Writing in the Great White North
Filed under Market Report, Writing Journal on December 1, 2005
Tagged: Bioware, Talking to Fish
I finished the edits on “Talking to Fish,” the short story I’m including with “Burlmarr” for my writing sample to go along with my grad application. I’ve received the second set of recommendation letters, and have confirmation that the third and final set will be arriving shortly. I received copies of my transcripts last week, so that leaves the short essay on why I think I should be accepted to the programs.
Bioware, makers of such seminal crpgs as Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights, announced a writing contest of their own yesterday. I’ve noticed job openings for Senior Writer and Writer posted on their website regularly since NWN came out, which makes me wonder if they’re finding it hard to recruit and/or retain writers, good or otherwise.
I know I’ve contemplated applying a couple times. The things that hold me back each time are location and work schedule. I could probably stand the location for a couple years (and, more importantly, convince the wife to endure it), but until the industry improves its labor practices and production schedules, I’ll probably avoid a job in game design. My family and my commitments outside of work would suffer too much.
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December 1st, 2005 at 9:53 pm
Good to hear things are moving along. I agree with you about not applying at Bioware, maybe if you were at a different place in life. You’ve got your priorities in the right place.
December 3rd, 2005 at 2:29 pm
I agree with you. I have thought for some time that it would be fun to do programming in the gaming industry, but Wan Gal has told me unequivically that we will NOT move north of the Columbia river. From what I have heard, the stress involved in gaming companies is pretty harsh on any outside life, as well. I guess I’ll just have to become independently wealthy and have my own company that I run the way I want to be treated.
December 3rd, 2005 at 3:15 pm
I was talking with Tricky Buddha about their contest and he had this to say about some recent changes in Bioware’s practices:
“…BioWare has hired a project manager and sent all their managers through project management courses, R&G are committed to allocating proper schedule times, we’ve merged two teams to ensure projects are staffed adequately, and we’ve also gotten a lot of advice from Pandemic and Elevation. It’s not a bad deal right now.”
It seems their attitude now is to avoid crunch as much as possible by setting realistic timelines and staffing appropriately, rather than rely on extended periods of crunch as a regular practice. If I can’t find a teaching position after school, and they have something open, I may apply.