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BioWare Holds World Design Contest
grayblob writes "BioWare is holding a World Design Contest to find talented level designers to work in Austin on their first MMORPG. To enter you must create a module with a 20-40 minute playtime in the NWN1 toolset. The module should include 'a cut scene, intricate puzzles and interesting NPC behavior.' The contest ends July 20 and like the writing contest doesn't guarantee employment for the winners."
I've always had a bit of a problem with this line of reasoning. It rings too much like: "When opportunity comes knocking, just wait until it's begging on it's knees before you answer the door."
Read my Very Short "Stories"
If he can write The Hex Coda, he can win this contest. But I'll give The Rose of Eternity series due credit for its awesome use of cutscenes and music.
They are using the NWN1 engine / toolset because it is well known and has a learning curve that doesn't look like a cliff. You can pick up the NWN1 toolset very quickly if you have any sort of the ability they are looking for.
The NWN2 toolset on the other hand... well the first guide I found for it is called "Don't Panic: The Hitchhiker's Guide to First Opening the Neverwinter Nights 2 Toolset"
Turing Word: smother
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It's just a contest. You're free to decide whether it's worth it or not. You're also free to decide whether the terms are fair or not.
Camping on quad since 1996.
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Such a clause would be absolutely critical. If they don't include something like that, then down the line if one of their designers has a similar idea - even if it's truly, independently generated - to one of the submissions then they could be sued.
What if they don't really want a cut sceene, but want builders to demonstrate their ability to create scripted events in the NWN toolset?
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But it's very hard to find people that can. That's the reason for this contest. For graphics artists and programmers there are art and computer science schools to ensure a minimal level of competence (enough for a junior positon). For level designers there is often talent that floats to the top of the mod community. For gamedesigners the problem is most apparent, because everyone involved in gaming has the basic requirement: a strong opinion of what is fun.
Making games is fun, no doubt about it. It's the ultimate employment benefit and I think many gamedevelopers make their overtime out of passion and pride. That bioware can also introduce this extra hoop to jump through is not because it's a buyers market. Having a portfolio is often one of the few requirements to get hired. That bioware has to create a contest to get people to send them their portfolios actually suggests that they're having somewhat of a hard time filling the positions.
Now if you will excuse me, I'm only at 40 hours so far and it's already friday ;)
Puzzles also suck in multiplayer, unless they are specifically designed for MP. So, i guess this contest isn't targeted at MP.
Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
It goes even further than that, though.
Design a World Contest: You design a world and it's yours to keep! Unfortunately, that means that we won't have anything to do with it afterwards and it won't get published.
Oh yeah, that makes sense. People could design a world any time they want to, especially with the NWN toolset. The could certainly create a cutscene, a puzzle, and interesting NPC behavior without this contest. The key here is that BioWare is looking for future employees via this contest. The real winners are the ones that get hired, not the ones that 'win' the contest. And BioWare will probably want the new employee to expand upon the idea they already had, rather than start from scratch on a new one immediately. That means owning the results of the contest.
People also forget something about art: Giving a little of your work away is a GREAT advertisement. Baen.com has pretty much proven this with their free library. The first book they -gave away- is now their all-time best seller. Yes, seller.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
Yeah, about as reasonable as:
You want me to buy a suit for the interview to get employment? You're supposed to pay me!
You want me to buy gas to drive to the interview to get employment? You're supposed to pay me!
You want me to pay for university and get a degree to get employment? You're supposed to pay me!
Sometimes they do, but more often then not you have to do some things for yourself. Get used to it.
While I do technically agree with what you say, this can in fact be a favor to someone. For example, someone who has aspired to work for such a company but does not have the college papers to back up their abilities. This gives people like that an immediate chance to prove their worth and say "I can do it, definitely!"
While this particular series of positions really doesn't need much college experience (hey they still favor people who have it) it does offer opportunity.
Hell, then there's the people who want the job and just like to participate in measurements of skill (it's not like you can't just apply for the position, this just gives them a list of willing participants and gets to see their skill first hand)
A year or two ago I participated in Bioware's writing contest, winning the community voting. I actually did it for the swag they were giving away - I use their coffee mug every day and that Bioware wool cap kept me warm all winter. They'd already offered me a job some time ago, mostly after my NWN modules came out. It was extremely flattering, though the move, disruption to my family, and pay cut made the decision pretty easy. I have a great job in healthcare and a somehow find the time to continue to work on my module building even still. Working for a gaming company can be difficult, though Bioware is one of the best in the industry. I think my decision was to stick with a quality, stable job and having game making be a hobby. For the most part, it's lower stress and I can take the story whatever direction I want.
In terms of the winning module from last year, I actually did two versions. The first was way too linear. The second had lots of choice, from evil to crazy to several flavors of good. There was drama and humor, quality scripting, and polished writing. For folks trying for this contest, I'd keep the cutscenes short, give the player as many choices as you can manage, and make your NPCs memorable. Less is more for these sorts of things. Don't plan an epic module spanning dozens of areas. Just make a couple, with a simple storyline. Play to your strengths - writers should write and scripters should script. You'll have to do both, but emphasize what you're best at.