Good news out there gamers and game artists! Microsoft has agreed to acquire Vancouver, BC based online gaming company, BigPark. Why is this good news you ask? Well, a few reasons actually. For one, BigPark is comprised of some very experienced industry veterans, with games like Need for Speed, SSX, FIFA Soccer and NBA Street under their belts. So when you add their experience together along with the talent pool over at Microsoft Game Studios, the future for both MGS and BigPark look promising. BigPark is currently working on a new unannounced exclusive for the 360. Which brings up a question I have: did Microsoft buy them once they saw the game BigPark was working on? Or did Microsoft buy them and then tell them what game they want the BigPark developers to create? I’m sure there is more to it than that but I happen to think the game BigPark is working on is a major factor in this agreement and I want to know what it is! Don’t you?
Excerpt:
“This opportunity provides us with access to the unparalleled talent, resources and exciting innovation taking place within Microsoft,” said Wil Mozell, studio president and co-founder of BigPark. “We’re looking forward to being part of the Microsoft Game Studios team, where we believe we can successfully contribute to shaping key Microsoft initiatives through fresh and engaging consumer experiences.” –Microsoft Press Release
Another reason why this is such good news, especially for you folks up in the Pacific Northwest: They’re hiring! Yes, they are! Many positions are open and they’re up for grabs for the best men and women in the industry. If you’re a modeler, animator, game designer, even a web developer… why are you still reading this? Go to BigPark and apply now. Especially if you’re out of a job or can’t stand the current job you’re at, why not try y’know? It’s worth a shot.
On the BigPark website, I’d like to highlight the directions for applying, because the application process involves a website that I started using recently. The site is called LinkedIn.com. It’s basically a social networking site for professionals in various industries, including the game industry. I actually set up my LinkedIn account several months ago but never completed my profile nor did I start to network with people in my “connections”. Now that I have, I wish I had done it earlier because I’ve been able to get in contact with a lot of industry veterans. I even got in touch with a woman who was my first contact in Vancouver, BC who gave me a tour of VanArts in 2006. She sold me on the idea of moving up there and starting a path to a new career. Now she is a Producer working for a major studio. So it finally gave me the chance to thank her since she was gone by the time I moved up there.
The site also gives you many ways to connect with your friends, and also connect with their friends. So what BigPark is asking now (which I have not seen before.. and believe me, I’ve been to and applied on many game studio websites), they are asking for you to email them your resume or your “LinkedIn Profile”. I found that very interesting and wonder if the whole “applying through LinkedIn” is the start of a new trend.
As a game student I was first told to mail out our DVD Demo Reels to all the major game studios we were applying at. Then we were told the studios were just inundated with too many DVD’s so the industry started leaning more towards applying online. Y’know, create your own site to show off the work you’ve done, include a resume, your demo reel so you could just apply by giving them your site’s web address. So using a site like LinkedIn.com could be beneficial to you and the industry as a whole because it’s already set up in a way to show off who you are, what you know, who you know and what your references say about you. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re struggling to find a job in the game industry like myself.
Now please excuse me, I have some applying to do. Cheers!
The Gamer Report 