The job hunt continues ...

Well all is not lost. It's not like I was fired from QA at EA or anything. In fact things couldn't be better (now that I reread this, things probably could be alot better in life, but they couldn't be better in QA, anyway). We lost Pouyan yesterday to the FIFA team so the Face Breaker Wii team is just me, Dave, Adrian, and the new kid Donovan. Today was his first day on the QA team and he looked a little nervous. I guess its a little intimidating on your first day and you're not on the same team with anyone you've trained with. At least me, Dave and Pouyan knew each other somewhat beforehand. The deal with us is if we get another hundred bugs by Friday - that would be the day after tomorrow - we get a paid day off on Monday, which means 4 day weekend!

Originally the offer wasn't extended to us newbies but then Dave made a good point on how it wasn't fair for us to help contribute to the goal and not reap the rewards after. The original plan was we'd get the day off, but it'd be unpaid, which would defeat the whole purpose of having us work hard to earn that day off in the first place. Anyway after making some noise, Alex told Dave that he'd try and figure things out for us on our behalf. And Pouyan went to talk to Sanaz about it, and I was the only one who remained quiet about the situation. Adrian didn't have to worry about it cause he is a member of the old team who got pulled back, and Donovan hadn't joined the team yet. Whatever talking Dave did to Alex and Pouyan to Sanaz, it worked and we're getting that day paid for and off work - IF we can get another hundred or so bugs in by this Friday when the game reaches Alpha, so here's hoping.

Anyway so I decided to continue job hunting anyway. Figured it takes companies a good few weeks to get back to shortlisted applicants so if I apply now, I might be pleasantly surprised down the road. Not like I'm expecting a callback from Piranha about the concept artist position. Eric told me he applied too, but he doesn't think he's gonna get it. I'm pretty doubtful I'll get it either because there are alot of talented artists out there. Speaking of which, there's this guy who emailed me today I wanna talk about. But I fit their required bill quite nicely - even have experience modeling in Maya and graphic design. So here's hoping they take my abilities and portfolio into consideration. But if they don't, it's no big deal. I'm still trying to work my way into an EA development position. Which reminds me, I have to email Dan Chandler, EAC's version of Black Box's Amanda Pugh, about what it'd take to get into an artist position with EAC. Just play up the whole "i just want advice" deal. Then WHAM, show him my website and capabilities and he just might forward me to the development team for Face Breaker II. Gotta weasel my way in there.

Anyway the guy who emailed me today is named Spug Williams ... if I can recall the name correctly. Says he's seen my work on the polycount forums although I don't really remember him - its hard to remember all the people who post on there. But we talked on msn for abit and he showed me his website. Seriously WOW. I can't believe this guy has to resort to doing freelance work for Mark at Wikiatlas. With that kind of skill, he deserves so much more. But at the same time, it seems with the game industry, its the people who have connections who get the jobs over the people with talent. And having both is ideal! That's pretty much what I'm doing in QA after all. Don't get me wrong, its the easiest job for the most pay I've ever had, but I've got my sights set on something a little more ambitious but completely attainable at the moment.

Also, another thing I just considered today is this - say I do get this concept artist job with Piranha (or any other job at any other company). That means I'd be leaving EA when my contract ends. And after having the EAC experience, I'm not sure I'd want to work anywhere else - except Capcom of course, lol. Well, I won't even consider that yet. Chances are I didn't get the concept artist job, or the environment job with Slant Six. Oh yeah, I applied there too. Well, nothing wrong with getting your name out there even if you are employed, I guess.