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Become a game maker at Stardock

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Become a game maker at Stardock

from JoeUser Forums

Stardock is looking for developers and artists to work on our upcoming games ranging from the fantasy strategy game, an RPG, an MMORTS, and of course future versions of GalCiv.

So what do you need to do to work at Stardock?

Here is the check list:

  1. Work in Plymouth Michigan. We're near Ann Arbor Michigan. Seriously.  We get lots of people saying how great they can "work from remote".  We already have lots of remote people. We need people here.
  2. If you're a developer, you need to know C++ (at the very least) on Visual Studio. We don't care how much formal experience you have as long as you can code. We can't teach you how to do that, you have to already know it and be pretty good.
  3. You have to be into gaming. At Stardock, everyone participates in the game design. There is no such thing as a game designer at Stardock and there will almost certainly never will be. We all take part.
  4. If you're an artist, you need to know 3D Studio or Maya (preferably both).  You also need to have a portfolio of cool stuff you've made.
  5. You need to be self-starting. Seriously. Raises at Stardock are not based on percentages, they're based on what you produce. We have people here who started out making <$30k who now make over $100k. 
  6. You must be able to get along with others.  We get a lot of people interviewing who are quite certain that they're the smartest people in human history and make every effort to impress that on us.  Look we're just a bunch of Monty Python loving, Simpsons watching goons but we are reasonably bright too, mutual respect amongst the team is crucial.

If you think you or someone you know may fit this basic criteria, send us your resume.  [email protected] and [email protected] should do the trick. 

Also, no interns, co-ops, etc. We're looking for people who are ready to get into making cool stuff right now and stay at it until the game is done.

A few other things about Stardock:

  • We don't lay off after projects. Once you're hired, as long as you do a good job, you're here as long as you want.
  • We've been around for 15 years as of this October. It's a very stable environment.
  • Very laid back working environment. We like to have fun.
  • Typical work week is about 45 hours a week. Crunch times are rare and short. Since I am there during crunch time and I'm lazy, I tend to work to schedule things so that there aren't much crunch times (I.e. I pad the schedule).
204,872 views 111 replies
Reply #101 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting Thrawn2787, reply 18
Boo being 16 and not knowing how to code/model/skins/really anything to do with computers.

 
End of Thrawn2787's quote

lol. I know exactly how that feels. 16 and the most advanced computer thing I know how to do is messagbox.popup in visual basic. heh.

 

But I am working on learning more because I do want a job someplace like Stardock. Its my dream. so... i'm dedicated.

 

Fell for you Thrawn. Check out Visual Studio Express. Do a google search and then search for programming tutorials on MSDN. Believe me, it is really easy to learn from. Plus when we get to college we get the pro version for free! wahoo!

 

:ninja:   za fafon

Reply #102 from Demigod Forums Top

Will you guys be hiring in three years? >.>

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #103 from Sins Forums Top

You'll get to work on Sins of a Solar Empire II. ;)

Reply #104 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

You'll get to work on Sins of a Solar Empire II.
End of quote

Not so much. Sins is IC's baby :p

Reply #105 from Sins Forums Top

Fell for you Thrawn. Check out Visual Studio Express. Do a google search and then search for programming tutorials on MSDN. Believe me, it is really easy to learn from. Plus when we get to college we get the pro version for free! wahoo!
End of quote

VS Express and a beginner's C++ book would definitely be a good way to start. The biggest challenge in programming is not the language itself, syntax is easy enough to learn. It's thinking in computer terms. A lot of things that are natural to us are not natural for the computer. As powerful as they have become, they are incredibly stupid and (especially with unmanaged code) you pretty much need to hold their hand through everything. Problem solving is the biggest obstacle to learning programming because you have to start thinking in terms you aren't used to.

Myself, I haven't coded for a good 6-7 years. I've recently picked up a Visual Studio book that so far has been a good refresher on the basic C++, and eventually will get into Win32/.NET coding because I don't want to only know how to make console apps. Finding the time is more difficult :(

Reply #106 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting kryo, reply 4
You'll get to work on Sins of a Solar Empire II.

Not so much. Sins is IC's baby
End of kryo's quote

I knew someone would point that out. :p

 

Reply #107 from Demigod Forums Top

:p I wouldn't want to work on sins much really.  Just Demigod. ;o

Reply #108 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'd LOVE to help out with the RPG, but it'll never happen...  I've been working on my own RPG 'system' (computer based) for a while, and still haven't really seen anything out there quite like it yet...  (I like pulling RPG's apart and figuring out how and why they work, or, in most cases, DON'T).

I started writing a paper about RPG's but haven't had time to continue so far - the first 2 parts are here, if you're interested?  (I hope so :) ):

Part 1:

http://rpgforumsonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20613

Part 2:

http://rpgforumsonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20619

 

Reply #109 from JoeUser Forums Top

*Calls his college to steer his next semester towards learning C++* >_>

Reply #111 from Sins Forums Top

Hmm, I wouldn't mind working for Stardock. I could easily relocate, given enough time since I reside in Virginia. I'm currently studying to be a Character Animator (I graduate in December actually), and have plenty of experience with 3D Studio max, Lightwave, Motionbuilder, and a few other programs. I'll definitely check this out and see what I can do.