The Game Industry Salary Survey 2007

[09.03.07]
- Jill Duffy

GAME DESIGN
Average salary for three or fewer years experience: $44,574
Average salary across all experience levels: $61,538

Be prepared to hear the following words of wisdom over and over again: it is nearly impossible to become a game designer fresh out of college. Game design job are almost never appropriate for entry-level candidates. Designers typically make their way into the industry through some other discipline (for example, by spending two or three years as a programmer or producer), then become a designer later. None of this advice is meant to be discouraging-it's meant to help you formulate a clear and realistic path to your dream job.

The average salary of writers with less than 3 years' experience dropped by $6,631 since last year, and writers with 3-6 years saw a $12,500 drop in pay. If these salaries sound low, bear in mind that more than half of all designers earn fairly large bonuses on top of their base salaries, which can amount to nearly $10,000 in additional pay.

Agenda for the week

This week we have a number of due items. They include:

• The blog
• Slides
• Learning Roles
• Group Contribution
• Project presentation of slides and outcomes
• Summaries of student presentations

Work for today:

Go to Noodeltools.com/noodlebib and sign up for a free account. Create a bibliography for the webpages you referenced in creating your blog and your slide show. You will need to get the name of the author, as well as the web page and build that into the bibliography page in your slides.

While you are doing this today, I will be going over your grades so that you know what you acheived in class for a grade.

Be ready to present tomorrow. We will be using the presentation rubric int he handout folder.

Open the rubric and a new document. In the new document you should write the name of the group, what they are presenting on, a brief summary of what they said, and then score them using the rubric.

Make sure that you put your name on your summaries, and make sure you list the names of the people you are scoring.

It looks like this:

Topics	4 points	3 points	2 points	1 point
Content	Thoroughly and clearly states the main points and precise details that are accurately focused on the design project.	Adequately states the main points and details that are accurately focused on the design project.	States most of the main points and details that focus on the design project. May include some unnecessary information.	States few main points and details that focus on the design project, or information does not relate to topic.
Organization	Clearly organized into a logical sequence. Excellent use of an outline. Excellent introduction and conclusion.	Adequate evidence of a logical sequence of information. Good use of an outline. Satisfactory introduction and conclusion.	Fair evidence of a logical sequence of information. Some use of an outline. Weak introduction or conclusion.	Minimal or no outline followed. No logical organization; some digressions. Unclear or confusing. No introduction or conclusion.
Delivery	Effectively and creatively delivers the information while staying on the topic and considering the audience. Uses voice variation; interesting and vivid to hear.	Adequately delivers the information while staying on the topic and considering the audience. Speaks clearly and confidently.	Delivers the information but does not stay on the topic. Little consideration of audience. Uses incomplete sentences.	Little or no attempt is made to stay on the topic. Does not consider audience. Presentation is difficult to follow and understand.
Preparation	Presentation shows detailed preparation and practice in delivery including use of voice, posture, eye contact, gestures and pace. Good use of pictures, graphs, computer models, etc. Interesting and vivid.	Presentation shows satisfactory preparation, as well as practice in delivery including use of voice, posture, eye contact, gestures, and pace. Some use of pictures, graphs, and computer models, etc.	Presentation shows some preparation and practice in the delivery including marginal use of voice, posture, eye contact, gestures, pace. Limited pictures, graphs, and computer models.	Presentation is lacking in preparation and practice of the delivery including use of voice, posture, eye contact, gestures, pacing, and little or no use of pictures, graphs, and computer models. Difficult to hear. Speaker appears tense. Fidgets often.
Quality	Effective use of templates or designs which make the slides visually appealing. Presentation lasted three to five minutes.	Effective use of templates. Slides were somewhat appealing. Presentation lasted three to five minutes.	Ineffective use of templates. Slides were somewhat appealing, but were not consistent. Presentation did not adhere to timeframe.	Slides were not effective or appealing. Presentation did not adhere to timeframe. Presentation showed little preparation.
Theme	The PowerPoint had a consistent theme that flowed well throughout the presentation.	The PowerPoint had a theme, but did not flow well throughout the presentation.	The PowerPoint theme was limited or unorganized during most of the presentation.	The PowerPoint had no evidence of a theme.
Readability	All words and text are large, bold, and easy to read. Statements are brief and concise.	Most of the words and text are large, bold, and easy to read. Statements are brief and concise.	Some of the words and text are difficult to read. Statements are too long or are missing important elements.	Most of the words and text are difficult to read. Statements are too long or nonexistent. Presentation lacks detail.
Creativity	The presentation has many exciting elements that make it stand out from other presentations.	The presentation has some exciting elements which allow it to stand out.	There is little evidence of creativity that would allow this presentation to stand out.	The presentation lacks creativity and detail.
Pictures	There is an abundance of relevant, high quality pictures that support and enhance the presentation.	There are some relevant pictures that helped to enhance the presentation.	There are only a few relevant or quality pictures to enhance the presentation.	There is little or no evidence of quality pictures.
Bibliography	There are four or more Internet sites or other documentation cited in the PowerPoint. Utilized APA style with no errors.	There are three Internet sites or other documentation cited in the PowerPoint. Utilized APA style, had some minor errors.	There are two Internet sites or other documentation cited in the PowerPoint. Did not follow APA style or had major errors.	There is only one Internet site or other documentation cited in the PowerPoint. Did not follow APA style.

Open a new document and use the categories to score each group. Put the names and summary of each presentation

Grading for Friday

Due assignments for this week:

Blog -- 15 entries
Power Point Slides
Total number of slides

Title
Work plan
Timeline
Game description
Walkthrough – 8 slides
Rubric – 11 slides
Learning roles – 1 slide per group member
Contributions – for each group member
Reflection

33 slides

Walkthrough
Learning Role Question
Planning doc
Group contribution

some resources for educators

Researchers track movements of ancient Central Americans using satellites, video-game technology

Researchers track movements of ancient Central Americans using satellites, video-game technology from PhysOrg.com

Satellite imagery meshed with video-game technology is allowing University of Colorado at Boulder and NASA researchers to virtually "fly" along footpaths used by Central Americans 2,000 years ago on spiritual pilgrimages to ancestral cemeteries.

[...]

More Video Games, Fewer Books at Schools?

More Video Games, Fewer Books at Schools? from PhysOrg.com

Of all of the proposals aimed at improving America's failing schools, there's one idea kids will really like: more video games and fewer books. At least a number of educators hope so, arguing that children would get more excited about school and that video games can present real-life problems to solve.

[...]

Scientists explore how violent video games are exemplary aggression teachers

Scientists explore how violent video games are exemplary aggression teachers from PhysOrg.com

Like other fathers and sons, Douglas Gentile and his father have spent many hours arguing about video games. What makes them different is that Douglas, an Iowa State University assistant professor of psychology, is one of the country's top researchers on the effects of media on children. His father, J. Ronald Gentile, is a leading researcher on effective teaching and a distinguished teaching professor emeritus of educational psychology at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York.

[...]

Slides for presentation

the slides here are for you to download and complete with your group. I would suggest that each one of you take a few of the slides to complete , and then you combine them through sharing with email, uploading and downloading with slideshare, or combining them with a jump drive.

| View | Upload your own

Grading For Group Project

There are a number of assignments that need to be completed in finishing this games unit:
The Walkthrough
The PowerPoint Assignment
Game Analysis
Learning Role Question Answered
Reflection
Group Contribution

Images

I give the game a 3 for images:

Images/ imagery create an atmosphere or tone that matches some parts of the story.
The images may communicate symbolism and/or metaphors.

In this game, I felt like the map was an appropriate interface, and many of the images were high quality. Examples of this are

Voice - Consistency

For the category Voice - Consistency, I give the game a 3. There really is not a voice. I mean, the voice, or in this case the play and also the audio voice is consistent, but the game really does not have a narrative except for the choices i have been offered and the choices that I make, and thenm how the game responds to me.

Point of View - Awareness of Audience

The first category, is: Point of View - Awareness of Audience

For my game, Civilization 4, I think the it deserves a 4.

It was very easy to start playing and know what to do. AS I began, it gave me tips to be successful, and I was easily able to use the tools, and learn the skills while I was playing. For my first game, I felt pretty good because I was able to get a good score. Each time i play now, I get a little better because the game shows me what to do. In addition, I am interested in the game because they made it fun.

Game Evaluation

For this part of the project I am using the game evaluation rubric.

Digital Storytelling : Game Analysis Rubric

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Point of View - Awareness of Audience	Strong awareness of audience in the design. Students can clearly explain why they felt the gameplay, audio and graphics chosen fit the target audience.	Some awareness of audience in the design. Students can partially explain why they felt the gameplay audio and graphics chosen fit the target audience.	Some awareness of audience in the design. Students find it difficult to explain how the gameplay, audio and graphics chosen fit the target audience.	Limited awareness of the needs and interests of the target audience.
Voice - Consistency	Voice quality is clear and consistently audible throughout the presentation.	Voice quality is clear and consistently audible throughout the majority (85-95%) of the presentation.	Voice quality is clear and consistently audible through some (70-84%)of the presentation.	Voice quality needs more attention.
Images	Images create a distinct atmosphere or tone that matches different parts of the story. The images may communicate symbolism and/or metaphors.	Images create an atmosphere or tone that matches some parts of the story. The images may communicate symbolism and/or metaphors.	An attempt was made to use images to create an atmosphere/tone but it needed more work. Image choice is logical.	Little or no attempt to use images to create an appropriate atmosphere/tone.
Point of View - Purpose	Establishes a purpose early on and maintains a clear focus throughout.	Establishes a purpose early on and maintains focus for most of the presentation.	There are a few lapses in focus, but the purpose is fairly clear.	It is difficult to figure out the purpose of the presentation.
Soundtrack - Emotion	Music stirs a rich emotional response that matches the story line well.	Music stirs a rich emotional response that somewhat matches the story line.	Music is ok, and not distracting, but it does not add much to the story.	Music is distracting, inappropriate, OR was not used.
Economy	The story is told with exactly the right amount of detail throughout. It does not seem too short nor does it seem too long.	The story composition is typically good, though it seems to drag somewhat OR need slightly more detail in one or two sections.	The story seems to need more editing. It is noticeably too long or too short in more than one section.	The story needs extensive editing. It is too long or too short to be interesting.
Dramatic Question	Realization is dramatically different from expectation.	Realization differs noticeably from expectation.	Realization barely differs from the expectation.	Realization and expecation do not differ.
Engagement	The game is very engaging and makes me want to keep playing.	The game is good, but I have games I like better.	This game is okay.	I would rather be scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush.
complexity	This is a complex game. There are many options for decision making throughout the experience.	This game is complex, but the amount of options for decision making are limited.	This game is not very complex.	This game is pretty simple-- there are not many options so the decision making is limited.
Rules	The rules in this game are easy to figure out and allow me to a great number of non-obvious solutions for the problems the game presents.	The rules in this game are easy to figure out and allow me to a number of different solutions for the problems the game presents but they were quite predictable.	The rules in this game are not easy to figure out and/or did not allow me to create a number of different solutions for the problems the game.	The rules in this game are not easy to figure out and/or did not allow me to create a number of different solutions for the problems the game.
Usability	The interface of this game was quite intuitive. It seems like I can learn as I play and be successful. I was able to start playing and dominating right away even though this is a complex game and are were many options for control and choice.	The interface of this game was a lttle clunky. I had to practice a few times to learn to play and be successful. I was not able to start playing and dominating right away.	The interface of this game was clunky. I had to practice alot to learn to play and be successful. I was not able to start playing and dominating right away. I would recommend reading the manual, asking a friend, or reading game sites for advice.	The interface was junky and clunky. I had no idea how to control or what the purpose of the game was.

Choosing the shape of your world

After you have started the game you must choose the land surface you are going to play on, as well as era, the size of the world, the topography of the land surface, and the climate.

All of these choices influence how the player should strategize in playing the game.

The size of the world expands possibility.

The topography can create different affordances and constraints: mountainous regions create less or more difficult connections between cities and often different if not fewer resources, and islands demand the creation of water travel to connect with other civilizations for trade. The climate can affect production etc.

Making these initial choices can affect the way you play the game, including what nation you choose to be.