[game_edu] Brenda Braithwaite's game_edu rant at GDC

[baylor wetzel]

Maybe i read this differently than other people but the two phrases
that stuck out to me were "entry level" and "proof". If all you have
is a card/board/pen&paper game, how do i know you can design the type
of game i'm making? If your portfolio is dialogue work in Baldur's
Gate, great, but then you aren't entry level

While not to the degree that Brenda has, i've certainly had more
resumes than i've had spots, and you have to cut somehow.
Unfortunately, game development is in the same neighborhood as rock
star, actress and comic book artist - there are too many people, many
of which are hidden talents, many of which are really good but not
quite as good as 1,000 absolutely fantastic people. Maybe you don't
need programming, but then you better have a programming friend or mod
or some other way to prove that you can turn your ideas into something
i can sell. Of course, if you worked with a team on a game, you have
to show me that you were a good part of the team and not just along
for a free ride - many teams have weak members getting halo effects
for other people's work

But when all is said and done, i'll take a superb designer over a
great programmer/great designer and a great programmer/great designer
over a great designer, but proving you are in that first category is
tough. And if your entry level and can't make games or haven't made
games, how do you stand out from the other 500 resumes? i'm not
psychic...

-baylor