Rolling with the Punches
It's been a while since I've last posted and a lot has happened in the meantime. I sought out Electronic Arts Tiburon in hopes of jumping in on EA Sports MMA, the competition of the previous game I worked on (UFC 2009 Undisputed). I got as far as a phone interview with the producer and designer. Unfortunately, I didn't get offered a job. I'm told they already have someone with a similar skillset. Needless to say, the last couple months have been very humbling for me. I've failed to secure a job as a designer on the 2 games I'm most qualified for, given my knowledge of mixed martial arts and fighting games. But there is hope for me.
I got accepted to The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University for a masters program that specializes in level design. I've always considered my strengths to be in system or technical design, but I will now attempt to reinvent myself as a level designer. I believe The Guildhall will be a good complement to the education I received at USC Interactive Media Division; whereas IMD has a progressive philosophy that focuses on innovation and expression, The Guildhall has a practical philosophy that focuses on relevant skills and teamwork. I'm hoping the combination of the two will allow me to finally break into the game industry.