Industry Question
Jon Knight
*Reduces long autobiographical post to something resembling a
newsgroup post*
Being a recent graduate and a gamer, with an interest in the
publishing industry, I was wondering, how do game publishers differ
from book publishers?
The obvious difference is size, but I was wondering how this changes
the structure of the company. I've had some experience of large
companies (Chrysalis, Time Warner) where every single role is
performed by a different person, but I'd guess that in such small
companies everybody does a bit of everything (which I have to say
appeals greatly). My main concern would be the split between editing
and game design, since while I'm convinced I could edit, I've never
designed so much as a dungeon (bar a one hour thing at Dragonmeet).
The other difference that immediately springs to mind is number.
Mongoose and Hogshead Mk II immediately spring to mind, but after a
quick browse through the Google directory I've found that nobody
bothers mentioning where they're based any more, nor are RPG
publishers in the Writer's and Artist's Handbook. Bother.
Thanks for your time
Jon
Jon Knight
unwritten rules of Usenet in my original post? The other possibilities
I considered were
1 That my rather impenetrable style failed to endear anyone eough to
answer my questions (or just made them unreadable)
2 The questions are all answered somewhere online (not in this group's
FAQ, I'm not *that* stupid)
I shall attempt to summarise further:-
Does the post of (Assistant) Editor (as opposed to designer) exist in
game companies?
How many game companies in the UK are big enough to warrant such a
post?
Jo Knight
PS Sorry for all the headers, I'm using Google, for want of a free
news server.
PPS Original post follows -
Mike Nudd
that most of the industry is driven by freelance work, with *very* few
people (other than retailers) making a living from gaming on a full time
basis. Most either have other jobs elsewhere too (or are students, or just
doss or claim doll). Editing/design decisions are usually made by the top
few bods in the company that are probably responsible for a hell of a lot
more than just editing/design issues, and given the small margins they're
unlikely to employ others to do work that they can do themselves (even if
the workload consumes their lives in the process). I know bugger all about
the larger publishing issues, and how this differs from normal
fiction/non-fiction titles, but the distribution and sales chain is quite
segregated, and marketing success largely seems to come from a)
word-of-mouth, b) convention/show/fair presence, or c) tying into a
brand/license that has an existing fan base. You probably don't have much
hope in scoring a full-time role yourself of the bat, but you can probably
pick up freelance work by submitting material and making friends with the
right people? <scratches head> Err, does that help? :)
Regards,
Mike
"Jon Knight" <wheel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2f09f5e2.0309...@posting.google.com...
Phil Masters
Q18. What are my chances of getting a job in the RPG industry in the
UK?
A18. Pathetically tiny, frankly, unless you're prepared to move to the
USA or start your own company. It is possible to make some money from
working as a freelance writer and designer in the RPG business, and a
handful of hardy souls around the world earn a living from it. You
might do better to regard RPGs as just a part of a career in writing
or journalism. Contact as many games publishers and magazines as you
can think of, and ask for their submission guidelines.
We have been asked to point out that some RPG publishers aren't as on
the ball professionally as you might hope, and you should prepare
yourself for disappointments and delays - although this applies to
every other field of publishing too.
--
Phil Masters http://www.philm.demon.co.uk
*-* DIGDUG: Ego in the Service of Excellence *-*
Jon Knight
late at night. Particularly after all day temping on a front desk,
being completely ignored :) Especially since I was asking about
working in an industry that has quite a few representatives here.
I don't mean to creep, but on re-reading, my second post was
defenitely on the snippy side. Now on to the individual responses...
Phil Masters <ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:<c243nv86dr2k2ipjh...@4ax.com>...
> When this newsgroup had a maintained FAQ, Question 18 said:
>
> Q18. What are my chances of getting a job in the RPG industry in the
> UK?
>
> A18. <snip>
*Cough* I had read this, honest. I just thought it was meant for
aspiring writers. Mike's post explains why that distinction doesn't
really exist in the way I thought it did. (Thanks Mike) Looks like
I'll be looking for freelance proofreading/editing work once I have
some experience :)
Thanks everyone
Jon Knight
Matthew Sprange
> game companies?
It does, though not all companies will have one.
> How many game companies in the UK are big enough to warrant such a
> post?
One :)
> The other difference that immediately springs to mind is number.
> Mongoose and Hogshead Mk II immediately spring to mind, but after a
> quick browse through the Google directory I've found that nobody
> bothers mentioning where they're based any more, nor are RPG
Swindon
Matthew Sprange
Mongoose Publishing
DC
You have my pity :)
--
_______________________________________________
DC
"You can not reason a man out of a position he did not reach through reason"
"Don't use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice."
"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is
never sure." Segal's Law
Roger Gammans
> > someone else wrote:
>> quick browse through the Google directory I've found that nobody
>> bothers mentioning where they're based any more, nor are RPG
>
> Swindon
>
> Matthew Sprange
> Mongoose Publishing
So when will Mongoose add the 'Summon traffic circle' spell
to the d20 cannon?
TTFN
--
Roger. Home| http://www.sandman.uklinux.net/
Master of Peng Shui. (Ancient oriental art of Penguin Arranging)
Work|Independent Systems Consultant | http://www.firstdatabase.co.uk/
So what are the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of 'The Matrix'? --anon
Ian Sturrock
> > Swindon
>
>You have my pity :)
>
works in Swindon -- I'm in North Wales and have so far made it into the
office twice in two years, I think.
--
"Every winner is a villain, every loser is a hero. Just put on your two step
shoes and lose the blues. . . and dance like it's year zero. . ." (Alabama 3)
Jon Knight
<snip>
> So when will Mongoose add the 'Summon traffic circle' spell
> to the d20 cannon?
>
> TTFN
A d20 cannon. Hmmm. Heard of a weapon in fiction where an old guy
throws a d6 to land in front of somebody to do a random curse. I can't
help thinking that it would be more effective if you used a d20 - more
pointy bits - and fired it very fast. :)
Sorry for nit-picking (but I am trying to get work as an editor :D )
Jon
Buck Dharma
news:2f09f5e2.03092...@posting.google.com:
And of course Wormy nails the wizard with a d6... Ah, nostalgia!
--
"I said it was an upgrade. I didn't say it was better."
Angus Abranson
> the structure of the company.
Vastly. Most game companies are part-time affairs or have only one or two
full time employees. The bigger names are run with more staff but you'd be
surprised at how many of the well known companies have very few employees.
Many of the companies rely on freelancers or the owners themselves to do
much of the work themselves.
>>My main concern would be the split between editing and game design
The Editor is usually (and certainly preferrably) a different person than
the author of the book.
> The other difference that immediately springs to mind is number.
With the advent of d20 there are a lot more companies in the market place
now than there was five years ago. Saying that MANY of those are very small
d20 companies that have sprung up in peoples bedrooms with the use of a
decent DTP and some rainy day savings being broken into. Very few of these
are actually run as proper businesses or indeed would work as proper
businesses if people tried. The market is currently a very harsh place for
new (and old) companies and the d20 market is pretty flooded to put it
lightly. Some companies have managed to make a killing and have done
incredibly well - and hats off to them for it.
If you look at the UK by itself there are companies out there but beyond
Mongoose (Swindon) and Hogshead (South London) in the RPG field none of the
others have full-time employees as far as I'm aware. There are very few
active companies currently in the UK but more than most people would
probably think - although many of these are pretty small or currently
single-product companies.
Hope that helps a litttle?
Angus
Jon Knight
<snip>
> If you look at the UK by itself there are companies out there but beyond
> Mongoose (Swindon) and Hogshead (South London)
>
> Angus
Thanks for the response. It seems on reflection, that although a few
years in a gaming company, where my science background might not be a
disadvantage (or even, *gasp* an advantage) would be nice, there are
some difficulties. Firstly, the odds of such a job appearing are slim
to none. Secondly, getting a mainstream (assuming Titan Books isn't
mainstream) publisher to recognise gaming experience as valid would
probably be difficult (if it proved necessary).
It looks like I'll have to fallback to the secondary daydream. Running
an sf&f/rpg shop, while doing freelance proofreading publishing on the
side, after some years of experience in the publishing industry
(assuming I get *that* far).
<Rant>Why is it that degrees (and the education system in general)
seem to filter people into three streams 1 intelligent and
hardworking 2 intelligent or hardworking 3 neither hardworking nor
intelligent (a vast oversimplification I know), when companies are
after people with drive and enthusiasm. I consider myself to be fairly
intelligent, conscientious rather than hardworking (conscientious is
when you do it out of guilt rather than some other work ethic) but am
willing to admit I have all the natural drive and enthusiasm of a
small fluffy white cloud. This combination of potential without drive
seemingly makes me almost unemployable. www.prospects.ac.uk is the
national graduate careers source. It contains a test, which aims to
suggest careers you may be interested in. Almost exclusively the areas
I am most interested in require a ruthlessness and determination, I do
not, nor would I wish to, have.
*sigh*
Anyone know I good personality surgeon?</rant>
Jon Knight