[DJ]

So a while back I posed on here about how I got a new job working for a Chiropractic billing firm. Well, after three months it became pretty clear that my boss was insane, and I was miserable. The work was dull, the pay was nowhere near commensurate with the amount of work, training was basically nonexistent and mood swings by my boss were common. Some days she was all smiles, other days she would rain abuse on everyone for any problem she could think of. The writing was basically on the wall -- the buisness was doing miserably (it was 3 employees counting me) and eventually she laid off her staff and the office now sits empty. It was the single worst-managed thing I've ever seen, and I'm pretty sure my boss had a touch of the Aspergers. Very good with numbers, had a sharp memory, but social cues would go sailing miles above her head and she would get incredibly frustrated with difficult, alien concepts like sarcasm or deadpan humor.

She also had the fantastically irritating habit of spouting her own self-help lines at everyone in ear shot.

So, I can't really say I miss working there. Working for someone who is socially borderline-retarded is not a pleasant experience.

Cut to me looking for a job for almost two months. I got my position back at Starbucks but that barely pays any bills, and as nice as Starbucks is for a shit job, it's still a shit job.

Last week, though, I got a call, which segued into a written interview and two in-person interviews and finally a trip to Namco Headquarters out here in Santa Clara for a fairly harrowing hour-long interview with three higher-ups.

An hour ago I got a phone call informing me they'd like to offer me a job.

I guess what I'm saying is I'm a tester at Namco now and I'm pretty fucking happy about that.

I know testers are the entry-level positions but the hell with it. It's a game-industry job and I've gotta say I'm pretty thrilled to have it.
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[Chuplayer]

They buy local arcades and close them. On the other hand, they make the Time Crisis games.

Let us know when you test Time Crisis 5.

[DJ]

I'm nigh-positive if I mention anything that I'm testing I instantly get fired SO I won't be doing that.
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[Broco]

Hmm, nice. That sounds like a very thorough interview process for a testing position, which probably augurs well to how you'll be treated within the company.

At the large games company I worked in, there were basically two classes of testers: those in testing farms on the publishing side, and those who did internal preliminary QA and feedback on the development side. The latter type of tester is the better one to be, as they've got relatively varied work, lots of contact with the creative team and many opportunities to graduate to better work (I know one tester who became game designer, and another who became a sound effects guy). Meanwhile the farm testers seemed to do repetitive work in faraway offices that I as a developer never saw, and I doubt there's many places for them to advance to except "lead tester". I'm not sure exactly what the American branch of Namco does, so I don't know which type of tester your position would be closer to?



Since this is the new job thread, I'll mention that I just switched jobs myself, though I'm moving out of the game industry, to develop software to more utilitarian purposes. I just left my old company this week and I'm packing up my stuff to move to the Bay Area myself to start my new job next month. Not that I wanted out of the game industry, more that the Bay Area position seemed like a really good opportunity that I couldn't refuse.

Maybe we could hang out DJ. I'll be arriving in two weeks and will try to quickly find an apartment in San Francisco (still haven't got one ;_;).

[Ebrey]

You're probably doing big team, publisher testing... which is a lot worse than developer testing. But it's fun for a while, and it looks good on your resume when you apply for those developer jobs. So good move, DJ.

The job will get really, really boring and it's frustrating telling people that game testing is not a "fun" job. But it's better than most jobs that have zero requirements and it could lead to something better.

[CubaLibre]

Hopefully this summer I will be working for a judge, so keep your eyes on this thread folks, I know you're all quivering in anticipation.

DJ, as they say in the world of warcraft, gratz.
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Let's Play, starring me.

[DJ]

Yeah hit me up Broco. I'm in San Jose but catch the BART down I'll take you out for sushi n' beer.
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[Daphaknee]

oh man i want ot hang out with DJ and broco!!
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the internet's

[internisus]

Just got made editor of Gamepro's http://omgmetalgear.com, which is sort of cool. My folks don't give a shit about anything that doesn't hand me oodles of cash and point me towards the craigslist ads for local apartments, but I have a friend who is excited about it. Here's what my new boss says about pay:

[Tokyo Rude]

Still looking for a job in the dot co dot jp.

[Daphaknee]

no really we all have to get together
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the internet's

[adol]

Wow, so many people in the Bay Area... I'd like to hang out, but I'd be kind of scared!

[slipstream]

[DJ]

Well, wait, when are people getting down here? I can throw myself an almost magically narcissistic "I'm workin' at Namco!" dinner at Wings or something if a couple people wanna come have dinner?

Wings is cheap so you can eat pretty damn well there for like $8 a person, plus it's damn tasty.
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[Daphaknee]

dude wings is sweet i will go to that celebration dinner

slipstream, i dont think im having the party next month anymore, but im still throwing the russian party in may which i invited everyone to
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the internet's

[DJ]

Sweeeet let's do Wing's.
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