Mini Post 11: Different viewpoints

Still remembered the networking session I have went.
I remembered the conversation between the 2 veterans.

They both agreed that game making should be a constant development of new games and ideas.
Not like staying in your comfort zones.
Not like Japanese who keep making games out of popular series.
They quoted games such as "Final Fantasy"...

Both are different perspectives.

But it got me thinking.
Are these Singaporean game makers still finding their way to make a popular game?
Because what I can see now,
Is Japanese are still making profit from the games from FF series.
Even though the game may not be as good as the previous titles,
It still attracted people to play.

Is hard to come up with great games. I know.
But once you made a hit,
Of course the natural reaction is to continue making the game.
And of course not just to make the game to ruin it.
But constantly improving and writing good storylines.

Hmm...

Stubbornly Clinging onto the Foolish

Right after the day I posted the previous post, I was invited to a networking session among the Singapore Independent Gaming Scene.

I reached early and there are only a few people. One of them nicely approached me and asked what am I doing. I answered frankly and he turned away "nicely" like immediately after saying "Ok". Reality Hit: +1.

Then my friends started coming in, and he introduced me to his juniors in DigiPen. Looks like that school has really many connections with people working in the gaming field. I should have entered there... Sigh. He also introduced me to some big shots like CEO of a company. But most of them did not really seemed to have an interest in me. And when they were talking with my friends, they were talking a bunch of more business stuff than I did not understand at all. Reality Hit: +1.

Shortly after a short networking session, there were a segment of 7-8 mini presentations, which I found it very informative. One of the speakers I found it very very familiar, and I could not recall until he flashed his name in one of the slides. And turned out he was my tutor of NM2208. I went and approached him after the presentation, while he was talking with another girl, and hope he could give me some recommendation since he is now a game designer. Then 3 of us were talking about my portfolio then they were like saying NEVER put one of your works as "School Assignment". Well, some damages were already done since I have submitted that portfolio. Reality Hit: +1. We were talking about the companies I have applied too. When I mentioned Nubee, then the girl was saying that the company is not doing good in Singapore at all. Now, is like going to fall apart really soon. I was shocked again because the company was only around less than a year or so. So I guess I will not hear from this company ever. Reality Hit: +2.

Talking about the girl, I saw her with another guy, so she introduced me to him. But as the group started to grow, we were split into 2 groups, and the guy went to talk to my tutor, and I continued talking to the girl and my friend's juniors. The conversation slowly directed to the guy she came with. The girl suddenly said something like "So when he did Street Fighter X Megaman..." I stopped her immediately. WHAT?! He was the solo fighter behind the legendary game? Yes, I then talked to this guy who is still unemployed like me. WAIT! Unemployed?! How can it be right? Yes, reality is cruel. Even though he has created this game, but he is still jobless. Reality Hit: +100.

I did not have the chance to talk to the creator, so we had a chat online instead after adding each other in Facebook. He is almost having the same struggle as I do. He practically knows the Singapore gaming industry a lot more than me. The future ain't bright. He understand fully. Reality Hit: +10. Nevertheless, he is still going to pursue no matter what.

Now it just make me wonder if I should continue like him. The pay might be low. The future of gaming industry in Singapore might be forever bleak. For a person who just wants to stay here and work and in game industry sounds damn tough now... Why would I forever follow the path that is bloody hell difficult when there are so many easier path for me?

K.O.
Game Over... ?

Clinging onto the Foolish

It has been nearly 4 months ever since I have graduated. Almost all my friends had already found a job, while I still rotting at home playing and drawing, playing and drawing, playing and drawing, and having some short meetups with other friends too.

While some of my jobless friends still continue to hunt for prospective jobs, I only sent out 3 applications to 3 game companies in Singapore and have been slowly waiting for replies patiently. Some might say what the hell am I doing, sending out these few. Some might think I am overly confident that I will surely get called from these companies. Well, I have to say I am neither. But just acting like a foolish boy, hoping to get called. 

So far, only 1 of them replied after 12 days. That was the dream company I was hoping to get in. They required me to write an essay why would I want to join a game company and how would I contribute. The challenge is: To write in both Japanese and English. I was damn excited, and wanted to submit that essay as fast as possible without them having to wait for me too long. Writing in English has always been my weakest. The readers of my blog should have known. You could probably seen it easily while you are reading this piece of crap. In the past, I always have my writing vet before I submit, but this time I thought of using my own strength to do it: Without let people vetting it, and I would check it by myself. However, it was been another 13 days and no reply yet... Probably I have always been weak in writing English in the academic writing style. (Everything I wrote in English wrote so far is just as good as a primary school kid standard.) Probably my lousy Japanese. (Got a N2 so what? It did not test our writing skills.) Probably I have ruined the precious chance for me to get my job in the dream company... 

Nevertheless, I am still waiting for them to reply me. I tell myself to give them 2 weeks before I start making my move. 

If you ask me why game company casually, I will just say no reason. I believe people like things for no reason. Just like why some people like this particular thing, or even why people like this girlfriend or this boyfriend. I just think like making game is just enjoyable thing. Making fantasy world alive. Isn't this reason sufficient enough? Of course when I was asked to write an essay I will not write such a thing. It was a more elaborate account based on this simple reason.

Things in life is already so complicated. So why not take a step back and make it easier and simpler? It just makes me wonder now if the recruiting team is looking for a more complicated reason...

I just want to be a part of a big team that create amazing game that people could enjoy. If this ideology is wrong, I wish someone from the industry can hit me on the head now and advise me to switch path.

Please let this wait be worthwhile...