| Despite the recent slew of layoffs at a few of the larger video game publishing operations, the industry is suffering from a talent drought.
"No AI or engine programmer worth their weight is going to be out of work in this town anytime soon," says Andrea Malloni, a talent recruiter for the industry, during a recent interview. "It is a candidate market."
The fact that those who work in the business are labelled "talent" – as opposed to being called workers or employees – suggests just how the employers – the development studios and publishers – think of those in their employ. In a business where specialized, highly technical expertise is often required, not every employee is equal.
Which means that competition for the best and brightest can be fierce. In a move to retain valuable talent, Montreal’s Ubisoft added a non-compete clause to their contracts, something others in the industry decry as being too controlling and ultimately unenforceable.
It’s a simple problem with a simple solution: if there aren’t enough people in the industry now, and there aren’t enough new workers coming up through the various education channels, you must find new talent elsewhere.
"The game industry has been recruiting people who have a similar skill-set that want out of their traditional environment," admits Malloni.
But from what industries? "Film is a big one. Many studios are going directly to the film industry to get people."
If the video game entertainment business continues to follow in the footsteps of their movie cousins, Malloni’s job description might soon change, as the most talented specialists secede from the existing studio system and become freelancers. Malloni might find that she’s left recruiting behind in favour of being a talent agent.
Video games are not crafted by individuals, they are created by teams. "There’s a misconception out there that if a company hires the best AI programmer ever, their game will be phenomenal," says Malloni. "The reality is that it’s the chemistry of that person with the designers, artists and the producer. Great projects have a great team dynamic."
Chalk that up as another parallel between games and film. The best script in the world can become a bad film in the hands of a bad director or bad actors, just as a good game concept can become a waste of pixels if the process of development gets off track. Screenwriter William Goldman said: "one of the great truths of the movie business is that moves are fragile." With so many people having an impact on the final outcome, the slightest misstep can be disastrous. The same is true of video games.
REVIEWS
· Gun (publisher: Activision; platform: PC, PS2, Xbox, X360; rating: mature).
The Wild West is a great setting for a video game, and this offering is, overall, a fine addition to the oeuvre. You play as Colton White, a hunter and trapper who gets caught up in a traditional frontier plot involving a ruthless villain who runs the town. Along the way you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use your six-shooters and ride your horse, which benefit from some clever game design: it’s simple to execute but still seems authentic. Add to that some great voice acting (is it me, or does Kris Kristofferson have the perfect rasp for a frontiersman?) and you’ve got some good fun here. The fact that you’re disappointed when the (albeit shorter than normal) story ends indicates how much fun it was to play.
· Peter Jackson’s King Kong (publisher: Ubisoft; platform: GC, PC, PS2. Xbox, X360; rating: teen).
This video game adaptation of Jackson’s remake is, like the film, a hell of a ride, although the game’s storyline differs slightly. Starting at Skull Island, Ann still gets taken by Kong, and as Jack Driscoll you rescue her, but the rest of the adventure plays out differently. The controls are simple and intuitive, so you’ll be flinging spears at dinosaurs in no time, and the screen is dedicated to your view of the surroundings – there are no icons or life-bars to distract you from what’s going on. You’ll still know when you’re in danger of kicking it, though, as the clever developers use sound and visual cues to warn you. Never fear, Jackson would never allow players to miss out on the opportunity to be Kong, so there are exhilarating sequences where you star as the great ape. It’s not the longest game to play, but the action is tense and exciting, and this one is well worth the price of admission. |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.