Niki Head

Just a reminder that GamesIndustry.biz is once again teaming up with Brightmine (Formerly XpertHR) on a salary benchmarking project designed to help UK games companies find and retain talent. And you can find out more by joining our free webinar next week https://lnkd.in/eBVhjNZU

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Lots of interesting info in this survey for people in the industry at every level. How does your pay compare? Which areas are struggling/thriving? Do take a look, there's some useful insights in there :)

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The Sumo Group closures really have broken me a bit, and I need to rant about the state of things. I'm sorry if it seems I'm glossing over all the closures before this one, but so many ex-students went there, so many ex-colleagues passed through there, and so my timeline is just filled with people looking for work. We keep talking and talking about the economic factors involved, Brexit and Covid and this and that ... the thing I can't stop thinking of is that in my life I've watched the world slowly pitch into a place of despondent capitalism. Art has become more about making stars and fame than helping people escape and reflect. A drive for "truth" and objectivity has resulted, paradoxically, in people putting more stock in spreadsheets and numbers than people. I can't help but feel that if you're bleating about finance and trade deals and business decisions, you're ignoring the fact that general support for artistic and creative endeavours has declined sharply and is still declining, even in the so-called "art world". Games are ultimately always going to be the first to fall in a culture war against creativity, because games are ultimately and profoundly pointless things. That's the whole majesty of the medium: they make us feel profound feelings, they help us explore our existence by being separate from reality, but to do so they MUST bring us nothing tangible in return. The truth is that our industry will probably bounce back to some degree, but it's not any financial structures or cost systems that will save game development as a medium and an art form - it's a cultural shift to recognise the importance of expressive and explorative subjective art in the world today, and the need to support creative endeavours without the pressure of financial recompense.

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The time has come. The end of September means we are moments away from transforming into blanket burritos. Laying there on the couch with 🍵 and a book or controller🎮 But it also means at 8Bit - Games Industry Recruitment we're once again running our Gamedev salary survey Link here: https://lnkd.in/dTppmtWz Why it makes sense for you to fill it: => You'll feel good about yourself. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 $1 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐬 => You are helping your future self. No more dreading the infamous "What's your salary expectations?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 => It's 100% anonymous, it literally takes 5 minutes to go through and it will be available for FREE So, on your next coffee break just go for it: https://lnkd.in/dTppmtWz

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Splash Damage has confirmed, to several news outlets, that a "small number of [its] roles" may be at risk of redundancy. If your role is affected by this news, please make use of the support available across our three platforms. Specifically, I recommend checking out the Games Org Support Posts in Home 1. These resources are highly effective, with ample data to back their success. I won't pretend there are easy solutions but our community's only goal is to make things a little easier for as many people as possible. We have a ton of data showing that, for all candidates, your chances of finding a games role double (from 5 to 10%) over 12 months if you regularly use all our resources versus not. I'm so sorry to hear this report and I will, as always, do my best to do something about it rather than just talking. Home 1 - 🔗 AMIRSATVAT.COM: Our main hub provides 18 resources to assist you in finding work, featuring a fully updated design. - 🔗 Games Org Support Posts: Find a template at AMIRSATVAT.COM (Category 4, Resource 10). If you can provide information from your team (with their consent), I’ll help edit and disseminate the final product, reaching 100,000+ people. These posts are highly effective in increasing visibility, and we've done 99 of them. Home 2 - 🔗 Discord: Join us at discord.gg/amirsatvat, our live extension of community resources. With over 4,500 members, we are currently in an open-join phase. Home 3 - 🔗 LinkedIn: Our community here includes nearly 92,000 members, with 1-3 daily posts offering support and career assistance in the games industry. How the Broader Community Can Help: - Spread the Word: Reshares and comments on this post amplify the visibility of these resources. - Offer Support: Utilize the 16 ways listed on AMIRSATVAT.COM under "How You Can Help" to assist, or simply lend an ear or advice on our Discord server. - Join Our Movement: Volunteer with us at AMIRSATVAT.COM to support our colleagues in the games industry. Our network has facilitated over 2,200 jobs and 41,000 coaching conversations to date, the largest impact of any games organization on earth, and has been visited by millions of gamers lifetime.

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The Wiggin Games Summit has become a UK games industry staple. A fantastic forum to discuss the state of the industry. We were delighted to be a sponsor of this year's event, and to have our CEO Paul Sulyok close out the day with a panel called: As “survive to 25” turns to “stick to 26”, is there really a growth future for video games, or is it just time for the pipe and the carpet slippers? We believe the games industry will get back on track, but not if we maintain traditional thinking. It’s time for publishers to evolve their offering to support green shoot developers, which is why we offer Fractional Publishing. Developers should be able to retain control over their IP while only enlisting the services they need from a publisher. We don’t want to restrict value for developers, if they need funding, go-to-market support or just retail, they should be offered a flexible solution. What is your take on Fractional Publishing? Could a new approach to publishing help to get the industry back on track? #WigginGamesSummit #FractionalPublishing

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News: Hiring Market Update - June 24 (Games & Tech) I pick up where we left off in March and cover off the rise in solo game devs along with the latest tech funding news and implications for the wider job market. You can also get the latest on the projects I'm working on. Studio Vision Podcast

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Let’s not forget that I come with three highly trained canines who are incredible ice breakers! Talent attraction is about creating human connections, and what better way to do that than bring a wide range of interests into the conversation? For me, my primary aim in speaking to someone isn’t to get them a job - it’s to make that connection because, as I keep saying, I genuinely like people. Let’s talk about YOU for a few minutes - the job can wait. Also, do you like dogs? 🐶 Daisy, Hamish and Bertie, for all your hiring needs. Come with free recruiter 🐾🐾 Drop me a line if you’d like to know more. #gamesjobs #videogames #hiring #talentacquisition

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In the latest episode of The Talent Game podcast, I chat with Emma Gomersall, Lead Talent Partner at The Multiplayer Group (MPG). Emma shares her journey from agency recruitment to the games industry, highlighting her passion for fostering inclusive workplaces. She discusses the significance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the gaming world and shares actionable strategies for companies to make meaningful changes—whether on a shoestring budget or with significant resources. Emma emphasises the importance of authenticity, inclusive language, and employee resource groups (ERGs) in creating workplaces where everyone feels valued. She also sheds light on how diverse teams not only enhance creativity and innovation but also drive profitability, citing research from Women in Games . Key Takeaways 💡Transitioned from agency recruitment to in-house at MPG, drawn by the inclusive and collaborative culture of the games industry. 💡Diverse teams not only foster creativity and innovation but also drive profitability, with gender-diverse leadership increasing productivity by 21% (Women in Games report). 💡Using gender-neutral language in job postings and establishing employee resource groups (ERGs) are impactful, low-cost ways to create inclusive workplaces. 💡76% of job seekers prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion when considering job offers, making it a critical factor for attracting top talent.

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Awful news today with Sony Interactive Entertainment announcing the closure of Firewalk Studios . CEO of the PlayStation studio business group, Hermen Hulst wrote: “We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options. [...] After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio. I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication.” It is unknown how many people are affected, and how many will find other employment in other Sony studios... To those impacted please check out the following resources: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/epvmzDW6 You can find over 6,300 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #firewalkstudios #closure

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A simple observation about voice production for games: It pays to embrace sourcing diverse talent early on. You’ll be much better prepared than if you rely on the same talent pools every time. Casting characters is sourcing diverse talent. Building believable worlds is sourcing diverse talent. Creating unique game experiences is sourcing diverse talent. When you’ve worked through finding fresh, diverse voices and know that challenge well? The process of building a truly immersive world becomes a lot easier.

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Great insights. Whether or not developers should cut costs depends significantly on understanding why players disengage after purchasing a game. This is particularly intriguing to me given the high cost of these games, so what could be the reasons? I have some thoughts: 1. Unmet Expectations: - Players may have expectations that eventually are not met, leading them to drop the game. One could assume players are doing their dilligent research work before deciding to buy a game. Does the game fit their style? Are they the type of players for the game? This is the economic-driven player, one that is rational and cold focused, but we know that this might not be the case, and despite diligent research, various factors can influence their decisions beyond rational evaluation. 2. Marketing Influence: - Effective marketing can persuade players to purchase games they might not otherwise choose. We know the great lenghts advertisers are willing to go, and this field in particular has evolved quite a lot in the last decade, raising concerns about potentially misleading representations of game content and value. 3. Social Trends: - Social influences and trends can drive players to commit to games they won't finish. The rapid pace of gaming trends and competition for quick releases can prevent players from becoming fully engaged before moving on to the next popular title. We've seen this in the last two years, as we had a lot of moments in which the gaming trend always shifted. One could argue that there is simply not enough time for players to be hooked by a game, commit to it, and also finish it in time before the trend shifts. 4. Triple-A Fatigue: - The value proposition of Triple-A games is diminishing. Repetitive design formulas, particularly in open-world games, can result in large but unfulfilling experiences. Likewise, the design mentality in often cases tends to lean more into Quantity-over-Quality, AC Valhalla is a good example. Overall, it is likely a combination of these factors and others. It's important to remind yourself that today's player is vastly different from the one a decade ago, and the needs and trends are changing rapidly. The industry knows this and is always in a rush to adapt, [Just think about today's slaughter on FPS games, or the hype in the not so recent past for Extraction Shooters] but considering the high pace at which everything unfolds, when you add the time required for a Triple A budget to be approved, and the crazy development timelines nowadays..it's hard to successfully keep up.

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Awful news last week with Thunderful Group announcing a second round of layoffs (the previous one was earlier this year) as it is looking to “increase its focus on third-party publishing and reduce the production of internally developed projects”, therefore resulting in significant redundancies within the company’s own development teams, affecting Thunderful Games, Thunderful Malmö, The Station, Thunderful Skövde and JUMPSHIP. Additionally, roles within administration and management will also be affected. To those impacted please check out the following resources: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 10 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/eGE2vzUt You can find over 5,900 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #thunderfulgames #thestation #jumpship #layoffs

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I'm so saddened to hear that KeokeN Interactive had to lay off their team, as announced by the studio itself today 2 hours ago. To support those affected, our community has three resource "homes" built to help you: HOME 1 - 🔗 AMIRSATVAT.COM: Our hub offering 15 resources to help you find work, including a fully updated design. - 🔗 Games Org Support Posts: Find a template at AMIRSATVAT.COM (Category 4, Resource 10). If you can provide information from your team (with their consent), I’ll help edit and disseminate the final product, reaching 100,000+ people. These posts are highly effective in increasing visibility. HOME 2 - 🔗 Please visit discord.gg/amirsatvat to join our Discord, a live extension of our community resources. With nearly 2,000 members, we are in an open-join phase. HOME 3 - 🔗 LinkedIn: Our community here includes over 85,000 members, with 1-3 daily posts offering support and career assistance in the games industry. To our broader community, your involvement makes a difference. Here’s how you can help: - Spread the word: Reshares and comments on this post amplify the visibility of these resources. - Offer support: Utilize the 13 ways listed on AMIRSATVAT.COM under "How You Can Help" to assist, or simply lend an ear or advice on our Discord server. - Join our movement: Volunteer with us at AMIRSATVAT.COM to support our colleagues in the games industry. Our network has facilitated over 1,800 jobs and 31,000 coaching conversations to date and has been visited by over 100,000 gamers lifetime. We're committed to providing daily encouragement and support during these challenging times. We will never stop fighting for you, but it starts with your engagement! I wish I could guarantee jobs for gamers. Unfortunately, I can't do that. However, what I can promise is that our extensive data shows you are more likely to find employment if you engage with our community's resources. Moreover, you will find significant daily encouragement and support in us.

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Oh wow, you do not hear that often.... The entire staff of Annapurna Interactive, the video-game publishing division of Annapurna studio, resigned this month following a dispute with its owner. Annapurna Interactive President Nathan Gary and his team had been negotiating with Megan Ellison to spin off the video-game division as an independent entity. When Ellison pulled out of the negotiations, Gary and other executives resigned and were followed by around two dozen other staffers. “All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,’’ Gary and the group said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.” (source: https://lnkd.in/ehvi33Wg) To those who have resigned, if you are looking for new opportunities, please check them out here: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/ePywd2kq You can find over 6,000 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #annapurnainteractive #resignations

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We are not a huge studio, we are fully remote, we do have a super chilled working environment where results mean more than rules and people are our top priority. We wanted to gather everyone and as such, discord announcement... what do we call it so people don't get worried? Yeah, industry is so undermined that layoffs is all we can think of. For us, this is fun, cause we can all breath. At the same time is a way of reaching out to all of those that were affected - we get you, it can be us tomorrow, it's on everyone's mind. HR in Gaming Industry has unique problems, such as creativity needs breathing room, geniality needs a 24/7 connected mind, talents exists all over the globe... layoffs cost a lot more than companies can see.

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Today's update from my ongoing process of engagement and learning about the UK video games and interactive entertainment industry is about the value of talking to people, particularly face-to-face. This might be an early candidate for the 'this is not an insight' awards, but bear with me.... So, my 'first 100 days' plan, such as it is, is essentially about building relationships, learning about the industry, engaging with members and shaping an overall picture of what the industry needs and how my organisation can help. In this process, there is nothing better than getting out and speaking to the broadest range of stakeholders to start to build up an overall picture of where the organisation needs to go. I've learnt over the years to approach these conversations with an entirely open mind and to ask questions rather than trying to advance a view. The honest truth, coming into an industry as an outsider, is that there are layers, connections, meanings and ideas which you won't begin to understand at the beginning which can have a profound impact on your overall direction and priorities. Take, for example, a concept which is becoming increasingly central in my thinking about our future strategy - that the industry sits in its own unique category at the intersection of creativity, technology and community. Each of those words, and the concept of the exciting boundary intersection between them, comes from a conversation. 'Creativity' came from speaking with a group of Trustees about the art of making video games - the sheer creative vision and energy it takes to release a game which captures the hearts and minds of players. 'Technology' came from speaking with a stakeholder in Scotland who reminded me that video games have always pushed boundaries - asking 'why not?' and testing the limits of new technologies to deliver amazing player experiences. But it was only yesterday that Luke Hebblethwaite, Head of Games at BAFTA slotted in 'community' as the missing piece - yes, games occupy an exciting space at the meeting point of code and creativity, but the magic ingredient that breathes life into them is the communities they inspire. Both in-game and in people's daily lives, games bring people together, create shared experiences and connect people in a way that crosses all boundaries. In all of these conversations, I take lots of notes. What you end up with is a bit of a 'stream of consciousness', but over a period of weeks, concepts begin to emerge, structures take shape and a sense of direction and purpose starts to come together. The point is fast approaching whereby I need to consolidate all of this into a simple, compelling strategy and action plan. But the sense of 'discovery through conversation' won't stop there - once the plan is live, I will continue to get out and meet as many people as possible both to hear their critiques and their ambitions and to build a coalition towards bringing the vision and strategy to reality.

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It has happened 😔 I'm one of the many Sumo peeps affected by layoffs. I had a fantastic time at Sumo Digital Ltd. I met incredible people that will be lifelong friends, I represented my company at many international events, and, super recently, I've been nominated for Diversity Star at the Develop:Brighton Star Awards. I also got to build teams for the really cool titles below: 🗃️ A Little to the Left 🪓 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 🏎️ Stampede: Racing Royale 🛢️ Still Wakes The Deep But, now, it's time to say goodbye 👋🏼 So, to all the incredible people I had the honor of hiring & working with, I just want to thank you for enriching my experience 💖. I can't wait to play all the future games you'll make. --- 🚨 I am now on the lookout for a new team I can complement with my skillset! 🚨 I have 5+ years of experience recruiting for all main core development teams, as well as senior leadership and operational roles, via many different ATS & CRMs. Exclusively in the Game Development Industry. However, THAT'S NOT ALL! I also have extensive experience 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠: ✨DEIB programs, ✨Reports and analysis, ✨Career support initiatives, ✨Early career processes, and ✨Recruiting & hiring training materials. ➡️ So if you are looking for a recruiter, a #DEIB specialist or a generalist who can support multiple areas & teams, make sure to message! ➡️ If you aren't hiring but want to help, leave a comment below or repost to increase my reach! --- 📣 Follow #RethinkRecruitment and ring the 🔔 to stay updated! ⏩ https://entrylevel.games/ 🌟 Opinions are very much my own™️ #Layoffs #Redundancies #JobHunting #GameDev

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Friends, as interest in our community grows, so have questions about how to use all the game support pieces we provide across our three homes. Let me make things simple for you: * amirsatvat.com is your central hub for everything if in doubt—this includes our 19 game resources and a link back to our community on LinkedIn. It also now includes an open public invite link to join our Discord community. * Think of our three homes this way: HOME #1 - amirsatvat.com - The most impactful game resource site on Earth. Come here for all our permanent resources and references. If you are a job seeker, just take 5 minutes and go through a full cycle of our 6 categories of resources. Make sure you are signed up for everything of interest. HOME #2 - Discord - 5,216 members as of August 12th, 2024. Join here: discord.gg/amirsatvat Discord is our real-time support service, complementing our other two homes. Come here for edifying and fun games chats, industry chat across functions, and the live versions of things like mentorships, CV and portfolio reviews, and more that you can also sign up for, alongside broader networks and more resources, at HOME #1. HOME #3 - LinkedIn - The largest Top Voice Games community on the platform - 94,301 members as of August 12th, 2024 Follow here and become a member: linkedin.com/in/amirsatvat LinkedIn is where you will find my regular daily content, key updates, and more. I will also link my LinkedIn posts in the New LinkedIn post channel on Discord. Together, these three homes interact to provide you with a blanket of comprehensive game support, objectively unmatched anywhere in terms of provable statistical impact on: * Jobs enabled (2,400+) * Game community coaching provided (45,000 sessions and counting) * Number of free game community coaches (2,264) * Consolidated public listing of game job seekers (8.143) * Game jobs listed (14,747 across 3,716 game companies) * New games roles workbook (Now live!) * Game org support posts provided (105 layoff situations aided) * Comprehensive game career resources (general planning and early career packs) * Free LinkedIn Premium 2-month trials provided (485) * Free game event tickets given (455 across 7 events) * Eva Tucker's Support Your Indies, Hailey Rojas's #opentonetwork, Alexander Rehm's MVP resources, and Jordan Mazer's Games Jobs Did I mention everything across all three homes is free forever and delivered without any motive other than wanting to see gamers happy? Why should you have to pay for any of this stuff, especially if you are unemployed? You shouldn't. Gamers, welcome home!

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