Chris Cole’s Post

I have spent more time writing of late, and I'm determined to make part of that additional writing here on Linkedin. I love creative problem solving. I can't draw for...well, you know. I am not quite wired for writing code, and animation was always Harry Potter stuff to me. My creative outlets were always writing and solving problems. If you don't like the 'problem' word, you can also use 'resolving challenges'. That better? Cool. Some of the challenges I remember being fortunate enough to experience: How do we rescale teams at a frenetic pace to meet the actual World of Warcraft numbers vs. the predicitions? (which were 'maybe as big as Everquest') How do we respond mid-development when your game (as an MMORPG) takes a long time to produce, yet rivals have come out with groundbreaking features which might make your gameplay now feel dated? How do we change the culture to counter an organic, unhealthy work-life balance in a team which have been encouraged historically by senior figures to work 15+ hour days every day and are rapidly burning out? How do we make a game compete with AAA when we are struggling to get support for the AA resources we've long asked for to punch above our weight? How do you take a strongly established genre which leans into its tropes, yet still deliver a compelling and surprising narrative? There are so many, and having run both the Operational and Development sides of studios, I feel privileged to have seen such a broad swath of them. If you want to know how these were solved, and many others like them? Let me know, let's have a chat. Perhaps I can help you solve your problems, individually or as an organisation. Things are so often hard in our business, but to quote: “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” and as an industry, it's certainly not our time to die. #gamesindustry #videogames #layoffs #gamestudio #leadership

After getting a chance to share some tears and some drinks with some friends last night, I can make a more definitive post. I was laid off along with the vast majority of the studio as part of the Goliath acquisition of Funko Games yesterday. Having the opportunity to make amazing things with some of the most talented minds in our industry is not something I take for granted. We changed the landscape of the aisle, took fearless risks, and always put 110% in everything we did. Every game deserved our best, because every gamer (or potential gamer) deserved nothing less. Prospero Hall was simply different, and quite likely will never be replicated again. I'll speak more on Prospero Hall later, but this post is going to be too long as-is. That said, I'm purely optimistic for the future. Far too much talent was in the building to expect anything but amazing work wherever we end up. As I cryptically posted yesterday while news made it's way around the office, I have no regrets. I stayed true to myself and my team until the end, lived my core values of empathy and optimism the best I could, and made some amazing things along the way. My only source of sadness comes from knowing that we only reached a fraction of the potential we had. We could have done so much more. I'm #openforwork of the game development variety, and will perhaps take this opportunity to do some personal projects along the way. If you want to collaborate on something, I'm all ears. If you're hiring for game development, let me know. I'm interested, and would love to pass on the opportunity to the other game devs I led and worked alongside that were affected yesterday. Along those same lines if you have an opportunity for graphic designers, illustrators, 3d sculptors, project managers, or any other job you can imagine in the games industry, toss me a line and I can introduce you to some of the best in the world.

With all of the layoffs in the game development industry, this is quite literally the best time to start your career in game dev. Does this sound counterintuitive? When you consider that only a quarter of senior game developers (with 8+ years of experience) began their careers directly in game dev, this should give you a hint as to what I'm referring to. The vast majority of developers begin their careers in other industries; whether you're an engineer working on software of a different nature, or an animator cutting your teeth in film, getting some experience in adjacent industries how the majority of the folks you see working in game development today got their start. Well, depending on what you're looking to achieve in game development, there are several successful paths to accomplish your goal. Here is what we know has been successful in the past: 🎨 Artists have the highest number of direct hires into game dev. Being hired as an environment (hard surface) modeller was the most common occurrence of this. 🗺 Designers are also successful at direct applications; often systems design is an entry point. While there are certainly designers from other industries, level, for example, game designers are very specific to the nature of game development 📣 Producers, Development Directors, Production Coordinators...there is a clear path to success here that I can see. The empirical data supports that more than 60% of them began in QA. I've made this suggestion time and again: being hired directly into a production path is a rare occurrence... 👨🏾💻 Engineers are, for the most part (60%) begin in other industries. They hone their skills before moving to game development. This is another one that is clear to me. 📽 Animators begin their careers in predominantly 2 different paths: different industries (film, animated shorts) and as freelancers. 70% of them! So what does this mean for you? It means that you need to consider all of the advice about "breaking into the industry," and whether it is useful and effective. Where is it coming from? Are those providing advice coming from a place of experience? Or is it hyperbole? Right now is the best time for you to consider what your career path is, and how you can achieve your goal. I'm happy to help you out here; I have, after all, been doing this for a while and I've hired hundreds of game developers 😀 Let me know your thoughts below. #careeradvice #gamedev #gamedevjobs #diversityequityandinclusion #recruiting #jobsearch #gamingjobs #gamingindustry #breakingintogames #jobsearchstrategies

Creating anything at the best of times can be difficult at times. But watching friends, family, colleagues or respected competitors struggle in the industry can not just be physically, mentally and emotionally draining but creatively draining too. All of you working toward making games in these times. I see you. And I know we ALL see the huge number of people still affected by unemployment, financial uncertainty and fear. But of all things, a quote from Mad Men has stuck with me since I heard it said by Don Draper. Now, Don's a fictional guy who should not be a role model for pretty much anything but one thing he got right was when he was in a discussion with an exec asking why all their copywriters were mucking about. “We do this better than you and part of that is letting our creatives be unproductive, until they are" It's okay to take a break sometimes. A walk, a sleep, some food or book a few days. Because you're giving your brain the space it needs to merge some synapses and chemicals together to explode some ideas out. Whether they're ideas on what to do next in your situation, or you finally figured out how to make the pixels do what they need to. Because sometimes the best way to climb over a big wall, is to take a few steps back, gather yourself, then go! #videogames #gamesindustry #gameslayoffs #gamedevelopment #computergames

With all the layoffs and studio closures happening across the games industry these last couple years, thousands of experienced and super talented individuals have hit the open market in search for a new job. Odds are, if you're reading this, you're one of them! There are far fewer jobs available these days than there were in the past. Companies are dealing with more applications than ever and given this influx of talent, they will be judicious in who they hire. Having a job at a AAA studio on your resume isn't going to be enough anymore – so here are a few tips to help you stand out: 1. Tell us what you specialize in with specific examples and accomplishments: If your LinkedIn profile and CV only say that you were a "Software Engineer" at a big name studio, there's a good chance you will be passed on. Instead, include the specific areas of software engineering you've worked in (ex. gameplay, rendering, animation, etc.), what programming languages you used at that job, and your key responsibilities. There are many highly talented and experienced folks out there who have 10, 15, 20 years of experience, sometimes all at one company, and there isn't a single detail of what they did while there. Help fill in the blanks. :) 2. Don't list everything you've ever done or worked with, either! This may sound contradictory to #1 but it's important to maintain a balance. I've seen far too many profiles and resumes that said nearly nothing or looked like a Wikipedia entry. Putting too much information casts doubt on what you truly excel at and blurs your qualifications for the role you're applying for. 3. This one will sound self-serving but: answer recruiters! If their message is riddled with wrong info, they addressed you by someone else's name, or some other egregious error, I totally get ignoring us. But I can assure you that any good recruiter will be very grateful that you took a moment to respond and connect. Even if you're not looking for something right now, we provide a direct line to a potential future employer if you find yourself looking for something new. It also gives you an opportunity to help others out, if our job offer isn't the right fit for you. Odds are, you know someone who might be a fit and needs help. What goes around usually comes around. Hope these tips help! #recruitment #advice #videogames #layoffs

I have always appreciated working for a video game company that has a well defined Mission Statement and clear Company Values. They play a crucial role in defining a company's identity, guiding its decision-making processes, and shaping its culture. They help to define a direction and purpose for the company, outlining what it aims to achieve and why it exists. They also communicate what the company stands for to its audience, which can sometimes be a deciding factor for players when choosing between different games. A strong set of company values and mission statement helps in attracting and retaining talent who share similar ideals. This is especially important in creative industries, where passion and motivation significantly impact the quality of work. At Next Level Games (Where I worked for 12 years), the commitment to clear values and a purposeful mission resonated throughout our studio, influencing not just how we developed games but also how we interacted with each other and our community. These principles helped define our direction, purpose, and what we aspired to achieve. When the company chose to rewrite its Mission Statement the studio leadership involved each and every employee and valued their input in shaping the language for their new Mission Statement which helped to guide the studio's direction and vision for the future. Do you know your company's Mission Statement? What do you think is important in a Mission Statement? #gamedev #gamedevelopment #layoffs #gamingcommunity #gamesindustry Next Level Games Game Development

To anyone hiring — there are so many hardworking individuals/ game developers looking for work at the moment. Your company is not in game development? It doesn’t matter. These people are: 1. Creative problem solvers 2. Entertaining storytellers who can pitch/sell ideas 3. Great at making mundanity fun and exciting 4. Collaborators in practice and team builders at heart 5. Can work under pressure 6. Quick to learn technology There are so many transferrable skills that would help ANY organization. Likely your biggest concern is convincing these candidates to leave the games industry. (Because who wouldn’t want to stay in an industry full of these kinds of people?) #layoffs2024 #playstation #techcareers #techcommunity

Video game development is one of those special careers where you can build a successful path without necessarily being hired by a big studio. With the right portfolio and social media presence, you can generate enough income to enjoy a fulfilling life, free from the stress of corporate layoffs. But here’s the catch: achieving this dream requires a solid method. But, are you ready to take that step? Over the past week, I've interviewed many people who dream of creating video games to understand their perspectives. We've discussed where they are in life, their fears about starting a career in game development, what excites them about this journey, and the results they're looking for. This has provided valuable insights, but I want to hear from more aspiring game developers like you. The tools used to create video games are incredibly versatile and can be applied in various fields such as architecture, design, cinematography, and more. Combining these technical possibilities with a solid and consistent progression of your experience on social media not only helps you build a fan base for the games you are developing but also establishes your name in the community. This visibility allows others to contact you for potential job opportunities, and believe me when I say that's the best way to find a job position. I’m conducting market research to further understand the challenges and aspirations you face. Your insights will help shape an educational program designed to empower you with the tools, knowledge, and methodology needed to work on industry projects, continue your professional evolution, and create and publish your own independent games. I would love to learn more about your fears, concerns, motivations, and goals. Would you be open to a brief interview? If you're interested, please contact me and reserve a time to chat through this: https://lnkd.in/gPYJeadb Your feedback is invaluable and will contribute to the creation of a program that truly supports your journey in game development. Thank you, and I look forward to connecting with you! Best regards, Tony. #GameDevelopment #IndieGameDev #VideoGameIndustry #CareerInGames #GameDesign #GameDevJourney #LearnGameDev #GameDevCommunity #TechCareer #DigitalCreatives #BuildYourPortfolio #SocialMediaGrowth #CreativeIndustry #GameDevEducation #MarketResearch

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃 Entering the games industry as a junior is more difficult than ever before.  There aren't many openings for junior developers, more and more people want to get into the industry and recent layoffs have filled the market with experienced talent. With this in mind, it’s crucial to stand out, and that’s where I want to help. I will try to guide you in the right direction to improve your chances of landing a job. To start off, let’s lay the groundwork: 𝟭. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵:  Be a specialist. Determine what sets you apart and focus on a specific niche within your field. For instance, if you’re an artist, decide whether to specialize in character design or environment art. If you’re an engineer, choose to become a Graphics Engineer, Gameplay Engineer, or another specialized role that aligns with your skills and interests. 𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲:  Don’t spread yourself too thin, select a niche that aligns with your career goals and interests. Whether it’s a particular art style or a specific engineering role, having a focused niche will enable you to develop deeper expertise and become a standout candidate. 𝟯. 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀:  Build expertis in your chosen niche and field and also gain Industry Knowledge. This approach will make you both versatile and highly competitive. Unfortunately, junior roles in the games industry are not for people who want to enter the industry with minimal knowledge, but for applicants who already have a certain level of expertise and knowledge. Hopefully that will change in the future, which I will try to do with Solistaro when the time is right. Anyway, if you at least follow these 3 steps, you may have a better chance of getting a job. In the next Days, i will also try to post something that will help you improve your Portfolio. 💬 If you have Questions or are able to help, feel free to head to the comments. #GameIndustry #CareerAdvice #GameDev #JobSearch #CVTips #Specialization #Networking #Junior

A few of you may want to check out this opportunity!