Firstly, she explained the difference between larger and smaller companies. Larger companies tend to stick to tradition, whereas indie companies often are created from passionate, innovative people or people who came from companies that closed down.
A lot of companies suffered by failing to adapt. The game is now no longer the main part of the company - it has become a lot smaller a part due to the sheer size and scope of games companies today. It is important to be flexible and adaptable to any situation as the industry changes very quickly and it is easy to get left behind if you do not keep up.
Geraldine stressed the importance of making contacts - It is hard to get into the industry and it is vital that you keep up to date with people and the technology. She offered these points to survive in the industry:
- Make sure you find what you are good at and stick to it.
- You have to be able to handle constructive criticism & be able to work upon it.
- You have to be resilient and accept that your project may get cancelled.
- Try and stand out when looking for a job - Quirky is good, but make sure you show the effort you put in
- If you fail to get a job, improve your application.
- Don't be afraid to follow up on your application if you don't hear back from them.
She further iterated that there is no absolute right answer as to what to apply for. Whilst larger companies offer a more solid foundation, they can be restrictive. The creative process is often managed by a pipeline you won't get to see. Although smaller companies will offer more creative freedom, there is less job security, and you may often be working freelance. However, Geraldine stated that you should never work for nothing, unless it is something like work experience.
Harvard Reference: Cross, G. (2015) NUA Lecture 2 February 2015
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