Surely you could be bothered to at least read TFS.... I mean, it has fewer words than you wrote! According to TFS, it expressly excludes the original inventor (or assignee) from these restrictions.
There are a handful of what I consider to be pretty good games that use microtransactions. I think in those cases they adapt the microtransactions to what is inherently a pretty decent game - I don't mind when it's used for custom character graphics or to give players moderately faster access to higher level "stuff."
Of course, you're absolutely right about companies using bad game design as a technique to generate microtransaction income. It really depends on how the game was developed: "We have this cool game, how can we get some money for it?" vs "We need money, how can we make a game to do that for us?"
Well, the first rule of video game development is stay the f out of video game development. Too much labor supply for the jobs. Poor pay, shitty hours, high stress. Or at least that's what I hear from my good friend who got out of video games... Also, web app development doesn't have much overlap with video game development (unless maybe you're working the back-end server stuff on both...). If you don't have a portfolio outside of web apps then you really ought to spend some time working on that. Contribute to an open source project, build your own indy game (iOS and Android have very low bars to entry).
But really, best advice I have is to leverage your friends. A recommendation from somebody inside of the organization will at least get your resume looked at, and a company is going to be far more comfortable with somebody who isn't a complete unknown. Internships are often paid, and part time. Supplement with some part time work. Live cheap.
Well yeah, they obviously couldn't handle us working there. Within three days we'd have replaced half the staff with shell scripts. Within a week we'd have replaced the other half with some sorta robot. The economy can't handle men of our ability. That's why it's best we stay out of it, safely at home in the basement eating cheetos and playing halo.
All this discussion over the best applicant and credentials on a resume... Most good jobs still come from some sort of personal contact. Don't ignore the power of networking. When you've exhausted your personal contacts with your incessant requests for a job - by all means send them a mariachi band. I know I'd recommend you if you sent one to me on a boring Tuesday afternoon.
I think you need to reassess your definition of "cheap" when your point of reference is several years worth of your productive output. I'm not trying to claim that education isn't a good investment (historically it is one of the best), but to say a $200k degree is "cheap" just makes you sound like a privileged ass. Education is a tremendous investment in time and lost wages. Nowadays people are damn near expected to come out of it in debt and have no guarantee they'll get a job that can pay off that debt. You did well, congratulations. But for every one of you, there's some poor teacher struggling to pay off $50k of debt on their $30k salary.
It's probably plausible. As you say, you have a 28 year career. How much of the beginning was touch and go before you established a good track record and contacts?
Help desk, junior level positions, internships, personal projects, etcetc.
"I have no degree or prior experience but I think I'd be great for that mid level programming job." Would you hire that guy? I know a few people with no degree who do "degreed" jobs and do them splendidly - but they didn't walk in asking for that job.
It's a positive feedback loop. More people go to college, so more jobs require college degrees just as a "weed out the resumes" factor. On top of that, you have a great deal of these people in college pursuing degrees that don't really have a follow-on job track. So we have unqualified people with college degrees competing for otherwise qualified people with diplomas and generally winning.
We need to de-emphasize getting people into college as the universal ticket to success and focus on showing people what path they need for whatever career they envision. We complain about people coming out of college not ready for the workplace... Well what exactly were you expecting to do with that History or Liberal Arts degree?
Too small and far too much water. Doncha know people can't breathe underwater?! I'll visit there someday and I'm sure I'll enjoy the hell out of it, but I don't want to live anywhere that I can't just hop in my car or on my motorbike and leave.
I think it already was written as a car analogy. At least that's what I gleaned - after all they talk about tunnels and catalyzers. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure false gravity is just a theoretical physicists analogy for the concept of a car.
...somebody here doesn't understand population growth at all. Virtually every source states something on the order of 100 billion humans to have ever existed. Growth has only been so high in recent history because medical advances have increased life expectancy significantly. It's OK though if you want to ignore scientific observations in order to support your belief system. We've become accustomed to that.
Obviously you aren't in southern california upper middle suburbia... I swear that place exists somewhere outside the normal economic space/time continuum.
...or, y'know, save some of that $20k for retirement or paying off existing student/mortgage debt. There's nothing wrong with giving to charity, but paying down debt or saving for retirement now means you'll have a whole lot more to give down the road.
Buy a used $5000 car, don't spend the rest, and be able to go through retirement while being able to give.
I don't want one and therefore nobody should want one. Not only that, but the company is evil for even offering them. Hell, the inventors should be put in jail for even thinking about them. And also, f you.
Slashdot Mirror
Surely you could be bothered to at least read TFS.... I mean, it has fewer words than you wrote! According to TFS, it expressly excludes the original inventor (or assignee) from these restrictions.
Go back to playing Escape Velocity and let the grownups have their discussion...
You should have the doctor look at that....
There are a handful of what I consider to be pretty good games that use microtransactions. I think in those cases they adapt the microtransactions to what is inherently a pretty decent game - I don't mind when it's used for custom character graphics or to give players moderately faster access to higher level "stuff."
Of course, you're absolutely right about companies using bad game design as a technique to generate microtransaction income. It really depends on how the game was developed: "We have this cool game, how can we get some money for it?" vs "We need money, how can we make a game to do that for us?"
How *dare* they try to take away my enhanced pat downs! They are the highlight of my trip whenever I fly :(
Perfect! You should join AmiMojo and my new company. We're calling it "We are the shit, and we will save yo ass!"
Well, the first rule of video game development is stay the f out of video game development. Too much labor supply for the jobs. Poor pay, shitty hours, high stress. Or at least that's what I hear from my good friend who got out of video games... Also, web app development doesn't have much overlap with video game development (unless maybe you're working the back-end server stuff on both...). If you don't have a portfolio outside of web apps then you really ought to spend some time working on that. Contribute to an open source project, build your own indy game (iOS and Android have very low bars to entry).
But really, best advice I have is to leverage your friends. A recommendation from somebody inside of the organization will at least get your resume looked at, and a company is going to be far more comfortable with somebody who isn't a complete unknown. Internships are often paid, and part time. Supplement with some part time work. Live cheap.
Well yeah, they obviously couldn't handle us working there. Within three days we'd have replaced half the staff with shell scripts. Within a week we'd have replaced the other half with some sorta robot. The economy can't handle men of our ability. That's why it's best we stay out of it, safely at home in the basement eating cheetos and playing halo.
Well you're not going to get the work experience with that attitude, negative nancy!
All this discussion over the best applicant and credentials on a resume... Most good jobs still come from some sort of personal contact. Don't ignore the power of networking. When you've exhausted your personal contacts with your incessant requests for a job - by all means send them a mariachi band. I know I'd recommend you if you sent one to me on a boring Tuesday afternoon.
I think you need to reassess your definition of "cheap" when your point of reference is several years worth of your productive output. I'm not trying to claim that education isn't a good investment (historically it is one of the best), but to say a $200k degree is "cheap" just makes you sound like a privileged ass. Education is a tremendous investment in time and lost wages. Nowadays people are damn near expected to come out of it in debt and have no guarantee they'll get a job that can pay off that debt. You did well, congratulations. But for every one of you, there's some poor teacher struggling to pay off $50k of debt on their $30k salary.
It's probably plausible. As you say, you have a 28 year career. How much of the beginning was touch and go before you established a good track record and contacts?
Help desk, junior level positions, internships, personal projects, etcetc.
"I have no degree or prior experience but I think I'd be great for that mid level programming job." Would you hire that guy? I know a few people with no degree who do "degreed" jobs and do them splendidly - but they didn't walk in asking for that job.
So, how's unemployment treatin' you then?
(tongueincheek)
It's a positive feedback loop. More people go to college, so more jobs require college degrees just as a "weed out the resumes" factor. On top of that, you have a great deal of these people in college pursuing degrees that don't really have a follow-on job track. So we have unqualified people with college degrees competing for otherwise qualified people with diplomas and generally winning.
We need to de-emphasize getting people into college as the universal ticket to success and focus on showing people what path they need for whatever career they envision. We complain about people coming out of college not ready for the workplace... Well what exactly were you expecting to do with that History or Liberal Arts degree?
I too am the shit!
If there's one thing I've learned from restaurants - if the price is "Market Rate", it's more than I can afford!
Makes perfect sense - people are always raving about the happy beaches of Nevada!
Too small and far too much water. Doncha know people can't breathe underwater?! I'll visit there someday and I'm sure I'll enjoy the hell out of it, but I don't want to live anywhere that I can't just hop in my car or on my motorbike and leave.
..of course it won't take long for them to find out who set up the redirects and is actually responsible for the kiddie porn.
I think it already was written as a car analogy. At least that's what I gleaned - after all they talk about tunnels and catalyzers. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure false gravity is just a theoretical physicists analogy for the concept of a car.
...somebody here doesn't understand population growth at all. Virtually every source states something on the order of 100 billion humans to have ever existed. Growth has only been so high in recent history because medical advances have increased life expectancy significantly. It's OK though if you want to ignore scientific observations in order to support your belief system. We've become accustomed to that.
Obviously you aren't in southern california upper middle suburbia... I swear that place exists somewhere outside the normal economic space/time continuum.
...or, y'know, save some of that $20k for retirement or paying off existing student/mortgage debt. There's nothing wrong with giving to charity, but paying down debt or saving for retirement now means you'll have a whole lot more to give down the road.
Buy a used $5000 car, don't spend the rest, and be able to go through retirement while being able to give.
I don't want one and therefore nobody should want one. Not only that, but the company is evil for even offering them. Hell, the inventors should be put in jail for even thinking about them. And also, f you.