[ALL] I love how all these OS leaders end up getting jobs with EA

[spiker]

I took some programming classes in high school and college. I can tell you that it's not even remotely complicated to program a rule that restricts the CPU from taking K/P/FB/G before any particular round. You can code it from the CPU's GM AI or even give each player a hidden attribute that restricts the computer from drafting the player too high.

 

[spiker]

I wish the member title allowed more characters. "Untouchable Master of Evil Combat" is perfect for that.

 

[FirstTimer]

Not sure if everybody is aware but gaming companies give gaming websites incentives to give them high reviews/censor criticism of their titles. They give you a pipeline of free games, stuff to giveaway, early screenshots, etc.

When VSN was an actual site in the gaming scene and we tried to be reputable. We dealt with 2-3 gaming companies (the ones you see on OS but I can't name names) that got pissed off at us when we gave them a realistic game review.

We got an angry email claiming "How are you going to do that to us after all we did for you, the only way we can continue our relationship is if you bump our grade higher"

It's a bitch form of advertising if you ask me. Every single site you go to for game reviews OS, GameSpot, GameFaqs, or w/e shit is still out there...they are doing it 100%.

You suck their dick to move up. We cut all ties to dealing with gaming companies when EA tried to make us ban/remove posts by users photoshopping NCAA Producer Ben Haumiler.

MOAR STORIES!

Also, Ben Haumiller is my new public enemy #1.

Just to clear up two misconceptions, having worked for EA/Tiburon on the development of Madden and NCAA:

- He won't be getting paid that much.

- He won't have any real say in improving the product.

DETAILS NOW!

 

[Senser81]

Yet, the best they can come up with, is "Team A takes Player A because he is the best guy on the board that meets a need where he'd be rated ahead of who we already have on the roster"...I mean, seriously, that is the best you can do?

Yeah, who did EA consult with for that programming code? Al Davis?

 

[NAHSTE]

There are no details, for a little over a year I tested Madden, NCAA and other EA games at their new facility in Baton Rouge (the one that caused half of the Orlando office to lose their jobs). I was a Database Manager so I worked as a liaison between our floor testers and the developers.

The developers were either huge dicks who would not listen to you, or complete morons. Very little variance between those two extremes. A lot of Tiburon's employees, including upper management, were literally bagging groceries or delivering pizzas before they joined EA as testers and worked their way up. I was amazed at how few of my superiors had college degrees. (Though to be fair that's more on the QA side than dev.) The other ones are your typical programming geeks who have no idea how football works. So you have a hybrid company of technically oriented geeks and complete morons who have no business qualifications or leadership skills.

The devs at Tib are either too arrogant to listen to the testers' input or too lazy/useless/incompetent to implement any real change. "Yep, we can ship with that" is the only thing a developer ever wants to say about any gameplay issues that come up.

As long as it doesn't crash the game or cause it to fail Sony/Microsoft/ESRB inspection, they are fine with shipping it.

 

[spiker]

There are no details, for a little over a year I tested Madden, NCAA and other EA games at their new facility in Baton Rouge (the one that caused half of the Orlando office to lose their jobs). I was a Database Manager so I worked as a liaison between our floor testers and the developers.

The developers were either huge dicks who would not listen to you, or complete morons. Very little variance between those two extremes. A lot of Tiburon's employees, including upper management, were literally bagging groceries or delivering pizzas before they joined EA as testers and worked their way up. I was amazed at how few of my superiors had college degrees. (Though to be fair that's more on the QA side than dev.) The other ones are your typical programming geeks who have no idea how football works. So you have a hybrid company of technically oriented geeks and complete morons who have no business qualifications or leadership skills.

The devs at Tib are either too arrogant to listen to the testers' input or too lazy/useless/incompetent to implement any real change. "Yep, we can ship with that" is the only thing a developer ever wants to say about any gameplay issues that come up.

As long as it doesn't crash the game or cause it to fail Sony/Microsoft/ESRB inspection, they are fine with shipping it.

Sounds about right.

 

[Senser81]

So you have a hybrid company of technically oriented geeks and complete morons who have no business qualifications or leadership skills.

Aside from the technically-oriented geeks, that sounds almost exactly like VSN!

 

[Leftwich]

Aside from the technically-oriented geeks, that sounds almost exactly like VSN!

Sounds about right.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

A. Years ago after having numerous extended convos with two then buddies who were interviewing with numerous game companies ((already had years working for capcom and activision in PR and programming respectively)) It was pretty clear that EA put its money in marketing/legal and other areas. Basically the actual game development was an after thought. No coder with any clout or designer with any worthwhile ideas would consider EA. Just an awful creative environment filled with hacks on the programming/dev/leadership levels.

B. I was laughed at by the schills and said I was full of shit.

C. No coincidence half the idiots have or currently work for EA.

D. I would have given handjobs to get good salaried job at Epic the last 7 years. So I never blame anyone for taking a gig. Though its pretty remarkable that almost across the board every person that is featured or hired by EA in any capacity comes off as a socially inept imbecile on the boards even someone like Kornstar on madden nation. Its as if these companies have a wonderlic test that consists of only "are you a dick ? , do people dislike you ? are you sure you can mishandle power ?" with Y [] the only option.

 

[Garrett67]

Trust me, EA doesn't make money by hiring a bunch of OS forum members , then over paying them.

I'm sure it will be a good experience for him but I'm thinking he should stick with journalism. That is his major, not gaming. EA will over work him , under pay him and take advantage of him.

Would I do it? Heck yes, just so I can say I work for a big gaming company but unlike me, he is single, young and can support himself with what they will give him.

He must have sucked up to the right person.

 

[NAHSTE]

Trust me, EA doesn't make money by hiring a bunch of OS forum members , then over paying them.

I'm sure it will be a good experience for him but I'm thinking he should stick with journalism. That is his major, not gaming. EA will over work him , under pay him and take advantage of him.

Would I do it? Heck yes, just so I can say I work for a big gaming company but unlike me, he is single, young and can support himself with what they will give him.

He must have sucked up to the right person.

Having only read his post in the linked thread, I would say that's a bad idea.

 

[Twigg4075]

Word, let Sliz live....I bet most of you muthafuckas would take a job with EA in a heartbeat when you saw the amount of zeros on the check

No question. But don't think for a minute there are a ton of zeros on those checks, like Larry said below.

Something tells me it is less than most think, and couple in the ridiculous hours you work along side of it...ehhhh.

That said, if it is something you love to do, it doesn't matter how much you make as long as you love what you do.

I don't necessarily love what I do, but I get paid a lot to compensate for the lack of love. But, I'd take a lot less if there was a situation that was perfect with job/living area, etc.

 

[tigstah]

yeah, i am sure its fun. just ask the guys who worked 70-80 hour weeks. but like someone previously said, if you love it. the hours wont be a problem.

 

[Twigg4075]

D. I would have given handjobs to get good salaried job at Epic the last 7 years. So I never blame anyone for taking a gig. Though its pretty remarkable that almost across the board every person that is featured or hired by EA in any capacity comes off as a socially inept imbecile on the boards even someone like Kornstar on madden nation. Its as if these companies have a wonderlic test that consists of only "are you a dick ? , do people dislike you ? are you sure you can mishandle power ?" with Y [] the only option.

There's your problem right there. You need to set your goals higher. Start right with the bj.

Trust me, EA doesn't make money by hiring a bunch of OS forum members , then over paying them.

I'm sure it will be a good experience for him but I'm thinking he should stick with journalism. That is his major, not gaming. EA will over work him , under pay him and take advantage of him.

Would I do it? Heck yes, just so I can say I work for a big gaming company but unlike me, he is single, young and can support himself with what they will give him.

He must have sucked off the right person.

Fixed.

 

[Garrett67]

There's your problem right there. You need to set your goals higher. Start right with the bj.


Fixed.

That was my next line but I erased it. It was a reference to him and Adembroski... but I actually liked him back in the PC days, so I erased it.

 

[dave]

I'm sure it will be a good experience for him but I'm thinking he should stick with journalism.

Anyone who gets into journalism at his age is insane. There are no jobs, no one is hiring. He should get a masters in something useful.

 

[Garrett67]

Anyone who gets into journalism at his age is insane. There are no jobs, no one is hiring. He should get a masters in something useful.

Yeah, but him working for EA isn't useful, especially for us.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Anyone who gets into journalism at his age is insane. There are no jobs, no one is hiring. He should get a masters in something useful.

Internet sites are always looking...but they pay absolute shit and basically use you as freelance (inconsistent cash flow)

Legitimate newspaper? Nada. I work freelance for the local rag and I'm lucky to get that. Luckily, I don't have to do that for a living and am well off working elsewhere. I do it A) to keep my skills sharp B) I actually enjoy sports writing.

A few of my buddies that were able to get into sports media make magic beans for money. Love their job, but if they don't have a significant other that makes bread, they live at home or in an efficiency.

Definitely wasn't wise getting a journalism degree...but at the time when I started, the business was booming. Took a sharp downturn as soon as I got my degree. Who woulda thunk it?

Now, I gotta go back to school to get something a bit more useful while I'm still young and able to while I have a really good job. Sucks, but it is, what it is.

 

[dave]

Message board bullshit aside, sorry to hear that Larry. I really feel for you. It's a great profession, you just got in at the wrong time.
I love my job to death, but we're just in a bad time right now.
I don't know your age, I assume you're in your 20s. Assuming that's true, I'd seriously consider re-training for another more stable profession before you get married and have kids. One of our reporters quit two years ago to become a cop. Given where economies are going, being a cop or a funeral home worker seem like very stable professions.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Message board bullshit aside, sorry to hear that Larry. I really feel for you. It's a great profession, you just got in at the wrong time.
I love my job to death, but we're just in a bad time right now.
I don't know your age, I assume you're in your 20s. Assuming that's true, I'd seriously consider re-training for another more stable profession before you get married and have kids. One of our reporters quit two years ago to become a cop. Given where economies are going, being a cop or a funeral home worker seem like very stable professions.

Honestly, I don't mind not being a full timer. I've been able to pick and choose what I do (been able to cover the Hurricanes and High School Football in SoFla...best in the country) and not worry about answering to bullshit or running a shitty beat at the Herald (to which I was offered out of college, but turned it down). I work in real estate (not as an agent), and make good coin, it gives me a lot of free time to do the freelance stuff, work my side business, and live very comfortably in one of the best cities in the world. Might not be what I love to do, but I incorporate writing in to keep myself sane. Going to go back to school either in the winter or next fall to pursue something a bit more tangible. But, I'm always open to "going back" to journalism if the right opportunity comes along at the right time and right place, but its definitely not now, and its definitely not in SoFla. I'm at least lucky that I was able to get a good, stable, well paying job before the market turned...if I took a job at the Herald or stuck with Journalism, who knows, but I doubt I'd be employed by them anyway (within months of me turning down a job there, they cut a ridiculous amount of people).