What's your "day job"?

[RedAlix]

lol at least they aren't too frequent.

 

[Tuliplady]

I'm a merchandiser/auditor working employed, self employed and freelance for various companies. So some weeks I'm busier than others, this week and next are slightly manic but then I'm quiet which is when I'll concentrate on surveys etc. I love my work, its full of variety and I work with different people every day. Today I audited magazine promotional space and did their returns in one supermarket, then I put up a fsdu full of toiletries in another, followed by visiting 8 corner shops putting up mobile phone pos. I should be doing reports at the moment but catching up on here is much more fun.

 

[Jon]

Ah I have seen you people in petrol stations putting up e-cig stands..

I have actually been offered Auditing work before ( i assume you mean exit surveys ) ?

 

[Tuliplady]

Nah, never done exit surveys. Its usually auditing promotions, for example a supermarket will have over 50 extra promotional sites for magazines that the mag pays for, and I check its there, siting it if not. Same on aisle ends with grocery stuff. Its an easy job if you like talking and are well organised.

 

[Jon]

That sort of work is being gobbeled up by field agent and roamler these days it seems

 

[Tuliplady]

Not really, we usually speak to the store contact, correct price labels and help merchandise as well. Field Agent and Roamler tend to be covert where as I have to be very visible and vocal, keeping the brand in their minds for when they have extra sites in store. It is though a problem when I'm trying to do a covert job for FA and one of my store contacts sees me and starts chatting. At the moment I am busier than I have been in four years, and from September to Christmas, its mental as people like me really drive the sales in store by pushing for extra space and getting the stock out onto shop floor. January to April is my quiet time.

 

[RossyB]

I'm a Games Designer, makin' mobile games! Was a bit of a career change from thinking about being a journalist coming out of college then doing a Games Art degree at Uni!

 

[alditoharrods]

I'm a Games Designer, makin' mobile games! Was a bit of a career change from thinking about being a journalist coming out of college then doing a Games Art degree at Uni!

Cool! Do you do that self employed or employed?

 

[RossyB]

I'm a Games Designer, makin' mobile games! Was a bit of a career change from thinking about being a journalist coming out of college then doing a Games Art degree at Uni!

Cool! Do you do that self employed or employed?

Employed! I used to make games before but I would never make any money out of it, just do it for fun really, but that was when I was back at school and didn't have rent to pay I imagine I could do it self-employed but there's a lot of development time involved with making games so there's a lot of time where you wont be making any money - and when you do come to release your game there is no guarantee that you'll make anything from it either!

 

[Jon]

I'm a Games Designer, makin' mobile games! Was a bit of a career change from thinking about being a journalist coming out of college then doing a Games Art degree at Uni!

Cool! Do you do that self employed or employed?

Employed! I used to make games before but I would never make any money out of it, just do it for fun really, but that was when I was back at school and didn't have rent to pay I imagine I could do it self-employed but there's a lot of development time involved with making games so there's a lot of time where you wont be making any money - and when you do come to release your game there is no guarantee that you'll make anything from it either!

Hi Ross

I'm an avid gamer. Used to play a lot of AAA titles but over the last year have got into indie titles on the ps4 like don't starv, octodad, outlast

Just out of interest is there much money involved for the developer releasing games on the consoles or is there the green site money to be made on the PC?
Or
Is mobile gaming where it is at for indie development?

 

[RossyB]

Mobile gaming is the quickest and easiest way to make money with games - you just need the right idea to go viral or get featured on the App store and you could be making 50k a day (flappy bird). Also the development time is much much much shorter (flappy bird, again, only took 3 days to make) because of the limitations of mobile hardware and the want to keep your filesize to a minimum, there is much less actual game content and longevity in gameplay is acheived by clever use of mechanics, such as endless runners re-using the same scenery assets.

This is of course providing you monetise right, whether you're hoping to make money through ad revenue or selling in-app purchases using a 'freemium' or 'free-to-play' financial model. There is still money to be made through the one-off purchases, but with the abundance of free apps on the App stores you're unlikely to get noticed unless your app is particularly impressive or you have put a lot of effort and/or money into marketing, again driving up development costs.

As for PC and Console, the next generation of consoles are said to be making it easier for independant game studios to release titles on them, although as they are in their infancy this statement remains to be seen, but there is still a lot of money to be had here, although I would tend to go for digital distribution only. It all depends on how much time effort and money you're willing to put into the deveopment process and how much belief you have in your idea. PC gaming is making a resurgance mainly thanks to the mad deals you can get these days due to Steam sales and Humble Bundles (which is also a great way to get your game noticed whilst making a bit of money at the same time!). But the growth pales in comparison to that of the mobile gaming industry. Take a look at this infographic which depicts the current state of the games industry in the UK;

In summary, if you're thinking of getting into the industry and looking to make money, go mobile.

 

[Flitterbug]

GAMING - I love it, did Computer Games Tech as a degree but sadly never got into it I went to be a teaching assistant instead (I was torn between working with games and working with children but turns out I'm better at the latter) but I love playing them.

 

[Jon]

Have you ever thought of earning money online by developing a game for Android/IOS Ross?

 

[RossyB]

Kelzky, perhaps you could do both and teach the future generations how to make games?

I've often considered making an app and I have started developing some in the past but they never really got out of the concept phase, mainly due to other commitments such as Uni work. I may revisit some now that I have a bit more spare time though! Will keep you posted

 

[Jon]

Kelzky, perhaps you could do both and teach the future generations how to make games?

I've often considered making an app and I have started developing some in the past but they never really got out of the concept phase, mainly due to other commitments such as Uni work. I may revisit some now that I have a bit more spare time though! Will keep you posted

I can program in

Basic
COBOL
PASAL
68000
C
and a bit of PHP

I do a job that involves using NONE of those......

 

[Flitterbug]

Kelzky, perhaps you could do both and teach the future generations how to make games?

I've often considered making an app and I have started developing some in the past but they never really got out of the concept phase, mainly due to other commitments such as Uni work. I may revisit some now that I have a bit more spare time though! Will keep you posted

I did consider it with going back to my uni to lecture but there seems to be a hidden requirement that you need to have worked in the industry for a number of years!

 

[simpy3]

Crisp is my day job.

In an ideal world, writing fiction would become it one day.