Test Cases for Veterans: A Game Dev Farce

Ah, the classic tale of the seasoned game dev professional being asked to jump through flaming hoops during an interview. It's like asking a Michelin-star chef to prove they can boil an egg. As a Producer and Product Manager with 25 years under my belt, I've had the distinct 'pleasure' of being asked to craft test cases for potential employers. The task? "Take our game and tell us what you'd do with it."

So, I rolled up my sleeves, dove into their game, and emerged with a roadmap so detailed it could've been used as a blueprint for success. And what happened next? Radio silence. They vanished faster than a bug after a patch update. What was the point? Did they scurry off to implement my plan without so much as a by-your-leave? Or did they clutch their game to their chest and back away slowly, horrified at the thought of actual change?

Here's a wild idea: stop with the test cases for industry veterans. We've been around the block more times than a marathon runner. We've seen trends come and go, technologies born and fade away. We've weathered storms you've only read about in your fancy game dev history books.

The demand is simple: respect the experience. We're not fresh-faced grads looking to cut our teeth; we're the ones who've been sharpening those teeth for decades. A simple conversation, a review of our portfolio, a dive into our history should be enough to gauge our mettle.

To those companies ghosting after nabbing free consultancy: shame on you. A line or two of feedback won't cost you a dime but might just save your game. And to my fellow veterans being subjected to this nonsense: stand your ground. Your experience is worth more than a test case. It's a testament to your resilience in this ever-evolving, madcap world of game development.

Rant over, but the battle continues,

PixelWraith

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