want to be any fanboy’s link on LinkedIn…

Good for you for not sitting on your hands. However, I could have told you it was beyond pointless before you started. It's more than pointless, it actually hurts your cause.

As a professional game designer (yes, with ties to

Well, in my comment on the first half of this post...

2009-09-26T17:00:49.348-07:00

Well, in my comment on the first half of this post, I said they might use some of your ideas in the expansion, but I see how they work with not doing that now.

What I suggest: send in a signed affidavit saying you won't sue or respond in any legal way if they cannibalize your packet. Who knows if it'd work, but it might be a tiny loophole around PR's explanation (excuse?).

meh, i've been tossing around the idea of putt...

2009-09-26T03:09:30.569-07:00

meh, i've been tossing around the idea of putting my name on the site for a while, anyway, and have a few articles where i throw my name and address around since people who hide on the internet just seem silly.

I would probably left my cv off the online version...

2009-09-26T02:52:14.305-07:00

I would probably left my cv off the online version, who knows how many estalkers you have !

do a google search for Blambot, and hit "I...

2009-09-25T16:48:27.429-07:00

do a google search for Blambot, and hit "I'm feeling lucky".

Don't be a font snob if you have no idea what you're talking about <3

I just downloaded and looked over your document, a...

2009-09-25T16:33:23.223-07:00

I just downloaded and looked over your document, and while the raid itself and the artwork look well put together, please work on your resume writing skills.

I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to help.

1. Get it down to a single page.

2. Use bullet points for your work experience. You do not need entire paragraphs and keep the bullets to 4 or less.
<

Here is an article linked from Slashdot that you m...

2009-09-25T13:14:30.194-07:00

Here is an article linked from Slashdot that you may find interesting, if you have not read it yet:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25307

It describes the various departments within Blizzard. The design department has only 37 people, so that gives you an idea of how positions there are.

I do agree that an entry level position is a good idea,

Pfft, War3 maps or NWN modules... I think the si...

2009-09-25T04:06:07.506-07:00

Pfft, War3 maps or NWN modules...

I think the sign outside the office will be 100% more effective, good luck and I hope someone who can organize an interview sees those booklets of yours!

But good idea on making the NWN modules according to your raid design, that's something different that might also get you some attention.

You tried dude, and that's a damn sight more t...

2009-09-25T03:57:18.066-07:00

You tried dude, and that's a damn sight more than a whole lot of other people will have done.

No regrets man, no regrets.

A+ for effort Rich. If you do actually make an NW...

2009-09-24T20:32:43.933-07:00

A+ for effort Rich.

If you do actually make an NWN or NWN2 module, lemme know. I'd be more than happy to play/playtest it for you a bit. I still have disks laying around somewhere for those...

@above: That's great for designing your own ga...

2009-09-24T20:16:43.000-07:00

@above: That's great for designing your own game from scratch, something completely different than what I'm trying to do.

I also drove down on the (false, yes) assumption that I would get to a point where I could hand these books out in an organized manner. When that was proven otherwise, I took it upon myself to not give up on the spot, and run home crying. I did what needed

http://www.sloperama.com/advice/idea.htm should he...

2009-09-24T13:26:01.776-07:00

http://www.sloperama.com/advice/idea.htm should help.

What ever you do, don't plan on starting at the 'bottom' (i.e. QA playtester) to work your way up, interviewers will catch it and realize you don't plan on staying in the department. No commitment to the role == no hire. While sometimes it works after you've got some experience, don't rely on this being

Yes, yes, design positions are likely to be filled...

2009-09-24T08:53:28.766-07:00

Yes, yes, design positions are likely to be filled from internal hires.

That's one problem with the game industry. It's an insular, inbred morass of mediocrity and "More of the Same" design. Challenging that is healthy.

If this actually worked, can you imagine the numbe...

2009-09-24T08:05:42.917-07:00

If this actually worked, can you imagine the number of idiots that would stalk the Blizzard campus?

Its been enjoyable reading ur blog all this years,...

2009-09-23T21:13:12.325-07:00

Its been enjoyable reading ur blog all this years, but unfortunately I think you might be too optimistic this time round.

I once read an interview of a game designer a few months/years ago that focus on advice towards people seeking a career in the gaming industry (the details, like who they actually interviewed is kinda blurry, but it was the lead of a few big games) and the guy

I suggest death threats. I don't see how they...

2009-09-23T12:12:03.392-07:00

I suggest death threats.

I don't see how they could backfire.

Dont get too disheartened. The whole lawsuits thin...

2009-09-23T10:47:08.391-07:00

Dont get too disheartened. The whole lawsuits thing is a bit of a cover really, when blizzard see a good idea they know when to nick it, just look at all the mods that have been integrated into wow over the past while.Likewise they do the same thing on the suggestions forum, but as far as I know all it really means is that they`ll never respond with "hey wow that a great idea" for fear

If you are interested in a job there apply through...

2009-09-23T10:21:31.317-07:00

If you are interested in a job there apply through the web page. http://www.blizzard.com has a hiring now section.