Comments on: The Stages of Designerhood http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/ MMO game development Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:16:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kirk http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-26503 Kirk Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:23:58 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-26503 I'd like to enter a slight correction. For the first few years a number of teachers will work 60 hour weeks. There are the 40 hours of "regular" work. There's the hour or two per day of "extra duty". Many schools require a teacher be involved as sponsor in one of the school's extracurricular programs. You've also got homework to grade and lesson plans to finalize. 20 to 35 assignments per class, and if you're doing it right you're thinking about every one of them (and commenting on many) plus making notes for the modification of lesson plans to catch the obvious problems. Experienced teachers - those who have polished their lesson plans over the years, who've gained seniority that allows them to pick extra duties that aren't particularly intrusive, etc - will keep it under 50 hours a week. The saving grace (sorta) is that most schools still have the summer break. Two months during which the only requirement tends to be extra education to maintain certification. It helps with the burnout. I’d like to enter a slight correction. For the first few years a number of teachers will work 60 hour weeks. There are the 40 hours of “regular” work. There’s the hour or two per day of “extra duty”. Many schools require a teacher be involved as sponsor in one of the school’s extracurricular programs. You’ve also got homework to grade and lesson plans to finalize. 20 to 35 assignments per class, and if you’re doing it right you’re thinking about every one of them (and commenting on many) plus making notes for the modification of lesson plans to catch the obvious problems.

Experienced teachers – those who have polished their lesson plans over the years, who’ve gained seniority that allows them to pick extra duties that aren’t particularly intrusive, etc – will keep it under 50 hours a week.

The saving grace (sorta) is that most schools still have the summer break. Two months during which the only requirement tends to be extra education to maintain certification. It helps with the burnout.

]]> By: LichJack http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-23967 LichJack Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:21:35 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-23967 Great article. I'm a solid Stage 2 starting to transition to a Stage 3. Reading forums of player feedback is a sure way to blacken any heart. I'm at least thankful I make more then 30k. Great article. I’m a solid Stage 2 starting to transition to a Stage 3. Reading forums of player feedback is a sure way to blacken any heart. I’m at least thankful I make more then 30k.

]]> By: Eric http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-23395 Eric Tue, 26 May 2009 21:07:25 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-23395 That's definitely true, but I think the biggest factor is location. The companies in major downtown areas are forced to pay more. (This is one reason why development companies love Austin... it's so cheap!) That’s definitely true, but I think the biggest factor is location. The companies in major downtown areas are forced to pay more. (This is one reason why development companies love Austin… it’s so cheap!)

]]> By: Ambrose http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-23385 Ambrose Tue, 26 May 2009 19:00:07 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-23385 $30K/year? A Designer?! That's optimistic. I am aware of game companies that start entry-level programmers at that level. Imagine what they pay designers or QA technicians. $30K/year? A Designer?! That’s optimistic. I am aware of game companies that start entry-level programmers at that level. Imagine what they pay designers or QA technicians.

]]> By: Kifix http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-5505 Kifix Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:03:06 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-5505 Interesting post. Even it seems to kinda suck at some point, i's still go for it any day ;-) I'd love see have a survey of MMO designers telling us at which stage they currently are. Or maybe players should try to guess ? ^^ Interesting post. Even it seems to kinda suck at some point, i’s still go for it any day ;-)

I’d love see have a survey of MMO designers telling us at which stage they currently are.
Or maybe players should try to guess ? ^^

]]> By: Jeff Freeman » The Stages of Designerhood http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-975 Jeff Freeman » The Stages of Designerhood Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:58:50 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-975 [...] The Stages of Designerhood on AC2 alums’ blog, Elder Game, is one of those ‘there are three kinds of people in the world’-sorts of pseudo-philosophic waxings that nobody likes. [...] [...] The Stages of Designerhood on AC2 alums’ blog, Elder Game, is one of those ‘there are three kinds of people in the world’-sorts of pseudo-philosophic waxings that nobody likes. [...]

]]> By: Snipehunter http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-809 Snipehunter Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:43:04 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-809 Heh! This made me laugh. Though, I've got to say... I've worked with a ton of different designers at this point, and I think I can confidently say that, for many, that your stage 3 isn't just a stage. Some of us skip it entirely, some of us have it from the moment we start working as designers. I used to call them "beat the player" designers - to me, it always felt like they were trying to win some sort of internal contest between them and the players they're paid to serve. Sadly, that's a trait that if you're "born" with, you usually can't shake - and it ends your career. I've watched lots of hopefuls flame out and burn because they never got that they're not supposed to "win." Heh! This made me laugh. Though, I’ve got to say… I’ve worked with a ton of different designers at this point, and I think I can confidently say that, for many, that your stage 3 isn’t just a stage. Some of us skip it entirely, some of us have it from the moment we start working as designers. I used to call them “beat the player” designers – to me, it always felt like they were trying to win some sort of internal contest between them and the players they’re paid to serve.

Sadly, that’s a trait that if you’re “born” with, you usually can’t shake – and it ends your career. I’ve watched lots of hopefuls flame out and burn because they never got that they’re not supposed to “win.”

]]> By: Babs http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-803 Babs Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:08:45 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-803 Thankfully I got the first few stages out of my system before there ever was an industry, so my arrival at the current worksite is all about the people involved in the process. I wholeheartedly agree that they work too much, that they aren't scaling properly, and that the opportunities to "one-up" the competition are woefully lacking because they simply aren't enjoying the stuff they've created. Can we get them to Zen? Yep, yep. Eventually. They have to wanna go there themselves, first. Sometimes seeing the forest instead of just the trees is overwhelming. Tips always appreciated from the been-there-done-that set...what are YOU doing to keep your team motivated and rested? Thankfully I got the first few stages out of my system before there ever was an industry, so my arrival at the current worksite is all about the people involved in the process. I wholeheartedly agree that they work too much, that they aren’t scaling properly, and that the opportunities to “one-up” the competition are woefully lacking because they simply aren’t enjoying the stuff they’ve created.

Can we get them to Zen? Yep, yep. Eventually. They have to wanna go there themselves, first. Sometimes seeing the forest instead of just the trees is overwhelming. Tips always appreciated from the been-there-done-that set…what are YOU doing to keep your team motivated and rested?

]]> By: Mentat http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Mentat Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:43:19 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-791 lol yes yes I was one of those "stage 1" mind sets, I completely agree I saw everything you stated and alot of it makes far more sense now. The passion hasn't left for me, it's just changed. lol

yes yes I was one of those “stage 1″ mind sets, I completely agree I saw everything you stated and alot of it makes far more sense now. The passion hasn’t left for me, it’s just changed.

]]> By: The Stages of Designerhood (by Jeff Freeman) http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/the-stages-of-designerhood/comment-page-1/#comment-761 The Stages of Designerhood (by Jeff Freeman) Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:27:59 +0000 http://www.eldergame.com/2008/01/31/the-stages-of-designerhood/#comment-761 [...] Feed 02 Feb 2008The Stages of Designerhood[Gaming][ Personal]The Stages of Designerhood on AC2 alums’ blog, Elder Game, is one of those ‘there are three kinds of people in the [...] [...] Feed 02 Feb 2008The Stages of Designerhood[Gaming][ Personal]The Stages of Designerhood on AC2 alums’ blog, Elder Game, is one of those ‘there are three kinds of people in the [...]

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