Topic: "Break Into Industry" Conference Coming Soon

[WindyMan]

Those in the Maryland area can attend a program that can help you get your foot in the videogame door.

How To Break Into Video Game Industry Conference & Resume Workshop To Take Place On June 26, 2004

For Students and Professionals Interested in Getting a Job in the Computer and Video Game Industry.  Supported by State of Maryland and Baltimore County Economic Development Agencies

AUSTIN, Texas, June 3, 2004 - The Game Initiative today announced its "How To Break Into Video Game Industry: Conference and Resume Workshop" will take place in Chevy Chase, Maryland on June 26, 2004 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center.  The event is designed for students and professionals looking to get into the computer and video game business. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with industry insiders, including top recruiter Mary-Margaret.com, hiring managers from local game companies as well as network and meet with industry veterans. The event is sponsored in part by the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

"The comprehensive program will provide an overview of the industry, identify technology trends and requirements as well as the qualifications and skill-sets that are in demand," said Christopher Sherman, Game Initiative Executive Director. "The casual nature of this event allows attendees an unprecedented opportunity to interact with industry veterans, ask questions, gain valuable contacts and understand the business."

Students will learn how to build an early professional road map to a career in the game industry. Professionals looking to move into the business from other industries will learn how their experience and transferable skills can gain rapid entry into the game industry. The event will also provide a great opportunity for local game companies to meet potential new talent. Also, attendees will be able to participate in the Demo Reel Showcase, where can bring their laptops to showcase their demo reels to industry insiders for direct feedback and job opportunities.  

The cost is $45 in advance or $60 at the door. The event takes place at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Registration is available online at http://www.GameConferences.com/maryland/      

How To Break Into Video Game Industry attendees will:

. Find out what employers are looking for now and in the future
. Learn how the game development pipeline works
. Receive an overview of the industry and where it's headed
. Understand the core competencies required in art, programming and design
. Meet and network with professionals in the industry
. Participate in a resume workshop designed to gain them critical interviews with hiring managers.

About The Game Initiative

The Game Initiative is chartered with the growth of the computer and video game industry by serving the needs of companies and individuals involved in producing interactive entertainment software and hardware for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the Internet. The Game Initiative assists in growing the game industry through events, public awareness, information and supporting programs. Game Initiative events include the Austin Game Conference, the Women's Game Conference and the How to Break into the Game Industry national conference series.  More information about the Game Initiative can be found at http://www.TheGameInitiative.com or http://www.GameConferences.com

[ootler]

This sort of thing used to be flooded with interest.  No longer.  Making games is an horrific enterprise these days.
I've seen people with headsplitting talent drowned in the swamps of ignorant authority.
Or how about - I've seen the hot rocks of enthusiasm slaked all too soon by the cold, salty piss of commercial tesselation.
Originality is difficult to place in the market, so if you like making stuff that's essentially a mindless copy, or have the delusion that the idea of game A combined with game B makes you an uberinventive gods eye with the world a mere dot in the vistas of your limitless imagin-e-space, then you can probably find happiness in the festering rat innards that characterize the games industry today.

Even if you can take all the suffering, you won't be able to surf anymore because the opinion deluge about your work from people with no idea what they are talking about will be more than enough to drive you at high speed over the black horizon into the totally reflective insecurity bubble.

Or you'll probably be alright if you are thick skinned, and therefore insensitive, and therefore lacking in insight.

Good luck.