STAFF PROFILE: GEORGE, GAME DESIGNER
What is your background?
When I was very young (many, many years ago...) my parents owned a shop that had a Space Invaders machine nestled in the corner. I knew from the moment I was crushed by the alien invaders that video games would always play a part in my life.
Growing up, I owned and played on just about every machine known to man and I had developed a very eclectic taste. But instead of just playing games for the fun of it, like most kids my age did, I'd often pick out faults or areas of the game I instinctively thought could be improved upon.
During my years at Polytechnic (studying to be an accountant) I finally decided that my future didn't lie in bookkeeping and desperately wanted to get involved in the video game industry in some way. Much to my parents' astonishment, I left Poly. I then sent out my CV to many software houses explaining who I was and what I thought I could bring to their products and organisation. I was turned down by ALL of them. Every last one. I was amazed. Getting a job wasn't supposed to be this hard. I didn't let it deter me though. I really believed I had something to offer and simply looked for another way in.
While flicking through the latest video game magazine in search of inspiration, I can across a recruitment ad looking for a new staff writer. The magazine was published by Future Publishing and called Super Play. I applied and, shock and amazement, I was invited for an interview. "I'll show them..." I thought, as I boarded the train. "How hard can an interview for a games magazine that has a readership of about 200 be?" Very hard actually - it turned out to be the interview from hell. I was led into a room and interviewed by the publisher, then led into another room where I'd meet another person that did another interview. Several rooms, hours and interviews later, I was told the job on Super Play had already been filled. Great. It was at that point that I thought someone in the building had mistaken me from the previous night's Crimewatch and they were trying to keep me 'occupied' until the police arrived. |
