Skills Shortage a Concern for Australian Games Industry

I think that the industry can only advance through this, and I'm standing outside looking in on the game development community in Australia. I've never worked in it, therefore my perspective is somewhat biased.
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a.) In order to entice EU employees and US employees to OZ, ozzie developers must offer them higher salaries than their oz brethren. Everything slips after beer. Everything. Ozzie developers learn what their brethren are earning and dissatisfaction arises.

b.) An inverse of the above arises where talented developers are lured off to work with ID, SONY, EA etc... (and believe me, you don't think much about your Australian heriatge when this happens.

c.) There is a stigma where game development employees are regarded as little more than eyes with mouths. (World wide, so this doesn't apply only to ozzies).

d.) Traditionally, corporate (non game dev) positions are boring DB roles. There is a change, to a point where a qualified coder can run the data visualization app development for a large company (and there are many positions such as this circulating world wide) and still have the same reward as a developer opportunity with 3 - 4x the pay.

d. continued) The corporate community is offering more challenging and rewarding opportunities in the US and UK to overseas developers (China, India, Mid East etc... even Australians) and they are paying attention.

Food
Shelter
Shagging
Wants
Etc...

Then there are those that leave the industry altogether for a more healthier career and lifestyle.

I don't see this "tapping" of other industries as being a bad thing, but I do see this "well if we can't presumably find the talent here then well hire international candidates" solution as being garbage. I think that perhaps some in the local industry just haven't a clue as to the value of the talent we have, and see the hiring internationals as providing that value as a certainty - making up for their own lack of ability in being able to judge the merits of Australian candidates.

Though I am sure that it is not the case will all international candidates, I do wonder why it is that they decide to come to a smaller and less developed industry and leave behind a much larger and more developed one. Is is perhaps due to their own lack of ability to compete in those larger and more established industries and job markets?

I also resent this claim of there being a lack of talent in "general." What they mean is a lack of talent in the form of senior programmers and artists. It is not inclusive designers as far as I can tell. And if it is, then what they really are after are solid artist and programmers who can also fill the role of design, even if they are the worst designers on the face of the planet. As code and art is far easier to measure in quality than design can be - and most of the local studios don't have a clue when it comes to design. Therefore if they suck at design, they can still code or create art assets - unfortunately design really is king in game development, and the part that matters the most.

How to fix it... well I am not sure that we need an Australian publisher, as any Australian publisher would need to publish for a global / international market - and therefore would be an international publisher. What I think we need is more funding for the local industry, that is not used as developer welfare, but utilised to create better working conditions for developers by creating more projects where the IP originates from the developer and where they have a higher stake in it due to self funding to a degree due to such funding being available.

This fee-for-service attitude can't persist forever as it isn't sustainable for the long-term. I'm sure many will disagree with me on that, but to them I ask: why is it that you are finding it hard to find "talent" do you think?

That's all you should be asking.

Which developers in Australia have video rental (for free)?
None that I'm aware of

Which developers in Australia have game rental (for free)?
A lot of games companies have a games library which you can borrow from

Which developers in Australia have relocation for Australian developers?
Most of the big ones will pay for relocation.

Which developers in Australia have further education as a budgetary subsidy for mid range programmers?
Krome the company I work for provide a mathematics tutor and internal training etc

Which developers in Australia have health care included?
Australia has government subsidised health care, why do they need to provide it?

Its not all about the money but after a few years of hard work, its not just for the joy of the job anymore. They're going to have to find out what incentives are needed to pull in skilled staff and more importantly to keep them thru the crunch times and tight deadlines.

BTW, it *is* hard to find local talent.

Why is it that no one seems to mention them at all, aren't they necessary for game development? Or do programmers and studios only think they are needed or worth the expense?

Then there is the production arm of things that everybody seems to forget - QA up through to Producers.

If things are so great in game development, then why the skill shortage in the Land-of-Oz?

And like a lot of people above have said - there's enough talent out there, but the Australian games industry hasn't had the time to mature to the extent of other international developers; nor have they made an attempt to recruit junior staff in order enable them to become the "experienced pros" they're always asking for.

Albeit that they need experienced staff in face of quick team expansion for work on their upcoming next-gen titles, they're inevitably going to destroy the local industry by disabling the growth of the local talent pool and remaining an outsource post for international developers. Have they forgotten what it's like to be at the bottom of the food chain already?

Moreover, with the increased team sizes, it's going to be even harder to recruit appropriate staff, as the roles will only become more specialised over time. And since tertiary education in the field are always having to play "catch up," qualifications on an academic scale will mean even less as time goes by.

Even with the games industry;s attendance at Supanova this year, it hardly seems as though they're interested in helping local talent out at all. At the end of the day, I suppose prestige matters more than integrity...

Saying that "there's no local talent," seems to be the most convenient and easy justification for the fact that they just don't want to help address the problem in the first place.

I hope they'll learn to treat their local applicants with more respect in future, than simply ignoring them or referring to them as being "without talent."

That is how I got my foot in the door.

Also a company i used to work for IR Gurus for example love students for the most part from the AIE just because of the quality of the students they get out, thats not to say they won't be choosey.

Whinging about how you can't get in without putting the effort in isn't going to make a very good impression.

I think you are making to many assumptions AC#22, and assuming that those writing their comments are all trying to get into the industry - rather already in it.

I also think that you do not understand the issues being discussed, because you are an inexperienced junior who thinks this is about how those trying to break into the industry can't get a break and therefore are venting their frustrations here.

Just like the other juniors that have posted their comments here and on other news threads, who seem to think that for some reason that this thread is specifically all about their studio and that they must defend the honour of that studio - when no one really cares.

Its really simple. You go to a job interview. If you have the talent, if you have the drive and passion, even without any experience, then you have a good chance of getting a junior position. You're not going to get employed just because you're local.

Seriously though good comments in many respects- particulary "Not for me, because I really don't care, but for the grads who are coming out in the countless hundreds with out commercial experience right now." That's a likewise.

People, the way you get experience is by working/doing. Kinda means you have to hire, keep, and really look after the juniors if you want them to become seniors.

Entr0py is another of my former classmates from the AIE for those who don't know.

I agree with AC in comment 2 "I think the industry has done a lot of it themselves."

Oh and I'm not head of games at latrobe anymore. My thesis topic changing to make no mention of games at all. I'm going into linux dev, not games.

Gee Ben, I wonder why. Noticed I haven't applied for your audio programmer role?

It was amazing that we had the people we had in the first place considering the conditions and pay. When it came to recruitment, the company demanded the best talent, yet couldnt offer any incentives for working there.

In the end we were fed lies and promises that were never fulfilled and put up with it because we were 'nice' people, loved working on games and of course, in need of a job.

I know not all game companies are like this, but for me it was enough to make me take off the rose coloured glasses long enough to decide to pursue a different career path. After that experience, most people moved to other industries or to the US, with only one or two staying in games.

If you're a hopeful student with a passion for games, I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but please beware and if your instincts tell you, the moment you walk in for an interview that something 'isn't right'. Trust it. Try not to be so blinded by the 'glamour' of making games.

In the end, it's a job like any other.

How you present at interview really has little bearing on your capacity to actually do the job though. The interview is really just how well you market yourself, imo.

On second point, a lot of the guys have no formal qualifications, so being a graduate or student certainly isn't essential, being passionate, talented and hardworking is.

That said if its true that all of the Melbourne AIE's programmer output is finding work, then that is pretty impressive, the course must be doing something right and is certainly well in excess of Loriens expectation of <1(percent), which would suggest course quality varies greatly and it's where/what you study that is important.

The games industry is driving people away I'm afraid, people it needs. Have a look at Entr0py's work in the Coder section here for an example, there really aren't many in Aus of this standard. Now there's one less. Best of luck with Industrial Light and Magic and Pixar Matt!

Have a think about the total number of grads that have come through all the schools and uni's AC. You've seen how many show up at the AGDC I presume? That's only a tiny fraction of those studying in any given year.

This was made public a while ago, can't do any harm. La Trobe is running it's specdialist games degree this year (previously you could do games subjects as electives). There were 300 applicants. La Trobe accepted 20 I'm told. Where did the rest end up? If you're willing to embark on a 4 year degree full of heavy programming, maths, and physics that you are going to be paying off for years you are likely pretty passionate about games.

300 applicants from 1 year when the industry employs around 1000 in total.

I kicked up quite a stink about it, IT enrollments are down, and I was worried we'd just take all 300 (we could). My thoughts were "what on earth would happen if 300 games programmers were to graduate all at once?"

I'm sure it varies from company to company, but really how many of the juniors hired actually stay in the industry long enough to make it to senior? Fine you don't agree with my "pessimism", But some figures please. I think it would likely be far below 1(percent) if you looked at the number of graduates who make it, rather than the number that get hired. These sorts of figures are part of what the GDAA is for aren't they? Curious it's kept so quiet. Particularly when the same family runs a college and a games company.

I refuse to teach games anymore because I think it's unethical here and now. Believe me I've been asked to do it.

There's a lot more educational institutions offerring games degrees now, as opposed to 5+ years ago, producing a lot more people wanting a job in the games industry, It's undeniable that these institutions have helped grow the industry to its current size.

You have to ask though, how big is the industry now? How many graduates are there each year? Can the industry grow fast enough to accommodate fresh graduates looking to break into the industry each year? What's the current conversion rate from graduate to job in the industry?

I don't know the numbers, but it's probably safe to assume that supply is outstripping demand these days. A conversion rate of say 10(percent)-20(percent) conversion rate would be needed to keep the industry growing, and to replace outgoing senior staff. I don't know what the actual rate is, I think it'd be low (< 30(percent)) if the number of graduates each year is very high (500+).

Most people that have been burnt is from struggling companies trying to make a go of it. Nothing like putting all your effort into a project only to see it fall flat on its arse and all the assets never to be seen again. So as the industry has grown up its produced some experienced but also very cynical people who want to see the money and not just be sold a pipe dream. Start paying attractive basic pay rates (for everyone) for their hard work and unique skills and decent overtime to cover the crunch time stress and people might start coming back from other industries or from overseas. Even more importantly offer realistic schedules and a creative and inspiring working environment. Then there might be a few seniors around to help expand those companies and train up all the aussie newbies banging down the door.

Comments from management such as "If you don't like it you can always leave" will hopefully be a thing of the past.

Afaik La Trobe was the last uni in Victoria to change the primary teaching language to java (it ws C++), and none of the staff I've talked to are happy about it. If you want to train a bunch of programmers to know next to nothing about programming teach them java imho. But like the games industry if we don't deliver what our 'customers' (I *hate* calling students 'clients' or 'customers' btw) want we go out of business.

Keep in mind games is a tiny industry here, there probably shouldn't be specialist diplomas or degrees at all it's so small.

We have a couple of programmers that had a lot of industry (not games) java experince and seem to have made the transition without too much pain.

Ian Gibson from the AIE is listed as part of the GDAA board (although not in a named position), but no own else related to the AIE appears.

However I agree the GDAA may have a role play (or do they represent students?) maybe its more the area of the igda.

Why don't you contant both, it sound like a good idea.

It sounds like a flood is students is coming in 3 years....

If you contact me I would be happy to pass on your details to the right person, if you are interested.

waitinggame22 at yahoo dot com dot au

Why bother? Don't want to make or teach games, I don't believe a word coming from Canberra... And I won't be around sumea for long now, I just don't appreciate BS about skill shortages. I'm sure it's hard to hire though.

Maybe a flood, though there's already one of juniors isn't there?

I am personally happy that the AIE is out of the picture with AGDC and now GDAA are doing something themselves.

In terms of hiring its hard to get a senior programmer, just because a lot of senior staff tend to stay in the one company from what I've seen, and find it hard to move around. I remember when Ratbag closed down, the vultures started circling around Adelaide. Different companies flew over reps to try and entice people to join their companies.

Damned straight CF - its amazing how many companies have this attitude that you should be grateful for being bestowed with the honour of working for them. You can tell straight away at the interview - they behave as though the only thing that should be happening is that you need to be convincing them to hire you and go to no effort whatsoever to sell themselves.

The senior talent can pick and choose who they want to work for. Ask the question "how do you feel about working long hours?" and the only people who will take up your offer are those who are willing to make the sacrifice to get their foot in the door.

As far as juniors go, I disagree with alot that has been said here. Of course I speak from my limited knowledge of a handfull of studios, but from what i've seen many juniors do get hired. Now if they actually make it or not is another thing, but generally you tend to get two different types of junior. One is the real junior who has no experience whatsoever and who's ambition overcomes his skills.

The other is the "experienced junior", people that although they have no industry experience anyone can see that they show great talent and competence. Of course there are heaps of the first kind and few of the second kind, thats probably why you don't see that many getting hired. As far as i've seen, juniors are being hired, but maybe not as many as some would like.

Applications from the acmipark team went out to a lot of studios... Only one of the core team is in the aus industry. Would have thought studios would have jumped to hire open catagory IGF finalists, particularly Andrea and Chad. Too late now afaik: Andy is in film, Chad's making games in Norway.

Top 4 reasons why I left:-
1.10 years of seeing projects get canned
2. higher end artwork
3. freelance pay
4. location

Plenty of undergrads do some games subjects as part of a generic comp-sci degree, and go into normal IT jobs.

Yep, I think many are just doing it for some fun- anything to liven up a dull comp-sci degree can only be a good thing ;)

I think there is little to offer a senior programmer in the OZ gamedev industry. I think many programmers do their 'time' as a junior with little responsiblity and quite a competitive salary, and then leave for a higher paying job once they have the experience. The salaries need to be competitive at the high end too.

While I would consider returning to the gamedev industry working for an overseas company, it's unlikely that I would return to the Australian industry at this stage unless I knew (and approved of) the company culture before I started. The good news is that there is at least one really great employer in our local industry which I have had the pleasure to work for, and would again if I could convince my partner to move there. Im still working on that =)

Just my $0.02AUD.

An interesting peice of information pertinent to this topic: Of the 6 employees left when the company dissapeared, only 2 are still in game development, and they are both working in the US. Kinda telling, isnt it?

From my perspective we've got studios complaining about local applicants, being very selective etc. And yet they still produce crap (by and large) even taking the best applicants (as they see them).
To me that suggests the problem is elsewhere.

As an aside I worry what will happen to Irrational when the GTA 'Money Goat' dies