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Geek Culture / Which job would you rather have?

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Jeku
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 19:44 Edited at: 10th Mar 2005 19:46
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If you were me, which you're not, which job would you take?

I have the opportunity to get my resume submitted internally to a certain well-known game company, and there's two jobs I can apply for. The chances of receiving said job are pretty good (long story).

Anyways, one job is for a software engineer. It's a programming job that requires a ton of work (long hours, many days in a row with no break), and the pay is between X and X + $15,000, depending on the game you get assigned to.

The other job is as an associate producer. From what I understand they help shape the game--- they're what they used to call game designers. An associate producer also works long hours, but not as much as a software engineer, and the pay is around X - $10,000. However, there's room to move up to producer, which has a pay of X + $20-30,000.

Both jobs have equal benefits. I've been programming my whole life, but admit I would *eventually* like to be in production (game design) and decide what / what-not should be in the game. However, I've been studying programming since I was 7, and to jump straight into production (game design) for my first career job would feel like I wasted my life programming. Know what I mean?

Anyways--- just for fun and out of curiousity, what would you guys pick?


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Osiris
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 19:51
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Take the devloper job, cushier, and then when you have done you job for the day, well then you can just go a programming, I say this because you would have to lean a rediculasly hard language before programming with them.

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Dave J
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 19:51
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I know exactly what you mean! I love programming so much I'd take that job, but I also know I'm not going to want to be doing that forever and so would be incredibly happy to move onto an associate producer position after several years of programming. So yeah, I'd feel as if I were in the exact same position as you, I would like to do production but not until I'd wasted away my younger years with many sleepless nights of programming.


"Computers are useless, they can only give you answers."
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dugzilla
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 20:04
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Forget the money,Do what you are happiest with that way no regrets.
Plus people always work harder if it's what they love to do. The big
pay check is great but (this sounds gay) doing what your
meant to do on this earth means being happy or miserable.
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Jeku
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 20:09
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Quote: " Take the devloper job, cushier"


You mean associate producer?

Quote: "So yeah, I'd feel as if I were in the exact same position as you, I would like to do production but not until I'd wasted away my younger years with many sleepless nights of programming."


Yes that's how I feel too. Maybe get a few years of hardcore programming under my belt before I move to the cushier job.

I forgot to add that a producer job also means the weight of the game rests on your shoulders. I don't think you can last that long if all the games you release get bad ratings.


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Peter H
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 21:34
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i would gof or the associate producer role...even if it does have lower pay you would have the chance of moving up to producer...


Quote: "However, I've been studying programming since I was 7, and to jump straight into production (game design) for my first career job would feel like I wasted my life programming. Know what I mean?
"

yeah, but you would have that backround of programming to help you with you're job (knowing how games are programmed helps in the design phase...you won't be asking the programmers to create "completely life like acting NPC's in the billions that fill up a simulated world"...or something like that )

also you'd still have that knowledge of programming and if you wanted to you could probably go over to programming...

but it's you're life

"We make the worst games in the universe."

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AlexRiva
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 21:50
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In my opinion the only thing you should not consider is money. Think only about what you really like to do and choose acoording to this. I talk by personal experience; a couple of years ago I accepted a work as a System Administrator in a big company only for the high payment, but after six months I realized that it was not what I wanted really to do 'cause of the boring work and bureaucracy, so I moved to a smaller company where I get less money but where I can do system work, hardware work, software development work and directly refer to other sections of the company and have a lot of free action. So, choose ONLY by your desires and not for money.
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adr
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 22:12
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Assume money is no object and then decide which you would rather have. If you can answer that question honestly, then you'll be ultimately happier. I'm probably £5,000 gross worse off with my new job, but I'm much happier ....

book is death - wife is stupid
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BatVink
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Posted: 10th Mar 2005 22:45
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I would find out what your options are in the company by way of a career path.

If programmers never become producers, it may sway it for you.

But if most people in the company have made the progression, you're going to have a much better relationship with colleagues, and prospects to match, if you start as a programmer.

BatVink
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Ian T
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 03:09
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I'd be a producer. 'Making' games is far more fun than coding them as far as I'm concerned

It is a perilous occupation for TGC to post anything by way of a promise, as the words get etched in indestructable marble for all time.
-Lee Bamber
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Jeku
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 14:06
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Thanks for the ideas, guys I've submitted my application and all I can do now is wait for a phone call. If I get the job I'll let you all know!


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bitJericho
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 14:17
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so which one did ya go for?


Yarr join teh New and Improved LoGD!
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Jimmy
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 14:43
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why, Bikini Inspector, of course!


Well we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun.
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bitJericho
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 14:56
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"they took our jeoobbbss"

*points at the goobacks*

--

Wait.. what were we talking about again?


Yarr join teh New and Improved LoGD!
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billy the kid
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 15:08 Edited at: 11th Mar 2005 15:10
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Well you have already submitted your application, however if you are still given a choice I would recommend programmer. The reason being you know you have talent and experience in that area. Also a programming job at a game company is one of the most secure jobs there. And game designer is definitely the least secure. Once you produce one too many bad titles (usually 1 if you are new), you will get the boot. Only the best of the best stick around in the game designer field. Not that you wouldnt be a good game designer. Also programmers usually make the most money of everyone at a game company excluding the executives. Only the absolute best game designers make more money than a senior programmer usually.
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Jeku
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 16:55
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Quote: "so which one did ya go for?"


I took my chances and went for the associate producer. I think it will be cool having my name right at the top of the credits, and I think producers garner more respect than others. Also, I figure that I can still program on the side for fun.

Also, I'm still in my first year of marriage and I have to think about my wife... producers tend to work less hours than programmers (which, if you think about it, means they get paid the same amount or more than programmers anyway). I have an industry programmer friend who calculated it out and said the cleaning lady earns more than him

Quote: "Once you produce one too many bad titles (usually 1 if you are new), you will get the boot. "


But this is true of programmers and artists as well. I have friends who are programmers who were "dismissed" after their project was released late and had bad reviews. Nobody is spared from that, unfortunately.

Quote: "Also programmers usually make the most money of everyone at a game company excluding the executives. "


This can be true, but I've read stats where the average producer earns more than the average programmer. In the end I think it really boils down to the company.


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billy the kid
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 17:09
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Yes you are right, one bad title can get artists and programmers fired too. But they are a little more immune than producers. Basically because the producer is the guy in charge. If you did a good job programming or artisting, they might keep you around. Producers get the boot with no second chance unless they have a good record.

As for salaries, Ill just point you to a 2003 survey: http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20040211/olsen_01.shtml

As you can see programmers on average make the most money. But you are right, it depends on the company too.
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Peter H
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Posted: 11th Mar 2005 21:29
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Quote: "I took my chances and went for the associate producer. I think it will be cool having my name right at the top of the credits, and I think producers garner more respect than others. Also, I figure that I can still program on the side for fun.
"

YES!!! FAME!!! POWER!!! MONEY$$$

oh...wait...you're the one applying

"We make the worst games in the universe."

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