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Mixo's Musings

 
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mixojoe
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Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 311
Location: Ballarat, Victoria

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:05 am    Post subject: Mixo's Musings Reply with quote

Hello all, every month or so I attend games based forums for work and I have decided to post here an outline of what was spoken about each time to help stir some conversation. I attended the 'Games & Gamers' forum this week at the Melbourne State Library and here is a brief run-down:


-The Vic. State Library is collecting 1 copy of every game ever developed and published by a Vic. company.
- There are social repercussions from a large MMO shutting down to people's lives.

-Steve Fawkner (Infinite Interactive)
-A huge skills shortage of skill ready grads. There is a boom period only directly after graduation.
- Students need to know how to present themselves properly at an interview and to a CEO.
- Games jobs are highly desired and sought after creating a lot of competition for jobs.
- Students will normally be judged highly on academic performance initially (relative degree, marks and school prestige wise) and secondly on their portfolio which must show passion and true interest beyond simply playing games.
- A nicely presented CV is required.
- Must be able to work in with a team and willing to take a junior position initially
- Education must push to meet industry needs and not focus on hardware or software that is not required/wanted.
- Industry does poach students via exhibitions/conferences etc
- A dedicated student MUST be passionate about playing and designing games.
- Many students will progress normally from the games industry to corporate IT, not the other way around
- When going for a job talk and show the challenges you have set yourself beyond your course requirements and talk passionately about games you play/have played/will play


Brett Hutchins (Monash)
- Games need now to be taken more seriously by society/government and policy makers.
- An explicit need for an "R" rating for games.
- The act of play is now seen as a major part of relieving the more stress filled lives of people.
- Games need to be seen as culturally legitimate
- We have in Australia played computer games since the 1960's and a more historical look at their social impact and legitimacy is needed.

Jason Hill (The AGE)
- Games are big business now and making a lot of money (surpassing the film industry) yet government and the arts still on the whole refuse to acknowledge them as being significant. Sales in Aust. in 2007 topped $1.3 billiion
- Avg. age of gamers in Aust. is 28 years, 41% are female and by 2014 the age is predicted to be 42.
- More support for gaming would make more jobs, increase tax revenue and a more vibrant economy.
- Games pricing is not helping piracy.
- Large push for cheaper digital distribution
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retrobrad
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Joined: 08 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Mixo's Musings Reply with quote

Thanks for all the info Mixo Smile

some interesting content there!
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