Mirko Gozzo, European General Manager for Riot Games, talks to David Smith of Interactive Selection and Game Careers at GDC Europe in Germany. Mirko has been in the computer games industry for more than 10 years with extensive expertise operating and publishing overseas products (especially from Asian companies) within the European market in multiple languages. He is experienced in both pay-to-play (P2P) and free-to-play (F2P) business models focussing every action on its ROI, PCU, APA, ARPPU / B-ARPU, player acquisition, retention and re-acquisition. He has successfully launched many AAA online games including World of Warcraft, Aion, Lineage II, and other top-selling offline games including Mortal Kombat: Deception, F.E.A.R., Commandos and Empire Earth. His advice to those thinking of applying for a job at Riot Games:
“If I have one suggestion that would be play League of Legends and tell us what you think – all the good things and also the bad things, which are the most important for us because we always want to improve, and having someone passionate about the game who can tell us where we can improve its exactly what we like.” See the full clip here:
Too busy, too far away, just thought it a waste of time or never even heard about it, you can now get a flavour of what you missed. Whatever reason you could not make it to the European Women in Games Conference, London on 22 September 2011, here is the highlights video of the conference brought to you courtesy of James Hakesly Photography. Sold out and packed into the downstairs conference suite of the NH Harrington Hall Hotel, London, some of the games industry’s most successful female achievers inspired other women seeking to enter the games industry and those wishing to progress their careers at the annual European Women in Games Conference and Networking event. If you are interested in joining the WIGJ professional network, we recommend you should join over 2500 other supporters in our LinkedIn group.
Change the default resolution of 360p to 720p and see the full clip below in glorious HD.
Ireland Games Jobs is the professional group for all working in the video games industry in Irealnd or all interested in moving to work in games in Ireland. This is a forum to exchange ideas, help and advice on current topics and trends in jobs and careers within Ireland. If you are a member of LinkedIn, you can now get together with over 500 others who share the same interests.
Eimear Noone is an Irish composer/conductor living in LA working with Blizzard Games and Nintendo. See her conducting the orchestra ahead of Nintedo’s E3 presentation in this video clip of the Zelda Overture at E3 2011.
Women In Games Jobs (WIGJ) announces this year’s women in games conference will take place on September 22nd 2011 in London. This first ever pan European conference for women is being supported and championed by an impressive Advisory Board.
Board members in alphabetical order include:
Ali Bergstrom-Allen, Production Lead, Sony Computer Entertainment;
Barbara Bernad, Lead Animator, Maverick Media;
Alison Cressey, Open Sauce Marketing and former European MD, Activision;
Geraldine Cross, HR Manager, Blitz Games;
Jo Goodson, Jo Wood Consultants and former European MD, Broderbund;
Helen Kennedy, University of the West of England and Women in Games;
Clare Maddalena, Maddalena Consulting;
Louise Murray, Head of Fable Franchise, Microsoft Lionhead;
David Smith, Founder, WIGJ;
Fiona Sperry, Studio Director and VP, EA Criterion Games
Giselle Stewart, General Manager, Ubisoft Reflections.
The conference focus is Career Development for women within the European games industry, featuring keynote and specialist speakers giving practical advice on getting into and getting ahead in the industry, where as few as 1 in 15 people are women.
Further announcements on the speaker line up and venue details will follow.
David Smith, founder of WIGJ, commented: “This year’s Women In Games Conference is aimed at both women in games education and women with firmly established careers in games development and games publishing across Europe – a ‘must attend’ event for women seeking to progress their careers in the male dominated games sector.”
Interesting if slightly OTT, short HD video presented at Gateway Ireland on the Gaming industry in Ireland. There is lots going on. You just need some help on finding it. There are plugs for Demonware, Havok, Zynga, FaceBook, Blizzard, Dylan Collins, Seamus Blackley, Steve Collins and Dave Perry. Interactive Selection is that professional advisor on games jobs in Ireland.
Interactive Selection has been tasked to recruit a European Managing Director for a US MMO Publisher. We are searching for a smart, passionate, business minded Managing Director for our client’s European Office. You would be responsible for developing the business across Europe, setting up the company culture within the European offices, leading and growing the European team and managing financial and physical resources. Full spec at http://www.jobsdbase.net/job_details.asp?ID=5473 If you know of anyone who would be interested, please ask them to make contact with David Smith at Interactive Selection. Closing date for interst is 8 April 2011.
Can you think of 2 more prestigious institutions than the BBC and Edge Magazine? David Smith, MD of Interactive Selection, found himself live in front of BBC News anchors Simon McCoy and Carrie Gracie at 10.43 on September 21st for an interview about the games industry and the topic of start ups and jobs. For a full 3 minutes he fielded questions on the state of the games industry today, how it may fare providing new jobs moving forward and how the unemployed may want to find a job within computer games. For a more detailed report see the Games Job Blog.
On September 21st Edge Magazine’s feature Get into Games 2010 was published and David Smith again found himself the firts external recruiter to be interviewed in the history of Edge Magazine. You can click through to the full report: Get Into Games 2010: David Smith, Interactive Selection
2 questions about the role of the modern recruiter from the Edge interview are repeated here:
Edge: Thanks to things like forums, modding and trade shows, the game industry gets closer to its audience by the year. How does that affect the job of the recruiter?
David: You haven’t mentioned social networking, which is probably a bigger influence than the other three. Sites like LinkedIn are a godsend for internal recruiters in particular, as well as for people with their own LinkedIn profile who want to talk directly to employers. But in terms of the role of the recruiter – and yes, it’s changing all the time – I’d say that recruiters these days are much less a necessary middleman than a necessary guide or confidante, or even a trusted professional advisor. That can be for employers as well, not just jobseekers. We offer that extra bit of expertise in what is a very fast and changing market.
Edge: But aren’t developers trying to step into that mentor role themselves to an extent?
David: The difference between that and a jobseeker talking to a recruiter is that developers only have the one job to offer, which is with their particular company. Recruiters are paid to have a knowledge of the overall market and don’t just offer a portfolio of potential jobs – they can also talk to jobseekers on a job-by-job basis. If you’ve got a job with Quantic Dream, they’re not going to offer you a job at Ubisoft down the road – they’re interested in their immediate needs, so they’re never going to be able to offer the advice that we give, which is really to look after people over their whole career.
Trust Interactive Selection for your recruiting needs in Ireland.
Now you can get a taste of Dublin before you even arrive! Our Dublin showcases a range of the sights to be enjoyed in and around the city of Dublin. If you’re looking for a young, lively city with a vibrant nightlife, a glimpse of an ancient civilisation, a cultural feast, a musical odyssey, stunning scenery, and a spectacular coastline – you’ve come to the right place! Dublin has all of this… and more! Take a look for yourself! For more info on Dublin, from the official visitor information web site, visit http://www.visitdublin.com
Serial internet entrepreneur Dylan Collins of JOLT Online talks of the imperative for transparency in the new digital world. Over 400 of Irelands business and technology community gathered in Dublin on March 3, at an event hosted by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, to discuss the potential of digital for Ireland’s businesses. Jolt Online is an Interactive Selection client.
Women In Games Jobs (WIGJ) announces this year’s women in games conference will take place on September 22nd 2011 in London. This first ever pan European conference for women is being supported and championed by an impressive Advisory Board.
Can you think of 2 more prestigious institutions than the BBC and Edge Magazine? David Smith, MD of Interactive Selection, found himself live in front of BBC News anchors Simon McCoy and Carrie Gracie at 10.43 on September 21st for an interview about the games industry and the topic of start ups and jobs. For a full 3 minutes he fielded questions on the state of the games industry today, how it may fare providing new jobs moving forward and how the unemployed may want to find a job within computer games. For a more detailed report see the 
On September 21st Edge Magazine’s feature Get into Games 2010 was published and David Smith again found himself the firts external recruiter to be interviewed in the history of Edge Magazine. You can click through to the full report: