Hi -
Im new to sumea - but I was hoping to ask if people could recommend some good computer game employment agencies in Oz.
Im currently working as a Lead artist for Empire-interactive on Ghostmaster with Gregg Barnet but Im in the UK damn it [:(][:D] !!! and no longer wish to be -
I'd be grateful to any who know of some reputable agents.
Certainly in the UK pelican and Aardvark Swift are the best...is there anything similar "down under"
Also - What is the going rate for a senior artist or indeed a lead post...???
cheers
Jim Ellis
Just wondering how the Games Employment situation is over there in the UK, from someone that actually lives and works there?
Ever since the US had increased its security and restrictions on entry, esp for the IT / games industry, I was wanting to go work over in the UK or Europe. So how goes it over there generally?
I suppose there is a recession on right now - but game co's are not usually affected by this. I was discussing this with senior manager in Empire and he was telling me that people actually buy lots of games during recession probably as a spot of therapy :-)) LOL
Um - the game industry in the UK is pretty competative - but its pretty open to all to be honest. I work for an Ozzie (gregg Barnett) and I work with Americans, French, Indian's and two greek guys - some of which had to get working visas to be here. Mostly though Empire operation is based in the UK - which is a big shame. Im desperately trying to persuade the co to open an office in Oz though - no luck so far :-(
Overall, however, I'd say that companies are weathering the storm and employment looks pretty even keeled here. May I suggest getting hold of The Edge (a Uk mag) this has LOADS of jobs in it. Actually - Ive seen jobs for America and Oz in there too - but this is usually via agents.
here in the UK - most co's are small set ups - but are probably part of a larger group.
I work for Sick puppies, but we are owned by Empire interactive.
Its a bit like the EA taking over Bullfrog and owning them outright for example.
quote:Originally posted by Daemin
Yeah, I kinda heard from Gareth White (leaving ratbag now, or already left) that the games industry in the UK is quite good.
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Ha ha - Small world - I know Gareth W. We used to work together in London up until perfect entertainment went down. Fun bloke.How do you know him then??
----------So what makes you wnat to come over here - the sun and the surf, or the price of beer?
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has to be the beer mate...
no - I like the idea of my wee son being able to grow up in an environment where he can at least go out an play when he's a bit older - rather than living in a tiny street, in an over priced house next to a sodding motorway..:-)
Im actually quite surprised that OZ's industry is thin on the ground - I really thought it was more stable and grounded than what it appears to be after reading this list - makes one nervous....
here are two Ive used in the UK - both VERY good....
http://www.pelican-consultants.com/html/index.html
I know that aardvark have been handling jobs all over the world including Oz/New zealand etc... though these tended to be Major experience only type roles
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quote:Originally posted by fuzzmeister
Here's another one i found
I don't really *know* him as such, I saw him at the AGDC last year, and I met / talked to him at a talk he hosted with Nick Young at Adelaide Uni about Character Animation.
And yeah, at that time he said that he's finished with his stuff at Ratbag, and that he's going to move to the UK to get a job there.
That was probably over two weeks ago already.
quote:Originally posted by jimellis
Im actually quite surprised that OZ's industry is thin on the ground - I really thought it was more stable and grounded than what it appears to be after reading this list - makes one nervous....
For a relatively tiny country, I think we're doing alright. There are some REALLY good devs here. Infogrames Melbourne House (I'm sure there might be a few people who remember Gregg there [:)]), Irrational Games, Krome, Micro Forte, Blue Tongue, Ratbag etc.. All of them seem pretty stable.(It was only Evolution Games that have had to close up recently.)
There are also a fair few UK companies that have set up in Australia too. Creative Assembly is taylor made for UK devs wanting to work in Queensland, with tips and guides on living in Brisbane at their website [;)] www.creative-assembly.com.au
I don't think there are any employment agencies that concentrate on the local games industry (unless someone wants to correct me!).. probably because the industry is relatively small here. You might occasionally find the odd game job from I.T/Multimedia agencies..
I'd hate to tout my own horn, but Sumea is a good place to start if you want to find jobs here.